Monty hadn’t changed. His beard was perhaps longer and a mite more luxuriant, but his frame filled the screen just as it always had. He was grinning widely, too, under his facial furniture.

“Seems to me I heard you were dead,” he said, chuckling deep in his chest.

“I thought you were, the time it took to get hold of you,” Mal grumbled.

“Unlike some folks, I actually have legitimate business dealings.”

“I’m surprised you can say that with a straight face.”

“Practice.” He chortled again. “So where are you, you old scallywag?”

“Lazarus.”

“Really? How’s the old place these days?” Inara’s home had once belonged to Monty’s family, but he’d sold it to her when she retired from being a Companion.

“Better’n you left it.”

“Can’t say that would be hard.” This time the laugh was out loud. “Anyway, I’ll be seeing it in a week or so.”

“Really?”

“’Nara asked me to swing by Sihnon, pick up some stuff of hers.”

“When did she do that?” Mal demanded suspiciously.

“Coupla months ago now. It wasn’t urgent, just when I was in the neighbourhood.”

“How come she didn’t ask me?”

“You were probably getting shot.”

Mal almost successfully suppressed the deep sigh. “I don’t always get shot.”

“No?”

“No. Anyway, that kinda makes this wave redundant, if you’re coming here anyways.”

“What, you miss my old face that much?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I just thought we could share a brew or two, catch up on old times.” Mal tapped a couple of keys.

“Some of young Kaylee’s finest?” Something beeped at Monty’s end and he glanced down, his eyebrows raising, but he didn’t comment.

“She’s got a bottle or two set aside. And there’s a local beer’s not bad.”

Monty nodded slowly, his left eyelid flickering. “Then I’ll see you in a few.”

“Shiny.”

“And you can meet the missus.”

Mal’s jaw dropped slightly. “Missus?”

“Yep. I got hitched a month or two back.”