" I replied.We left the toilets and after unlocking my bike and putting it in the back of the van, I got in the back myself. I gave them directions to...my place and ten minutes later was outside the apartment block. On the way there we chatted and arranged that I would get out first and go put my bike away and get dressed for them. I told them to wait for ten minutes and then ring my apartment number and I would let them in. I rushed up to my apartment, unlocked the door, put the bike in the. ”“Good,” she teased, making me laugh.“You’re terrible.”I wasn’t really paying attention to where we were going, not that I was concerned about getting lost. I knew this part of town fairly well. It was usually quiet this time of night. Most of the shops and galleries were closed up. Just the occasional café, bistro, or bar were still busy. The street lamps illuminated her nicely. I admired her, not so secretly, noticing, not for the first time this evening, how her dress clung to her like a. What do you want," the pale, thin man asked Ferro.Ferro had been on the ship less than five minutes. He had slipped across the vacuum from the courier ship to the airlock of the larger ship. Hanging his suit in the open locker, he changed into the usual pajama-like clothes the Families favored. This man had been waiting when he stepped out of the changing room,"I have two items to discuss. First I have a recorded message from the patriarch of Volentin, which is not for my ears," Ferro said,. This was Nicks’ favorite time of year. He got to bring a little happiness into children’s lives as he took a month off of work. He dressed up as Santa and donated the proceeds of his Santa work to Toys for Tots. He grabbed the suit, headed downstairs, and out to his car. Still with a huge grin on his face, he drove off to the dry cleaners. “Hey Nick, is that time of year again?” the dry cleaner, Doris, greet him. “Yeah, it seems to be coming quicker and quicker every year Doris.” He smiled.