Vengeful Bounty by Jillian Kidd

with it to make him happy.
    â€œThat’s fine,” I said with a little shrug. I studied my sneakers. “Just have her call me.”
    â€œI will.”
    I was going to say something about the fact that she should be calling me first anyway, but I let that drop. Dad nodded his head, then leaned back, smiling.
    â€œSo, you’re now two catches away from going Global?” he asked.
    â€œI know. Doesn’t it make you want to freak out?”
    â€œI remember the first time I went Global. It was like a dream. Suddenly I had freedom to fly all over the world and nab any criminal on Earth, not just limited to the States. It makes for some great adventure, getting to see the world. You’ve done real good, sweetie, being patient. And I have to say that in your time, you may see bounty hunting go Intergalactic. It’s already pretty much Interplanetary with our Moon Colony and the growing Mars Colony. My little darlin’ might be going after the Fish in space, like Star Wars.”
    I laughed, but I knew it was an actual possibility. Both the Moon Colony and the Mars Colony were doing well and growing fast. More and more water was being found on the Moon all the time. I’d been to visit once, as a gift for graduating college. It was amazing, all the brightly lit interconnected cities in domes. The only thing I missed while there was being able to go outside and feel the sun without a barrier.
    â€œSpeaking of Global,” Dad said, the smile slightly fading from his face, “your brother called and said you two were talking about Damon last night.”
    â€œOh, lord! You, too? Who’s next, the Pope?”
    â€œWho else is bringing him up?”
    â€œWell, Colt, you, and”—I pointed to the glass wall—“Jenny.”
    â€œHmm.”
    He stood up and walked over to the wall monitor and pressed a button on the touchpad to flip through several video clips, until he came to one of me as a little girl. I was swinging in a swing set that he’d made in the backyard of our two-story house. Colt was hanging from his legs on the monkey bars, his smile checkered from the absence of baby teeth he’d lost. Mom was sitting to the side in a wide-brimmed straw hat, swiping her hand in the air at bugs, and trying to read a paperback romance novel.
    â€œThat’s my little girl,” Dad said, beaming at the video.
    I stood and joined him, feeling a pang of nostalgia as I watched the younger me, smiling with abandon, giggling at Colt, so innocent then.
    â€œDad?” I asked. “How does this relate to Damon? What’s the point?”
    He turned to me and looked down into my eyes. “Point is it’s been a long time since you’ve been happy like that.”
    Ouch. That hurt. But didn’t everyone change when they reached their teens and adulthood? Especially someone in my profession? Children always seemed happy because they didn’t know the dark side of life yet. Then, as if Dad could read my mind, he said:
    â€œEven after your mother and I split, you still had this fire about you. High spirits, like an unbridled filly. Carried on through high school, college. I know you didn’t date much. But the boys you did go out with were nice, and you seemed to have a good time. Fun. But despite them, you had a crush on Damon since you were 18 and joined the team. He was older, more mysterious, and quite the rebel. I’ll never understand why you women go for men like that.” I remained quiet, though a flood of contradicting emotions began to flow through me. “So when you started dating him, it was like the be-all, end-all. But, sweetie, and I’m going to be very frank with you, he wasn’t good enough for you.”
    I tucked a wavy piece of hair behind my ear. “I don’t need a prince, Dad. I don’t need someone to open doors or spoon-feed me my supper. It’s 2053. I can take care of myself. Besides, chivalry