Soft Hearts, Hard Memories — Simon Woodington

Aaran's priorities seem up for grabs as one of Whitegraft's rarefied Private Investigators, but her recent exploits rescuing underage prostitutes and their families from the Council of Sex Trade Workers has not gone unnoticed. When a young woman seeks protection for her 'sisters' from a violent knife wielding mark, Aaran is drawn into a web of conflicting political agendas that nearly severs her silver thread. Enter Akane, heiress of Diverse Industries, kidnapped and converted into a Mawathi assassin cyborg. Wary of a tampering trap, Aaran must first learn the intent of Shiru-Ya, a veteran with information that could have Alliance-wide ramifications. Oh, but her troubles haven't yet begun, as she stumbles into an illegal snuff ring operating within the borders of the Council's government sanctioned business. She'd better sort things out before the Crown issues its order to shut down the Stargazers altogether...