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D eck 8 was primarily extra lab space, not just for visiting scientists and researchers, because there weren’t that many of those. Mainly it was for the ones already on board who wanted to pursue a hypothesis on their own, something that was encouraged on the Athos .

One of the main goals of this journey was to break new scientific ground.

Didn’t mean the place was teeming with activity, though. On the contrary, it was corridor after corridor of labs, accented by dim lighting and quiet, lonely passageways. Not a place I would have wanted to come by myself, so I was grateful for Frank’s presence.

Lab 808 wasn’t far from the elevator bank, something else I was grateful for. The lights shining through the frosted glass doors made it easy to spot as occupied. We pressed the button on the keypad scanner to announce ourselves, although I had a feeling our wristbands would have opened the door. We were special envoys, after all.

A young woman with black hair streaked with purple came to the door. “Hello.”

I smiled. “Hi. Any chance you’re Davika Prathum?”

“I am.” Her brows raised in curiosity.

I kept my smile firmly in place. “I’m Ellis McFadden, and this is my associate, Frank Kitson. I met Dr. Saetang at the gala. He mentioned you, but we didn’t get to meet. I’m the head librarian here on the Athos, and he said you love books.”

That got her to smile. “I do. He’s right. He told me about you. What can I do for you? Are you here to see Dr. Saetang?”

Frank and I had discussed our approach on the way here. There was no reason not to talk to both of them, since they were both potentially suspects. “I wanted to talk to you, but Frank would like to speak to Dr. Saetang.”

She looked at Frank. “Can I ask what this is about?”

“It’s a personal matter,” Frank answered.

“Okay. Come on in. I’ll get him.”

She let us into the foyer. Another set of doors led into the lab space. We could see Dr. Saetang inside. A woman was with him, and they were discussing something. Neither of them looked happy. It took me a moment, but then I realized who she was.

Fathia Hanth.

What in the stars was she doing here? I decided to find out. “I didn’t know the premier’s wife was a scientist. Are she and Dr. Saetang working together?”

“Um, she’s…” Davika frowned. “Sorry, I’m trying to think of the word in English. Patron, I think you say?”

“Oh, his patron. I see.”

She nodded. “It’s standard in our society for scientists and inventors to have a patron of some means to vouch for them and aid them in financial matters.”

“Makes sense,” Frank said. “Gives them some backing and helps others to have faith in them.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Davika said, smiling again. “I’ll just let him know you’re here.”

She went in, waiting a moment before Fathia and Mechai stopped talking. She gestured to us. He looked up, gave me a wave, then nodded to Davika.

She came back. “He’ll be right out.”

“Thank you,” Frank said.

She looked at me and hooked her thumb toward a door at the side of the room. “We can talk in the office, if you’d like.”

“That would be great.” I followed her, although my curiosity about Fathia hadn’t been completely assuaged. Was checking in with the scientist she supported the only reason she was here? One had to wonder.

The office was small and utilitarian, but this was just a temporary space. The gray metal desk held a computer that wasn’t turned on. Black mesh chairs sat on either side of the desk. On the wall was a chart of the periodic elements. On a small hutch beside the desk sat a first gen Instachef.

Davika took the seat behind the desk. She interlaced her fingers on the work surface, very at ease for someone who was only an assistant. “What did you want to talk about?”

I was going straight in to see what kind of reaction I’d get. I held on to my smile as I discreetly tapped my wristband into record mode. Frank would be doing the same to his conversation with Dr. Saetang. “Let’s start with Paval Tao.”

Davika blinked but held on to her composure. “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that name.”

“When’s the last time you were in contact with him?”

She hesitated, then looked to the right. That was generally considered a tell that someone was lying. At least from what I’d read. “I honestly can’t remember.”

Somehow, I doubted that. “You don’t keep up with old school friends?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why are you asking me about him? How do you even know about him?”

This was something else Frank and I had discussed. “There’s a special investigation being conducted concerning the incident at the gala.”

Her eyes widened. “What incident?”

“Someone cut the power. You were there for that, weren’t you?”

Quickly, she laughed. “Oh, yes, that. I thought you were talking about something else.”

“What else would there be?” Did she know about the Star?

She shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s why I asked.” Then she shook her head. “I still don’t understand what this has to do with Paval.”

I smiled tightly. “We’re just confirming details from everyone’s past. Known associates, that sort of thing. Dotting I’s, crossing T’s. You understand.”

I could tell she didn’t, but I didn’t care. I pressed on. “So when was the last time you talked to him?”

“Like I said, I don’t remember.” She slipped her hands off the desk, and her voice dropped. “I guess … at the trial? Right before it?” She looked up, not exactly tearful, but there was emotion in her eyes that hadn’t been there a few seconds ago.

“That had to be hard. Testifying against your boyfriend.”

She picked at her nails, which were painted a glittery purple a few shades lighter than her hair. “It was. I wasn’t really given a choice.”

“By the school?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Not a great time in my life. I’m really grateful to Dr. Saetang for giving me this opportunity.” She looked up suddenly. “This isn’t going to affect my work, is it? I really need this job. You don’t understand.”

I didn’t want to lie to her. If she’d been involved in the Star going missing, there was no way she’d keep her job. But as that remained an unknown, I tried to smile reassuringly. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about at the moment.”

She exhaled. “Okay, thank you. Is there anything else you want to know? I’m an open book.” She grinned. “Did I use that right?”

“You did.” I nodded supportively, knowing how hard it could be to master the idioms of another culture. “The night of the gala, where were you when the lights went off?”

No hesitation. “I was by the windows. I’d gotten a good spot so I could see the nebula as soon as possible. I’ve seen it through a telescope, like most Loessaians, but to see it up close like that was…” She sighed. “I’ll never forget that. It was amazing. I’m going back to the observation loop as soon as I’m done with work today.”

“I don’t blame you. It’s really beautiful. I was amazed by it.” I shifted slightly, getting ready for my next line of questioning. “While you were at the gala, did you see anything strange? Overhear anything unusual? Notice any behavior that seemed odd?”

This time, she looked off to the left. The side of truth and recall. Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know if this is strange, but it seemed kind of unusual. Maybe it was nothing.”

“What was it?”

“I saw Ayronina and a soldier kind of arguing by the stairs. He was FAN, not Loessaian. I’d gone out to use the bathroom. I didn’t want to interrupt them, but I had to tell her that I loved her music, because, I mean, she’s Ayronina, you know?”

I nodded. “Of course. Did she respond to you at all?”

“She said thank you, but the soldier guy stuck his arm between us, like I was going to touch her or something, and said, ‘No autographs right now.’” Davika rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t going to ask. I’m not a kid. I know there’s protocol at events like that.”

“Right.” That had to be Ensign Ludwig. I couldn’t fault him for overreacting and doing his job. The lights had gone out, and the woman he’d been put in charge of had fainted. I was sure he was doing what he thought was best. “Anything else strange?”

She shook her head. “Not that I can think of. Are you really the head librarian?”

“I am. If you’d like some book recommendations, I’d be happy to help you. Library cards are free to everyone on board the Athos . Come in anytime.”

“I will.”

“What does your family think of you being here? They must be proud of you.”

She smiled. “My dad is very proud. My mom is more the worrying kind.”

“Mothers often are.”

“Not because she thinks anything bad is going to happen to me, but she’s worried that I’ll meet someone and decide not to come home.”

“Sounds like a mom.”

Davika’s smile had turned wistful. “I told her that’s not going to happen. I can’t just not have a job, you know? And I don’t think I could move to another planet. That would be a major adjustment.”

“You could probably find work on the starliner. There are plenty of scientists here who could use another assistant, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, maybe. But I couldn’t leave my family, either. I’m very close to them. And they … they sort of rely on me.”

“I’m sure they do.” Which was one more reason for her to have been involved with the theft of the Star. That money would be life-changing. “Is there anything else you remember from the gala? Anything that stands out?”

“I thought that Mrs. Hanth’s dress was beautiful. The food was good. Ayronina’s singing was amazing.”

I was preparing to excuse myself when another question came to me. “Do you know any of the guards who were assigned to the Omega Min Star?”

She inhaled a deep breath, blowing it out again before she swallowed. “Yes. One. Navun Kiat. He and I are sort of seeing each other.”

“Sort of?”

She sucked her cheeks in. “He likes me more than I like him. He’s a nice enough guy. We’re just not that compatible. He’s kind of … clingy. It’s just too much.”

I nodded knowingly. Hazel’s high-school boyfriend had been like that. Borderline controlling, really. Bad news. I’d never been so relieved when his family moved away. “Does he know how you feel about him?”

She sighed. “Not yet.” Her mouth bent in a grimace. “It’s kind of hard to break up with someone when you’re stuck together for a while, you know? I figured I’d wait until we got home and do it then.”

“Probably smart. When’s the last time you saw him?”

“Night of the gala, I guess. But we didn’t speak.”

That didn’t help much. “All right. If you think of anything else, you can find me in the library Monday through Friday. Come in anyway, and we’ll get you some books.”

“I’d like that. Thanks.”

I got up and went back out to see if Frank was done. He was, and by the look in his eyes, he had something to share.