Page 16

A t this point, I wasn’t counting anything out. “What was it?”

Ensign Ludwig did the one-shoulder shrug again. “I saw the premier and his wife in what looked like a pretty heated argument. Like I said, it was probably nothing. Just husband-and-wife stuff, you know? I’m sure they’re under a lot of pressure, too.”

“I’m sure. Did you hear anything they were saying?”

“No. I wasn’t that close. And when they saw me, they immediately acted like nothing was going on.”

“All right, thanks. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

“You, too, ma’am.” He went back to watching Ayronina, his gaze riveted by her every move.

I took Frank’s hand and led him toward the mechanical passage. “Did you catch all of that?”

“I did. He’s got it bad, doesn’t he?”

“You mean his crush on Ayronina? Yes, he’s in deep.” I looked back at the young man. He was swaying to the beat now, smiling and singing along with the song. “I barely remember being that age, but I do remember those kinds of feelings. I am so glad that stage of my life is behind me. It just makes you … senseless, doesn’t it?”

Frank laughed. “That’s a good way to describe it. And when it all comes crashing down, he’ll be crushed.”

“Maybe that’s why they call it a crush to begin with.”

He nodded. “Probably. You ready to get out of here?”

“Yes.” As we headed back through the theater lobby and main doors, I tried not to think about how much work we had ahead of us.

Once inside Frank’s quarters, he went to reheat the coffee we hadn’t drunk. From the box of La Patisserie goodies, I picked out a little custard tart garnished with fresh berries. “Before we dive into reading again, can we update the board? Which we can now call a murder board, since we have a murder.”

“Good idea.”

I took a bite of the tart. The shell was crumbly and light, the custard creamy and sweet, the berries tart and fresh. Just the thing to help alleviate some of my continuing frustration.

I carried the rest of the tart and my coffee into Frank’s office but stayed standing while he sat. I was too worked up to sit. I needed to be able to move.

He brought up the board and added Navun’s name, putting deceased after it. He started a new file next, moving the pictures I’d taken of the body into it. While they were on the screen, I popped the last bite of tart into my mouth and wiggled my finger at the images while I chewed.

“You want to look at those some more?”

I nodded, took a sip of coffee, and swallowed. I could eat another tart, but I wasn’t going to. Yet. “Zoom in on whatever’s in his hand.”

Frank did as I asked, but the light from my wristband had caught whatever it was, and the reflection made it impossible to identify in the picture.

I peered closer, but it didn’t help. “What is that?”

“Piece of metal?” He shook his head. “Too much light. Maybe it’s the blade that was used to stab him. Or maybe it’s his, dropped as he tried to defend himself. I don’t know what weapons the guards are issued but shouldn’t be too hard to find out.”

“If it is his blade, that could mean our murderer has wounds. If Navun made contact.”

“Identifying marks would be good, but the murderer’s DNA would be even better. Also, if it is a blade, I’m sure the forensics team will have recovered it and we’ll find out shortly.”

“That would be fantastic. Okay, that’s all I wanted to see.”

He went back to the murder board. “You know, I should really dig into Paval and find out what I can about him. He’s on my list. It would tell us if he’s really a possibility or not.”

I grinned. “You just don’t want to read any more dossiers, do you?”

He chuckled. “Figured me out, I see.”

“No, I think that’s a good idea. The more we know about him, the better. I don’t want to waste time chasing rainbows. Might even give us some more insight into Davika. You do that. I’ll get back to reading.”

“Okay.”

I kissed his cheek before returning to the couch, snagging a petit four on my way past the table. I’d gotten through three short dossiers before Frank stepped out of his office again. I looked up. “News on Paval?”

He nodded. “After he was released from prison, he disappears. I’ve searched combinations of names thinking he changed his and went by his middle name or a family name, but there’s nothing. No death notice either, so my guess is he completely reinvented himself.”

I sighed.

“I think”—Frank went over to the box of pastries and selected a brownie—“that there’s a good chance Davika is lying to us.”

“Should we talk to her again?”

“Maybe. But I have a better idea. Mostly because I’m tired of all these dead ends.”

So was I. Also, the twinkle in his eye told me I was going to like his idea. “Do tell.”

“I’m going to see if I can access her webmail. If she’s been in contact with him, there should be a trail.”

I nodded. “I approve of that plan.”

“I thought you would.” He jerked his chin toward his office. “Algorithm’s already running. I’ll be reading through dossiers until it gets in.”

Smiling, I shook my head at his craftiness as I went back to work.

The algorithm still hadn’t cracked her webmail by the time I said good night, but I knew these things took time. Between us, we’d knocked out another twenty-two dossiers but agreed the process was moving too slow.

Frank decided to fix that by uploading them all into his AI software program and writing a prompt that had the AI search for keywords and phrases that we decided might be indicative of shady behavior. He set it running right before I left and promised to update me in the morning.

I slept pretty well, despite a brief dream about Dr. Saetang trying to put Harry into the airlock and Harry telling me not to worry because he didn’t need to breathe anyway. Unsettling but, as Harry was right, not that disturbing.

I slept in a little, meaning when my alarm chimes went off, I told the computer to give me another thirty minutes. I didn’t fall back asleep, but it was nice to lie there, snuggling with Harry, and not feel rushed to have to get somewhere.

I did have to get somewhere, of course. Breakfast with the premier and his wife. Frank was coming by at a quarter after nine so we could discuss anything his programs had found overnight before we went to the café. I yawned as I wondered what the day would bring.

Harry got up, lay on my chest, and stretched out, tucking his head under my chin. I smiled and closed my eyes, wrapping my arms around him. “You’re the sweetest boy, aren’t you?”

“Because I love you, Mum.”

“I love you, too, baby.” I thought about telling him what had happened in my dream, but I didn’t want to upset him. If an android could be upset. I wasn’t sure. No sense in risking it, though.

“I have to figure out what to wear for breakfast,” I said, talking more to myself than Harry. I didn’t expect him to chime in with suggestions on my wardrobe.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because Frank and I are having breakfast with Premier Hanth and his wife this morning.”

“Sounds posh. Where at?”

“The Corona Café.”

“Light fare served from six hundred hours to thirteen hundred hours featuring breakfast and lunch as well as an interstellar selection of coffee, tea, and tisanes.”

I laughed. “Yep, that’s the description.”

“You should wear your denim shirtdress with your black cardigan and black flats. Very chic.”

I glanced down, frowning. “How do you know that?”

“The dress is an appropriate choice, but the denim keeps it from being too formal, while the cardigan adds some additional coverage as well as warmth. The Corona Café is notoriously chilly.”

“It’s actually not a bad idea.”

He snuggled closer. “I know.”

I snorted softly. Harry’s intelligence continued to astonish me. When the chimes went off again, I was reluctant to get up but had to. I needed time to shower and make myself presentable, as well as drink at least one cup of coffee so that I’d be coherent.

I put the Morning News Report on while I made the coffee. They were talking about Ayronina’s amazing performance last night. With a roll of my eyes, I took my cup into the bathroom with me and showered.

I put the denim shirt dress on, then did my hair, tying a black, white, and gold patterned scarf into it. I kept my makeup simple. Breakfast was not the time for a smoky eye. For jewelry, I chose small gold hoops with a Greek key design and a bracelet of onyx and gold. Again, simple seemed better.

I added the black cardigan and black flats, then took a look in the mirror. Harry had been right. It was a good outfit. He’d moved out to the couch. I took my empty coffee cup to the Instachef for a half cup this time. “Good call on the outfit, Harry, my love.”

“Thanks, Mum. You look beautiful. Can I watch birds again?”

“Sure you can.” The Morning News Report wasn’t breaking any ground anyway. I switched it to one of the nature channels he liked so much. “Birds and squirrels okay?”

“Brilliant,” Harry replied, settling down to watch.

I drank my half cup while scrolling through the Nexus, but again, there was nothing earthshaking happening there either. Nothing new from Hazel. Or anyone, really. Maybe the girls were sleeping in, too. If so, good for them.

Hazel definitely wouldn’t be. Too much to do. Hopefully not for Zanya. Benni was probably off climbing a virtual mountain with Will, and Vashti could have been called in to Sick Bay. I hoped they were all doing what they wanted to be doing.

I put my cup in the sanitizer, brushed my teeth to get rid of coffee breath, and walked back out to the living area just as my door chimes rang. Already happy we were going to share this experience together, I opened the door to greet Frank.

He looked great. Gray dress slacks, a pale blue dress shirt, and a heathered-blue windowpane plaid sport coat. Very dapper and diplomatically appropriate. “Come on in.”

“Morning. You look fantastic.” He kissed me on the mouth, making me grateful I’d put my lip stain on early enough to dry.

“So do you.”

He waved at Harry. “Morning, Hieronymus.”

“Morning, Frank.” Harry shifted to tuck his front paws under his chest as his eyes went back to the screen.

“Anything new from Hazel?”

“No,” I said. “Anything new on the dossiers? Or Davika’s email?”

“Several things from the dossiers. Nothing yet from the email. I sent you an email with the notes.”

“Oh, I haven’t checked email.”

“No worries. I can bring you up to speed. Basically, there are two other potential suspects on paper. In person? Not so much. One is ninety-three and the other is his wife, who is ninety-seven. I know people live a lot longer these days, but neither of them seems able enough to have pulled off the kind of heist we’re talking about.”

“Or, I’m guessing, the murder.”

He nodded. “Yep. Which means there’s a good chance we’ve already talked to our murderer. Or … we’re about to.”

“Well, that should make for a very interesting breakfast.”

Frank pursed his lips as he nodded. “Indeed, it will.”