Judas Unchained

“Our preliminary analysis is that Bromley, Waterford, and Granku was acting as a financial distribution center for the Starflyer agent network. They know it’s been compromised, of course. that’s why Seaton, Daltra, and Pomanskie have all vanished. The network funding will have been switched to another distribution center. However, Gore is going to inform the Financial Regulation Directorate; apparently he has a lot of contacts there. The Directorate will subject both Bromley, Waterford, and Granku, and the Denman Manhattan bank, to a forensic accounting evaluation. It’ll be considerably more thorough than anything Senate Security can run. There’s a chance that they might identify both the source of all this dark money, and some of the illusive individuals it was channeled to. It will be difficult; whoever set this up knew what they were doing, and of course onetime accounts remain the bane of law enforcement.”

“I’m sure Bromley, Waterford, and Granku has been shut down, but I know the FRD—they’ll take months if not years to complete their investigation.”

“I am of the same opinion,” Paula said. “But that aspect of the investigation may well soon be irrelevant, which is why I’m here in person.”

“You don’t trust encrypted calls?”

“I was on the East Coast anyway to see your father, and this is extremely important. Wilson Kime has been in touch with me. He’s asked me to visit the High Angel to review some information. His message was very short, but it seems as though he’s uncovered some kind of abnormality which occurred during the Second Chance mission.”

“I’ll be damned, that’s a surprise,” Justine muttered.

“Exactly. Convincing Wilson Kime that something is wrong could well be a turning point for us. In which case we’d need to know how strong our political support is. Are you making any progress?”

“Better than I’d expected. I can certainly defeat the vote against you in committee whenever Valetta Halgarth gets it onto the agenda again. But a full Senate vote is another matter. If we’re to launch an official investigation into the Starflyer, I’ve got to have rock-solid proof not just that it exists, but that it is manipulating human politicians exactly as the Guardians claim. And we both know my fellow senators won’t take kindly to that allegation, especially the Halgarths.”

“What about the Sheldons?”

“I haven’t determined their intent yet. I’m sorry.”

“I’d like to suggest a strategy,” Paula said warily. The idea was one that she and Gore had discussed at their meeting. It wasn’t quite the kind of tactic she approved of, maneuvering someone into a precarious position. Especially given what she suspected about the Senator’s current physical situation. But these were unusual times, Paula reflected, and there was no illegality on their part, which was the one line she would never cross—not even to challenge the Starflyer. Though it is a very blurred line these days. “According to the Guardians, the Starflyer will return to Far Away when the Commonwealth has been destroyed.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“It’s been mentioned in several of their shotguns. I have studied their content intensively over the decades; Johansson seems quite convinced by this. In fact, I suspect that has a lot to do with the unusual equipment they have been trying to smuggle to Far Away recently.”

“All right, so it wants to go back to Far Away; how does that help us?”

“That whole elaborate double wormhole connection to Far Away is massively subsidized by the Commonwealth. You should suggest withdrawing the funding, effectively shutting down the wormholes, and preventing the Starflyer from returning.”

“Ouch.” Justine smiled roguishly into her glass. “That’s going to annoy people.”

“It is intended to, especially the Halgarths and the Sheldons. Their reaction would be informative. It would certainly expose their political allies to us.”

“I could possibly include it as a rider on the navy finance bill that’s coming up next week. It’s justifiable as it would divert money from Far Away to the navy. Let me talk to Crispin. He always has been against subsidizing Far Away.”

“Thank you. I should add there might be some considerable risk in it for yourself personally. Your brother Thompson was killed because he interfered with the transport arrangements to Far Away. You might want to consider asking Senator Goldreich to propose the rider for you, given your…condition.” She couldn’t help the light flush rising on her cheeks, though she held Justine’s stare levelly.

“What condition is that?”

“I believe you’re pregnant, Senator. There are certain signs in evidence. And you did tell me you were going to give Kazimir the one gift still within your ability to grant. I suppose that was the real reason the body was taken to your family clinic in New York.”

Justine looked down. “Yes. You’re right on all counts. If you could keep that to yourself, please.”

“Of course, Senator. But the risk—you would effectively be bait.”

“I assume you and my father had taken that into account.”