Звезда Пандоры

Mel took a long disapproving glance at the image in the portal. “Do you think Johansson has a lot of them?”

“I don’t think he’s Johansson’s at all. Elvin hasn’t acquired this kind of capability. Besides, he wrecked Elvin’s operation. No, he was sent by someone else.”

“Any guesses?”

“Logically, there are three possibilities. A deep Commonwealth security department sent him in, something we’re not cleared to know about. There have always been rumors about the executive office having its own intelligence sector. Why they’d use an operative in this instance I don’t know, unless it was to send a very clear message to Johansson that we’re not going to tolerate him anymore. The same applies to CST. They could certainly put someone like this together, and they’re not likely to forgive or forget the sabotage attempt on the Second Chance.”

“And the third possibility?”

“The Starflyer sent him.”

“Oh, come on!”

“It’s an option, you have to admit that.”

“No, I don’t. What about Rigin’s enemies? He was a black-market arms merchant for God’s sake. His kind don’t settle disagreements over a meal and a bottle of wine.”

“A rival wouldn’t bother destroying the equipment Rigin was collecting; they wouldn’t even know about it. No, the timing indicates someone who had the same information we did. That fits the first two possibilities. Our operations are available to the executive. It might even fit the third.”

“No. Paula, no! There is no third option. The Starflyer is a cult conspiracy theory. You do not include it in any official report. If you do, I will not even attempt to cover your ass. Don’t you see how political this is? It had to be the President or CST. We can investigate many things, but not them.”

“Nobody is above the law.”

“Damnit. If the executive authorized it, then it is lawful. Same for CST; God, Sheldon and Ozzie own whole planets including a Big15, they are governments.”

“That doesn’t make what happened right. They killed people.”

“Don’t do this, Paula.” Mel was almost pleading. “Let me talk to Columbia, let me find out if this is safe. You never know, I might actually be right. It might have been one of Rigin’s enemies.”

She considered the request. “Very well, I’ll complete the investigation into the gallery explosion itself. How it is carried forward after that, and who it’s assigned to, will be your call.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” he asked suspiciously.

“If the investigation is blocked politically, it will be because it was either CST or the executive which ordered the assault, in which case I’m not interested. Not that I don’t want to see justice done, but it would not ever be possible to achieve justice in those circumstances. I would be wasting my time, which I could be using to pursue Johansson and Elvin. If Columbia wants us to proceed, then that’s a different matter.”

“If we get the all-clear, it’ll be to find out who Rigin was at war with. Do you really want to spend time on that? You’ve got the resources to track down Johansson now.”

“If we get the all-clear, you and I will need to know which of us is right.”

“So do you want the case?”

“I’ll let you know when you bring an answer from Columbia. Until then, I’m still dedicating the team to finding Johansson.”

“Okay. I can live with that.”

“There’s something else I want you to raise with Columbia.”

“Yes?”

“Elvin was after some very advanced equipment; I really think it’s time for every export to Far Away to be searched. Our current policy of random checks is simply not acceptable anymore. Not that it ever was to me.”

“I’ll put it on the agenda.”

“Good.”

Hoshe Finn was just sitting down to supper when the apartment’s door sensors showed him who was approaching. He muttered, “Holy shit,” and stood bolt upright. His wife, Inima, gave him a surprised look, then glanced at the little screen showing the camera picture. “Isn’t that… ?”

“Yep.” Hoshe went through the living room and arrived at the door the same time as Paula Myo. “Is something wrong?” he asked after he’d invited her in.

“No, everything is fine, thank you.” She looked him up and down. “You’ve lost some weight.”

“Not before time,” Inima said giving him a shy glance. “We’re considering having a child.”

Paula produced a genuine smile. “Congratulations. Will you be carrying it?”

“Heavens no,” Inima said. “It’ll be a vitro womb pregnancy.”

“Right.”

That seemed to exhaust the Investigator’s small talk. Hoshe and Inima exchanged a mildly bewildered look.

“Do you want to join us for supper?” Inima asked.

“No thank you, it’s midafternoon Paris time. I caught the express.”

“We can talk on the balcony if you’d like,” Hoshe said as his wife shot him a desperate glare.

“If you don’t mind,” Paula said.

“I’ll just get on with catching up on some work,” Inima assured her.