The scientist bowed again, more deeply. “Yes, Your Excellency. We will continue to investigate.”
“See that you do.”
Durga broke the connection and then undulated back and forth across his office, fuming. Aruk was murdered! I knew it all along! Wealth enough to buy X-1. It has to be Desilijic—Jiliac … or perhaps Jabba. I will find the one responsible for this, and I will kill him or her with my own hands! I swear it to my dead parent. I will have vengeance ….
Over the next ten days, Durga had all the servants in the palace interrogated ruthlessly—especially the cooks. Though several died during questioning, there was no evidence to indicate that any of them had been tampering with Aruk’s meals.
The young Hutt Lord neglected his other duties as he attended each interrogation session. His rival, Zier, came to visit him toward the end of the sessions, and arrived just as droids were bearing away the limp corpse of a t’landa Til female who had served as a minor administrative clerk for Besadii.
The elder Hutt looked disdainfully at the huge, four-legged body as it was borne out by the droids. “How many does that make?” he asked, with more than a touch of sarcasm.
Durga glared at Zier. He’d have loved to have linked the other Besadii to Aruk’s death, but Zier had been on Nar Hekka overseeing Besadii interests until a few months ago, when he’d been recalled home after Aruk’s death.
When he’d first turned up, Durga had had Zier investigated thoroughly, but there was not even the smallest hint of a link between him and Aruk’s murder.
For one thing, Zier, though well-off, did not possess nearly the financial resources to purchase large quantities of X-1. And there had been no unusual withdrawals from his accounts.
“Four,” the young Hutt snapped. “They do not have our strength, cousin. It is no wonder the lesser races bow to us … they are far inferior physically, as well as mentally.”
Zier sighed. “I must say I will miss that vi’lek chef of yours,” he said.
“He prepared filets of mulblatt larvae in fregon-blood sauce superbly.”
He sighed again.
Durga’s huge mouth turned down. “Chefs can be replaced,” he said shortly.
“Has it occurred to you, my dear cousin, that the forensic specialist you hired might be wrong in his conclusions?”
“He and his team are the best to be had,” Durga said. “Their references were excellent. They have performed investigations for the Emperor’s top military aides … even Governor Tarkin.”
Zier nodded. “A good recommendation,” he admitted. “From what I hear, the governor is not an official to disappoint if one wishes to live.”
“That is what they say.”
“Still, cousin … is it possible that you have demanded of this team that they find evidence of murder, and so they have? Whether or not it is true?”
Durga considered that for a moment. “I do not believe that,” he said, finally. “The evidence is there. I have seen the lab reports.”
“Lab reports can be faked, cousin. Also … in your obsession, you have spent a great many credits. These scientists are earning much from Besadii. It is possible that they do not wish this stream of credits to end.”
Durga faced his cousin. “I am certain that the team has reported their findings accurately. As to the cost … Aruk was the head of all Besadii. Isn’t it proper to find out what really happened? Lest others think we can be killed with impunity?”
Zier’s pointed tongue ran slowly across the lower part of his mouth as he thought. “Perhaps you are right, cousin. However … I would suggest that in order for you to not be regarded as a reckless spendthrift, you begin paying for this investigation out of your own personal funds, rather than Besadii operating capital. If you agree to this, no more will be said.
If you do not … well, there is a clan meeting approaching. As a conscientious clan leader, it is my duty to comment on our financial report.” Durga glared at his cousin.
Zier glared back. “And … cousin … if any accidents befall me, it will go the worse for you. I have filed copies of the financial reports in places you have no way of discovering. They will be produced should I die—no matter how much it might seem that I perished of natural causes.”
The younger Hutt resisted the urge to order his guards to shoot Zier.
Hutts were notoriously hard to kill, and another death might well cause all of Besadii to rise up against him.
Durga drew a deep breath. “Perhaps you are right, cousin,” he said, finally. “From this day forward, I will personally finance the investigation.”