“Of course,” Qui-Gon said. “You were together when the theft occurred?”
“It was in one of the hall cafŠs,” Senator S’orn said. “We were having lunch.”
Obi-Wan controlled his excitement. Something was about to break. He knew it. Fligh stole the data pad, and Jenna booked Didi’s for an important dinner. Was this a connection that would lead them somewhere? As Qui-Gon had said earlier, it didn’t make sense, but it had to.
“Was there anyone else in the cafŠ?”
Senator S’orn sighed. “Do you mean, was the thief there? I assume so. Don’t you think I’ve gone over this? The cafŠ was crowded. I didn’t notice anyone suspicious.”
“How about a tall, slender human male with one dark eye and one bright green eye?”
Senator S’orn looked startled. “Yes. But he couldn’t be the thief. He’s a Senatorial aide. Or at least he said so. We were discussing a dinner that Jenna was going to host for the other scientists attending the conference. He handed out a card for a restaurant nearby that he said was excellent. Jenna took the card. I had never heard of it, but Jenna said she would look into it.”
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance.
“Was that the thief? Should I report him?” Senator S’orn asked.
Qui-Gon stood. “It would be to no purpose. He is dead. Thank you for your time, Senator.”
Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon from the office. “So we have a connection,” he said. “Fligh and Didi to Jenna Zan Arbor and Senator S’orn.”
“Not to mention to Ren S’orn,” Qui-Gon said. “No doubt Jenna Zan Arbor knew about Senator S’orn’s son.”
“But I still don’t see what it all means,” Obi
Wan said, frustrated. “It’s all so confusing.” “Ask yourself this question, Padawan. Who would benefit from Fligh’s death? Or Didi’s?” “No one,” Obi-Wan said. “Not now, anyway. Unless there is something else on that data pad that we don’t know about.”
“Exactly,” Qui-Gon said. “Either data pad - remember, we now know that Jenna Zan Arbor’s data pad was stolen, too.”
Obi-Wan nodded. “I have a feeling I know where we’re heading next.”
“Yes,” Qui-Gon said. “To see Jenna Zan Arbor.”
CHAPTER 12
Obi-Wan stood uneasily in the lobby of the luxury hotel. He had been in palaces and grand houses before. He had seen luxurious surroundings, thick carpets, fine metals, ornately carved furniture. He had observed without feeling part of it, as a Jedi should. He had never felt awkward, even in the palace of a queen.
But here he felt differently. The walls were of a white polished stone with veins of pinkish gold. The floor under his feet was black hard stone, polished to a high sheen. He was afraid to sit on the plush sofas and chairs. He suddenly noticed the stains of his dessert on his tunic.
The rich swirled around him, coming to and fro from the many restaurants off the lobby, or picking up mail and keys. Their eyes slid past him, as if he was not worth their notice. Their voices were low and hushed, unlike the busy chatter on the crowded streets.
As usual, Qui-Gon looked perfectly at ease. He walked to the desk and asked the clerk to ring Jenna Zan Arbor’s room.
The clerk spoke into a private comlink headpiece and listened for a moment. “You may go up,” he said. Then he directed them to the turbolift that would take them to the seventy-seventh floor.
Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon into a large lift tube lined with a rosy stone that made him feel as though he were in the center of a flower. The tube doors opened, and he stepped out onto a thick, cushioned carpet.
Jenna Zan Arbor waited in the doorway of her suite. She was dressed in a septsilk robe of deep blue that hung stiffly to her feet. Her blond hair was again twisted in an elaborate style and wound through with multicolored fabric.
Qui-Gon bowed. “Thank you for seeing us. I am Qui-Gon Jinn and this is Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
She returned the bow. “Jenna Zan Arbor. I’m honored to greet the Jedi.” She gave them another look. “But you were at the cafŠ.”
“We are friends of Astri and Didi Oddo,” Qui-Gon said.
Jenna Zan Arbor looked a little less welcoming
She turned and led them into a vast room with the same polished black stone floor as the lobby. Plush white sofas were arranged in two seating areas, one intimate and one grand. Gauzy white draperies hung at the floor-to-ceiling windows and pooled on the floor. Outside, the lights of the passing traffic were like traveling stars through a fine mist.
Jenna Zan Arbor ushered them to the most intimate grouping. Obi-Wan sat down and immediately sank into the cushions. He tried to sit erect but found himself slipping backward.