He guessed who the young man was. “Do you have an ID?” he asked a nearby officer.
“Name was Oleg,” the officer replied as he entered something into a datapad.
“Was anything on the body?” Bant asked. “Just a blaster. Never got a chance to use it, did he? A probe droid got him first.”
While they waited for Mace, Obi-Wan and Bant explored the area. At first they found nothing to indicate a struggle, no clues to send them in a new direction. Then they came to the back door. The panel was peeled back, leaving an opening wide enough for a man to step through.
Mace’s voice came from behind them. “A lightsaber, no doubt.”
“It could have been a vibrotorch,” Obi-Wan suggested. Suddenly he did not want Mace to think that Qui-Gon had been there.
Mace didn’t answer. His eyes narrowed, and he moved forward to pluck something off the sharp end of a broken hinge. He held it up to Obi-Wan and Bent. It was a piece of a Jedi robe.
He turned and looked through the opening cut in the door. The security officers had left bright glow rods to illuminate the back area.
“There was a battle with probe droids,” Mace said. “See the scorch marks on the pavement? Maybe four or five or even more.” He turned to Obi-Wan. “Did Qui-Gon employ probe droids to track Balog?”
Obi-Wan swallowed. He could not lie to Mace. “Yes,” he said.
Mace stood holding the scrap of fabric. His face showed nothing of what he was thinking. But Obi-Wan could guess.
Was Qui-Gon involved in Oleg’s death? Had his grief and rage turned him to the dark side? Would he not care who was in his way in his quest to avenge Tahl’s death? Obi-Wan feared the question was in Mace’s mind. His bigger worry was that it was in his own.
CHAPTER 8
Qui-Gon moved swiftly through the dark streets. The clue he had found at the site of Oleg’s killing led him on. By Oleg’s side, he had found a slender chain and pendant. The chain had been broken. He had recognized the pendant immediately. Irini had been at the warehouse.
He stood for a moment outside Lenz’s dwelling, wondering how to proceed. Irini did not volunteer information freely. But his impatience allowed no time for persuasion.
Then he saw Irini heading toward him, her arms filled with a bag of food. Her steps slowed for an instant when she saw Qui-Gon. Then she moved forward briskly to hide her hesitation. In that moment, Qui-Gon decided that his best chance was to bluff.
“So we meet again tonight,” he said.
She eyed him warily. “Again?”
“You were at the warehouse tonight with Oleg. So was I.”
She swallowed. Her eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
“Did you get the list?”
She let out a breath. “No. He didn’t have it. I posed as a buyer, hoping to get it. If not, I wanted to protect him.”
“But he betrayed the Workers,” Qui-Gon said.
“He saw a way to make his fortune, yes,” Irini said wearily. “Many Workers are desperate that way. Despite our hopes, the wealth of the Civilized has not trickled down to us. But Oleg is still a Worker, and we know he was being pursued. My job was to bring him in.”
“Did you see what happened?” Qui-Gon asked.
“Two probe droids attacked, so I got out,” she said. “I’m sure it was Balog who sent them.”
“Balog was there, too,” Qui-Gon said. “I saw him.”
Irini dropped the bundle she held. Fruit and protein packs spilled onto the pavement. “Balog was there? Did he get the list?”
“You said Oleg didn’t have it,” Qui-Gon said.
She shook her head rapidly, suddenly concerned. “I didn’t see it. But maybe I overlooked something…”
“I don’t think Oleg had the list on him,” Qui
Gon said. “He was worried about his safety. I also think it’s possible that he’d already sold it.”
“Then why would he meet another buyer?” Irini asked.
“As you say, he wanted his fortune,” Qui-Gon said. “He could sell the list several times and make enough to live out the rest of his life in luxury.”
Irini pressed a hand against her eyes. “So several people could have the list, then. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“The question is: who?” Qui-Gon said. “And if Balog does have it, what is his next move?”
“I can’t answer those questions. I’m as much in the dark as you are.” Irini bent down and began to retrieve her food. Qui-Gon bent to help her.
“We are after the same thing, lrini,” he said, placing a package of tea into her bag. “It might be a good idea if you helped me.”