[Legacy Of The Force] - 03(35)

“Thanks for the information,” Luke said. He took Mara’s arm and started toward the detectives. “It’s always good to know the law.”

“Especially when they keep changing it,” Mara added under her breath.

“The latest legal updates are available from any law enforcement droid,” the policebot said behind them. “All inquiries will be noted in your file.”

“Wonderful,” Mara grumbled.

Luke found her attitude a little surprising. Mara usually supported a stern response to terrorism. But as a former Emperor’s Hand, she also knew how easy it was to abuse the kind of information the government was now gathering under provisions of the Galactic Loyalty Act. Every year, she gave a special seminar at the academy, teaching young Jedi how to use the galaxy’s vast data banks to track their quarry.

As the Skywalkers drew near, the two detectives stopped talking. The Bith extended a delicate-fingered hand in greeting to Luke, then to Mara.

“Master Skywalker and Master Skywalker, thanks for coming. I’m Chal Tozr.” He waved at his green-scaled companion. “This is my partner, Gwad Raatu.”

Instead of offering a hand, Raatu twitched his scaly snout in suspicion. “Do you know a Tresina Lobi?”

“Of course they know her,” Tozr said. “She’s a Jedi Master.”

“That’s correct,” Luke said. He could sense Raatu’s excitement through the Force; the Rodian’s hunting instinct had been triggered, and he was eager to find his prey. “She sits on the Jedi Council, as a matter of fact.” “Not anymore.” Continuing to study their faces rather obviously, Raatu waved a hand toward the hedge on the near side of the walkway. “A gardener droid found her.”

“Gwad! Show some respect.” The edges of Tozr’s cheek folds turned blue with embarrassment. “Sorry about that. My partner thinks everyone is a suspect.”

“Everyone is a suspect.” Raatu’s dark eyes remained fixed on Luke and Mara. “Where were you early last night?”

Tozr let out his breath in whistled exasperation. “Gwad!” He turned his huge head toward the Skywalkers. “You don’t have to answer.”

“No, it’s fine.” A knot of anger was forming in Luke’s stomach, but it was not Raatu he was upset with. The Jedi comm center’s night tech had left a message detailing Master Lobi’s interrupted transmission, so he knew what had happened to Lobi-and who was responsible. “I had an important meeting with Chief Omas that lasted until after midnight. Mara was with me.”

“If you’d like to confirm that, you can comm his office.” Mara’s voice was particularly sharp and sarcastica sign of the sorrow and anger that Luke could feel in her through the Force. “Ask for the Chief of State.”

Raatu rotated his dish-shaped sensory antennae toward her. “Would I be able to speak with Chief Omas personally?”

“No!” Tozr said. He turned to Luke. “Look, someone assassinated the Bothan ambassador last night, and the chief of detectives wants as many of us on it as he can get. So if you want to handle this matter yourself, just say…”

“We’re the law on Coruscant,” Raatu objected. “Not the Jedi.”

The Bith whirled on his partner. “Someone killed a Jedi Master, you taserbrain!” He was so irritated that his voice warbled. “Even if we solve the case, are we going to make the arrest?”

Raatu’s snout widened in excitement. “You’re afraid of a challenge?”

“Maybe we should all work together for now,” Luke suggested. He waved at the forensics droids swarming over the near hedge. “You’ve already started collecting evidence, and the Jedi can bring some unique resources to bear.”

Raatu cast a resentful glance in Tozr’s direction, then let out a disgusted snort. “We call the shots,” he said. “Technically, you’re just observers.”

“I guess that’s better than suspects,” Mara retorted. She turned to Tozr. “Why don’t you show us the scene?”

“You’re standing on it.” Tozr nodded at the walkway, then waved at the blartree hedges lining either side. “It looks like they were waiting in ambush…”

“They?” Luke asked.

“You think that’s wrong, Skywalker?” Raatu kept his bulging eyes fixed on Luke. “Something maybe you need to share?”

“No, go on,” Luke said. The interruption had been a mistake, and not only because it had aroused Raatu’s suspicions. He could feel Mara studying him, too, wondering what he knew that she didn’t. “I was leaping to conclusions-no one has anything to gain by that.”