Release(76)

A policeman pushed Keirth back into his seat.

“Prosecution, proceed,” said the judge.

The man in a suit opposite Keirth stood up. “The state calls Sergeant Nol Praxider.”

One of the uniformed policemen got up and took the stand. He swore his oath and sat down.

The prosecuting attorney stood behind his table. “Sergeant Praxider, you were the investigating officer on the scene on Scranth, were you not?”

Sergeant Praxider nodded. “That’s true.”

“And can you briefly describe the nature of the crimes perpetrated at the brothel there?”

“There were thirty-three bodies,” said Praxider. “Twenty-nine of them were prostitutes who worked at the brothel, two were customers of the prostitutes, one was a small girl of about eight, and the final body belonged to the Duke of Risciter. All had their throats slashed except the girl, the men, and the duke, who was killed by multiple stab wounds, which is actually something I find rather strange, and I wonder—” Praxider turned to the judge— “perhaps if the department could be given leave to question the suspect now that we have him in custody, we could determine if there wasn’t more to this crime than meets the eye?”

Keirth held his breath. The sergeant had seen something strange had happened. Maybe they’d listen to him. Maybe he could still prove his innocence.

The judge grimaced. “You will answer the questions as they are given to you, Sergeant.”

Keirth let his breath out. Not a chance.

The prosecuting attorney straightened his lapel. “With the exception of the small girl, does it appear that all of these bodies were killed with the same weapon?”

“Yes,” said Praxider.

The attorney picked up a clear bag, with Risciter’s knife encased in it.

Keirth stared. Why hadn’t he thought to take the knife? Why had he left it there?

“Is this the weapon?” asked the attorney.

“It appears so,” said Praxider.

“Were there any fingerprints found on the weapon?”

“Actually, yes,” said Praxider. “Some of them belonged to the duke, and some belonged to someone we couldn’t identify. Given that we haven’t actually had the chance to fingerprint Keirth Transman, we can’t be sure that they belong to him.”

The prosecuting attorney pursed his lips. “Might there have been a reason that the duke’s fingerprints were on the knife?”

“I’m sure it means that he was holding it at some point,” said Praxider. “Although, oddly enough, the duke’s body was found wearing gloves, which I think is quite strange—”

“I’m referring, of course,” said the prosecutor, “to a distress call that you received from the duke himself. Didn’t you get a message from him indicating that he had attempted to fight Transman off, and wouldn’t that account for his fingerprints on the knife?”

“Well, we did receive a message,” said Praxider, “and the duke also claimed he’d killed Transman, which, as you can see, wasn’t true. Further, the duke claimed that Miss Ariana Gilit had also been murdered, but we took her into custody earlier today, and she appeared in fine health. I really must indicate again that my department has not had sufficient time to make heads or tails of this case and—”

The judge banged his gavel. “I’ve heard enough,” he said. “I find the defendant, Keirth Transman, guilty of the willful and horrific murder of Terence Yon, the Duke of Risciter, and hereby sentence him to death by hanging.”

Keirth was on his feet again. “Don’t I get the chance to defend myself? To call witnesses?” What kind of trial was this?

“The sentence will be carried out in the morning,” said the judge, banging his gavel again. He stood up and turned with a swirl of his robes.

Policemen grabbed Keirth and yanked him out of his chair.

Praxider was standing up in the witness box. “Your Honor, this is highly irregular, even for the Star Chamber.”

The judge didn’t respond.

Keirth was tugged out of the room. His struggling didn’t make any difference.

* * *

Ariana strode into the parlor, dressed in the “very pretty” dress that Sadie had told her about earlier. She’d had Sadie redo her hair three times, claiming she didn’t like the effect, when in actuality it was fine. She wanted to be a little late. She wanted to make an entrance.

The guests for the dinner party had already arrived, which was the way she wanted it. She could see that her parents were there, as well as Aunt Tildy, and her sister Maga. There were also about seven or eight other members of the nobility. No one particularly well-placed, of course, because she and her family were on the planet Risciter, and most people in the sector were on Wendo, since it was fashionable this season. Ariana wondered why they’d brought her to Risciter anyway. Wouldn’t it have been easier to ship her to Wendo, where her family was?