Release(86)

“I suppose that woman is related to Transman,” said Praxider.

“His mother,” choked Tramet, thinking of her face suddenly.

“If Risciter...” Praxider trailed off. “Well, I think we might have a motive, mightn’t we?” He stood up. “I don’t know of a way to prove that Risciter had anything to do with those crimes, but I might have an idea of how we could rule him out.” He strode over to the door to his office and opened it. He turned to Tramet. “My secretary Nandi is head over heels about Risciter. You know the type. Reads all about him on the nets.” He turned back to the door. “Nandi,” he called. “And bring your tablet.”

Within a few moments, a woman with frizzy hair appeared at Praxider’s door, holding a net tablet. “Sir?”

Praxider opened the door wide for her to walk through. “Nandi, you keep a pretty detailed record of the Duke of Risciter’s movements in the sector, don’t you?”

“Sir?”

“Oh, come now,” said Praxider, “I’ve seen you working on it at your desk. You’ve got a timeline, going back years, of all the planets he’s been on and when.”

Nandi hung her head. “I’m sorry, sir, I know I should have been working, but—”

“You’re not in trouble,” said Praxider. “Just pull it up on your tablet, please.”

Nandi looked surprised, but did as she was told.

“Check these dates, will you?” said Praxider. “Can you tell me if the duke was on Hallon during each of these periods?”





Chapter Eighteen

Ariana leaned into the front of the speeder. “Now you know to where to pick us up, don’t you?” she asked the driver.

He nodded, looking excited. “Driving the getaway car, I am. Never thought I’d get a chance to be doing something like this, miss.”

“Just be there.” Ariana straightened, smoothing her dress and putting her fan in front of her face so that only her eyes were visible. She hid her blaster behind the fan as well. She joined Aunt Tildy who was picking at the bodice of her too-tight dress. “Leave it,” Ariana said.

“It’s quite uncomfortable,” Aunt Tildy said. “I swore after that party earlier this season, I’d never wear it again.”

“But you look stunning,” said Ariana.

Aunt Tildy looked down at her cleavage, which was struggling to get out of the dress. She grinned wickedly. “I do look that, don’t I?”

“Now you remember what the plan is?”

“Of course I remember. I’m not an idiot, am I?”

Ariana certainly hoped not. She’d already taken Aunt Tildy’s flask away from her since the woman couldn’t seem to do anything without drinking. Fluttering the fan over her face, she followed her aunt into the Risciter Planetary Prison. This wasn’t a large prison for long-term inmates, but a relatively small place kept for those just arrested or awaiting trial. In Keirth’s case, since he was to be executed so quickly, she supposed they hadn’t seen the necessity of moving him. It made things easier all around, though, since there wouldn’t be nearly as much security to get through. At least Ariana hoped there wouldn’t be.

Aunt Tildy marched ahead of Ariana, head held high, a look of distain on her face as she passed each person. Most people looked away immediately. Good. So far, everything was working out.

She followed Aunt Tildy through the front door. Just inside, there was a man in uniform sitting next to the blaster detector. He was reading his screen, but looked up as they entered.

Aunt Tildy walked through the blaster detector, and Ariana followed quick on her heels.

The detector began to beep.

The man in uniform stood up.

Keep walking, Ariana thought at Aunt Tildy. Just keep walking.

Aunt Tildy, seeming to remember the plan, did exactly that.

“Excuse me,” said the man in uniform, but he was behind them now as they swept inside in the main room.

Aunt Tildy kept walking. Ariana followed.

The man was running up to them now. “Excuse me,” he said, more loudly.

Aunt Tildy ignored him, making her way across the room towards the lifts that would carry them down to the bottom of the prison, where the prisoners were kept.

The man caught up to them and wedged himself in front of Aunt Tildy. “Excuse me,” he said pointedly.

Aunt Tildy took a step back, her hand fluttering over her exposed cleavage, and managed to look utterly disgusted by the man. Good. “Yes?”

“You’ve set off the detector,” said the man. “You’ll need to walk through it again.”

“I haven’t set off the detector.” Aunt Tildy’s voice contained the perfect amount of disbelief and scorn.