'About that,' Pellaeon said, watching Tierce's face closely and wishing mightily that he had enough evidence on him to order a full verity analysis. The man was lying through his teeth—that much Pellaeon was sure of. But until he could positively identify Tierce as the man who'd sliced into the Yaga Minor computer system, there was nothing else he could do.
Or until that New Republic slicer Ghent found evidence of Tierce's tampering.
Behind Pellaeon, the double doors swung open. 'I apologize for the delay, Admiral,' Disra said, striding past Commander Dreyf and around the side of the ivrooy desk. 'That will be all, Major,' he added curtly to Tierce.
'Yes, Your Excellency,' Tierce said. For the briefest instant their eyes met, and Pellaeon thought he saw Disra give his aide a microscopic nod. Then, moving with the air of a man trying to run from a group of besiioths while still keeping some shreds of dignity, the major crossed the office and escaped.
'I trust Major Tierce was congenial company for you,' Disra commented.
'Quite congenial,' Pellaeon assured him, studying that twisted face closely. Not so much a face as a mask, he thought, built to conceal the mind behind it.
And he knew what was in that mind. The trouble was, he couldn't prove it. Not yet. But let him have one slip on Disra's part—just one—
'Now, where were we?' Disra asked briskly, leaning back in his chair. The short break had definitely done his confidence a mountain of good. 'Oh, yes—those unfounded and slanderous things other people have been saying about me. It's occurred to me, Admiral—' He broke off as the call signal sounded from his desktop comm. Scowling, he leaned forward again and jabbed the switch. 'Yes?' he barked. 'What is it—?' He stiffened, his eyes widening momentarily, his jaw dropping a fraction of a centimeter. His eyes darted to Pellaeon, back to the comm display. 'Yes, I'm busy,' he growled. 'And I don't appreciate being interrupted this way for—'
Abruptly he stopped. Pellaeon strained his ears, but the speaker was focused toward Disra and he could hear nothing from his position on the opposite side of the desk. And then Disra's eyes widened again... and Pellaeon saw something he had never seen before. Something he had never expected to see.
Moff Disra, liar, conniver, and probable traitor, went white.
Dreyf saw it, too. 'Your Excellency?' he asked, standing up and starting around the side of the desk.
The moment of shock passed, and Disra's expression of stunned disbelief suddenly changed to that of a crazed rancor. 'Back!' he snarled at Dreyf, his hand slashing at him as if trying to ward away a dangerous animal. 'I'm all right. Just stay back.'
Dreyf stopped, throwing a confused look at Pellaeon. 'Is anything the matter, Your Excellency?' Pellaeon asked.
'Everything's fine, Admiral,' Disra said, the words coming out like they'd been sent through a grain-grinder. His eyes, Pellaeon noted, were still fixed on the comm display. 'If you'll excuse me again, there's another matter I need to attend to right away.'
He stood up, keying off the comm with a vicious stab of his finger. 'I'll be right back,' he growled, heading at a not-quite run toward the double doors.
'Of course,' Pellaeon called after him. 'Take whatever time you need.' The last word was cut off by the boom as the doors closed behind him. 'Well, that was interesting,' Dreyf commented, looking at the doors and then back at Pellaeon. 'Another trick to buy himself some breathing space?'
'I don't think either of these interruptions has been an act,' Pellaeon said, frowning thoughtfully at the Moff's desk. Historically, the majority of people who were able to afford culture-grown ivrooy furniture were wealthy politicians, industrialists, and fringe crimelords. All of whom always had things to hide... 'No, something's going on out there. Something important.'
'Mm,' Dreyf murmured. 'Shall I wander down the hall and see if I can find out what it is?'
'Maybe later,' Pellaeon said. 'In the meantime, it seems we've been left alone. In Disra's office.' Dreyf lifted his eyebrows in understanding. 'Yes, we have, haven't we,' he agreed, looking around the office. His gaze fell on the desk... 'Of course, it's a little dubious legally,' he reminded his superior, throwing a sideways glance at the two troopers guarding the door. 'We haven't got a search order, and Disra hasn't been officially charged with anything.'
'I'll take the responsibility,' Pellaeon said. 'Go ahead and see what you can find.'
'Yes, sir,' Dreyf said, giving him a tight smile as he circled around to the other side of the desk.
'It'll be a pleasure.'
* * *
