Would it prove too difficult for Eritha to betray her sister?
But she had already taken a step she could not retake, Obi-Wan knew.
On finding out that her sister was behind Tahl's kidnapping, she had gone in search of Obi-Wan and Qui- Gon. She had risked much to do so. She could easily have lost her life in the cave. Obi-Wan remembered how afraid Eritha had been as the explosives were going off and the cave was collapsing. He admired how she'd been able to go on so bravely despite her fear. He still remembered her scream. They forgot me! They left without me!
Obi-Wan concentrated for a moment. There was something about the way Eritha had sounded that bothered him now. What was it? The emotion that was driving her was slightly off from what he would expect.
Astonished. She'd been astonished. And betrayed.
They forgot me!
As if they shouldn't have, as if she were somehow privileged, even though she was a prisoner.
If she had been a prisoner…
And why had she been heading toward the back of the cave?
Yes, the smoke had been thick near the front of the cave. But wouldn't she have tried to push through?
She was heading for the other exit near the back of the cave, Obi-Wan realized. But how had she known about it? They had not found it when Eritha had been captured. She should have had no way of knowing how deep the cave was.
Slow down, Obi-Wan warned himself. There could be other explanations for what had happened. Eritha had been panicked. She was reacting, not thinking.
But since the suspicion had been lodged in his mind, Obi-Wan went back to Eritha's behavior while they were together. He concentrated, bringing the memory back moment by moment, as fresh as if it had happened that morning.
Eritha had seemed sincere when she caught up with them. Shortly after, they'd been attacked by the Rock Workers. Eritha had been genuinely surprised by the attack, Obi-Wan was sure, and genuinely afraid. When Qui- Gon had warned her to stay behind them, she had readily agreed.
So why then did she suddenly dodge forward when their probe droid was in sight? She had forced them to protect her. As a result, Obi-Wan had received a leg injury and their probe droid had been destroyed. Could it have been a desperate attempt to destroy their only method of tracking Balog?
And what about the attack on the Rock Worker settlement? Qui-Gon had told him that he had met up with Eritha before dawn. She had been planning to refuel the speeders. Or so she had said. But what if she'd actually been planning to leave? If she and Alani were plotting against the Jedi, they had done their work. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were without a probe droid. They had no way to track Balog. Eritha had not known that Obi-Wan was better and was able to travel. She would have most likely assumed that Qui-Gon would stay in the settlement.
Maybe she was leaving because she knew of the attack.
Could it be possible? Obi-Wan wondered.
Could Eritha have misled them into thinking that she was the good sister? Were both sisters out for the power they could grab?
There was one last thing. When Obi-Wan and Eritha had arrived back in New Apsolon, Eritha had been furious that Manex had stepped in and offered his own med team for Tahl. Obi-Wan had seen it in her eyes. He had thought it was because she held the same distrust for Manex as he did and was concerned about Tahl's recovery. But what if the opposite were true? What if she didn't want Tahl to recover?
What if he had suspected the wrong person? What if Manex was good, and Eritha was bad? Never had he longed for Qui-Gon more.
When Manex had told them of his decision to run for office, Obi-Wan had brought up Alani. Why had Manex hesitated? Was there a reason he was running against Ewane's daughter?
Obi-Wan rubbed his eyes. The lack of sleep and rest was getting to him. His thoughts whirled. He didn't know if he was constructing a case against Eritha on no evidence, or whether this was worth pursuing. Why would the twins call for Tahl's help in the first place, if they planned a power grab all along? It didn't make sense.
Obi-Wan knew his mind would not rest until he had found out some answers. He went to the door of Manex's reception room and pressed the indicator light that would alert Manex that he had a visitor.
The door hissed open a few seconds later. 'Is it Balog?' Manex whispered from the darkness.
'No. I need to ask you some questions,' Obi-Wan said, stepping inside.
Manex powered up a low light by his sleep couch. He swung his legs over and rubbed his eyes. 'I am at your service.'
'Why did you insist on your own med team for Tahl?' Obi-Wan asked bluntly. 'Surely the team for the Supreme Governor is just as good.'
'But mine is better,' Manex said. 'Don't you remember that I have the best of everything?' He tried to say this jokingly, but it sounded hollow.
'Is there some reason you don't trust Alani and Eritha?' Obi-Wan asked. 'If so, you must tell the truth. If you have a suspicion, you must name it.'
Manex looked away for a moment, thinking. 'I have no real proof,' he said slowly. 'I did not think it fair to speak until I had some evidence.
Those girls have been through so much. First the death of their father, then their protector. At first I thought I was crazy to suspect them.'
