Part 15 (1/2)

The aide looked aside. ”It came in from Riandar Headquarters, your honor,” he said. ”Colonel Konir signed it himself.”

”I can read,” snapped Stern. ”But who's responsible? What idiot let this thing fall apart?” He shook the papers angrily.

”Look at this thing,” he ordered. ”Simple instructions were issued.

With the organization they have up there, any fool could have carried them out. So long as they kept it simple, even an idiot could have eliminated that Waern nuisance. But no! Someone had to be subtle.

Someone had to make a big project out of it. And, of course, something went wrong.” He snorted angrily and slapped the papers down on his desk.

”Rayson was responsible in part, I suppose?”

The aide nodded unhappily and Stern let out an explosive breath.

”Your man! Well, at least, where he is, he can do no more harm. Tell me, are they going to get a confession out of that man, Masterson?”

”I doubt it, your honor. He claims to know nothing of the accident. And there isn't a sc.r.a.p of evidence that----”

”Evidence! There's very little doubt is there? With those notes of Rayson's? And who else could have caused the crash?”

”Well, there certainly is no other----”

”Of course not. We know Masterson did it somehow. But why?”

The aide said nothing and Stern glared at him.

”Who is this Masterson?” he demanded. ”Have you checked back on him?”

”He came here from Nogira,” said the aide slowly, ”seventeen years ago.

He had some civil police experience there. We've checked that. He has a degree in criminalistic science. We checked that, too. Not a suspicious move since he came here. He was in the Civil Branch for a few years, then was a.s.signed to instructional duty. He's got a perfectly clean record.”

Stern shook his head slowly, then looked down at the desk again.

”Just that little,” he growled. ”He could have simply hated Rayson for some private reason. He could have seen him as an obstacle. We could care less about that.” He tapped at a paper.

”Or, he could be working with the Waernu. And that's probable. He could even be an undercover agent for the Federation, though that seems a little improbable. He's been here too long. Hah! He could be almost anything except what Rayson thought.” He looked up.

”Well, don't let him go. Keep him out of circulation. In fact, you better have him put in tight confinement. We'll look into him more closely later. Right now, I want to know what became of that Waern boy.”

The aide pointed at the papers on the desk. ”The boy and his father are reported to have left their residence, your honor. It is thought they went with that same Donald Michaels who interfered with the original plan.”

Stern nodded. ”The boy Rayson had right in his hands, and then let go.

Yes.” He looked around the room, then got to his feet.

”Tell me, has any progress been made on locating the Waern 'Book of Ancestors'?”

”No, your honor. Records has located and destroyed the last of the evidence here in Oreladar. But the Waern copy has not yet been located.”

Stern nodded. ”Find out who is responsible for the long delay in discovering the Waern claim, Lander. That is inexcusable.” He frowned.

”Now, to the Waernu. Did anyone see them leave their home?”