Part 19 (1/2)
I think I know how it was done, Kelly blurted. ”I mean, I believe I know who could have done it. DeVeer's expression didn't change, but his moustache twitched. ”Tell me more,' he said.
She produced the first of her film prints and put it before him.
”This man was paroled from a labor colony and returned to Earth.
He's a laser expert and innovator. His name was Lesder Boronov, but he's called Askell Klonski now.”
”What makes you think that he involved himself in stock theft? Name changes are not illegal.”
”He might not be involved directly, but he came into a lot of money when he was released,' Kelly said. She produced the printout of Klonski's credit balance.
DeVeer read over both films carefully and made notes on a pad as he scanned. He glanced at her from under beetled brows. ”May I ask where you got these screens?”
”The one about Boronov is from s.p.a.cedep sealed files. I . . . would like to protect my sources but they are reliable. I expect Poldep would be able to check the information. You can see that Klonski has been paid sums for ”special services.”
Now'Kelly swallowed, because she was diving forward into conjecture-'what services could a laser expert do to earn that much money?”
”The matter could be legitimate.”
”Then wouldn't he be listed in s.p.a.cedep's regular contractor file?” Kelly asked. ”Why hide him under the privacy seal? And he's not the only one.” She showed him Dalkey's other printouts. ”These men are all ex-felons, all received early paroles, and they're all under similar privacy seals.” DeVeer didn't insist that she identify her sources, which was an immense relief to her. She hoped that he thought that she herself was the s.p.a.cedep employee who had pulled the files. He read the third set of films with the same focused attention he ha'd read the other two.
Partway through the first page, he pulled over his computer terminal.
He spent some minutes entering data and looking from the screen to the printouts. Then he became engrossed, fingers stabbing at function keys, tapping out new requests. Kelly sat with her hands clutched in her lap', her eyes pinned on the Poldep investigator.
”Interesfing,' he said, looking up at her after nearly an hour.
He leaned back in his chair, tented his fingertips together again, and fixed his keen gaze on Kelly.
Kelly leaned across the table. ”Then you believe me? Can you find out if Klonski does have a way to alter the freeze-dry brands?” The chief investigator smiled thinly under his moustache. ”I'll try to help you, Miss Green, but I have only your suspicion, based on hearsay, that this Klonski might-just might-be involved in illegal activities.
Even if he admitted to developing such a process, that wouldn't automatically clear your friends. They could have made use of his ”special services” as easily as anyone else. In fact, some of that large sum in his credit account could have been paid in by them.”
”But they didn't. They didn't!” In her frustration, Kelly banged her fists on his desk. ”Why would he be in the s.p.a.cedep files if that bunch didn't use his ”special services”? And you surely don't think they'd let him take outside contracts!” DeVeer smiled at that remark. ”This is the first real evidence to support my friends' innocence. Won't you help me prove it? Please! There's really a lot at stake!” DeVeer tapped his fingertips together. ”Yes, I will have to initiate an investigation. Not necessarily on your friends' behalf, for some of those charges do not lie in my jurisdiction. But rustling does. The problem of stock theft has recently trebled. New worlds are desperate for all kinds of stock, not juSt horses. Every animal must be marked and records kept of inoculations to prevent the spread of disease, and to be sure that livestock is protected against any indigenous problems on their destination planet. But if the marks can be skillfully altered, then our very complex disease control system has been bypa.s.sed. That can't be allowed to happen, especially on an increasingly larger scale. One of my priorities is putting an end to illicit traffic in livestock.”
”Then Doona isn't the only planet to have trouble with rustlers?” Kelly asked.
”Unfortunately, it isn't. But you may just have brought me the tip I've needed.” He smiled at her, and his face changed from an austere mask to that of a warm and charming man.
”If this Klonski has an illegal means of altering brand marks, I can help you clear your friends at least of that charge. And Klonski is on parole?” DeVeer sat up and entered the identification number from the film into his computer console.
”Yes, he is. The creation of a process used for illegal purposes is a parole violation. That can land him right back on a penal colony world, with or without s.p.a.cedep approval. I see he's due for a meeting with his parole officer, should have met with her yesterday. Didn't show. That gives me the right to have a few words with him.” DeVeer stood up, indicating the interview was at an end.
”May I come along?” Kelly pleaded. The chief considered the question for a long moment.
”It is not necessary for an anonymous accuser to face the defendant prior to a hearing. In fact, it could be dangerous.”
”Look, Mr. DeVeer,' Kelly began earnestly, ”I've risked a lot to lay this information before you. It might even be dangerous for me to go back out into Aisle and Corridor if anyone guesses where I've gone. II, I'm with you, I'm safe.”
”I could arrange for protective custody for you..
”Mr. DeVeer, I only feel safe in your presence, she said firmly.
He considered her argument. ”It is certainly not regular procedure.” ”There's been nothing regular about this whole mess,' Kelly replied tartly. ”I trust you, Mr. DeVeer. I can be discreet but I'd rather be in your company.”
”Would Klonski recognize you? No? That's as well. But there is another aspect you must consider, Miss Green, in this compulsion of yours to stay under my protective wing. Suppose he describes you to his contacts at s.p.a.cedep?”
”Let him,' Kelly said, sticking her chin up and shoving her shoulders back resolutely.
He handed her a black tunic. ”Lift your right hand'-she did-'now swear that you will obey me as your superior,' which she did. He fastened a plain bar to the collar tab. ”There! You are now a deputy under my direct orders.” They left the office together.
The address on Klonski's file was in a block which had been occupied from before living memory by clans calling themselves the First Families.
The living s.p.a.ces bordered on the s.p.a.cious homes of distant memory and were located in the widest Aisles Kelly had ever seen: Aisles with plants in the malls. Security devices and operatives strode slowly but alertly up and down. She was startled to see several men and women in poorer dress hurrying along between the buildings. Security didn't seem to notice them, and then Kelly realized they were undoubtedly menials, serving in the fine apartments of the wealthy and powerful families. The genuine residents of the houses swept by in much fancier dress, reminiscent of Jilamey Landreau's posh togs.
Kelly and DeVeer made their way as un.o.btrusively as possible to the address given for their quarry. The Poldep officer pushed a doorbell, and they waited.
”Askell Klonski, also known as Lesder Boronov?” DeVeer asked as the door edged open a crack.
”Who wants to know?” demanded a short, scrawny man through the gap. Kelly recognized him as quickly from Captain Kiachifs description of a warty weasel as from DeVeer's updated file photo.
”Poldep,' DeVeer said, flas.h.i.+ng his identification.
”May we come in?”
”You can state your business first,' Klonski said pugnaciously. ”I've got nothing to hide from my neighbors.
”You did not keep your appointment yesterday with your parole officer, Mr. Klonski,' DeVeer said, keeping his voice low. Kionski wavered for a moment and then flung the door open wide.
”I'm not a well man,' and he coughed a few times to prove it.
”She knows. She don't ha.s.sle me.”
”A few moments of your time is all that's required, Mr. Kionski,' DeVeer said smoothly.
”Well, if that's all, you can come in,' he said, his eyes s.h.i.+fting warily from one to the other of his unwelcome guests.
Klonski's apartment was of the size intended for the use of high-ranking families with two legal children. The main room was palatial compared to Dalkey's, but it had been furnished in a totally haphazard fas.h.i.+on: the furnis.h.i.+ngs and decorations were obviously expensive but were placed in awkward groupings or hung without care or taste.
If Klonski had intended to impress his neighbors with his wealth, he certainly had achieved that aim.
Kelly glanced at a brilliant pink couch draped with a handwoven teal and red throw, and shuddered at the effect.
Klonski might be wearing expensive clothing but it could not camouflage his small stature, and the color only emphasized his gritty complexion. The padded tunic did not disguise, much less improve, his narrow chest. So he gave the impression of being held prisoner inside his clothes. The style was practically a parody of what his neighbors wore with elegance.
”I'm respectable now,' the man insisted. ”Gone straight and square. I'm not supposed to be bothered with parole matters. I call her up when I remember. Give me the usual blab, then you've done your duty and you can leave.” DeVeer drew himself up to his own impressive height and loomed over the little man. ”Askell Klonski, not only have you violated the terms of your parole with your nonappearance, but you seem to have violated it much more seriously. We'd like you to come down to Poldep with us and to answer a few questions.”
”What about? I haven't done anything wrong.”
”That is what we need to determine,' DeVeer said.