Read Online Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold - Free Book Online Page B

said Fano formally, standing up. He gestured to a chair across the table from the pair. “Please, sit down.”
    Taking psychological possession of the space, Fano was, in proper interrogation-room style. Ivan let it pass and sat, granting them each a neutral nod. He had suffered through a course in counter-interrogation techniques once, long ago. I suppose it will come back to me . “Sir, ma’am. What can I do for Dome Security?”
    They exchanged a look; Fano began. “We’re following up on a peculiar B&E arrest—that’s breaking and entering—early this morning in the Crater Lake neighborhood.”
    Dammit, how had this pair nailed him so fast? Don’t panic. You didn’t do anything wrong . Well, all right, he’d done several things wrong, starting with listening to Byerly Vorrutyer. But he didn’t think he’d done anything illegal . Yeah, I’m the victim, here . What he said out loud was, “Ah?”
    “Oh,” put in Sulmona, pulling a vid pickup from her pocket and setting it in front of them, “do you mind if we record? It’s standard procedure in these investigations.”
    Why not? I’m pretty sure my people are . Yes, and the transcript would be copied to Admiral Desplains first thing tomorrow morning, no doubt. Ouch . “Sure, go ahead,” said Ivan, trying for a tone of easy innocence. He offered a friendly smile to the detective-patroller. She seemed to be immune to his charm.
    Fano went on, “The flat that was broken into is listed as rented by a young woman named Nanja Brindis, lately moved to Solstice from Olbia Dome. Unfortunately, Sera Brindis is not to be found, either last night or today—she didn’t report to her work this morning. We understand you had contact with the young woman earlier last evening. Would you care to describe it? In your own words.”
    The better to hang myself . How much of the story did this pair already possess? They had obviously seen some scan of the credit chit he’d used at the shipping shop, and maybe talked to the coworker, and who knew what else. So he’d likely better stick as closely to the truth as possible, without betraying Byerly or Nanja-Tej. Or the Imperium. Or himself, but it was pretty easy to see where he sat in that hierarchy, should a goat be required. He sighed, because he didn’t think the Komarrans would understand it if he bleated.
    “Yes, well, I’d stopped in at the shop where she worked to ship a package home. It was closing time, so I offered to take her out for a drink or dinner.”
    Sulmona frowned at him. “Why?”
    “Er…haven’t you seen a picture of her yet?”
    “There was a scan for her work ID,” said Fano.
    “Then it didn’t do her justice. She was a very eye-catching young woman, believe me.”
    “And?” said Sulmona.
    “And I’m a soldier a long way from home, all right? She was pretty, I was lonely, it seemed worth a try. I know you Komarrans don’t always think us Barrayarans are human, but we are.” He matched her frown. She didn’t drop her eyes, but she did rock back a bit; point taken.
    “And then what happened?”
    “She said no, and I went my way.”
    “Just like that?” said Sulmona.
    “I can take no for an answer if I have to. Someone else will say yes eventually.”
    The pair exchanged another unreadable look. Fano prompted, “And then what? Did you follow Sera Brindis to her flat?”
    “No, I thought I’d stroll back to look at that lake, where they rent the boats, you know. Since it seemed I was to have time on my hands.” Wait, was that in the right direction? Well, he could feign to have been turned around. “And I ran into Sera Brindis again, coming the other way. A happy chance, I thought.”
    “I thought you took no for an answer,” murmured Sulmona.
    “Sure, but sometimes women change their minds. It never hurts to ask again.”
    “And if they change their minds in the other direction?”
    “Her prerogative. I’m not into that rough stuff, if that’s what you’re thinking.”