“It’s not quantum algorithmics, Trevor. You pour every ounce of affection into our little girl and leave nothing for the rest of us.”

  He zipped up the satchel.

  “Not true. Fell mad in love with you the first day we met. It’s all still there. You just don’t want it anymore.”

  The words fell off his lips with reckless disregard. Yet he said them at last. He wanted her to confront their divide.

  Effie kept her distance and shaded her eyes.

  “You’re right, Trevor. I don’t.”

  The literal opposite of what he dreamed of hearing.

  “How long?” He asked.

  “It doesn’t matter. I still love you. I’m just not interested.”

  “Strategic word choice. Just like a diplomat.” He grabbed the satchel and slung it over his shoulder. “No worries. I won’t beg.”

  Effie grabbed him before he reached the door.

  “You’re not going to leave without talking to her.”

  He shook off his wife.

  “Of course not. But she won’t understand.”

  “Because she’s learned from her Papa: Every truth hides a lie.”

  She wasn’t being fair, so Trevor searched for a cruel reply.

  “Like every time you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when what you mean is, ‘I need a quick fuck to remind me of Reginald Endowi.’”

  He regretted the words when they passed his lips. Standard operating procedure. It was also the first time he mentioned the DRC colleague she’d been cuddling for months.

  She didn’t deny it, which made sense. Effie never shied away from the hard bits.

  “Whatever our issues, we’re still her parents. That won’t change. Before the situation goes any further south, I ask you to be on your best behavior over there. Don’t ruin it. This may be your last chance.”

  Those words continued to gnaw at Trevor even as he contemplated the gruesome scene in Ulbrecht Hann’s flat.

  Best behavior. Don’t ruin it. Last chance.

  Somehow, he’d been anointed as the villain.

  The lifetechs would arrive soon to recover the body. Dorrit might also haul his considerable ass over here. Hoshi warned him the Chief would rampage at a reported MOD.

  Let him try.

  “Hoshi, redirect the snapdrone. I want it to scan for K3. Start with the wardrobe and the nightstand.”

  “You think there’s more?”

  Trevor glared at the twisted body and sighed.

  “Oh, yes.”

  She entered new orders into her wrist plate, and the hornet-sized device unleashed a red scan, beginning at the fallen wardrobe.

  “How much?”

  “We’ll find one lonely pad or an entire stash. I doubt he supplies, but we can’t rule it out.”

  “Why only one?”

  The question surprised him. Had she not been briefed?

  “Most users – especially new ones – buy two pads.”

  “Why?”

  She wasn’t up to speed. Trevor was shocked but not surprised.

  “Motif is expensive, and the deaths are common knowledge. So, Black Star suppliers make the drug more appealing. Buy one, get the second ninety percent off. It’s a loss leader with a special pitch: The first pad will give you a great ride, but it’s the second go that provides the total experience.”

  She nodded in a moment of clarity.

  “Sounds like a two-for-one drink deal at the Raison Club.”

  “Same principle. They get you inside. The rest is pure profit.”

  Hoshi had settled into a more professional demeanor the past few minutes as reality set in.

  “How do you know all this, Trev?”

  He constructed an answer that didn’t sound condescending.

  “I read. And I have a contact in SI. I see the field reports.”

  Her lips puckered.

  “I think everyone in Sec Admin should see those.”

  “Best idea I’ve heard all day, Hoshi.”

  Trevor hoped she would take the cue and confront Dorrit, but he dared not bet good credits on it.

  The snapdrone reached the bedstand, where the red lines from the scanner morphed to green. Hoshi studied her wrist plate.

  “K3.”

  “OK then. Let’s see what Mr. Hann was hiding.”

  He opened the two drawers, both of which were empty. Trevor ran his hand against the underside until he felt a bump. He tugged at the object, but it resisted before finally giving way. The prize was black and coin-shaped.

  “Is that a lodestone?” She asked.

  “It is. Huh. He must have thought the metal would shield K3.”

  Lodestones were magnetic components to gravstraps, built into the in-soles of every resident’s shoes and easily activated in the event of sudden gravity loss.

  “I don’t understand,” she said. “Lodestones are registered in the inventory spools. Why would he remove one?”

  “Gravstraps only require two of their lodestones. The third is a backup.” He saw the surprise in her eyes, a trait becoming far too frequent. “Hann was an engineering student. I’m sure he knew.”

  Trevor rotated each side of the object in counter directions until the lock slits matched. He pulled apart the lodestone to reveal a small white pad no bigger than a fingernail.

  “Motif in the wild. Place the glossy side on your tongue, give it about thirty seconds to melt, and enjoy the ride.”

  She leaned in for a closer look.

  “How can something so small destroy so many lives?”

  “That’s not the question we need to ask.”

  She backed away and recalled the snapdrone.

  “How did it pass through Customs?”

  If that was how it arrived. Trevor held back his evolving theory. He decided to test Hoshi’s instinct.

  “One more question even more important.”

  She nodded before softening her voice.

  “How much more is on the station?”

  He studied the life-altering pad that had seduced more than a billion humans in the past three years.

  “Far more than anyone is willing to admit.”

  A third voice entered the fray.

  “Now that is an assumption with no supporting evidence.”

  Chief Hannibal Dorrit consumed the doorway, hands on hips. He filled out better upright, but his girth was unique on Amity and, by Trevor’s standards, downright obscene. How long since he last reported for a mandatory fit room session?

  Dorrit glanced away from Trevor and focused instead on Hoshi, who saluted. Trevor had never seen military deference applied in Sec Admin. If Dorrit expected the same from his new First Deputy, he’d have a long cudfrucking wait.

  “Show me the body.”

  Hoshi led him to the water room, where he studied the scene for a moment and let out a prodigious groan from his considerable gut.

  “A promising life undone too soon. Pity.”

  The coverup began straightaway.

  6

  DORRIT PAID TREVOR NO MIND when he asked Hoshi, “Have you scanned the premises?”

  She cleared her throat.

  “All but the water room, Chief.”

  “Hand me the snapdrone and transfer the data report to the Executive Partition.”

  Did he hear Dorrit right? Was the bastard really doing this in front of his second in command? Adjusting the scene before the lifetechs arrived? Was he about to take possession of the Motif pad and make it disappear?

  Trevor asked, “What’s happening here, Chief?”

  Dorrit acknowledged Trevor with a wispy smile between large, overindulgent cheeks.

  “Doing my job, Mr. Stallion. Protecting Haven Sector.”

  “How’s that, sir?”

  Trevor heard a faint, dismissive chuckle. Dorrit stared with the smugness of a card shark who knew he couldn’t lose.

  “Before you called in the MOD, I’m sure Hoshi warned you against it. Yes?”

  “She did. As senior officer on site, I had final word. And this was an MOD.”

  His eyes latched onto the lodestone and its content.

  “Apparently. But as you will soon learn, Mr. Stallion, we in Haven handle sensitive matters with discretion. We’re not so heavy-handed or ... I don’t know, let’s say verbally tactless ... as some of you in Harmony might be.”

  Trevor ignored the obvious broadside to the incident that got him tossed from Harmony Sec Admin.

  “Chief Dorrit, I’m the appointed First Deputy, which means I am the senior investigating officer for HVSA. According to Amity regs, I took charge of this case the moment we discovered Mr. Hann.”

  Dorrit retrieved a cloth from his chest pocket and wiped his nose.

  “Day one, and you’re quoting regs to me. Apparently, you learned nothing in your prior position.”

  Modulate your tone, Trevor. Don’t give him a reason ...

  “I am the longest serving security officer on Amity, and I’m merely stating the law. All data from this investigation falls under my direct supervision, with your wise consult, of course.”

  Wise. Trevor carefully slipped in a small deference.

  “He’s right, Chief.”

  Hoshi showed a backbone. OK, so she wasn’t hopeless.

  Her support gave Dorrit pause. Even led to a begrudging nod.

  “You know the law, Mr. Stallion. But the power you reference is not absolute. Any investigation will be conducted at my discretion.”

  Not the first time he’d been talked down to by a technocrat who’d grown too comfortable with his alleged power.

  “No worries, Chief. I’ll be discreet while I investigate.”

  Dorrit stared at the lodestone.

  “We’ll discuss the particulars in my office, Mr. Stallion.”

  “Trev, if you don’t mind, Chief.”

  The big man’s flexing brows suggested otherwise.

  “How do you suppose the victim extracted the magnetic core?”

  Dorrit was testing him, so Trevor played along.

  “As an engineer, he would have access to a phasic wrench in Episteme. Then again, so would any maintenance tech in Amity.”

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “The pads may have been planted in the lodestone before he bought them.”

  “I see. You imply there’s a Motif operation on the station?”

  So that was the test. Dorrit wanted to label Trevor an alarmist.

  “I stated nothing of the kind, Chief. I’ll need to track the man’s history and interview his associates. We can’t rule it out.”

  Dorrit reached for the lodestone.

  “May I?”

  Trevor complied. If Dorrit intended to end-run an investigation, at least Trevor had a witness.

  “Are you aware, Trev ... I may call you that, yes? Are you aware of the scandal that will arise if the public learns of this?”

  “It would unnerve people. Yes.”

  Dorrit resealed the lodestone.

  “We’re one of only two places in the Collectorate to avoid this scourge, Trev. Do you know the other?”

  “Aeterna.”

  He nodded. “And even if the immortals fell victim, they’d consider it a minor inconvenience. Die horribly only to regenerate ten minutes later.” Trevor heard disdain in his tone; the usual mask for immortal-envy. “However, all but ten current residents of Amity are mortal. They value the safe harbor we provide. Any suspicion that Motif is passing Customs and being sold on this station would undermine our authority and their trust.”

  Rather than challenge Dorrit’s obvious design at silencing an investigation, Trevor took the gentle road.

  “I agree, Chief. Amity was built to bring together humans of all persuasions in common cause.”

  “Correct. You and your brother have lived here longer than almost everyone. You’ve seen the great work firsthand.”

  “I have, Chief. I’m proud of it.”

  “You’d hate to have a role in corrupting that progress.”

  “I would. As a senior officer of Sec Admin, what I’d hate more would be allowing a problem to fester until it compromises everything Amity stands for.”

  To Trevor’s great surprise, his boss laid a hefty hand on his shoulder and sighed with what sounded like relief.

  “Excellent. We share the same interest. Which is why you will lead an investigation into illicit drug use in Haven, but not Motif.”

  Same interest, my ass.

  “Excuse me, Chief?”

  “Your report, which you will co-author with Hoshi, will avoid any reference to Motif. Rather, you will report that the victim appears to have died from a massive overdose of a toxic compound not yet identified, pending a phasic analysis by lifetechs.”

  “Chief, this is ...”

  Dorrit removed that friendly hand and waved Trevor silent.

  “You will insist you found no additional evidence of this compound in Mr. Hann’s flat, and your initial conjecture is that he crafted it on his own. Now, now,” he told both deputies, “before you express your exasperation, allow me to explain.

  “This report will permit you to investigate Mr. Hann’s activities since he arrived. You’ll have lease to interview anyone you desire. But you will never mention Motif. If anyone suspects your true purpose, you will disavow any link to Motif.”

  Cudfrucker. These people are all alike.

  “What about the physical evidence on the snapdrone?” He pointed to the lodestone. “Or that?”

  Dorrit lock-sealed the tiny device.

  “I studied your jacket, Trev. Your service record is exemplary in spite of the obvious handicap. Can’t say the same for your brother.”

  “Don’t bring Connor into this, please.”

  Dorrit’s features softened.

  “You’re right. He’s not one of us. I overstepped. My point is this: You have devoted most of your life to Amity’s betterment. Aspire to that standard in this investigation, within my stated parameters.”

  Coverup parameters.

  These were the moments when Trevor often initiated a game of self-sabotage. He took a deep breath and thought of Ana; she was a good salve.

  “Chief, did you know my grandfather?”

  Dorrit shrugged, no doubt wondering about relevance.

  “After a fashion. I spoke with Maximillian on occasion, but I never had a chance to befriend the man before he died.”

  Five years felt like yesterday.

  “My grandfather loved this place. He wanted Amity to be perfect, but he knew it would only be as great as the people inside it. He taught me vigilance above all else. Seal the cracks before they expand. He would be appalled by what we’re discussing.”

  Dorrit did not shift into offended-authoritarian mode. He eyed his deputies in equal measure.

  “Maximillian Vanover was a product of a different era. Peace is simple when threats to it can be easily eradicated. Such is not the case in the age of Motif and Black Star. Our best hope at cleansing Amity of the scourge is to fight a quiet war.”

  “Half measures, you mean. One hand tied.”

  “At times, it will feel that way. Progress will seem slow. But it will be progress, I assure you. So long as you follow the parameters.”

  Trevor heard the lifetechs enter the flat. Dorrit ordered Hoshi to show them back. She complied but winced her displeasure. At least, Trevor thought that’s what he detected.

  Then he saw something else, this time in Dorrit: Uncertainty.

  The fat man’s eyes betrayed the weightiness of his proposed plan. Truth slapped Trevor upside the head like a blast rifle.

  This isn’t the first time. Cudfrucker!

  Trevor refused to let the opportunity slip away.

  “How many others have there been, Chief?”

  Dorrit avoided Trevor’s eyes.

  “Other what?” He said.

  “MODs.”

  “None.” Then Dorrit muttered, “Officially.”

  Dorrit must’ve known he couldn’t contain the truth any longer.

  “Unofficially?” Trevor asked.

  “Four.”

  “How long?”

  “Nine months.”

  “Findings?”

  “No connection between the deceased.”

  Keep your cool, Trevor. Earn some of that trust equity.

  “So, Chief, either we have a problem in Customs or an active distribution network on the station. Or both.”

  Dorrit watched the lifetechs enter the water room.

  “Welcome to Haven, First Deputy. If you have further questions, address them to me directly. Keep the paranoia to yourself.”

  Trev heard that line before. Central transferred him a day later.

  “I’ll try to contain my comments to the facts in front of me, Chief.”

  Dorrit grunted as he glanced back at Trevor. Yeah, his bullshit detector rose to Status Red.

  “See that you do, Trev.”

  Dorrit wandered into the midst of the lifetechs and whispered instructions as they took charge of body retrieval. The cylindrical trauma carriage hovered outside the water room.

  Trevor developed an action plan while pacing in the outer room. Hoshi soon joined him.

  “The Chief has everything under control,” she said. “He wants us to clear the corridor.”

  “Sure. No sense scaring the wits out of the neighbors.”

  “He says we’re to direct any inquiries to HVSA.”

  Of course they were.

  “And anyone who happens to follow through will find our official response to be lacking. Right?”

  Hoshi bowed her head as they departed the flat.

  “Chief says the deceased was a nobody. People won’t care.”

  “Disagree. Bio said he has a mother on Yaniff. She’ll be more than a little interested to know why this happened.”

  Hoshi said nothing, which Trevor understood. Deaths were rare on Amity – natural or otherwise. The DRC handled all notifications of kin, meaning no one in Sec Admin ever faced the awkward task.

  “He left behind both parents and three younger sisters, Hoshi. Two hundred ninety light-years away. So yeah, it will seem like he’s nobody. If they seek legal recourse, they’ll be paid for pain and suffering. Enough credits to move on from their grief.”

  She held up. “You make it seem so ... cold.”

  “No, it’s practical. Just like the way Flat 529 will be sterilized and prepared for a new occupant. Perhaps another engineering student. Who knows?”