‘Because of what happened next. Udmil asked me to find him. She must have discovered what he was up to. And that led me, conveniently enough, to the Vidora, which led to the raid that started the purge. Only, quite by accident, this was rumbled by a cracked veil-link. So she had to prod us a bit more, make sure that we went after them properly. They took out Borodina, because they knew the Vidora would be fingered for it again – Borodina was working on them, after all, and by then we were just looking for a reason to hit them. If she’d died, we might never have questioned it, but even she couldn’t ident her assailants when I spoke to her. So there we were, being goaded like dumb groxes to take on a cartel, just when they were already being hammered by some shady newcomer we knew nothing about. We were used. We were used by Udmil to wipe out a rival. After we did her bidding, which we did so very well, she could just step in and take it all over. Adeard was a moron. His mother – legal mother, anyway – wasn’t.’

Brecht raised an eyebrow. ‘Maybe,’ he said, unconvinced. ‘But the Terashovas… I mean, they’ve got money, but still. It’s a dangerous game. And why would Mordach–’

‘You’re not listening to me, Gyorgu,’ Zidarov said. ‘Mordach knows nothing about this. He never did. And it’s not just Terashova money – Udmil is hooked up with Avro Lascile now, has been for a while I guess, and that’s where the real slate is coming from. It’s like the rejuve-trader told me – whoever’s doing this is seriously rich. Richer than Yuti. Richer than Mordach. That’s what it takes. This is Udmil’s bid to get free of Mordach forever – she’s with Avro now, benefitting from all the protection Jazc gives her, and they can buy the old man out many times over. They’ve pushed him out of the trade, and, for all I know, killed his heir at the same time. It’s brutal. Very brutal. And we helped them do it.’

‘But if you’re right, then we can start again now. Get evidence, burn it all down.’