"There have been a couple of supposed owners, over the years.  The city won't seize it for the same reason the current owner, poor slob, can't unload it.  Legal liability for two or three thousand destitute cryo-corpses.  He was a contractor, who bought it for what he thought was a song and only then discovered what came with it.  Suze has him under control for now.  We think the biggest current danger is that he'll try to solve his dilemma through a spot of arson, but we keep a watch."

"It doesn't sound like a very stable situation."

"Never has been.  We just try to go from day to day.  Surprising where you can end up, that way."

Raven, Miles noticed, was listening intently to all this, not in the least appalled.  Well, Jacksonian-trained, after all.  The Hippocratic Oath, if he'd ever heard of it, was likely only considered a guideline there.

Tenbury came back, and there followed a lot more tech-speak, then visits to other chambers with some alarming thumping and crashing.  Miles sent the fretful Jin back to his roof to supervise the loading-up of his menagerie.  When the noises of inventory at last died away, Raven returned.

"Well?" said Miles.  "Go or no-go?"

"Go," said Raven.  "There will have to be some prep, but I find these people are good at improvising.  And the physical impediments are made up for by a delightful lack of paperwork."

"How soon will you be ready for me to make my snatch?  I'll probably want you along on the insertion, by the way, in case we run into any snags that are medical rather than security related.  How do you feel about risking arrest, by the way?"

Raven shrugged.  "I'm sure your brother will extract me if you can't.  In any case, you can make your switch any time.  Madame Sato can just as well wait here till we're ready."

"My time is not infinitely elastic."  Besides his wanting to go home, of course, there was no telling what can of worms would be emptied onto his plate with the revival of Jin's mother.  Miles was getting itchy to know.

"You can take that kid back to the consulate.  I expect I'll be working late here," Raven went on.  "I can get back to my hotel by public transport."

Miles pointed to Raven's consulate-issued wristcom.  "Check in first.  Secured channel.  I'll want a report.  And it may be better to send Johannes to pick you up."

"Actually . . ."  Raven hesitated.  "I think I will want to stop back at the consulate anyway.  Can I use your secured tight-beam links to report in to my boss on Escobar?"

"Lily, or Mark?"

"Both.  Though I'm not just sure where Lord Mark is, right now.  Do you know?"

Miles shook his head.  "His enterprises have become rather far-flung.  I don't track him daily.  Are you arranging bail in advance?"