"Yes," said Roic, unhelpfully.

"Not that NewEgypt is likely to bring charges."

"Naw, they'd do something else."

"I am reminded.   I could have Suze freeze and store them for us, I suppose.  Technically."

Roic gave him the Look.

"If push came to shove.   As a Kibou-daini problem-solving technique, there seems to be precedent."

Roic said nothing, firmly.

"Ah, well," sighed Miles.  "Lock the door and let them nap, for now.  Onwards."

Working around Madame Sato's bio-isolation proved only a brief challenge.  Miles set up his interrogation chamber in the empty booth next to hers, and lent her Raven's wristcom to listen in.  With his booth brightly lit, hers not, and the curtain mostly drawn on her side of the glass wall, it was as good as a one-way mirror as long as she didn't move around too much.  She understood, if perhaps did not entirely approve, his plan to split the interrogation into two parts, the first with Leiber unaware of her presence, to see if the same story was extracted both ways.  Miles wasn't sure when to spring her on Leiber for maximum utility.  It would doubtless come to him.

Leiber was still woozy when Raven and Roic guided him into the booth and sat him in a chair.  Roic took a wall-propping pose against the door.  With no bed, the booth wasn't exactly crowded even with the four of them, but its slightly claustrophobic air was more of a feature than a failing, in Miles's view.

"You again!" Leiber said, staring at Miles.

Raven, with a benevolent air, bent to press a hypospray against Leiber's arm.

Leiber jerked.  "Fast-penta?" he growled, looking helpless and angry.

"Synergine," Raven soothed.  "That headache should clear right up."

Leiber rubbed his arm and scowled, but, after pressing a suspicious hand to his forehead, blinked in surprise and, in a moment more, belief.

So, and when did you ever have fast-penta, that you can tell the difference?  Miles added the question to his long list.  Miles waved Raven to a chair against the wall, and took one himself at a not-too-looming distance from his subject.  Although to loom properly, he supposed he'd have to stand on the chair, which just wouldn't have the same effect.  Best to delegate that task to Roic.

"So, Dr. Leiber.  We might have saved steps by having this conversation day-before-yesterday, but I suppose your living room might have been monitored like your comconsole.  Maybe it's just as well.  Here, I can assure you, we are totally private."  Miles smiled toothily.  Imperial Auditor, threat or menace?  You decide.

Leiber's lips moved, My comconsole!  "Dammit, I thought I'd taken care of that.  So that's how you traced me?"