Talina gave a slight nod of the head to indicate the surly crowd behind her. “You hear them? This town’s got a lit fuse. No matter what my heart tells me, I’m still in charge of security.”

“What do you want to do?” Kalico asked. “Fen was all for flying back out to that outcrop.”

“Won’t do any good,” Talina replied, as Rocket shifted on her shoulder, clearly worried. “Kylee will have headed for Tyson.”

“What about Dek’s sister?” Shig asked. “It must be worrisome to know that she’s out in the forest despite her being with Kylee and Flute. Bad things happen to even the best of us.”

“I don’t have a clue what Dek will do if anything happens to her.” Talina shrugged “Growing up like they did, it’s not like a normal family. God alone knows what it will mean to the Taglionis if she gets eaten. My understanding is that they’re not exactly a forgiving bunch.”

“And it’s even worse,” Kalico told her. “Report’s back from the med bay on Turalon. Bartolome Radcek was poisoned. That’s two murders. Both of them from two of the most powerful families in The Corporation. They’re going to demand answers and satisfaction. Both of which we’re short on.”

Shig said, “Most likely it’s either Cinque’s crowd, or, and I’m sorry, but Falise Taglioni’s. She might have been in the bush, but that Clarice is still here. And she was seen with Bartolome the day he was poisoned.” A beat. “Could she have done it?”

“Without a doubt, Shig.” Talina shot him a knowing look. “I know what you’re thinking. Doesn’t matter that she’s Dek’s sister. We’ll follow wherever the investigation takes us.”

Talina turned to her mug of stout as Inga set a plate of the “special” on the bar before her. “But first things first. People are chewing ions over the fact that Soukup saved his own skin after Kylee, Flute, and Falise got him out of that wreck. That he took the airtruck. Forced Bogarten to fly it at gunpoint. This could turn ugly, real fast.”

Kalico looked weary. “Not to mention a dead Grunnel and a dead Radcek.”

Shig nodded, lifting his glass of wine. Didn’t drink it. Just seemed to enjoy holding it. “I see no way out of this for the IG. I think his atman is paralyzed at this point. Stuck in samsara. A most tragic figure.”

Kalico’s expression pinched. “Tragic?”

“Beyond a doubt,” Shig said softly. “I have rarely seen a human being so lost in maya.”

“Whatever.” Talina shot a glance Hofer’s way where the builder was stomping around and threatening mayhem down at the other end of the bar. He had a couple of his cronies slapping him on the back.

Kalico asked, “What’s the news on Soukup? You just came from the hospital.”