“How could they have suspicions?” Andō cried. “You said Martin hadn’t gotten near your equipment, or Cato’s lab, and you don’t keep records anyway.”

The Duke President sighed beneath his silks as he saw Ockham frown. “Martin got to Cato?”

“For sixteen minutes, yes,” Ockham confirmed. “At the museum. Cato reports that Guildbreaker mainly asked about their teaching, science club, their books, nothing touching directly on the rest of the bash’. Cato ended the interview in a state of some agitation, but believes they discussed nothing which might betray our work. More alarming, in my assessment, is the fact that Guildbreaker also approached Cato’s psychiatrist Ember Balin, and later accessed the records of Cato’s suicide attempts.”

All frowned, familiar with O.S.’s weakest link.

“Do Balin’s records contain indications of what caused the attempts?” Perry asked. “Did Cato drop hints?”

“No, never. Cato is fragile, but no traitor. Lesley and I have both personally screened every record. But Cato’s suicide attempts precede our hits quite regularly. Regularly enough that an intelligent person could see the pattern in the conjunction of crashes and suicidal episodes. I am approaching this presuming Martin Guildbreaker is as skilled at their work as I am at mine.”

Ganymede nodded agreement.

“Guildbreaker has no way of detecting the hits which did not involve our cars,” Ockham continued, “but, for the crash deaths, they can’t fail to find it striking that Cato made these attempts before, not after, people died riding our cars.”

Again Ganymede nodded. “Where is Cato now?”

“Sequestered at home. Martin has made no further attempt to contact Cato, but early this morning they sent for details about Esmerald Revere.”

Outsider Casimir Perry rubbed his chin, in need of shaving. “I know that name.”

“Our late sensayer, Prime Minister,” Ockham prompted. “The one who realized what we were doing, and couldn’t handle it.”

“Ah, yes. Unfortunate. Then Revere was a hit?”

“Yes. Our second-most recent, before the Mertice O’Beirne hit to silence Sugiyama’s Seven-Ten list.”

The three Hive leaders’ faces—severe Andō, exhausted Perry, dazzling Ganymede—all took on that signature determined darkness of mourning someone whose death you chose, and would choose again.

“Did you use a crash for Revere?” Andō asked. “Or one of Cato’s inventions?”

“Neither, Chief Director. Thisbe handled Revere.”

“Good, that should be difficult to link to the O’Beirne crash, or anything Martin can find.”

Ockham took an unhappy breath. “Unfortunately, Chief Director, Thisbe assisted with the O’Beirne hit as well.”

The Chief Director’s frown grew even graver. “I thought you alternated techniques.”

“We try to. Practical details are not always so accommodating.”

I am glad to say that all three Hive leaders nodded here, respecting Ockham and his judgment. Less worthy commanders might have snapped at him with the corrections of hindsight, but an officer as steadfast and excellent as Ockham Saneer deserves respect, and here receives it.

Ganymede drew all eyes to him with a tossing of his mane. “How much do you think Martin Guildbreaker has pieced together?”

“Much, but certainly not everything, Member President. Not yet. If Guildbreaker had proof they’d go to MASON. If they’ve turned to a sleuth-hound like Papadelias, it means they have the scent, not substance.”