“I think,” she said, in a flatter, harder voice, “that you may be underestimating my… influence with the Prime Minister.”

“Ah! So he is in the files,” Montaigne observed. “I always suspected he was. Still, Elaine, you’d have to have a very strong hold on him to convince him to stand loyally by you. Especially now, with the diplomatic situation deteriorating the way it is.” She shook her head mournfully. “I’m afraid my reading of Baron High Ridge’s character suggests that, under the circumstances, he’d be inclined to do the right thing and, however regretfully, disassociate himself from anyone who might once have been involved in such improper acts, however peripherally. After all, whatever you might want to do with the information on him in the files, there’d be any number of powerful people who’d feel compelled to stop you. I mean, think of how many people’s careers and political agendas depend on his remaining in power. Unless, of course, you have enough on all of them to convince the entire Government to commit seppuku to save your own neck. Because—just between us—I don’t think I’d count on them to do it out of loyalty and the goodness of their hearts.”

“Perhaps not. But even if they didn’t choose to speak out in my behalf, I’m scarcely without a power base of my own from which to defend myself against such libelous accusations.”

“Well, ‘libelous’ is a very value-laden term,” Zilwicki said. “For example, if someone were to go to the LCPD and provide them with evidence that a certain Elaine Komandorski, shortly before she vanished and one Georgia Sakristos appeared on the scene, was involved in the murder of one of the PD’s own criminal fraud investigators, I’m sure they wouldn’t consider that libel. Not until they’d investigated very thoroughly, at any rate.”

“I see.” There was nothing at all pleasant about her voice now, but it was warmer than her eyes as she glared at him. “On the other hand, when it turned out that it was impossible to prove those allegations—because, of course, they would be completely false—I’m sure the courts would be inclined to consider it libel, given that the allegations would have originated with a political opponent. The Crown looks with a certain disfavor on people who attempt to use the courts as a political weapon, Captain.”

“They certainly do,” he agreed. “And while it pains me to admit it, it’s entirely possible that there are enough judges in your famous files for you to survive even with the interesting odds and ends of evidence I’ve already managed to assemble. On the other hand, it doesn’t really matter. I don’t need to go anywhere near the police. Or the courts.”

“Meaning what?” she demanded tautly.

“Meaning that once I discovered Elaine’s existence,” Zilwicki said, “I found myself wondering where she’d come from? I mean, she just… appeared one day, didn’t she? And with such a substantial store of initial operating capital.”

“What do you mean?” Georgia heard the quaver in her own voice, and cursed herself for it. But there was nothing she could do about it, any more than there was any way to prevent herself from paling.