“I was happy to have my lights on while I did my route, a bit of pocket money,” Durbin said. “I thought it was a good thing, being able to see things and make sure nobody was hiding in the shadows, spot any vandalism, which there wasn’t much.”

“It kind of defeats the purpose of having security if the security lets people into the building, doesn’t it?” Anelace asked.

Taz Durbin looked miserable. He nodded.

“She didn’t tell you her name, she didn’t tell you where she was from, or anything about the business? Was there any kind of marking on the can or barrel she used for the gas?” Capricorn asked.

“Barrel. No. No mark that I saw. I think it was the same barrel every time.”

“What color was the barrel?” Anelace asked.

“Uh. No idea. It was dark, and… light green? Or gray?”

Witness testimony was bad when it came to things like that.

“You never met her friends?” Capricorn asked. When Durbin shook his head, Capricorn pressed, “You never saw anyone go in with her, or go in to see her?”

“No.”

“Did you ever see her with her sunglasses off?” I asked.

Durbin looked startled at the question. He shook his head. “No. She said she had a vision problem. Is that useful?”

“Maybe. Could have been a lie. Some physical mutations might be hidden with sunglasses.”

“Could be,” Sveta said.

“Holy,” Durbin said. “Holy. I didn’t think she was dangerous.”

“Focus, okay?” Capricorn told the shell-shocked guy. “Were there any moments you had doubts? Anything peculiar that put you off?”

“She did her thing, I did mine,” Durbin said. “We talked for a minute a night, or not even. I didn’t want to interrupt her too much. She really did that with the portal?”

“She was in contact with two other groups,” Looksee said. Durbin had to twist around in the chair that was bolted to the ground in order to see her. “I think she was coordinating three of the attacks.”

“Oh,” Durbin said. Color leeched from his face. “Yeah, that’s… God.”

Capricorn tapped the table, and Durbin’s head whipped around like Capricorn had slammed his hand down.

Capricorn’s voice was gentle. “Focus. You talked for a minute every night, right? There could be clues in that.”

“We talked about weather,” Durbin said.

“Any mention of travel?” Capricorn asked. “Having to drive in the rain?”

Durbin shook his head. “Was, like, aw, the weather’s getting cooler. Nothing big.”

“What else, then? What did you talk about?”

“TV.”

“What shows?” Capricorn pressed, insistent.

“Uh. Shit, I don’t think she talked about much. I mostly blathered. I’d recommend stuff, she’d say she would get to it when she wasn’t so busy with getting her business started.”

“What shows did you talk to her about?” Capricorn asked.

“Is this so important?” Anelace asked.

“What shows?” Capricorn asked, more firmly.