“You’ve heard?” he asks, collapsing onto the couch.
“We just did,” Kiran replies.
“I was looking for Esteban after leaving the care unit. He wasn’t home, so I stopped by Kiran’s. Meg said he was here. I’m glad you’re all together. I need to tell you what I heard.”
“We’re listening,” my brother says.
“Give me one second, I need the bathroom,” I announce.
Really, I just need an excuse to open the two doors separating the living room from the bathroom, where Prax is hiding. I want him to hear everything. I find him standing with arms crossed,one eyebrow raised. I signal him to be quiet, wait a minute, then head back to the living room with the doors left wide open.
“Okay,” Viktor starts. “This morning I went to pick up Youssef, as planned. He seemed really on edge. Said death was coming for him. He didn’t want to die and he wouldn’t let it happen. Then Esteban showed up. We brought him to the care center like we said we would. He was agitated, kept saying he knew what he saw but wouldn’t tell anyone. We left him in his room, and I headed out.”
So far, it matches Esteban’s account perfectly.
“I stopped to say hi to Henri and check in on his family. Then I saw Vassili. He was standing about ten feet away, behind the big pine at the entrance. I wondered who he was waiting for. That’s when I saw Marjorie walk up to him with a big smile. I’ve always suspected those two had more than a work relationship. Anyway, she told him, ‘It’s done. He won’t be a problem anymore.’ I didn’t understand what she meant until I heard about Youssef’s death. He was perfectly fine when Esteban and I left him!”
He pauses, probably expecting more of a reaction.
“I think Marjorie killed him!” he finally blurts.
If it was just Esteban, we might’ve questioned his judgment. But now Viktor’s saying the same thing. Kiran gives me a worried look.
“You don’t believe me?” Viktor says, offended. “I’m serious!”
“We believe you. Esteban said the exact same thing. If I could just see the body before they cremate him, I could…”
“No!” three voices interrupt at once.
“Fine,” I sigh. “Then we stick to our original plan. I’ll go to the Palace and gather evidence.”
“But you’re off-duty next week,” my brother reminds me.
“Officially. But let’s say Salvatore—who’s covering—gets called out to the highlands, and I just happen to be at the sports center that day. I’d be the closest to respond if something happened at the Palace, right?”
“How would we get word to you?” Esteban asks. “The gym only plays music. It doesn’t monitor channel 3.”
“You’re right. We’ll say you ran into me that morning outside the building, and you insisted they come get me in person. Takes a bit longer, but it’ll work.”
“What kind of proof would even confirm our suspicions about Marjorie?” Esteban wonders.
“It’s not about Marjorie anymore,” Viktor says, fired up. “It’s the whole Palace! We’ve seen their corruption for months—Vassili and all his cronies. It’s time to bring them down.”
“That won’t be enough,” Kiran says thoughtfully. “They’ve got weapons—and they’re willing to use them. We’ve known that for a while. But they also have powerful allies.”
“Allies? Like who?” Viktor frowns.
“Like me,” Prax announces as he walks into the room.
Viktor turns white and bolts toward the door.
“Stop! He’s with us!” Kiran yells.
Viktor freezes, turns, and stares at Prax with a mix of fear and fascination.
We explain how Prax ended up here, and what we’ve learned about the presence of other non-human beings on Mars—linked directly to the Palace.
“If that’s true, we don’t stand a chance,” Viktor says miserably.
