Jin hit a button freezing all action on screen and turned to face them.“This brings us to our official briefing.The cameras lose track of Caius and the other two in a moment.They’re no help after that.I’ll keep searching, but something tells me I won’t find much.”
“There was only one child.”Raider glanced at Kira.“You said you found evidence of two others?”
“At least two,” Finn volunteered.
Kira nodded an agreement.
Raider cocked his head, studying the figures on screen closely.“To me, it kind of looks like Caius is trying to protect the other two.It’s possible the child and Caius saw an opportunity to escape together and the other two children are still in custody.”
“I’d say it’s very likely,” Jin said.
Kira looked at Graydon.“This proves that Caius was an unwilling partner.”
“It’s a point in your favor, but it’s not enough,” Graydon allowed.“Danai or one of the other Houses could argue that Caius had a change of heart.Or that he and the terrorists had a falling out.You need rock solid proof that he wasn’t involved.”
Somehow, Kira had a feeling he was going to say that.
In a perfect world, one where politics didn’t enter into the equation, this would be enough.But he was right.Danai especially would try to turn black into white and vice versa if they gave them a smidgeon of an opening.
The best way to protect Roake was still to find Caius and bring him back to stand trial.
Only then could they clear his name—and Roake’s.
“Jin, did the tracker I put on Flame give us anything useful?”Kira asked.
Jin nodded, used to her naming practices as Finn mouthed “Flame” to himself.“One moment, let me pull it up.”
A map of the station was displayed on screen.
“Would you look at that?”Raider drawled.
Kira nodded.“It seems all paths lead to the docks.”
Finally.A lead.
If you counted the Sweet sisters’ involvement, several of them.
“I need you two to do something for me,” Kira said, looking at Raider and Finn.
“Let me guess.”Raider pretended to think.“You’re about to send us on a wild goose chase while you investigate the docks by yourself.”
“It’s not a wild good chase.It’s an important task to secure a possible informant.Also, I won’t be alone.”Kira pointed at Graydon.“He’s coming with me.”
Graydon arched an eyebrow, looking amused.“Is that so?”
“Yes.It is.”
“I do believe the emperor ordered Roake to stay out of this.What makes you think I’d be willing to defy his orders?”
“Now you’re just being ornery,” Kira complained.
They both knew if he’d planned to honor the emperor’s wishes he would have forced her off Titan the moment they crossed paths.
“You’re going to investigate anyway, since it’s likely the same people who have the children were also the ones to attack Ta Sa’Riel.In that case, we might as well pool our efforts.As for the emperor’s orders, I’m still in compliance.All I care about are the children.”
And Caius.
But Graydon knew that.
