Now, this was more like it. Oddly enough, it made me feel better to face an obstacle. I took the logbook and scanned the names as the King continued to stare down the owner of Heilin Merchants.
“Have you had any thefts, Mr. Lun?” I asked.
“No, sir. If we had, we would have reported it to the Talons immediately.”
“No thefts, all kurline accounted for, and yet we found your product in a bomb today.”
“A bomb?!”
“Two actually. But only one detonated. Perhaps you heard the explosion?” I didn't bother to glance up. I could see him flinch out of the corner of my eye.
“Is that what that was? Dear Gods. A bomb.”
“It's hardly a reach, Mr. Lun,” King Tor'rien said. “Kurline is extremely flammable. Its sale is monitored for this very reason.”
“Yes, I know, Your Majesty, but, as I said, we are very careful.”
“If what you say is true and all the kurline you've sold is accounted for in this book, only one of two things is possible.” I looked up at Mr. Lun. “Correction: three things. Either you are lying and you have imported kurline on the side, someone has purchased kurline from the manufacturer contracted to sell only to you, or someone with a license to purchase kurline has eitherused it to make a bomb themselves or sold it to someone else who made a bomb with it.”
“I assure you—”
I held up my hand. “I don't want your assurances, Mr. Lun. I am working a case. So, the first possibility, that of you lying, would seem the easiest, but in actuality, it is the most difficult. With the standards of inspection at the docks, importing more kurline than the manufacturer reports is hard to do. And why would the manufacturer risk their import rights for a few extra coins? No, I don't think that's it.”
Mr. Lun let out a breath.
“That line of reasoning also rules out the second explanation. I cannot imagine the manufacturer selling pre-tinted kurline to an unlicensed individual without a contract.” I paused. “Unless that individual put pressure on them.” I looked down at the book and tapped my lip. “Perhaps we cannot rule out the second theory just yet. But the third seems the most likely to me. Someone with a license to purchase kurline either sold it to someone without a license or used the kurline they bought to make a bomb. Again, blackmail could be used to accomplish this.” I looked up, pinning the merchant with my stare. “Do you know the name Katai?”
“No. Should I?” Mr. Lun had no reaction to the name. But that didn't surprise me. It would be foolish for Katai to use his real name when conducting a criminal activity.
“What about the name Hallaxgral?”
The man flinched back.
“You know him?” King Tor'rien leaned forward.
Mr. Lun swallowed, and then whispered, “I've heard of him.”
“In what way?” I demanded. “Do you know what he looks like or how to find him?”
“You don't find him. He finds you. If you're unlucky enough to attract his attention.”
I cocked my head. “Who is he? I mean, what does he do that has you so terrified at the mere mention of his name?”
“Look, I try my best to run an honest business, but sometimes things slip by me. I . . . when I said there hadn't been any thefts . . .”
“You lied.” I pulled out my notebook and set the company record back on the desk.
“Not exactly. A theft would have happened, but was thwarted.”
“By Hallaxgral?”
“Please, stop saying that name.”
“Answer me.”
“Yes, by him.”
“So youhavemet him.”
