Free This Day All Gods Die by Stephen R. Donaldson

Fane—
    and to some extent by Nathan Alt. Nev-
    ertheless it derives both its authority and its intent from the great worm in his lair."
    Now both Koina and Mandich kept silent, awaiting Warden's reaction.
    Warden allowed himself a long, slow breath. Some of the tension appeared to recede from his frame. Relief, perhaps? Or defeat? Hashi couldn't tell which. He could only trust that he had at last begun to grasp the UMCP director's game.
    Quietly Warden asked, "How do you figure that?"
    He had authorized Koina Hannish to reveal how passage of the Preempt Act had been obtained. He had instructed her to admit Angus Thermopyle's innocence—
    and Morn Hyland's
    knowledge of that innocence. Hashi could think of no explanation except that Warden had decided to attempt the Dragon's downfall.
    The DA director intended to give him every possible aid.
    "Of the kaze who attacked Captain Vertigus," he began, seeking precision so that everyone would see that his logic was seamless, "nothing is known. Prior to the agreement recently negotiated by Director Hannish—
    the agreement which has as-
    signed temporary responsibility for GCES Security to Chief Mandich—
    we lacked investigative jurisdiction. Therefore I admit frankly that any connection between that assault and those on Godsen Frik and the GCES must remain purely speculative.
    We will not be able to 'prove' it.
    "The other two are another matter. There our jurisdiction was plain. Within the limits imposed by events, our opportunity to investigate has been unimpeded."
    He paused to sort oblique strands of inference, then continued.
    "Lane Harbinger has already justified my faith in her many times over." Confidence sharpened the habitual wheeze of his voice. "One notable example is germane. As my recent reports indicate, she has been able to recognize and preserve a minute fragment of a SOD-CMOS chip from the credentials of the kaze who slew poor Godsen Frik." Hashi made no effort to pretend that his grief for the former PR director was sincere. "From this fragment she has contrived to extract data.
    "Need I explain why this achievement is remarkable?"
    He glanced at Chief Mandich's blunt resentment; returned his gaze to Warden. "Perhaps not.
    "The data is as fragmentary as the chip," he resumed.
    "Nevertheless it, too, is recognizable. Specifically Lane has identified strings of source-code which demonstrate, first, that the chip is one of ours, legitimately manufactured for us by Anodyne Systems, and second, that the chip was of recent production. The source-code is current as well as correct. It shows no indications of patching or other alteration.
    "This coincides with what Lane has determined from her physical analysis of the chip."
    Gradually Hashi's manner expanded to match his subject.
    "As you know, for credentials to pass scrutiny they need only be correct. Patched chips are correct. Nevertheless their source-codes are not current. If they were, they would not require patching."
    QED.

    "Sadly, this demonstrates little where our Godsen's killer is concerned. If his credentials were recently issued—
    too re-
    cently to have required the patch of which FEA Fane spoke—
    they would be both current and correct.
    "However, Clay Imposs' credentials in Nathan Alt's possession are altogether more revealing."
    Hashi smiled to remind Warden—
    as well as Koina and
    Mandich—
    that he himself had preserved those credentials at the hazard of his own life.
    Chief Mandich couldn't contain himself. He must have loathed hearing Hashi lecture. "How so?" he demanded. "I don't get it. If they were correct enough to pass, who cares how current they are?"
    Hashi allowed his tone to sharpen. "The benign Cleatus Fane helpfully assures us that Nathan Alt was fired six weeks ago. Further, he assures us that substantial precautions were taken to guarantee that Nathan Alt could not betray Anodyne Systems. I am certain that his statements will be confirmed by Anodyne Systems' records, as well as by