Free Different Senses by Ann Somerville

the pendant and results back to the client. Kajal
Gemate will settle before they need to use them. No need to tell
them what happened—just report what you find. Even if the DNA
evidence has been compromised, she won’t dare bluff her way out. I
made it clear she better not. It’s over, Kirin. You kept the lab
and most of your people safe. So now you have to go on, for
them.”
    “I need to revise procedures.”
He wiped his eyes on his sleeve and looked up at me. “Want a job as
a security adviser?”
    “One day, maybe. But not now.
But I can recommend a firm of ex-cops with an excellent reputation.
Be honest with them about what happened.”
    He nodded, and blew his nose
properly before sitting up. “You’re really good at this, you know.
Not just finding the truth, but the way you analyse things. This is
what you should do. Security, or private investigation. Something
like that.”
    “It’s not the same as being a
cop.”
    “It could be better though. I’m
not just saying this, Javen. I know excellence when I see it.”
    “Yeah, you do. I’ll think about
it. But now I need to push off.”
    “What about your fee?”
    I stood. “You’ve paid enough. I
might need a favour or two in the future. I’ll call it in
then.”
    “Anytime. Um...?”
    I waved and headed to the door.
“See you around, Kirin.”
    I wanted to leave before I said
something stupid, that I didn’t mean or would regret later. Neither
of us needed the heartache that would bring.
    ~~~~~~~~
    I walked out of the building
not really sure where to go or how I felt. Yes, I’d won. Done what
I wanted to do, even to the point of proving Devi was a creep. It
just didn’t feel like a win though, and now it was over, I felt
empty again. Like I had since the hospital.
    A tingle in my head. I turned
and saw Jyoti watching me, sitting on the edge of a flowerbed,
holding a mug of chai. “Hello.”
    “Good afternoon, Sri
Ythen.”
    I went over and sat by her.
“Big day at work.”
    “An unhappy day. Everyone’s
upset.”
    “At you?”
    “Not specifically.” She bowed
her head. “Thank you for finding the thief.”
    “I did it for everyone. You
guys didn’t deserve to have your names ruined by him. Or by Pritam.
Things should be more pleasant without Devi too.”
    “Yes. I’m not the only one who
thinks so.”
    “So now you can get on with
your job, and relax. Kirin will need all the good people he can
get.”
    “Yes. I intend to work hard. If
I don’t, I know no one will make excuses for me.”
    The way they had for Pritam,
she didn’t say but I heard loud and clear anyway. “You were a great
help to me. That tip about Pritam pointed us in the right
direction.”
    “I’m glad.” She shifted
uneasily. “If people see me talking to you, they might...make
assumptions.”
    “Oh. Yeah. Sorry.” I stood.
“Hang onto my number, Jyoti. I owe you and I repay my debts. You
never know when you might need help.”
    “Thank you, but there’s no
debt. May the Spirit guide you to happiness.”
    “Ah...thanks.” Overt displays
of religiousness always made me queasy. “Good luck.”
    She smiled, but she was
glad to see me go. She was right that people would talk if we were
seen chatting. Banis women had enough of an undeserved reputation
without me adding to it by being overly familiar. I hoped she’d do
all right in Kirin’s lab. He really did encourage people and I
hoped all this wouldn’t change that. He was a good boss, even if
he’d turned out to be a lousy lover.
    No, that was unfair. He’d been
a good lover too, but not up to the unexpected. He’d lived
something of a charmed life, and this was definitely the worst
upset he’d ever experienced. Maybe in a few years, with a few more
knocks, he’d be more resilient. But I would have moved on by then.
I’d already started.
    And now I’d have to see where
the path led me.

Javen and the Lost
Girl
    “So that’s what an
investigator’s badge looks like,” Yashi said,