access to witnesses,â Delia said. She daintily wiped her hands on Melâs jacket, which hung from the back of his chair. âBut nothing critical.â
âNothing they can screw up,â Mel said. He looked from his jacket to Delia.
âAnd what have the professional cops come up with?â Halliday said. âA secured prisoner who vanishes from her hospital bed. What kind of security was there, anyway? Sheââ
âShe was in restraints, Roger,â David said. âNets and leather buckles. Somebody let her out. When, I donât know. Aslanti thinks it was just before lunch. Around ten-thirty, or so.â
âThatâs just before lunch?â
âHospital schedule,â Mel said.
âBut they got great elevators,â David added.
Halliday leaned back in his chair. âTheories, please. Who and why?â
âIzicho?â Pete said. âSorry, String, but thatâs what the doctor said.â
String moved from side to side.
âGet a grip, Gumby,â Mel said. âWe got to be objective.â
âWhy objective? I know things. Is good to know, then not the time wasted.â
âWe got to prove it,â Mel said. âBest favor you can do the whole Izicho secret police bunch is prove they had nothing to do with Dahmi, or the cho invasions.â
String turned sideways, both eye prongs stiff. âThat may a point be made.â
âSure it is, Gumby. And you got to at least admit the possibility of some kind of extremist group of Izicho involved. I mean, what do the Izicho think, String, of the Guardians?â
âAnarchists,â String said.
âYeah, well, see, most people think the Guardians have the right idea. Personal freedomâitâs a hangup with hot dogs, String.â
âMuch trouble.â
âOkay, say youâre right. What kind of trouble?â
âNot obey community rules. Laws. People hurt when this to be case. Follow Guardians, no rules, then what? Killing allowed? Theft?â
âOkay, String. Suppose you got a group of Izicho who are real worried about the Guardians. Maybe they think the combination of Guardian politics and Earth freedom are too dangerous. Maybe they decide to do something about it.â
âWhat does this have to do with Dahmi?â Delia said.
âThe neighborâPainterâshe said Dahmi was a big fan of Angel Eyes.â
Pete snorted. âAngel Eyes. Sheâs too old for this stuff, sheâs retired.â
An old Elaki. David wondered if the ancient Elaki Mother-One was still on the sidewalk outside the office.
âShe used to run the Guardians,â Delia said. âSheâs still got lots of popular support.â
âYeah, well, so does Reagan,â Mel said.
âHeâs dead.â
âFinally.â
âThat could be attractive,â Pete said. âBlaming it on Reagan.â
String looked from one to the other. âWhat is Reagan?â
âTrust me, Gumby, thereâs some things about humans too horrible to know.â
David rubbed his eyes. âSuppose it was Izicho. Suppose it was just like Dahmi said. She finds out, somehow, sheâs a target for a cho invasion. Why would the Izicho take her now? Theyâve accomplished what they want.â
âShe would be most dangerous,â String said.
âAw, come on.â
âNo, Detective Mel. Please to hear this. She not irrational if follow the theory. Soon to recover from shock. Soon to have nothing to lost. Soon to be most dangerous. Mother-One with pouchlings to avenge. Could be much trouble.â
âI believe it.â Delia pointed at David. âWe all know his wife.â
String bowed deeply. âRose Silver much admire.â
David bit his thumbnail. âWhat about the Guardians?â
âThem?â Pete frowned. âWhy? They should be on her side.â
âOhhhh,â Delia said. âI see it. Sure. They are on
Sharon Kleve, Jennifer Conner, Danica Winters, Casey Dawes