Page 106 of Alien Burn

His lead nodded.

“What about the reply address?”

“It uses the same commercial relay network as some of her recent calls. Kerde traffic in the records. We can't read the contents.”

“Frequency?”

“Up since the reception. Again after the packet was collected.”

Dhomhes leaned back.

The extra calls might be complaints about the packet being held. They might be instructions. The reply address gave the investigators somewhere to start tracing them.

“Has she tried to contact Sereya again?”

“Not through the residence desk. We wouldn't see a private message unless Sereya reported it.”

“Good. Keep it that way.”

He had Sereya's copy of the message from the night before. He didn't need to turn the comm the residence had lent her into another person looking over her shoulder.

“Let the housing staff know she may ask for someone to accompany her if Roemary approaches,” he said. “No details beyond that.”

“The packet stays here?”

“In evidence storage. The office can explain its procedure using a copy.”

His lead gathered the records.

Then Dhomhes's comm sounded with a request from the residence staff.

Roemary wanted to speak to him about an urgent concern for her safety. Privately.

He read it once, then checked the clock.

Sereya would be coming to breakfast shortly.

Of course.

He sent her a message before answering the staff.

I need to deal with a request from Roemary. It may delay me.

Please start without me if you're hungry; I will come as soon as I'm finished.

Then he arranged to meet Roemary in the small receiving room beside the residence office.

The room had upright chairs, a desk, and an open view of the occupied corridor. If she had a genuine concern, he would hear it. If she wanted something else, she could ask for it in daylight.

She arrived wrapped in pale fabric that made her silver hair look almost luminous.

Dhomhes stood to greet her. She took his offered courtesy as an invitation to remain close, her hands clasped loosely at her waist.

“Thank you. I knew you would understand.”

“What has happened?”

Her eyes moved past him, taking in the room.