L. E.Modesitt - Imager’s Intrigue

At that moment, Zylpher, one of the junior patrollers in Third District, rushed through the door. “Captain! There’s been another explosion! This one was in the Banque D’Excelsis, the one on the Midroad just south of Plaza D’Este. Khallyn had me take a hack. It’s waiting outside.”

That branch of the Banque D’Excelsis was in Third District, if barely, and that meant I’d need to look into it, and in a hurry. “Lyonyt, send a messenger to headquarters and have them send an explosives expert to the banque. Also, tell the lieutenant that’s where I’ll be.”

“Yes, sir.”

I hurried back out through the door I’d entered moments before, followed by Zylpher.

The hacker took us up Elsyor, but with all the congestion near the Plaza we got out a block away, where I hurriedly paid the driver and then half-walked, half-trotted the distance to the banque.

People had stopped and were looking at the front of the banque. Khallyn and two banque guards had stationed themselves before the entrance to the building. I stopped for a moment to survey the scene. The damage appeared to consist of a set of iron doors bent apart and a great deal of broken and shattered glass scattered everywhere. What I didn’t see were metal fragments or anything like shrapnel or grapeshot.

As I stood there, a messenger hurried up to me. He wore the orange and black sash of one of the private services. “Sir? Are you Patrol Captain Maitre Rhennthyl?”

“Yes.”

He extended an envelope, unsealed. “This is for you, sir.”

“Can you tell me who sent it?”

“No, sir. He didn’t give his name. He paid a gold for an anonymous private delivery.” With that, the young messenger was gone.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to open the envelope, thin as it was, but I eased shields around it as I slipped out the single sheet. The lines were written so perfectly they might have been engraved.

The explosion was to get your attention…and that of your superiors. Ask the banque’s director about the missing funds in the account of the Portraiture Guild and about the recent drowning of a clerk and the accounts he tended. You might also find certain fund transfers of some interest, particularly those sent to Councilor Caartyl from the Banque D’Solis and a smaller amount from the Banque D’Ouestan to a Cydarth D’Patrol.

Khallyn and Zylpher both looked at me.

“Some information.” I slipped the envelope into the inside pocket of my tunic. “Zylpher, if you would take Khallyn’s place here?”

“Yes, sir.”

When I stepped through the bent doors, followed by Khallyn, another burly guard stepped forward as if to block our way, then took in the uniforms. “Sir…”

“Patrol Captain Rhennthyl and Patroller Khallyn.” I smiled politely.

“Yes, sir.”

“I’d like to see the director about this.” I gestured back to the front of the building and the windows that had shattered against their iron bars.

He didn’t look very happy, but I hadn’t met a guard yet who wanted to turn away a Civic Patrol Captain who also wore the emblem of an imager, although I doubted he knew I was a master imager as well.

As I stepped past him, a thin man in a blue pinstriped jacket and trousers, with a cravat patterned in silver crescents, stepped forward. His face was dominated by sweeping waxed black mustaches and slightly bulging green eyes. “Officer…everything is in hand here.”

“Captain, Captain Rhennthyl. Also Master Imager Rhennthyl. Physical violence against an inhabited structure and injuries to inhabitants is a criminal offense, even when it involves the interior premises of a private enterprise.” I smiled politely. “Perhaps you could tell me exactly what happened here. Oh…and you are?”

“Director Tolsynn. This is my branch.”

“Good. What happened?”

“We hadn’t opened for the day. A wagon stopped in front, and two men jumped out and rammed the door ajar. They forced something between the doors and drove off. It exploded. Some of the clerks were cut by splinters and glass, but no one was seriously injured. A few have cuts and scratches.”

“Did anyone see the men well?”

“I only saw that they wore dark brown, with hoods. Cheluryn was the closest clerk. And Mhanyn. He was the guard. He was about to unlock the door.”

“If you’d have them talk to Patroller Khallyn…” I nodded to the dark-eyed patroller. “I’ll need some more details from you.”

Tolsynn glanced to his left, toward the guard who had wanted to stop us.

“Khallyn, if you would find out what you can from the guard and the clerk?”

“Yes, sir.”

I looked at Tolsynn. “Please continue.”

“Captain…no one was seriously hurt, and nothing was taken.” He shifted his weight from one foot to another.

“A bombing that causes damage to a banque and injury to its employees is not trivial,” I said mildly. “It’s also against the law, and enforcing the law and finding the perpetrators-and the reasons for their actions-is the duty of the Patrol.”

At my mention of reasons, I could sense an increase in tension. “I see you think there might be someone who had a reason to bomb this branch of the bank. Could you tell me who that might be and why?”

“I cannot. I really don’t know of any reason.”

I had a good idea that he was lying. “I presume, with your location here, that you handle the accounts of some of the Guilds and factoring associations.”

“Our client list is privileged, Captain.”

“I did not ask who your clients were, Director.” I smiled coldly. “I asked if you had clients of that nature.”

Tolsynn moistened his lips. “It would be logical to assume that.”

“Would that assumption be wrong?”

“No, but I shouldn’t say more than that.”

“Has any client indicated that you needed to take special precautions?”

“Of course not.” His tone bordered on outrage.

“There is one other matter that might be related…”

“Oh?” His tone was close to that of dismissal.

“The clerk who was recently found drowned.”

His eyes flickered. “I don’t understand. What does Kearyk have to…What business is that of the Patrol?”

“It could be that people don’t believe that Kearyk drowned. Not on his own accord, at least. It just might be that drowning was a convenient way to keep matters from being exposed. So-called accidents and suicides do happen that way.”

“That’s a serious allegation, Captain.”

I smiled again. “I don’t believe I alleged anything. Bombing a banque is a serious offense. When a bombing occurs following a drowning of a clerk and the Patrol is informed that the two might be connected, we are obliged to pursue the matter.” I waited a moment. “What can you tell me about Kearyk?”

“He was an account bookkeeper. He’d been with the bank for eight years. Very neat. Very well groomed. Very accurate with his figures. He was very reliable.”

“Where did he live?”

“How would I know? He was referred to us by the Grammaire D’Martradon. That was years ago.” Tolsynn looked past me.

I turned. A squat patroller with a leather case stood just inside the doors. “Excuse me for a moment. We have a few more things to discuss.” I walked over to the patroller with the case.

“Captain…I’m Chenoyt. You sent for me? With reason, it appears.”

“I did. We’ve tried to keep people clear, but I’d like you to look all this over and tell us what you can.”

He nodded.

“If you don’t need me at the moment…”

“No, sir.”

I returned to Tolsynn. “We were talking about your clerk Kearyk. Would you care to give me your thoughts on his drowning and the disappearance of funds from the account of the Portraiture Guild?”