Page 108 of Home

Quin shot him a look that said do not jump on me about this, too. “You’re supposed to be helping with security and standing — quietly — inside our residence.”

Ba Re’ lifted one shoulder in a half shrug as he scowled and rolled his eyes.

Quin shook his head, wondering again why the friend he’d always been able to count on had been replaced with a real life replica of his pain-in-the-ass brother. “As I was saying, why wouldn’t she take her credits to aid in her escape?”

“Because she doesn’t want anything we may not believe she’s deserving of. Including the credits we paid her. She wants nothing she hasn’t earned herself,” Eula explained.

“She’d have to be a very proud female to leave her credits behind just to make a point,” Quin grumbled.

“She’s not the first proud individual that I’m associated with, and quite fond of despite it,” Eula snapped.

Ba Re’ snickered.

“I am not so proud that I’d behave in a self-defeating manner,” Quin said.

Vivian cleared her throat, and looked away— obviously.

“What are you implying? That I am that proud?” Quin demanded.

“It’s not beyond you,” Vivian said.

“I don’t think it was meant to be self-defeating. She was hurt and didn’t want them because what they once represented to her, now mean nothing,” Eula said.

Quin pinched the bridge of his nose, as he usually did when dealing with Rokai. “So, Bart’s female is missing, and she left her credits behind. She’s also the Steward’s sister, and he’s been missing since before the attack on Alexandrus. He had access to her room, and could very well have been responsible for the missing passkey. And the metalsmith has stated that the Steward is missing and upon further questioning admitted that the Steward could either be on the side of the hunted or the hunting.”

“Exactly,” Eula agreed.

“What does all that tell you?” Vivian asked.

“The only thing I get out of that without a doubt is that the metalworker has been exposed to something that makes him less than sure of the Steward’s loyalty. Otherwise he’d have stated firmly that he was on the side of those doing the hunting. What it implies to me is that Mir’ Ahn is guilty and left his sister behind to clean up his mess, however that may happen.”

“If one is inclined to believe that Mir’ Ahn is guilty, clearly they are not in this together or he’d have taken Mirilla with him,” Vivian said.

“It does make sense. But it is still possible he is hunting down those who tried to harm Alexandrus,” Quin said.

“Do you honestly believe that?” Eula scoffed.

“It doesn’t matter what I think. I have to consider the facts,” Quin answered.

“You were ready to crucify Mirilla, but you give Mir’ Ahn the benefit of the doubt,” Eula exclaimed.

Quin’s expression tightened, a clear indication that he was not proud of his behavior and liked even less being called to task on it. “I reacted emotionally. I should have given all parties the benefit of the doubt. I did not. All I could think of was my son or my Ehlealah lying dead in the very place they should have been most safe.”

“Where do we go from here?” Eula asked her son.

“One thing at a time, mother,” Quin said as he lifted his hand to activate his communications implant as it beeped in his ear. “What?!” he barked.

“We’ve found them,” Jhan said.

“Where?! How many?!” Quin demanded.

“One of the old houses just outside of the palace perimeter. I remember years ago when several males used to live here. It was falling down then. Even worse now. We’ve got twenty three here, and a female. The female and two of the males are showing evidence of a physical altercation.”

“Who is their leader?”

“I don’t know yet. No one is speaking willfully. Kol’s team is doing a final search of the structure. I’m hoping somebody out here moves so I can shoot them now!” Jhan answered, bellowing the last sentence.

Quin chuckled. “Are you sure they heard you? Because we did.”

---