Chapter Ten

 

We are running out of time. Brill wasn’t able to find anything in the river and is on his way back. And I’ve talked to half the people on this island. I’m back at the hotel, talking to the janitor, before I meet Valeria for my facial. The guy keeps wandering off on tangents, wasting precious moments.

“But did you see anybody hanging out near the laundry chute?” I have to get this conversation back on track. Fizzax’s recording talks about blood on a towel Brill supposedly threw out the laundry chute.

“Now, I wasn’t here for part of the day, but while I was cleaning the office areas, I saw a couple of the old guys who come in for breakfast every morning getting their coffee from the vending machine. Since they’re regulars, the restaurant doesn’t mind them bringing it in. Have you tried the restaurant yet? They make amazing skhalb.”

“Anyone else?” I prompt.

“An offworlder girl asked me for some extra towels, and that couple from Room 203 made out in the hallway from the time I started cleaning the bathrooms until I finished vacuuming the conference room.” He shrugs. “If you want to talk to the old guys, they went out with the salvage operation.”

He gestures in the general direction of where I’d seen that wrecked ship becoming one with the reef.

My eyes widen. “I thought that was off bounds.”

“Not everybody believes there is such a thing as a phkhekk fiekksk. And if it was, nothing could have survived this long underwater.” The janitor shrugs. “Besides, they got an offworlder commission, and the money’s good.”

I need to talk to those Zantites, find out if they saw anything that could help clear Brill. If they’re here every day, they probably have a better bead on the area than anyone else.

I make my way down to the beach. I only spot Mertex trailing me once.

There’s a truck idling on packed sand that makes a road heading away from the shore. Three Zantites are carrying blocky items from a small boat and piling them into a truck. One guy has the locked box I’d seen.

I try to get their attention, pero they deposit the items in the truck, get in the front and drive away before I can get close enough that ignoring me becomes obviously rude.

The boat driver makes eye contact with me, then revs the engine and heads for deeper water. I don’t know if it’s because I’m an offworlder, or because they know I’m bound to be asking about Brill and they don’t want to get involved.

 

With a sigh, I head for the spa. Minda’s already there, waiting to talk to me. It has to be about Mertex’s vow, no?

Valeria makes her wait. My stylist takes a good look at my face and tuts over all the scratches. “You’ve been out in the sun, too, but it’s all on one side. I hope your skin is smooth enough for foundation by the time we film again.”

She spreads a layer of cooling goop on my face and wipes her hands on a towel.

“A side effect of the Invincible Heart is that my skin’s the smoothest it’s been since I was a niña. If not for the weird color of my nails, it’d be great.” I hold out my hands, where the polish has chipped off, revealing the shade the natural nail has grown in, between pea and puce.

“Egad!” Valeria grabs my hands to get a closer look, at the same time smearing cream all over my fingers. She drops them when Tawny stalks in, Mertex in tow. Murry’s face is bright green.

“What. Did. You. Do?”

I may have made a statement to a Zantite reporter that I believe Brill is innocent. “I told the truth.”

“Which could lead to your show being cancelled. Is that what you want?”

“What I want is to keep Brill breathing.” I stare at the green showing through the cracked polish on my nails. It’s not growing out any lighter. There’s no getting out of any of this. “Pero, if I can’t, I’d at least like to find a way to unbind Mertex’s life from mi vida’s.”

“That was supposed to be an honorary title and assignment. This wasn’t supposed to be dangerous. We’re making a cooking show, for Garfex’s sake!” Minda’s been about to pop, waiting to say that.

Tyson and I have been discussing this at length. “If Brill dies, you’re supposed to execute him. Mertex’s life belongs to you.”

“And what would I do with it?” She pokes me in the shoulder. “Tradition and peoples’ expectations be damned, I will not destroy someone I’m in love with. After all, mercy is a gift.”

“You’re what now?” Mertex sounds flabbergasted.

I stare at Minda. A bit of the goop Valeria stuck on my face falls into my lap. I ignore it.

Had Minda overheard me at the bar? Does she know what I did – or rather didn’t do – for Fizzax’s sake?

She stares straight back. It’s definitely a reference. “You heard me.”

Mercy for mercy, I’ve started something here. Too bad it’s not enough to help Brill. Or Mertex. Or anyone.

“I’d like to talk to the Galactic Inspector you’ve been consulting with,” Tawny says. “See if there’s anything I can spin.”

“Sí.” I take Valeria’s towel and try to wipe the goop off my hands.

Brill walks in, stooped and defeated, his eyes iron gray.

My hands are still sticky. “Can you forward Tyson’s contact to Tawny?”

“Reshdo.” He gingerly holds out a hand for my phone.

I raise an eyebrow. “Did you get a new one?”

“Ga. Didn’t seem that important.”

Brill must really believe he’s going to die. His phone is key for both his business and his social life. It’s the only possession – besides his ship – he cares much about.

I fight a hitch in my throat.

“Bo, he is absolutely glorious. I am thoroughly sorry for your loss.” Minda gives me a sad smile, and steps over to put a hand on my arm. There’s nothing different about Brill. Praising him must be part of Zantite comfort. She turns to Brill, “Kiss her well, that she may wear your valor on her lips forever.”

They use that line a lot in Zandywood holos, and it’s cheesetastic, pero it still leaves moisture glittering in Brill’s eyes.