“Excellent. It is now time for him to repay the favor.
Things have reached a critical stage, and we will need a great deal more information about the Imperials. How well do you know Elaine Liddell?”
“Fairly well, sir. She’s friendly enough. I used to see her when I called on Liddell — we play Go fairly often. Unfortunately, as I’ve reported, lately she’s out as often as not.”
“So you don’t know if she would work with us?”
“No, sir.” Gregory shrugged. “She certainly fancies herself in love with that young Imperial. If it came to a choice of loyalties, I wouldn’t bet either way.”
“Even if the king himself asked for her help?”
“I just don’t know, sir. They’re pretty thick, those two.” He gave Dougal a knowing look. “You’ve seen the reports.”
Dougal nodded. “If she’s not in love with Lieutenant Jefferson, she ought to be. I do not understand how her father tolerates the situation.”
“He has very little choice, sir.” Captain Gregory said. “He could hardly challenge an Imperial officer. And of course Freelady Elaine does speak — privately — of Lieutenant Jefferson as her ‘fiancee.’ ”
“But not publicly. Does Jefferson acknowledge the relationship?”
“That’s more complicated than you would suppose,” Gregory said. “He has made no objection to being called that by Elaine in the presence of Citizen Liddell. However, he cannot officially become engaged to a local without permission of his commanding officer — or says he cannot.”
“Sounds as if Jefferson has found a good thing,” Dougal said. “Privileges without obligations.”
Gregory nodded agreement.
“I can’t think the girl would much care for the situation.”
“No, sir. I know her father doesn’t, “Gregory said.
“You’re certain of that.”
Gregory smiled. “Oh, yes. Laurence Liddell and I are very good friends — in fact, I am the only one of his friends who knows the situation.”
“But why does he tolerate it?”
“He has little choice, sir. When Elaine began seeing Jefferson privately, Liddell was horrified, of course, but when he tried to do something about it, she threatened to get a job working for the Imperials and move into an apartment on their compound. He’d have had no control over her at all if she did that—”
“Is that still possible?” Dougal asked.
“I suppose so.”
“We might get a lot of information — no, of course that can’t work. Liddell would have to disown her. We’d never see her.” Dougal looked thoughtful. “But we do need her cooperation. Have you suggestions for how to approach her?”
Captain Gregory held his fingertips together under his chin and looked up thoughtfully. “Have you considered how she must feel?” he asked. “She has thoroughly compromised herself, but she has no commitment whatever from Jefferson. If under those circumstances she found he was unfaithful to her—”
“Umm. And Jefferson has certainly been known to be interested in tavern girls. A good suggestion, Captain. Keep it in mind. Better — perhaps before we speak to her directly, we should have, uh, evidence—”
“I can arrange that,”
“Excellent. And Jefferson himself might be vulnerable,” Dougal mused.
“I can’t think his superiors don’t know of his adventures. One more wouldn’t make a difference.”
“I wasn’t thinking of his rather libertine ways with tavern girls,” Dougal said. “Tell me, Captain, have you any reason to believe that Freelady Elaine is sterile?”
“No, sir-”
“Yet if she has obtained a birth control device, she has been exceedingly discreet. Might Jefferson have given her what the Imperials use? Something called ‘The Pill’ is mentioned prominently in the novel we found. If he has given her Imperial technology, he may be in violation of one of their regulations.”
“Isn’t that a lot to deduce on little evidence?” Gregory asked.
“Some of it isn’t deduction, Captain,” Dougal said. “I have a number of agents watching those two. One is the concierge at the apartment Jefferson keeps in the suburbs.”
“Even if you’re correct, he would probably report any approach from us to his superiors,” Gregory said. “From what I’ve seen of him he is rather admirably loyal to the Empire.”
“Yes. Unfortunately. I suppose you’re right, it was only a thought. Now, to return to the matter of Citizen Liddell. Will he cooperate?”
“Yes. He’s very loyal. Favors the unification wars and all that. And this business with Jefferson hasn’t made him love the Empire.”
Dougal looked thoughtfully at the dossier on his desk. “Roads and public works,” he mused. “Good recommendations from his superiors. Fairly senior civil servant — tell me, do you think he’s competent to be one of the roads commissioners?”
“Yes.”
“Good. He’ll have that.” Dougal made a note on the memo pad in front of him. “Sir Giles Og’s political managers aren’t going to be too happy about losing that appointment, but that can’t be helped. Time to show Liddell he has friends who appreciate his talents — make sure he knows it was your influence that got him promoted. What else does he want?”
“A knighthood on retirement, but he has no reason to expect it—”
“Offer him that, too. If his daughter will cooperate with us. If not—” Dougal shrugged. “If not, a Haven knighthood won’t be worth a lot anyway, but we can’t tell him that. Captain, Elaine Liddell is potentially one of our best sources of information about Imperial policies, and I need that information badly. Especially now.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do my best.”
“I know you will. That’s all.”
“Sir.” Gregory stood.
“Your very best, Commandant,” Dougal said.
Gregory was halfway to the door. He stopped and turned in surprise. “Commandant?”
“Yes. I’ve just promoted you. See that you deserve it.” Dougal made another note on his memo pad.
This is dangerous, Dougal thought. The expedition is returning and we will need information on Imperial activities. Elaine Liddell is potentially invaluable, our only real source, but she could also arouse Imperial suspicions.
But, he thought, there is nothing else to do. It is worth the risk, but that risk will have to be minimized. He took a report from his desk and scanned through it. Freelady Liddell and Lieutenant Jefferson liked sailing. They often went out alone in small craft, but only in the daytime. They did have some sense of discretion …
He continued to scan the report. Citizen Liddell owned a pair of Mannheim pacers, and Jefferson took Elaine riding at least weekly. Mannheims, he thought. Very spirited horses. Took controlling. You could break your neck falling off a horse. The Imperial High Commissioner would be saddened by the loss, but what suspicion could be attached to a riding accident? He nodded to himself. Best see Inspector Solon. Just in case the interview with the girl went badly.
And there were endless other details to be attended to before the expedition returned. Dougal’s fingers drummed on the polished wooden desk, and a thin smile came to his lips. The waiting was over. Now they could get to work.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
DECISION FACTORS
The small boat skipped across the water, running directly downwind and going like a corkborer chased by an eagle. She had a nasty tendency to roll, and it took all of Jefferson’s skill to keep her heading straight. He stood in the cockpit, his legs spread wide, the tiller behind him, feeling the following seas as they lifted the stern, throwing his weight against the tiller to correct any deviation from center, careful not to overcorrect and let her fall off the other way. It would be easy to broach, and in these seas the boat might swamp.
“You look like you’re having fun.” Elaine leaned against the forward cockpit coaming with her knees drawn up to her chin.