by Джуд Уотсон
Chapter 7
"What are you doing here?" Astri demanded as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan walked through the door of Didi's Cafй. She wiped her flour-dusted hands on a dish towel. "Oh, forgive me, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. You are always welcome, Qui-Gon. Except not just now."
"Don't worry, Astri, we haven't come for a meal," Qui-Gon told her.
"Jenna Zan Arbor is due with her party any moment," Astri said distractedly. "One of the servers hasn't shown up. I haven't finished the banja cakes yet. The water won't boil for the pashi noodles, and my sauce is too spicy!"
"It smells delicious," Obi-Wan said helpfully.
"Thank you. If only I could feed them with smells! How does the place look? Fligh was supposed to come by and sweep, and he never showed up, that rascal. After all Didi has done for him!"
"I have never seen the cafй look better," Qui-Gon assured her.
Astri had tried to brighten the place with ornate candles on the two long tables she had pushed together. A long pink cloth was on each table, and the plates and glasses looked clean and sparkling. But she could not hide the general air of disrepair of the place. The walls were dingy with the years of smoke and dirt, and the floor was pitted from the marks of thousands of boots and scuffles.
"There was no time to paint the inside," Astri said, noticing Obi-Wan's glance around. "And no time to tear the place down and rebuild, either." She gave a comical grimace.
"I'm sure everything will go fine," Qui-Gon said. "We've just come to talk to Didi for a moment. Is he here?"
"He's in the back. I told him to stay out of my way." Astri's dark eyes twinkled. "I think I scared him. He actually listened to me." Suddenly, she craned her neck and stared out the window. "Stars and planets, it's them!" Astri gave a surprisingly loud bellow. "Renzii! Our customers are here! Renzii —"
She was still bellowing as the door opened.
A tall woman dressed in a gray shimmersilk gown underneath a rich purple cloak stood uncertainly in the doorway. Her gleaming blond hair was intertwined with silky fabric. "This is Didi's Cafй?"
Hurriedly, Astri wiped her hands on her stained apron, then held one out for the woman to shake. She had rubbed a berry stain on her apron, and the hand she offered was blue. The woman stared at it and did not take it. Astri quickly tucked her hand behind her back.
"Yes, yes, come in. You are so welcome. I'm the owner and chef, Astri Oddo."
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan faded back. The woman's party crowded behind her. They glanced around the cafe, surprise on their faces. Obviously they had expected a grander restaurant for their meal. They were from various worlds, but all had a prosperous look. The men were dressed in fine tunics and jackets, the women in shimmersilk gowns or jackets. One aristocratic-looking female wore a jeweled turban. Her light blue eyes widened in dismay as she surveyed the cafe, and she quickly gathered her tunic closer around her.
"There must be some mistake," Jenna Zan Arbor said.
Just then Renzii the waiter raced out of the kitchen and skidded to a stop in front of the party, still buttoning his tunic. "Welcome, come in, enter, this way," he babbled.
"I think we'd better leave Astri to her guests,"
Qui-Gon murmured to Obi-Wan. "It seems her hands are full."
They walked back toward Didi's private office. They pushed open the door. Didi sat in a chair, his back to them. He didn't turn.
"Didi? Is everything all right?" Qui-Gon asked.
Slowly, the chair swiveled around to face them. Didi's dark eyes were full of tears. "I fear it is my fault," he said.
"What is your fault, Didi?" Qui-Gon asked gently.
"It's Fligh," he said. "He's been murdered."
Chapter 8
Obi-Wan had faced death before. He never got used to it. The way a spirit could fill a space, the life energy behind the eyes, and then… nothing.
"What happened?" Qui-Gon demanded.
"I don't know," Didi said, mopping his face with a napkin. "The Coruscant security force contacted me. They know Fligh is a friend. He was found in one of the alleyways around the Senate. The Lane of All Worlds is where he is lying like an animal." Perspiration shone on Didi's face. "Do you think this has anything to do with me?" he asked. His face betrayed how fearful he was to hear the answer.
"I'm afraid I do," Qui-Gon said grimly. "We'd better talk to the security forces. Come on, Didi."
"Me?" Didi squeaked. "Why do I have to go?" "Because I think you should remain with us at all times now," Qui-Gon said. "You aren't safe here."
"But I am!" Didi protested. "Astri will lock the front door so no other customers come. And this fancy party will go on for hours. No one will try to attack me while such distinguished guests are here. And besides," he added in a low tone, "I'm too afraid and sad to move right now. I could not look upon my dead friend's body. I am sorry."
Qui-Gon exchanged a glance with Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan hoped he was not going to suggest that he stay here with Didi while Qui-Gon investigated Fligh's death. He did not want to stay behind to baby-sit Didi when there was work to do.
"All right," Qui-Gon said reluctantly. "This shouldn't take very long. Make sure every door and window is fastened tight, Didi. This bounty hunter can get through very small spaces."
Didi nodded vigorously. "I have done so already, but I will double-check."
"We'll return soon," Qui-Gon said. "We'll knock at the back door. I don't want to spoil Astri's big evening."
"So considerate of you, Qui-Gon," Didi said fervently. "None of us want to spoil things for Astri. I will wait here. Can you… can you make sure that Fligh is… taken care of?" Didi's eyes filled with tears. "Tell the security forces that I will pay for the funeral. I will pay for everything."
Qui-Gon put a hand on Didi's shoulder. "This is not your fault, my friend."
"I hear your words," Didi whispered. "Yet I do not feel them."
Qui-Gon checked the doors and windows from the outside before they headed off. He did not trust the scattered Astri to remember to bolt the door. But everything was locked up tight.
It was fully dark when Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan arrived at the Lane of All Worlds. There was no moon, and the glare of the glow lamps threw harsh shadows.
The Coruscant security forces in their navy uniforms milled around Fligh's fallen body, which was covered by a tarp.
"May I look?" Qui-Gon asked the officer in charge. His nameplate read CAPTAIN YUR T'AUG. He was a stocky Bothan with a flowing beard and glossy dark hair that hung to his shoulders.
The captain frowned, but all officers in the security force knew that Jedi requests must be honored.
"All right," Captain Yur T'aug said. "Not a pleasant sight, though."
"Stay here, Padawan," Qui-Gon told Obi-Wan. This order Obi-Wan was glad to obey. He did not want to see Fligh's body. He wanted to remember Fligh alive.
He watched as Qui-Gon, his back to him, crouched to lift a corner of the tarp. Although Qui-Gon did not flinch or shudder, Obi-Wan knew the sight had distressed him. There was something about how his Master did not move for several seconds, how his hand dropped the tarp with great gentleness.
Obi-Wan turned away with a shudder. Around the body, officers went about the business of death, tagging various items, searching the ground with glow rods, entering information in their data pads, talking in groups. It could be any being lying on that cold stone walkway. Fligh had ceased to matter. Only the manner of his death was important.
Obi-Wan looked up at the dark sky. Stars glittered with edges that looked hard enough to cut. Already he felt at times that he had seen too much death and cruelty. How did Qui-Gon, who had seen so much more, feel? It was the Jedi's job to meet such things. To help. The helping was easy compared to this.
Will I ever get used to death? Obi-Wan wondered.
Obi-Wan saw something glitter in the dim shadows. He walked closer. It was a bright green stone. He leaned down to study it and realized it was Fligh's prosthetic eye. It must have rolled away fro
m the body. He pointed it out to Qui-Gon, who nodded.
Qui-Gon showed it to Captain Yur T'aug. "It belonged to the victim," he said.
The captain crouched to examine it. "Sergeant!" he called. "Tag this item."
Another officer scurried over with a specimen bag and carefully picked up the eye with a tweezer device.
"What was the cause of death?" Qui-Gon asked quietly.
"Strangulation, we believe," Captain Yur T'aug said shortly.
"I saw the marks," Qui-Gon said. "It seems like a slender cord of some kind. Not hands." The captain nodded.
"And the unusual… ah, pallor?" Qui-Gon asked.
"The body was drained of blood," Captain Yur T'aug said. "He was killed elsewhere and then dropped off here."
Obi-Wan looked back at the tarp and shuddered again.
Qui-Gon's voice was calm. "Any suspects?"
The captain sighed, tapping his comlink with an impatient finger. "I should be investigating, not filling you in. You can read the report when I am done."
Qui-Gon did not show his impatience, but Obi-Wan could feel it. "I do not have time to read your report," he said, his voice as brittle as ice.
Captain Yur T'aug hesitated, then said, "No suspects yet. Nobody saw anything. But we know this High character. He's a well-known informant and petty thief. Could have a hundred enemies. Not to mention that he owes money all over town. I hear he has a major debt to the Tech Raiders."
Qui-Gon studied the officer for a moment. "There is something else," he said.
"This is not the first body we've found drained of blood," Captain Yur T'aug said hesitantly. "Drifters, lowlifes — beings no one would miss. Over the past year, there have been a half dozen. Maybe more we haven't found. Who knows? Coruscant can be a hard world. Many transients come here to scrounge a living."
"If this is the case, the killer is most likely not someone Fligh owed money to," Qui-Gon said.
Captain Yur T'aug shrugged. "Or else the killer copied the method to throw us off the track. It's our job to find out."
"You might want to check into a female bounty hunter," Qui-Gon said. "She's a Sorussian who might have had reason to dispose of Fligh. She's been staying at the Soft Landings Inn."
"Sure," Captain Yur T'aug said. "Thanks for the tip." His lack of interest was obvious.
"Good luck to you," Qui-Gon said. "You should know that Didi Oddo will pay for the funeral. Fligh was not friendless. He will be missed."
Qui-Gon motioned to Obi-Wan, and they walked past the officers back onto the main walkway that curved around the Senate.
"Are you all right, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked him.
"Fligh wasn't my friend," Obi-Wan said. "I only spent a few minutes with him. There was something likeable about him, but I can't say that I liked him. Yet I feel almost as sad as Didi."
"I do as well," Qui-Gon said.
They walked a few steps in silence. "Do you ever get used to death?" Obi-Wan asked.
"No," Qui-Gon said. "That is how it should be."
"Why do you think Fligh was killed?" Obi-Wan asked. "Do you think that he knew something important but didn't realize it, like Didi?"
"Perhaps," Qui-Gon said. "And remember that Fligh said he would try to help Didi. I wonder if he did try. No doubt it would be easy for him to discover where the bounty hunter was lodging."
"You think that is what happened?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Let us swing by the inn on the way back to the cafй," Qui-Gon suggested. "We should have another talk with this bounty hunter."
They walked quickly through the streets until they reached the Soft Landings Inn. This time the front door was slightly ajar, so they were able to walk in without ringing the innkeeper. They quickly climbed the stairs to the third level. Qui-Gon knocked on the door, and it swung open. The room was empty.
"She's gone." The Togorian stood behind them with a bucket and vibro-mop. "Checked out. I have to clean. Get out of my way."
They retreated down the stairs. "I don't like this," Qui-Gon murmured. "Let's get back to Didi's."
They quickened their pace and began to run. Didi's wasn't far.
They swung around the corner. Ahead was the cafй. There was no spill of light from the windows, and the front door was shut tight.
"We are too late," Qui-Gon said.
Chapter 9
Lightsabers drawn, they rushed into the cafй. With a quick sweep, they saw that it was empty. Plates with half-eaten food sat on the tables. Qui-Gon charged past the tables to the kitchen. Pots were overturned, their contents on the floor. Bins of flour and grain spilled onto the counters. The cooler door was open.
They ran to Didi's private office. Papers and files were thrown on the floor, the contents of durasteel bins upended and kicked through. Everything on the shelves had been tossed onto the floor.
"Upstairs," Qui-Gon barked.
He raced up, Obi-Wan on his heels. They burst into Didi's private quarters together.
In times of danger, Qui-Gon's senses slowed down. He took in everything in the room in what felt like several long seconds but was more likely the flicker of an eyelash. Astri on the floor, unconscious or dead. Didi standing, wrapped in the bounty hunter's whip, his eyes wide with terror, a bruise on his forehead. And the bounty hunter turning, pausing for an instant when she saw them. Her expressionless gaze showed no surprise, no fear.
Real time snapped back. Qui-Gon anticipated the bounty hunter's reach to the blaster strapped to her thigh. He moved forward to counterattack. He did not anticipate that she would aim at Astri, not at him. His Jedi reflexes were fast enough so that he was able to spin and turn, sweeping his lightsaber wide. He was slightly off-balance, but he managed to deflect the fire.
Astri stirred. Relief streamed through him. She was alive.
A perfect attack blended deception with speed and strategy. Qui-Gon feinted a pass to the bounty hunter's left and instead charged straight at her. She did not respond to the feint but fired straight, then leaped high to the left to avoid him. His lightsaber whizzed through empty air where she'd been.
She was even better than he'd thought.
Obi-Wan moved forward to cover Astri so that Qui-Gon could concentrate on the attack. The bounty hunter activated her whip and retracted it. It spun off Didi in a dizzying circle, sending him flying against the wall. He hit it with a thud and fell to the floor, dazed.
The whip reverted to laser mode. With a slashing maneuver, the bounty hunter shattered the transparisteel in the window. Qui-Gon sprang forward, still keeping his body between his opponent and Astri. Didi began to crawl toward his daughter, getting underneath Qui-Gon's feet. Qui-Gon jumped to avoid him, his attention now focused on protecting Didi.
The bounty hunter leaped out the window. Outside was a small enclosure that held various speeders and swoops. She jumped into one and took off.
Qui-Gon stood at the window as the lights of the swoop twinkled and receded. He felt anger rock him, and he took a minute to accept and release it. His opponent had eluded him. Sometimes it happened. He had fought the best fight he could.
But she has eluded me three times now.
"Astri," Didi said brokenly. "Astri…"
Qui-Gon knelt by the young woman's side. He felt carefully around her skull. "What happened?" he asked Didi. "Did she get hit by blaster fire?"
"No, no. Knocked out from behind," Didi said. "With the handle of the whip."
Qui-Gon felt a lump rising on Astri's skull. Her eyes fluttered open. Her pupils were not dilated and her eyes focused on his face.
"Ouch," she said.
"She's all right," he said to Didi. "Lie still, Astri. You're going to have a headache." She let out a hiss of air. "I'll say."
"We should call a medic," Didi said worriedly.
"I'm all right," Astri said. Wincing, she raised herself on her elbows. "What happened? The last thing I remember is all my customers going out the door."
"Did anyone come in while they were going out?" Qui-Go
n asked.
"No," Astri said. "I locked the door behind them and told Renzii to go home. Locked the door behind him, too. Then I came upstairs. That's all I remember…"
"I was up here," Didi said. "I heard Astri on the stairs. She opened the door and suddenly fell down. Then the bounty hunter came in. She tied me up while she searched the place. She went downstairs and I heard her searching my private office."
