Page 26 of A Drop of Corruption

“I did,” said Kardas. “But only somewhat. He was rather new to my section.”

“But you hadmethim before.”

Kardas slowly furrowed his brow. “I…Well. Yes? Why?”

“Had the rest of your delegation met him?”

“Yes. Again—why?”

“I beg your pardon, sir, but if I might ask…Do you have an engraver on staff here? One who might have also met Sujedo?”

Kardas glanced at Signum Gorthaus. “I do. Why?”

“I am simply testing a theory about his disappearance,” said Ana. “If it is true, then we can cut to it, and save your valuable time, sir.”

The prificto extended a hand to his signum. “Gorthaus, I believe you served with Sujedo some six years ago—correct?”

The young signum bowed in her seat. “Correct, sir.”

“Then, if you would kindly oblige?”

She shot to her feet. “Certainly, sir.”

“Excellent,” said Ana, grinning. “Another engraver makes this much easier. Now. Please summon a memory of howtallSujedo was, Signum.”

Gorthaus blinked uncertainly, then did so, eyes fluttering. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Now…hold out your hand to showexactlyhow tall the man was.”

Again, Gorthaus blinked but did as Ana asked, holding out her hand as if touching an invisible man on the crown of his head. “That tall, ma’am.”

Kardas’s eyebrows had now arched so high they were halfway up his brow, but he stayed quiet.

“Din here has been to the Treasury bank today and spoken to the Treasury engraver there,” explained Ana, gesturing to me. “He asked him to display how tall Sujedo had been when he visited the bank. Now, Din—please show them the height Signum Tufwa indicated.”

I stood and approached Gorthaus’s outstretched hand, feeling slightly ridiculous. My eyes fluttered as I summoned the memory, and I pointed on my shoulder to where Tufwa had touched; yet the spot I touched was a full four smallspan lower than the height Gorthaus was now indicating.

“Is there a difference in height, Din?” Ana asked.

“Ah…yes, ma’am,” I said. “Tufwa indicated the man was four smallspan shorter.”

“I see,” said Ana softly. “How fascinating.”

“I don’t understand,” said Kardas. He anxiously bit the tip of his thumb, then asked, “Are…are you suggesting that Sujedo wasshorterthat day at the bank?”

“Allow me to test further,” said Ana. “Tell me, sir—was Sujedo an attentive man? Quick to notice things about people, and ask questions?”

The prificto now looked bewildered. “Ah…no, I would not say that of him, Immunis.”

“And yet,” said Ana, “the Apoth guard who accompanied him reported that Sujedo was clever, charming, and noticed several details about him that ordinary people would have missed. Does that sound like him, sir?”

“N-no. No, that doesnotsound like him.”

“I see,” said Ana. She was now oozing smug satisfaction. “Well, then, sir—what would you say isyourassessment of all these reports of Sujedo? The height of the man, and his strange behavior?”

Kardas turned this over. “I would say everyone has made some mistake,” he said finally, “and been looking at the wrong person entirely!”

Ana’s grin widened. “Exactly.Exactly!I would say the same thing myself. In which case, the conclusion is obvious.”