Page 117 of Mercy Written in Blood

Haruki waited.

"Only for a second."

"That matters."

"I think so."

"What happened?"

"He looked at the mural."

"Yes."

"Then he looked away before answering."

Haruki became still.

"Did he deny knowing it?"

"He said he'd never seen evidence confirming what it represented."

Haruki frowned.

"That isn't the same answer."

"No."

"It's a lawyer's answer."

"Or an Accord answer."

Haruki looked down at the photographs again. The White Lotus. The physician had mentioned the name. The attackers had risked everything to destroy the chamber. Renji had reacted — only briefly — when Haruki whispered those same words in the trauma bay. Not visibly enough for anyone else to notice. Haruki had. It had lasted less than a heartbeat. But it had happened.

"You're thinking," Reina said.

"Yes."

"You've got that face."

"What face?"

"The one that means the next sentence will annoy everyone."

Haruki smiled faintly.

"I think somebody recognised it."

Ken folded his arms.

"Who?"

"Kael."

"That obvious?"

"No."

"Then?"