The Domino Pattern by Timothy Zahn Page B

detective, but even I know that basic investigative technique includes double-checking everyone’s story.”
    “That’s exactly what I’m doing,” I told him. “Or had you forgotten that Ms. German is up here in the restroom?”
    “I was thinking about the Juri in the other seat,” he growled, jerking a thumb back at Terese’s row. “The one Master Tririn claims Master Colix was speaking Juric to.”
    “And you think I should question the Juri about that?” I asked mildly.
    “Absolutely,” Kennrick said. “You were right—Shorshic vocal apparatus—”
    “You think I should question the Juri about it while Master Tririn is within earshot of the conversation?”
    “It wouldn’t be—” We broke off. “Oh. Right. That wouldn’t be very politic, would it?”
    “Hardly politic at all,” I agreed. “But it you want to try it, be my guest.”
    Kennrick grimaced. “I guess you’ve noticed that Master Tririn and I don’t get along very well.”
    “It’s a little hard to miss,” I agreed. “What’s the problem?”
    “I just can’t connect with him,” he said. “I really don’t know why.”
    “Did you have the same problem when you were on Earth?”
    “If we did, I didn’t notice it,” he said. “It was only after we came aboard the Quadrail at Terra Station that things started to go downhill.” He shrugged. “Of course, it could just be that he was on his best behavior during the discussions at Pellorian. Maybe even back then he didn’t really like me. Or the others.”
    “He didn’t get along with the others?”
    “I had that impression,” Kennrick said. “But it’s just an impression. Like I said, if there was trouble between them they probably wouldn’t confide in me. But it makes sense that if he had trouble with me, he might have had trouble with the others, too.”
    “Perhaps,” I said. Though privately I could easily see how someone could love his fellow man and still not like Kennrick. “I’ll try to sound him out about that later.”
    “The outer restroom door was still closed when we reached it. I considered going inside and seeing if I could figure out which stall Terese was in, decided she would probably take violent offense if I tried, and found a place by the door where I could lean against the wall and cultivate patience. Taking his cue from me, Kennrick found a spot of his own a little farther up the car and did likewise.
    Patience is always rewarded. A couple of minutes later the door opened and Terese stepped out. She looked a little pale, which meant that when she reddened with anger at seeing me standing there her color came out just about right. “Good morning, Ms. German,” I said, stepping into her path.
    I expected her to try to push her way around me. Instead, she fired a withering glare in my direction, spun a hundred eighty degrees, and headed forward at the fastest walk she could manage without actually breaking into a jog. By the time I recovered from my surprise at her sudden about-face, she was into the vestibule and out of sight.
    “Well, that’s inconvenient,” Kennrick growled.
    “Relax,” I soothed him. “Where’s she going to go on a Quadrail?” I looked hack at the restroom door as Bayta emerged. “What’s the verdict?” I asked her.
    “She was throwing up,” Bayta said. “I don’t know how bad it was—she wouldn’t let me help her.”
    Kennrick swore under his breath. “So she’s definitely sick.” he said. “Compton, this has gone way beyond serious.”
    “Relax,” I advised him. eyeing the vestibule door and thinking back to that last view I’d had of Terese’s face. In my experience, people with serious illnesses usually didn’t have the mental and emotional strength to spare for that level of annoyance. At least not against relative strangers.
    “Because if you were wrong about the cadmium, and the Shorshians had something contagious—”
    “I said relax ,” I repeated, more firmly this time. “Let’s