Knife cut through flesh as easily as wind carries dust. Sticky juice oozed from the wound, dripping on the counter where it formed a little brown pool.

Zax set the knife down. Grabbing the fruit, he pulled on the halves until they broke apart. Throwing one into his mouth, he washed his hands and walked to the beeping panel next to his door.

When he tapped on it, the door slid open and two men stepped in, one pushing the other. The one pushed stumbled forward, letting out a grunt.

Zax caught him by the neck and pulled him upward. He stared at the man’s face for a moment. Nodded. Without releasing his grip, he threw a pouch of credits at the other man. This one counted his reward, then turned and walked out.

Only then did Zax let go of his visitor.

“What is your name?” he asked.

The other rubbed his neck, scowling. “As if you cared.”

“I’ve always cared about the little people,” said Zax as he stepped back to the kitchen. “But you already know that, don’t you? You know exactly who I am. Which is why you will have the decency to tell me your name. It is only fair, is it not?”

“Rebert,” answered the visitor. “Urghul Rebert.”

“An unusual name for an unusual man. How fitting.”

“How am I unusual?”

Zax smiled. “Few people of your station would dare try to kill one such as I. I’d say that makes you unusual.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rebert looked down even as he spat out his lie.

“All I want to know is who set you up to do it.”

Zax tossed the rest of the fruit into his mouth, his gaze never leaving the other man.

“You must have me confused with—”

“Come, come, no need to waste time running in circles around the truth. We both know you did it. I even have you on film. Here, let me show you.”

He walked around the counter and turned the TriVid screen on. The image was still there, paused exactly at the same spot as he had left it, with Rebert’s face clearly visible.

Zax leaned against the counter, sucking the juice off his fingers as he watched the man shifting uncomfortably, looking away from the recording.

“So how about we cut to the chase and you just tell me what I want to know? You must understand that I am not angry with you. Do I look angry?” He smiled when the man threw a side glance at him. “I understand the need to feed one’s family. The necessities of a hard life. All will be forgiven if you give me the name of the one who hired you. It is him I wish to punish, not you.”

“Her,” Rebert muttered.

Zax straightened. “Her, you say?”

The other nodded. “I’m sorry, senator. It’s just like you said. Nothing personal, you understand?” He sniffed. Wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “I have a family to feed.”

“Tell you what, Urghul. Give me her name and I’ll make sure your family never lacks for anything ever again.”

Rebert blinked. “You mean that, mister?”

“Look into my eyes and tell me I lie.”

The crook gulped and nodded. “Well, that is mighty kind of you. Thank you.” He straightened as he continued. “The one who sent me after you—she gave me the bomb, too. She had me call her Lady Bharmi.”

Zax’s eyes hardened as he muttered the name. “Bharmi, you old fool.”

Rebert seemed relieved to have come clean, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

“I am ready now, mister. Call the questors. I will do my time. I’m not afraid, knowing you will take care of my family. You will do this while I’m away, won’t you?”

Zax smiled amiably. “Of course I will. I promised, did I not? But it seems you have a gross misunderstanding of the situation. There will be no questors. Oh, no.” His eyes hardened as he grabbed the knife from the counter. “You’re mine.”

The other man’s eyes widened. “You said you would forgive me!”

Zax walked up to the man. “I do forgive you. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be punished.”

“You wouldn’t dare! You’re a senator.”

Zax brought his lips to his prey’s ears.

“I dare,” he whispered as he stabbed the man in the heart.

Repeatedly.

He stepped back and watched as the body slumped to the ground.

Dropping the knife on the dying man’s chest, he knelt by his side and slid the waste disposal device out of his wristpad. He placed it above the troublesome waste and pressed the small cylinder.

The mass started to blur and fade out, body and knife both. Then they simply ceased to exist, as if they had never existed at all.

The device clunked to the floor.

Zax leaned to grab and put it away. He stood and stared at the clean floor where Rebert had lain a second ago.

With a sigh, he went back to the sink to wash the blood off his hands. When he was done, he used his wristpad to schedule generous monthly payments to the man’s family for the next thirty years—a promise was a promise.

He went to the table in the middle of the room, pulled a chair, and sat. Then from his wristpad, he pulled out a scene scrambler. Once activated, it blurred his surroundings, making it look much darker than it was. It would make it impossible to find any distinguishing features.

Then he pulled his hood on and initiated a secure call.

It was time to speak with Thiari again.