"Not that, either."
"In that case, we can proceed. I don't suppose you'd care to answer my
questions without unpleasantness?"
"I don't have anything to tell you."
"The choice is yours." Cortin picked up a scalpel, pausing at the
expression on Illyanov's face. "Is something wrong, Major?"
"That is not the standard way of beginning an interrogation."
"It will be, for me," Cortin said. "I'll do whatever is needed to stop
criminals, but I have no intention of hurting innocents."
"He denied everything."
"But he only told the truth the first time. He's worked for the
Brothers, even though he isn't one himself, and he has some significant
information."
"You never told me you had truthsense," Illyanov said quietly. "That
is a most useful talent."
"The subject never came up--but I can't be lied to, never could even as
a child. If a question has a yes-or-no answer, it doesn't matter if he
tells the truth or not. I'll know."
"As I said, a most useful talent. Not every Inquisitor can tell truth
from lies intended only to stop the pain, and most of us who do have
that ability have developed it through long experience." He smiled at
her in a way Shannon sensed was intended to express only approval, but
hid a degree of affection the Raidmaster found both disgusting and
amusing. "Go on, then."
Shannon watched critically as she began work. This would be a short
interrogation--despite his bravado, the thief was a coward, and already
terrified of the two Inquisitors--but it would tell him whether or not
Cortin would make the grade.
The first few minutes left him with no doubt that she would. Oh, she
had some problems--the determination not to hurt innocents, as if there
were any such thing, was one. Another was giving her prisoner the
chance to answer without persuasion, then not wanting to use any more
than she had to, though neither surprised him particularly; she had
always been overly scrupulous. Which was probably why her primary
motive was to extract information rather than to enjoy herself.
It was ironic that she was enjoying herself, and thoroughly, even
though it wasn't the same kind of pleasure he experienced in giving
pain. For her, the only real passion involved here was for justice;
criminals caused pain, so it was just to inflict it on them, either as
punishment or in the interest of preventing further crime. It was
simply more immediate this way than it had been in the past--and it
gave her victims the unfortunate opportunity to repent. Even though
right now Cortin was concerned with punishment rather than repentance.
* * * * *
Cortin removed the blood-spattered coverall, then went into the suite's
small bathroom to wash her hands, feeling dissatisfied. She couldn't
quite identify why, though; she had eventually persuaded the thief that
she could tell when he was lying to her, and he had finally told them
of his contacts within the Brotherhood, giving enough details that
those two would be taken into custody next time they appeared in
public. Neither theft nor contact with the Brotherhood were capital
crimes, so once she'd made sure he knew nothing of Shannon or the
horror raids, she'd called the guards and had him taken away for
sentencing.
Major Illyanov had said she'd done well, she reminded herself as she
put her tunic back on. So why should she feel otherwise? The answer,
of course, was that she shouldn't--but the fact remained that she did.
Well, she'd be trying again after lunch, on that trooper who'd gone
rogue; maybe she'd do better with him.
Shortly afterward, she and Illyanov entered the Inquisitors' lounge.
The only one there was Mike Odeon, slouched in an armchair with his
feet up on a hassock and what she could only call a positively smug
look on his face. It took no effort at all to realize that his phoning
had been successful; she grinned, her mood lightening. "Is it still
Captain," she asked, "or do I call you 'Father' now?"
"Depends on the circumstances," Odeon said, returning her grin lazily.
"Until after the next horror raid, anyway." He stood, turning to
Illyanov with a more sober expression. "Which you're not to talk about
even as a rumor, sir. Colonel Bradford asked me whose deductions I was
going by--I suppose he knows my records well enough to be sure they
weren't mine--and I'm to tell you the whole thing is rated an
all-Systems secret, until King Mark says otherwise."
"Understood--and I will of course comply." Illyanov bowed slightly.
"But since I did deduce this much, will you be able to tell me how
correct I was?"
"Now that I can do, along with a bit more," Odeon said, grinning again.
"And our lunch is courtesy of Inquisitor-Colonel Bradford--it should be
here any time. If you don't mind, I'd just as soon wait till then to
go any further."
"As you wish."
Odeon's prediction was correct; their lunch arrived less than half a
minute later, and not long afterward, they were eating a meal that
might have come from the Royal Palace itself.
All three spent some time in silent enjoyment, then Cortin couldn't
hold her curiosity any more. "How did you do it, Mike?"
"No problem, Joanie--none at all." Odeon smiled at her. "I have the
feeling he expected my call, though I don't know how he could've. At
any rate, I asked about both of us applying, and made what I think was
a rather eloquent argument on our behalves. He listened to me, even
though I have a sneaky feeling he knew everything I was going to
say--then he said we were in, and called me to the Palace for
ordination. Our new Commanding Officer is also Bishop of the St.
Thomas Strike Force, it seems." He grinned. "If you still want to go
to Mass tomorrow, I'd like you to come to my first one. Even if it
will have to be private."
"I'd be honored," Cortin said. "What about my application?"
Odeon laughed. "Looked at your ID lately, Inquisitor-Captain?" Then he
sobered, quickly. "No, I'm sorry--you're in, Joanie. Probably as a
team leader, if you get anything useful out of your first subjects--as
team-second, at worst. And we'll be on the same team, whoever's CO."
He frowned. "But--Joanie, His Holiness has decreed that all Strike
Force Inquisitors be priests, since it's conceivable even a Brother
might repent at the last minute and need the sacraments. But you never
said anything about having that call."
"Because you just told me about it," Cortin said. "It's pretty obvious
my primary call is to being a Strike Force Inquisitor; if part of that
is taking Holy Orders, I'll do it. And I'll do my best to be a good
priest." With a lot of prayers that she never be called on to
administer to a Brother that way . . . "Do I need to be ordained right
away, or can I take care of this afternoon's subject first?"
"I get the impression he wants us to be ready to go any time, so I'd
say you should get in touch with him sometime today. How long do you
think this subject'll take you?"