“Because we know that the man who owned this house died in it, Your Eminence,” Maytera Mint explained. “This Blood, with Councillor Potto. If their bodies aren’t here, they’ve been removed by someone, and I’d think that if Generalissimo Oosik or even General Saba had done it I’d have heard. A councillor’s body? Everyone would be arguing about what should be done with it, and I would certainly have heard.”

Her tone grew crisp. “Now if you’ll oblige me.”

Remora, who was not used to being asked for favors in that peremptory fashion, looked around sharply.

“There seems to be no one here, though my informants… Never mind. Do you agree?”

“There is certainly no one in this room at present except — ah — ourselves. With regard to the, er, remainder of the, um, building, I — hum — further investigation.”

“I’ve been listening carefully and heard nothing. The bodies may be in plain view or hidden by furniture or whatnot.” Rather tardily Maytera Mint added, “Your Eminence. I’ll search the rooms on this side. I’d like you to search the other. We needn’t bother with the rest of the house, I think.”

“If there are no, er, bodies, General,” Remora smoothed the truant lock into place, “shall we return to the city — ah — forthwith? Might be wise, eh? We have no way of knowing what has transpired in our absence, hey?”

She nodded. “Agreed. We’ll know then that they’ve been here and may return later. I’ll leave one of Bison’s officers to watch, with a few troopers. If we do find a body, either one, it should be safe to assume that the Ayuntamiento’s troops have never come back at all. We can go back to the city at once and forget about this house.”

“Wisely, er, spoken.” Remora was already hurrying toward the first of his assigned roorns. “I shall inform you promptly should I discover an — ah — the mortal remains.”