Only a few in the government knew of this list, even fewer have seen it, and we think most of them — maybe all of them — are dead. One of them was Roan. Roan had it, but it was stolen before he died. We know that much."

"At first we thought Balog had been able to get it from Roan," Irini said. "Now we don't think so. Someone else did."

"We think Balog is looking for it," Lenz said. "After all, his name is on it. If that was discovered, he would lose all credibility among the Workers. Our word against Balog will not be enough to turn people against him. We need proof. He needs to destroy that proof. We think his ambitions lie higher than the office of Chief Security Controller. Whoever has the list has great power. It will be his or her choice to expose the informers or keep them secret, to bribe them for silence or look like a hero for exposing them. Careers and reputations will be destroyed. The list is said to contain some prominent names."

"What does Tahl have to do with this?" Obi-Wan asked.

"The list was in Absolute hands for a short time, then disappeared,"

Irini said. "We know this for sure. What if Balog thinks that Tahl has the list? It's the only explanation as to why Balog would capture her and yet keep her alive."

Qui-Gon shook his head. "If Tahl had the list, we would have known it."

"So you don't think she has it?" Lenz asked.

"Perhaps she doesn't know she has it," Irini guessed. "Perhaps she knows where it can be found. She just doesn't know the significance of it."

This news was disturbing. It meant that Balog could be keeping her alive only until he knew the truth. Tahl did not have that list. When he discovered that, he would kill her.