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"I feel quite well, thank you," Dr. T'Var says.
Delaney and Dobson soon arrive in the CP. Both seem chipper and ready to go. Delaney reports, "Still haven't cracked the code to Wilson's secret safe, but I think the cryptographic program is on the home stretch. Shouldn't be long now."
It is now 0817.
Disappointed that no search warrant seems forthcoming on Lord Fastolfe's ship, Kylah tries to think of a way around this when Graham asks if she had a good night, then suddenly points out Velir's bright mood. Her cheeks turn warm and pink, and she curses her inability to control her blood vessels. It is ridiculous to feel so self-conscious. Unless the man somehow has access to security cameras--Surely even he would not be so intrusive!--he cannot know about her and Velir's romantic walk. Velir Rangin would not confide in Booker Graham in a million years.
She busies herself by logging into the terminal. "Getting some sleep at last has undoubtedly helped all of us," she says calmly and with a cool air of distance. "That is good news about the warrants, although I wish they were not necessary. Fastolfe is working against his own best interests. If I had done a better job at pacifying his ego, perhaps he would have allowed us on board his 'chariot' himself."
"I forgot, sir," Kylah adds when thinking about the security cameras reminds her of yesterday afternoon, "that I was unable to give you a report yesterday on my activities regarding the Hsu plan. While I was alone, if anyone happened to see me in person or via the cameras, I would have appeared like someone trying to be cautious and unobtrusive when I went to Wilson's suite. Once there, I successfully transferred Mrs. Hsu's voice messages to my own communicator. The originals have been soft-deleted from Wilson's mailbox and both encrypted and hidden in a completely unrelated document elsewhere in his file structure. They will be easily retrievable using my password, with no indication that they were removed at all--thus there will be no evidence of tampering. I will send the password to you now, in the event Hsu runs mad and murders me." Her lips twist in a crooked smile; the security chief seems staggeringly unlikely to be any danger.
With a few keystrokes she sends the password, shareenah2247KotHSWT, to Graham's account.
"Mr Graham, is there anything in particular you would like the team to concentrate on other than Lord Fastolfe? I was thinking of going to see Dr Halsey to find out how his tests ran yesterday evening." Rangin decides that it is a new day, perhaps after sleep everyone will be in a good mood.
Kylah turns her attention to scrolling through her transcript of Wilson's messages. She has the strangest feeling that she might have missed something significant. And then she remembers: there was a message at 23:03 that she had intended to check, but for some reason--probably the shock of seeing the confirmation of a personal relationship between Mrs. Hsu and Wilson--she seems to have ignored it entirely.
It is probably nothing but Kylah does think she must take note of the very last message Wilson received, especially since it was not that long before he left his quarters again for his ill-fated trip to the conference room. She scrolls down to read the transcript.
Links included to show I'm not crazy, a la the debate whether Wilson did indeed mention that the inhabitant of the yellow house was female or not! :D
Graham's about to reply to Kylah that she did more than enough as far as he was concerned and whatever went down from this point was on Fastolfe, but thinks better of inviting a debate among the team that if history was any guide might turn into an argument. Likewise when Rangin asks for focii, "let's not screw anything up or kill each other pops into his mind," but he decides that a joke might fall flat yet again.
"Well, we've got legal authority to go haul Fastolfe and his minions out of their beds bright and early while we search their house...but I don't see any need to unnecessarily aggravate the guy at this point." He shrugs. "Maybe he'll come around and be more cooperative, as you say, Ensign, it's in his interest... I'd like to hear points of view...I'll lay mine out: whether or not Halsey's a killer, there's something weird about him, and figuring out why the hell the spores wore off seems important if that's where you want to focus, Mr. Rangin. We do need to take a run at Mr. Hsu as Mr. Kylah recommended. Lt. Delaney, I'd be tickled pink if you cracked the safe this morning..." He shakes his head. "And I still feel like Ebling or maybe the Admiral too might have had some dealings with Wilson they didn't fully come clean on...I mean, is there something afoot about the future of the planet or investment in resorts or colony? I don't know and don't want to go back at them until we have something tangible. So...I'm thinking Fastolfe not now but before lunch unless anything changes...table Ebling and the Admiral until we discover something. Thoughts?"
Kylah's intent focus on the screen wavers when she hears her name mentioned. Listening to Graham, she nods distractedly. "That sounds reasonable, sir. Regarding the Admiral... I have thought the timing of this vacation for the Admiral and Lt. Ebling odd since the start, coinciding as it does with the contract renewal decision," she murmurs. She is not exactly intending to have her words sound like an 'I told you so,' but neither is she particularly upset if they do. "Admiral Hardin may not have a deciding vote on the matter, but a Comptroller most certainly has influence. And possibly so does his closest assistant. Frankly I cannot tell which is more suspicious--that the Admiral's spore treatment wore off along with most of the other guests that day, or that Ebling's is the only one whose didn't."
Looking down at the computer keyboard, she has another thought; a dim memory of some of the information everyone shared regarding their individual investigations yesterday. "Sir," she says with a slight frown. "There is something... some inconsistency that is bothering me. I cannot quite..." Kylah's head suddenly pops up, and she is almost squinting as she eyes Rangin. "Mr. Rangin, am I wrong, or did you not mention that when you and Lt. Collins checked Mr. Wilson's office, you learned that his computer was last accessed early in the morning, hours before we even got here? And yet Collins indicated during our later meeting that Mr. Wilson had contacted her some hours before he died, having transmitted the financial records and guest communications she had requested upon our arrival. If he did not use his own computer for that purpose, what terminal did he use?
"For that matter, there were many other inconsistencies in his office and suite. DNA from two other people around his bed. Information on datapads that was more than four days old. Correspondence no later than three weeks ago. Why was everything so outdated? Or.. is it possible that information was removed, that the office computer had its records tampered with?"
She divides her attention between Velir and Graham. "You two spent the most time with Lt. Collins before her... before she was taken ill. Do you know if she ever did take a look at the financial records and guest communications that Mr. Wilson sent her?"
Kylah sees that the message which Wilson sent at 2303 was to himself: Check on backup H. file - keep w/ secure docs.
Delaney says to Graham, "Yes, sir. That's my priority."
Dr. T'Var says, "I believe it was the computer in Wilson's suite that was last used yesterday morning. He used his office computer later in the day."
"That sounds right," Delaney says, nodding. "And I don't think that Mr. Collins ever did look at the financials and guest communications. We have access to it all here, though."
Kylah's eyebrow rises as she reads the message. Before she comments on it, she thanks T'Var and Delaney for the clarification. "I did not realize there were two separate computers," she adds. "I do not recall--have both of them been equally examined forensically?"
"If I may make a suggestion, Mr. Graham, the financials and other data that Mr. Wilson made available to us should be analyzed. I will be glad to look over the guest communications, but I am no financial expert by any means--although if you wish me to take this on, I will. But perhaps there are better people for that task up on the Yorktown? Of course, if Mr. Wilson had some questionable financial dealings, I doubt he would have sent them to Lt. Collins. I wonder if a comparison between any fiscal records on his private computer and this would tell the whole story?"
Kylah hesitates before adding: "And sir... I ignored something extremely important yesterday, on Wilson's communicator. There was a message he sent to himself at 2303--not long before he died. I know I intended to look at it, but for some reason..." She shakes her head irritably at herself, especially as her mind turns trying to translate the message's meaning. "The note says 'check on backup H. file, keep with secure docs.' H file... Halsey? Hardin? Hwuen? Or Hsu? Whatever it might be, it seems quite possible that he knew he was having a meeting with someone, and wanted to ensure the file related to him or her was protected. Where are these secure documents?"
She swallows, her lips tight with self-recrimination. "I am very sorry that I did not catch this yesterday, sir."
"The terminal in his suite has been gone over thoroughly, I don't know if anyone has looked at his office yet. Or for that matter any of the papers or the terminal in there." Rangin thinks for a moment, "Perhaps the secure documents are those contained in his safe that we have yet to get in to."
Rangin looks back across at Graham, "Do you want me to check the office out after I speak to Dr Halsey."
Graham frowns. "Don't beat yourself up, Mr. Kylah." He nods, "Yes, thank you Mr. Rangin, please do."
Delaney says, "I thought we'd already checked his office? Mrs. Hsu was there. Mr. Rangin even looked at the discarded papers in the wastebin, didn't he?"
"Thank you, Mr. Graham," Kylah says absently at Graham's consoling words, her mind still mulling over the message. She hears everything as if it's from a long distance away. But Delaney's words catch her up. "If Mrs. Hsu was there when you searched his office, and Mr. Hsu was there when you searched his suite, I would recommend a thorough vetting of both computers when neither of them are watching over us. If there are secure files we need to find them. As I recall the debriefing after those searches and the description of how Mr. Wilson's computer was searched, it doesn't sound as if there was much time for ferreting out any details--in fact if my memory is correct, none of the WR&R records were looked into. Please do not take that as an insult, Velir, you know I would not..." Kylah begins, the apology automatic but fading when she realizes she has addressed him so informally. Well, what of it, we are allowed to be friends, she thinks, flushing anyway as she looks back at her own terminal and hastens to go on.
"If there is a backup of those secure files in the safe--an assumption, admittedly--then the originals are clearly elsewhere. Since the safe is currently unavailable to us, the computers and Mr. Wilson's communicator demand a more thorough scan, possibly with someone Lt. Thalen recommends as a decrypting specialist. As for the safe itself, have we even excavated it yet? I know Mrs. Hsu did not want us to harm anything, but needs must.
"Speaking of wives... Mr. Graham, did you ever hear back from Mrs. Wilson? Perhaps she knows where Wilson keeps his private documents. And there are also the background checks on Mr. Wilson's college friends..." Kylah shakes her head at the enormity of what they must accomplish. A man's whole life must be unraveled in the space of a few days. It seems impossible. She turns to the doctor, hoping the older woman's logic will provide a method of organizing so many facts and details. "What are your thoughts, Dr. T'Var?"
"No Sir, all those papers came from Mr Wilson's office in his suite, which Lt. Collins and I went to after we had started with the security tapes. Mr Hsu accompanied us after we had looked at them to give us access to the suite." Rangin frowns during his response to Lt. Delaney. "Although I don't think, if he was going to have anything too important. it would be on his office computer."
"Don't worry Kylah, I'm not a total expert on computers, unlike some others here" he nods back across to her.
The search of Wilson's main office (as opposed to his home office) is in posts 1495-1553.
Graham has still not heard back from Wilson's widow; there was no message in his comm account when he awoke this morning.
Dr. T'Var says, "We ought to execute the search warrants on Lord Fastolfe and his hangers-on sooner rather than later, I think. A more thorough examination of Mr. Wilson's computer records may indeed be useful. I know of no decryption specialist aboard the Yorktown, but perhaps Mr. Thalen can suggest someone."
Kylah nods in response to Dr. T'Var's comment and calls up to her superior officer. "Kylah to Lt. Thalen. Good morning, sir. We have need of some assistance in locating some of the late Mr. Wilson's documents, which we know have been stored securely somewhere. There are two computers and, if I recall correctly, a few locked-down datapads that must be thoroughly searched, but we lack the manpower to do so; I am needed for interviews and--and other tasks, or I would of course take on this responsibility myself. Are there any available crew members with expertise in decryption and information retrieval whom you could send down? Or perhaps we can link the local terminals to the Yorktown's decryption program, if such remote access is possible." That seemed to work well for his communicator, she thinks hopefully.
"Well I won't be much use for that, so I may as well make a start for the infirmary." Rangin rises to his feet. "Two things, any other questions I should ask of Dr Halsey and who is partnering?" he aims more in Graham's direction than anyone else.
Graham shakes his head. "No word from the widow."
He steeples his hands in front of his mouth for a moment. "All right." He pauses an looks in turn at the other members of the crew around the table. "All right. We get some eggheads Thalen assigns on the financial deets. And Lt. Delaney--please keep at the safe, request any additional support you need. Rangin, T'Var--you're together, and do whatever you need to get at what's going on with Halsey and the spores. Dobson, Kylah--you're with me, along with a complement of Security officers. We're going to give Fastolfe the chance to work with us and help us figuring out what if anything is going on with the Hsu's, or we'll serve the warrant and give him something to think about."
He exhales a breath. "I'm sure some of you think I'm losing my cool or losing my temper...but the point is: let's try go generate some momentum and put whoever the bad guy's are off balance. Bottom line, I'm skeptical about Halsey. I'd prefer Fastolfe work with us. I'm concerned about the Hsus. So let's take action and crack something open."
While Kylah is waiting to hear back from Thalen--and hoping that she managed to cover up her communicator fast enough to avoid her superior officer overhearing Graham's reference to 'eggheads'--she listens to Graham's orders. His comment about Fastolfe helping them strikes her as unusual.
Depending on how Thalen responds to her, she will convey the info to Graham, and will add: "I understand my orders, sir. But if I may ask... perhaps I missed a nuance. Why--or maybe I should say how would Lord Fastolfe help us figure out whatever is going on with the Hsus? Have you discovered a connection between him and the couple?"
Lt. Thalen tells Kylah from the Yorktown, "Lt. JG Ernesto Garcia has cryptography and cryptanalysis experience; he did a tour in OSI," the Office of Starfleet Intelligence. "I'll have him beam right down."
Dobson pulls out her communicator and says to Graham, "Six Security officers will be beaming down shortly to replace Mr. Mahmoud and the others from overnight, sir. How many additional officers would like for execution of the search warrants?"
Rangin nods across to Dr T'Var, "Shall we?" he gestures towards the door allowing the Vulcan to go first and following behind her.
As he passes Kylah, he wishes her a quiet "Good Luck" as he makes his way.
"Thank you, sir," Kylah says to Lt. Thalen. "Lt. Garcia and his expertise will be most welcome. I hope you do not mind, but with your permission, I hope to contact you later for some assistance in checking the backgrounds of some guests Mr. Wilson entertained not too long ago. They were three college friends, and since I believe Mr. Wilson had few such visitors, it may be useful to learn something about them. However, I must get their full names first. Once I do so, I will be in touch--if that is all right with you."
She looks over to Velir when he bids her a farewell, covering her communicator again. "Thank you, and you as well," she murmurs with a warm look at Velir before extending it to T'Var. "Dr. Halsey seems to be losing his patience with us. That may actually be a benefit in loosening his tongue."
Graham shakes his head in response to Kylah's question. "No new discovery...just the basic concept that if Fastolfe didn't kill him while insiders did have a role in it, 'A' as you've said its in his interest to help us and 'B' because of somebody working at framing him we have the ability to make his life miserable, at least for awhile, to encourage him to embrace the former."
"Two more," Graham says in reply to Dobson. He shrugs. "With limited staff it will be necessary as matter of safety and the integrity of the search to sit folks down in one room, with no access to outside communications, while it takes a long, long time to search the premises."
"Of course," Thalen says. "Mr. Kylah, we're at your and the landing party's disposal. Just let us know how else we can help."
Dobson nods and calls the ship, speaking to the Security duty officer. "Beam down a total of eight officers, please. Ens. Graham's orders."
Rangin and T'Var reach the resort's Infirmary doors just as Dr. Halsey is arriving for the day. He looks even less pleased to see you than he did yesterday. "Yes?" he says. "What now?"
Kylah looks at Graham expectantly. He has not responded to some of her suggestions--not a big surprise, as she is now quite used to being ignored by mission commanders--and he also seems slower to act on his own initiative than usual. She wonders why he is so atypically reticent. A cynical thought occurs to her: Perhaps he is just getting mentally ready for what he loves best: a potentially physical altercation and an opportunity to intimidate others.
She is not looking forward to the inevitable confrontation with Fastolfe, and wonders if Graham will act as she fears, especially now that he can now wield a legal cudgel with which to batter Fastolfe, or if he might let her take another diplomatic approach.
"I am ready to leave when you are, Mr. Graham," she says quietly. "I suppose we will wait for the other officers to join the three of us," she adds with a look at Dobson. Then she hesitates before continuing. Kylah is determined that her recommendations be answered, even if they are rejected. "Before we go, I would like to bring up the matter of the safe again, if I may. While we are with Lord Falstafe, perhaps Lt. Delaney can begin extracting it from the wall, cutting it out with a phaser if necessary? It seems..." She tries to think of a delicate way to put this, but fails. "It seems counterintuitive to continue attempting to access it through a solid wall, sight unseen. A tricorder scan is valuable, but a simple visual examination might also be useful, even if there is no physical lock or keypad to view."
Graham smiles slightly at Kylah's comment. "Heh, well, who the hell knows how an engineer's mind works." He shrugs and then nods encouragingly. "Getting that safe open is Lt. Delaney's mission--but you should always feel free to share any ideas you have directly with him, there are no second-class citizens on the team, everybody's ideas are always welcome--even if we don't in the final analysis act on each one."
"On that note...I really would prefer it if we could persuade Fastolfe to see the light and cooperate without any confrontation or drama, up to and including not having to formally execute this warrant at all..." He pauses a second and rubs his chin, weighing his next few words with a certain sense of dread, as his intention is (mostly) to compliment Kylah, but given his track record she's likely interpret what he says as a grievous insult. "To that end...I appreciate and need both your skills and your...ah, passion for trying to achieve that result, Mr. Kylah," he says sincerely. Then he lowers and softens his voice slightly. "But, if I decide we have to go to plan B...then...that's the plan...with no, ah, individual initiatives I don't know about." He tries to end with an encouraging nod.
Given his obvious mood, Rangin decides that outright confrontation would not be the best course and decides to flatter his ego slightly, as it appeared to work yesterday. If Dr Halsety decides to be obnoxious or obstructive, then Dr T'Var can pull rank as a fellow Doctor and a member of Starfleet and get the results that way instead.
"And good morning to you to Dr Halsey." Rangin walks up wearing a cheery smile to greet him. "Dr T'Var and I have come by to find out the results of your tests on those people who had lost the effects of the spores." Rangin follows him up to the entrance and gestures for him to go first.
"I never did get a chance to thank you for carrying out these experiments and how valuable your results could be. After all, it may not even be connected to the dreadful events that occurred and could be a new, unexplained phenomenon you have discovered and the timing mere co-incidence." Rangin follows Dr Halsey inside and continues speaking. "So would it be possible to see the results of the tests? There are several people eager to hear what you have to say."
Graham's indication that he is willing to at least try a diplomatic approach is a relief, but his manner seems... so tenative. What little she can perceive of his emotions makes her think he is extremely guarded and wary. Why? Is he unhappy about the notion? Does he not trust her after yesterday?
Uncertain and somewhat defensive regarding precisely what his implications are regarding 'individual initiatives' -- Does he think I will try to seduce the man? -- Kylah nods at his words and adds quietly, "As you wish, sir. In the meantime, while we wait for the extra security, perhaps I should act on Lt. Delaney's suggestion that I can access the financial and guest communication data that Mr. Wilson sent Lt. Collins yesterday."
She then shifts her awkward gaze to Delaney. She is uncomfortable giving a Lieutenant, no matter what the grade, an idea that he has not already commented upon; is it not frustrating enough to him that a lower-ranked officer is in charge of the mission, much less another one now telling him how to do his job?
"About the safe... What--what do you think, Lieutenant? Would it be useful to extract it from the wall so you can get a clear look?"
Dr. Halsey seems only slightly mollified. He precedes you into his small office, throws himself into his chair and pulls up the test results on a screen. "All those who said that the spores' effect was gone, reported nothing else out of the ordinary. The scans also revealed nothing unusual. They went to bed that night or early the following morning, still under the spores' influence, and when they woke up it was just gone. I could find no commonalities as to race, species, gender, etc. that point to an answer."
Dr. T'Var looks over the results. "I concur. It is quite puzzling." She shakes her head.
In the CP, Delaney says, "It may come to that, Mr. Kylah, but those kinds of safes are sometimes rigged to destroy their contents if you try a brute-force entry. I'd rather give the password program some more time to run."
"Of course, Lieutenant. I had not considered that the contents might be in jeopardy if we opened up the wall." Kylah focuses now on hurrying to locate the files that Mr. Wilson sent to Lt. Collins. She is well aware that if he was hiding anything, the files could easily have been redacted or manipulated. Nevertheless, she reminds herself that all they know about Wilson is that he was a hotel administrator, an adulterer and a murder victim. Those facts do not mean he was also a criminal.
Kylah is able to locate the files without too much difficulty in the murder investigation database which Lt. JG Collins set up yesterday before she fell ill. What would the Communications officer like to know?
The CP's door chimes, and Dobson lets in Lt. JG Ernesto Garcia, the cryptanalyst, and Lt. JG Haakon Kjaerstad, the leader of the day's Security contingent, just beamed down from the Yorktown. Garcia, from Nicaragua, has dark wavy hair and a shy manner, and Kjaerstad is a tall, handsome blond Norwegian who seems eager to please.
"That is a very large co-incidence if that is the case. Four people all losing the effect of the spores. The spores themselves and the and the effects on those people during introduction all coming across as fine. Not to mention that one of those guests yesterday hasn't lost the effects. Also given their qurters are spread throughout the area, it is unlikely to have been a local effect that has caused it."
Rangin pauses for a moment and scowls slightly, "and with the effects on the surveillance system, we cannot tell if any of them did leave their apartments last night for any reason, even if they say they didn't.
"Here's a question for you Drs? What would be the effect of metal that Lord Fastolfe's knives are made of on the spores. It's the only unusual thing I can think of that has appeared on this planet recently. Maybe each loss has its own reason, and we just nmeed to find the four of five that make it up. Nightmares for Mrs Calvin, shock for the Vice Admiral, who knows about Fellim Palver and perhaps over stimulus for Lord Fastolfe?"
Kylah starts to examine the financial records, looking for any oddities--
- for the guests, anyone who did not pay (were comped for some reason) or paid too little, as well as someone who paid too much; if there is a way to compare these records with the current guest roster, she will do so.
- for the hotel staff, again anyone whose salary seems outside of the average considering their job and tenure; anyone who has a great deal of debt or credit to their tabs (assuming there are such things as things that staffers can put 'on account' if they need anything from the resort's stores, restaurants or clubs)
- for the business itself, any outgoing or incoming figures that seem poorly explained or unusual in some way, especially if the funds go to (or are from) anyone on the list of suspects or names that have come up during the investigation
When the door chimes, Kylah glances up only briefly and then does a quick double-take. The sight of a tall, Nordic blond man shocks her. Her heart pounds as she looks more carefully and sees that of course, it is a Yorktown crew member. She breathes deeply and with some difficulty changes her tense expression to a fleeting smile of acknowledgement before she looks at Graham and Delaney; presumably one of them will greet the newcomers and give them their assignments.
She returns to the records. Assuming she has time, she will scan the guest communications for anything that seems noteworthy. If, as Wilson stated, the identity of the guests has not been included, hopefully she might be able to glean some clues to their ID in the context of the message.
Dr. T'Var looks thoughtful. With Dr. Halsey's briefly-frowning agreement, she sits down at his desk, accesses his computer and pulls up a metallurgical analysis of the murder weapon from the investigation's database. She cross-references it with the Starfleet and WR&R research results on the spores thus far. After a few minutes she says, "I don't see that the knives would have any impact. They would be inert with regard to the spores, just like any other metal." Halsey looks over her shoulder and also agrees.
Kylah will need some time - perhaps an hour, maybe two - to correlate and review the records for those three purposes. The guest communications do not, at least at first glance, seem noteworthy - a lot of family messages of the "Having a great time, wish you were here" variety, making arrangements with WR&R reservations and hospitality, and some work-related missives. She remembers Lt. Thalen's offer of help.
Somewhat overwhelmed, Kylah glances over to Graham. She is still uneasy at the thought of just contacting her superior officer without the mission leader's agreement. Collins would have been affronted. Graham... Kylah does not think it likely he would react that way. And yet Kylah would actually feel more comfortable if there were a sharper delineation of command. His demeanor, particularly toward her, has worried her almost ever since they first interacted. His taking hold of her shoulder, standing too close, looming over her, finally grabbing her and even lifting her off her feet...
She shakes her head and pulls up her communicator again. "Kylah to Lt. Thalen. I fear I do need your assistance again, sir. There are financial records to be examined for anomalies. Might I send them to you so that someone with a good eye for fiscal data can analyze the income and expenses for any discrepancies? I dislike foisting off my responsibilities, sir, and if time were not a factor I would do this on my own. But there is so much information..." Kylah looks down, embarrassed that the newly arrived officers are already seeing her unable to complete a task. While she waits, she looks at the messages again, aware that she foolishly ignored that final voice message from Wilson to himself the night he died. She does not want to miss anything else for lack of careful scrutiny.
Graham stands up. "Lt. Kjaerstad--the guests have not panicked as a result of the murder, which is what I'd hoped." He then shrugs. "Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth: the folks here are the financial elite of the galaxy. Let's do Starfleet proud--have your folks politely and professionally engage with people. Ask how they're doing. Back off if folks don't care to sully themselves talking with Security grunts, but be amiable if folks want to chat."
He scratches his chin. "And recommend me two out of the detail who can deal with a lot of guff. When we serve the warrant on Fastolfe, they've got to be able to stay cool when rich assholes through a lot of guff in their faces--but turn on a dime when I give the word to clamp down."
Out of the corner of his eye he briefly notices Kylah glancing at him. He's feeling back in his element, but is concerned she doesn't seem to be in hers. "Is everything all right?" he asks.
Kylah looks up from her second reading of the guest messages and nods her head at Graham, wishing she were not on display. "Yes, sir. I am asking Lt. Thalen for assistance in analyzing the financial books and guest communication documents that Mr. Wilson sent to Lt. Collins the afternoon we arrived. There is more material than I can handle before we go to Lord Fastolfe."
Graham nods approvingly. "Good--if anyone here has the communications skills to persuade Fastolfe to be even slightly less of a jerk it's you, that's where we need you most, so good idea to get some green eyeshade types assigned to handle slogging through the numbers."
"Yes, upload the files, Mr. Kylah," Lt. Thalen says, "and I'll have someone here take a look. Don't know that we have a financial expert aboard, but I'll check the crew roster and skills database to be sure."
Lt. JG Kjaerstad smiles. "Well, I'm your man - I'll be one of the two to come with you to execute the warrant, if I may. I bet Ens. Rawlings would be up for the challenge, too, sir."
Lt. JG Garcia asks, "And what would you like me to do, Mr. Graham?"
Kylah thanks Lt. Thalen and is busy transferring the records when Graham speaks. His words nearly make her fingers tangle up together. She looks at Graham for an instant, her eyes wide and vulnerable with surprise. She does not understand the reference to eyeshades, but the expressed confidence in her is clear enough, and it leaves her at a loss. Since she arrived at the Yorktown, no one--not even Velir--has spoken so highly of her skills. Does Graham mean what he says? Is he trying to make up for his frightening behavior from yesterday? Is he just trying to boost morale? Or does someone finally see some value in her efforts?
About to smile, she drops her gaze quickly back to the screen and stays professional. "Thank you, sir," she says, embarrassed and a bit frustrated by her own neediness. I am like a starving dog begging for scraps at a table, grateful even for a nearly meatless bone.
Graham barely hears Kylah's acknowledgement of his comment as he's turned his attention to the new arrivals. He smiles back at Kjaerstad. "All right, just let it be known you volunteered to spend your day with the two biggest jerks on the planet--Lord Fastolfe, and me." He smiles at Garcia as well.
"There are locked terminals and padds in the murder victim's office and quarters." He shrugs. "Since my crypto skills extend only as far as hitting them with a handy rock, I am confident you'll have much more success accessing their data, if it's at all possible."
Graham pauses a moment. The fact is, he feels more comfortable in command, and specifically in command of a security operation. It doesn't make him at all happy that Collins suffered her medical emergency, but he concedes it did create the circumstanced in which he stood a chance to redeem his earlier poor performance.
"All right, if there are no other questions, let's get to it - when we assemble with Rawlings we can go over what I'm thinking about Fastolfe's house."
"OK, we're all scientists, let's go back to first principles again. Remember, magic only means we don't yet know how the trick is done." Rangin sits in a chair and looks up at the two Doctors. "Stop me when I'm wrong," he smiles at them
"Known facts:
One: Five guests underwent spore therapy. All treatments were successful as confirmed by the research station.
Two: Four of the five are, as of sometime yesterday, no longer affected by the spores. As confirmed by Dr Halsey for three of the guests and I confirmed that Lt. Cmdr. Ebling is still under the effect. I don't believe you spoke to Lord Fastolfe, did you Dr. Halsey?
Three: The spore plants here are untouched since yesterday. Confirmed by the research station from the readings I took earlier.
Four: The night of this occurrence, Mr Wilson was murdered.
Five: Last night all the security cameras were disabled."
Rangin pauses and frowns before continuing. "Being accurate, make it that I confirmed by later afternoon that Lt. Cmdr Ebling was still affected by the spores, I cannot say for the morning."
"Claims:
One: All four who claim the loss say that the loss of spores occurred unexpectedly during the night.
Two: All four who claim the loss have no alibi for last night and we only have their word for what they say happened. Correction, one of them is claiming the alibi of his entourage.
Three: The only method to remove the effect of the spores is a sharp emotional reaction. A claim, because we don't know if there is another method we are unaware of."
He looks across at them, hoping they might have some words of wisdom or experience.
"So, possibilities.
One: It was a bad batch of spores. But that would go against the evidence shown and why would Lt Cmdr Ebling be the only one left affected and so on.
Two: There is a new method of removing the effects of the spores, we just don't know what it is yet. Unlikely, given the efforts of the research station and the resort in analysing the spores. If something was possible, it is more likely they would have discovered it first.
Three: The four people all lost the effect through some action of their own. But that would imply they took part in an action which has not been carried out by any of the guests here in the time since the resort was founded. The only action that springs to mind is the murder of Mr Wilson. But that leads to the problem that in order for that to be correct, all four would have to have been involved in such an action. Is that really a possibility that four people would meet in such circumstances and agree to carry out an action, even if there was some previous connection between them."
"So...what are we missing?"
Lt. JG Kjaerstad calls Rawlings on his communicator, and he soon comes to the CP. Graham's and Kylah's eyes widen a bit. Ens. Terrance Thayer "Two Tons" Rawlings is probably the biggest human in Starfleet uniform they have ever seen, a head taller and quite a bit broader and more muscular than Graham himself; it looks like it took about an acre of red duryon fabric to make his shirt. He is a black American with a shaved head and goatee. "What's the plan, sir?" he asks Graham with a dazzling smile.
"Yes, I spoke to Lord Fastolfe late yesterday," Dr. Halsey said. "He came here to be examined and scanned, and had definitely lost the spores' effect. He was eager to be exposed to the spores again as soon as possible. And if I may correct you, Mr. Rangin, I think Vice Adm. Hardin believed he may have lost the effect of the spores only upon being told of the death of Mr. Wilson - although he wasn't sure. And he knew, when we also talked yesterday, that not just 'a sharp emotional reaction,' but any exposure to significant adrenaline or epinephrine, could cause the spores to fail."
Dr. T'Var nods slowly. "And that could be done artificially." She thinks a moment. "I share your doubts, Ensign, that someone under the spores' influence could commit murder, but we don't know that for sure. The Enterprise's records of their dealings with the Sandoval Colony, all of whom were exposed to the spores, suggests that they could still be stubborn, or resist assertions of authority, and even attempt to assert authority against others. It is not too great a leap from that, I think, to being able to commit a violent act. In doing so, of course, it is likely that there would be an adrenaline surge - in most humanoids, at least - that would then dispel the effect of the spores."
When Kylah recovers from the surprise, she hastens to complete the file transfer, her fingers a blur of action, so that she can return her attention to Rawlings. This time she successfully avoids her original gawking expression in favor of one displaying normal, politely interest.
This human would dwarf a good many of the Klingon warrior guards who always stand guard outside Aldaan's meetings with their superiors. But the Klingons never smiled like this or inspired Kylah's sense of... well, appreciation is probably the most delicate way to put it. The feeling is multiplied by seeing the officer next to Graham. She nearly smiles in wicked delight. Well, sir, how does it feel to cede the title of the most imposing male in the room?
Not that size alone conveys strength or power. Graham's air of barely suppressed violence combined with his strategic--and often angry--mindset are both highly intimidating. Velir, meanwhile, is only about 5 cm taller than Kylah--but she has certainly never believed him weak: to the contrary, she has long been impressed by his strength of purpose, quicksilver intelligence, moral courage and... something indefinable, something hidden behind the wall of his reserved nature that she has not yet breached.
Yes, Kylah is more attracted to Velir's appearance and personality to those of any other man she has met. Nevertheless it would be vain to ignore the fact that Ensign Rawlings is... how would T'Var probably describe it in that dry, understated manner of hers? Most pleasing to the eye.
Kylah stands, preparing to leave for Fastolfe's residence, and unconsciously draws up to her full height--such as it is. She suddenly pictures what she might look like beside Rawlings and has to suppress a laugh at the absurd juxtaposition. Keeping her face composed, although her eyes crinkle in amusement, she shifts her gaze to Lt. JG Garcia. "Excuse me, sir. I am Ensign Kylah; I am fairly new to your department. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir." Looking at Delaney, she adds: "Perhaps Lt. Garcia's expertise will help with the safe and communicator as well?"
"No, that's fine, Dr Halsey, better corrected and right, than not at all. So that leaves three people possibly losing the effect unknowingly. If someone was to be given a shot of it, then most of the guests bodies would have processed it leaving no trace. But that would involve someone going to each of the guests to administer it. In terms of committing an act of violence, we know that it will remove the effect of the spores, but none of the original colonists went as far as committing acts of violence until they were seriously provoked, or an exterior agent acted on them. I think it unlikely they would go that far themselves, especially as they would still be under the effect of the spores at the time. But, one thing does spring to mind. I quite agree Dr T'Var that they would get an adrenaline surge from committing a murder, but I not be surprised if they were affected similarly if they were present when the murder took place. Especially if it was in close quarters, and given the manner of Mr Wilson's demise."
Rangin stops and thinks for a moment.
"Fastolfe has an alibi for that time, either that or his entire entourage are in on it. Ebling was unaffected that night I believe and Hardin lost the effect this morning or so he says. That leaves Palver and Calvin who have no alibi currently, correct?. Hmm, I wonder if the cameras until midnight can confirm their movements.
Rangin smiles at the pair of them. "Doctors, given the nature of Mr Wilson's injuries, which of the two, Palver or Collins, would you say would have been more likely to have assaulted him? Perhaps reacted in self defence or after due provocation."
Graham can't help but continue to smile as Rawlings enters the room. If Rangin were here he'd probably expect me to demand we publicly weigh our gonads to determine who's alpha dog, he thinks.
"Plan?" Graham says. He shrugs. "Well I was going to challenge Fastolfe and his entourage to a trivia contest, but under the circumstances I think we'll skip straight to the physical challenge..."
He taps a finger to his lips. "But seriously, I was thinking about Fastolfe..." Speaking of gonads, he tries hard to un-see his glimpse beneath his lordship's robe.
"One--he probably didn't commit the murder, rather someone would like us to believe he did. Two, he's an actor. Three, he's an egomaniac." He starts to pace. "We've got a legal basis and the authority to bust his ba--" He shakes his head. Not the direction I want my mind to go in, he thinks. "Ah, to put some pressure on him and his people, but I'd prefer he cooperate. So we need to appeal to what matters to him..." He clears his throat.
"What about putting on a performance...being the bait, some kind of dramatic act that bolsters his image and gives him a chance to perform, while perhaps convincing the real murderer that we're focused on Fastolfe. A big goddamned show."
He scratches his head. "Mr. Kylah, you had some success communicating with him. And we know he thinks I'm an assho-- ah, doesn't much like me. So I was thinking you could run just a bit ahead of us..." Graham feels a moment of mortification and concern remembering she'd fallen. "Ah, of course, only if your leg is OK, to tell them that we're on the way to serve a warrant, and that I'm...uh, I'm too, ah, you know, stupid and macho to appreciate the opportunity to work with him rather than against him. The whole big show can be your idea and his. When we show up, I'll defer to that--and a quick voluntary search, mind you--rather than officially serving the warrant."
He pauses and shrugs. "Of course, failing that we do things the hard way. Any questions or concerns?"
Dr. Halsey says, "I think you mean Palver or Calvin, don't you? Of those two, Palver, the Rhaandarite tycoon, is certainly the more physically imposing. Calvin, the author, is an older human female with comparatively little strength."
"True," says Dr. T'Var, "but it does not take all that much strength to stab someone twice in the chest. Either would be physically capable of it. Assuming that they cannot establish a strong alibi, we are left with the question of motive, and there is still nothing to suggest that either wished Mr. Wilson dead."
Kylah listens carefully to Graham's words. "No questions, sir. My leg is feeling much better, and the plan seems reasonable. It is much the same tactic we were planning to use on Mr. Hsu, I believe." She ponders the strategy for another moment, considering how she has fared on the mission so far. "I hope your confidence in me is not ill-placed. Over the past two days I have not been successfully persuasive in my interactions with Dr. Halsey, Prolun Jaxo, Lord Fastolfe..." She trails to a halt when she nearly adds Jan to the list. After only a brief hesitation she stammers, "But I--I will do my best. I am committed to ensuring peaceful cooperation, if it is at all possible."
Lt. JG Garcia says to Kylah, "Pleased to meet you, Ensign." Rawlings nods, as well.
Delaney says with a smile, "Yes, Mr. Garcia could be very useful indeed. In fact, the two of us will go to Wilson's suite now and see where things stand."
Rangin shakes his head, and inwardly curses himself for the stupid mistake. Admittedly, Collins could probably tie most people on the planet in knots, but she was a Federation officer above all. Here to solve the crime, but currently elsewhere. It was a shame, she would probably still have done a better job than Graham.
"To be honest, if they were involved it would be more as accomplices than as the culprit. And yes, we are still far off a motive, indeed."
Rangin slumps back into his chair thinking hard, wondering what it is he has missed. Thoughts start running through his head again, trying to put the pieces in place.
The attack on the security system - Inside job or outside job?
The lack of any other signs in the room where Mr Wilson was killed - How did they clean it up so quickly?
The transporter - someone had to know how to use and delete the logs afterwards?
Several guests suddenly losing spore effect - natural or artificial or both...
Rangin starts tapping absentmindedly on his tricorder, running through the results and the scans trying for some inspiration. He checks it is working once again, scanning for spores and Mr Wilson's blood spatters just for calibration, but expecting everything to check as normal. He sighs wandering what the next task might be.
"I'm sorry, I believe I need a walk to help clear my head, put some thoughts in order," Rangin apologises to the two Doctors, "Dr Halsey, thank you for your valuable time."
He gets up and moves for the door.
Kylah returns the silent greeting nod from Rawlings with one of her own, smiling slightly before looking back at Graham. "Shall I go now, sir? If I may make a suggestion, to ensure that they do not suspect a ruse, you--the rest of you, I mean--should not be in visual range of the house--assuming Lord Fastolfe is still there," she adds with a slight frown. "We should confirm that he has not left the premises, of course. He might be heading to the infirmary to restore the spore treatment. Which reminds me. I requested that Dr. Halsey suspend spore introductions...or re-introductions...until we understand why the treatment wore off early. Should we continue that policy? My instinct is to prefer the process remain off-limits, but I am not sure I can justify it rationally. It is just... my instinct," she says with a small embarrassed shrug.