"Chief-" one started.
"Not now," Palen said. "Where's Oler?"
"Back in the lockup," the other officer said.
"Chief," the first one said again, "you've got a message here from an Agent Harwol, TBI. He says it's urgent, would you-"
"Later, " Palen cut him off.
Without another word, Palen led the way around the end of the desk and into a corridor. At the other end, they emerged into a wide, low-ceilinged chamber lined with cells. Derec counted three people behind the transparent doors, none of whom bothered to look up as Palen's group filed through. One, though, caught Derec's eye-a Spacer, judging by the clothes.
Adjacent to the cell block was another chamber about the same size, but without the cells; instead, tables, chairs, and a few couches littered the floor. Against one wall stood an autochef and a samovar.
A short woman with no hair sat at one table, bent over a reader, one hand wrapped around a tall cup. She looked up.
"We're here to get the tinhead, Oler," Palen said. "Get us a gurney, will you?"
The woman nodded, paused to finish reading something, then walked out. Palen went to a plain door opposite the auto chef. With a passkey, she opened it and stepped inside.
Derec followed Palen into the storage locker. Shelves stacked against the left wall to the ceiling, boxes and canisters piled on the floor to the right. At the far end lay a robot, legs bent up in the small space.
"You stored it here?" Derec asked.
"It hasn't moved since we found it," Palen said. "What would you have me do, put it in a cell where it could be seen? Most of our guests don't stay very long. I thought it best to keep rumor to a minimum."
"I understand, but I thought you'd have it in your forensic pathology lab or something."
"I repeat: I wanted to keep rumor down. I already have the people who were there when we found it assigned exclusively to the crime scene and a communications block around that bay." Palen frowned. "Besides, my people were a little nervous about it."
"I thought you were used to dealing with robots," Derec said. "That's what Lanra implied anyway."
"More used to it than the average Terran, but considering the possibility that this one committed murder, that was more faith than I was willing to ask of my people."
"You don't believe that, do you?"
"No. But it wasn't me I was concerned with. Now, do you want to look at this thing or criticize my methods some more?"
Chastised, Derec stepped past her and knelt down. As he expected, it was a DW-12-a very versatile laborer, basically. In the inadequate light of the closet, it seemed physically in reasonably good condition, but it was hard to tell. He lifted one heavy arm and pulled it straight. Relieved, he set it down-at least it had not locked up.
"It should be easy to move." He stood. "What have you done to it?"
"I had my chief pathologist go over it for physical evidence, but honestly not much beyond that. It was in his lab for about an hour, then we put it in here. I thought it best to just wait for you. "
"Fine. Let's get it to the Spacer embassy, then."
"Mr. Avery." Palen stepped closer to him. In the tight space she seemed to tower over him. It was an effort not to back away. "What are the chances of recovering anything from it?"
"There's no way I can give you an estimate yet. I have to see how badly collapsed it is first."
"But statistically-"
"Any numbers I give you would be meaningless. You'll just have to wait till we can start the excavation." He waited, but she continued to stare at him. He shrugged. "I'm sorry."
"Fine. Then let's get you situated." Yart Leri looked very much an Auroran: slim, face smoothly ageless, large, clear eyes, and a politely attentive demeanor that nonetheless discouraged intimacy.
"Welcome, Mr. Avery," he said, meeting them in the embassy reception area. A robot occupied the desk. "We've arranged quarters for you and Mr. Hofton. I've been instructed to lend every assistance. The resources of the embassy are, within certain limits, at your disposal."
"Thank you. I'd like first off to see your positronics lab."
"Certainly. I'll have Rotij show you around. That's Rotij Polifos. He's our chief roboticist. He'll be assisting you, should you require it."
"With all due respect, " Derec said, "might I be allowed to choose my own lab assistant?"
Leri blinked. "Of course."
"I'd like Rana."
The ambassador almost frowned. "She is not, I believe, fully credited-"
"Nor is she Auroran. I understand that. But we worked together before. I found her most adequate. "
"I see no objection," Leri said.
"In that case, I'd like to see the lab as soon as possible."
"I understood this would be a priority situation. I've had Rotij prep an area just for your use."
"Shall I wait for you?" Palen asked.
"Yes, if you could," Derec said. "This won't take that long. Then I'd like to get the robot here as quickly as possible."
"May I ask," Leri said, "what robot?"
"You haven't been briefed?"
"Not in all the particulars…"
Derec did not know what orders Leri might have had from Sen Setaris. Best to say nothing, he decided, and sort out the protocols later.
"I'll leave it to higher authority, then," he said. "I'm sure Ambassador Setaris will update you as needed. "
"But-"
The lab, sir?" Derec prompted.
Leri frowned. "This way. "
Derec caught a look from Rana. She rolled her eyes as if to say now there's going to be trouble, then nodded for Derec to follow Leri.
The small reception area gave no indication of the volume the embassy occupied. Leri led Derec, Hofton, and Rana down a hallway to an elevator. Four levels down, it opened onto a lab area Derec guessed at about five hundred square meters.
Derec took a few tentative steps forward, surveying the equipment neatly arrayed across the room. He recognized most of it, but a few pieces looked unfamiliar.
"We finished a complete overhaul six months ago," Rana offered.
Derec whistled appreciatively, Terran fashion, then saw Leri's puzzled look. "I'm very impressed, sir. It doesn't look like you want for anything. "
"This is a working lab, Mr. Avery," Leri said with a mixture of pride and contempt. "Kopernik hosts a large population of robots in the Spacer sections. We service the positronics of all the incoming and outgoing Spacer ships."
"Including the Solarian?"
"The Solarians do not possess such a lab. They contract us to do their service and repair work."
A small cluster of people huddled together in a far corner, talking among themselves. Derec counted five and wondered which among them was head of the lab.
"Rotij," Leri called.
One of the group looked toward them, raised a hand, then excused himself from the discussion. He approached with long strides; he was typically tall, with a Spacer's indeterminate age.
"Yes?" he said, stopping before them.
"Rotij Polifos," Leri intoned, "this is Derec Avery and his aide, Hofton…" Leri blinked at Hofton uncertainly.
"That's correct," Hofton said. "Hofton, from the groundside mission. The people I spoke to you about, from Ambassador Burgess's office…?"
"Yes, of course," Rotij said. He seemed distracted and mildly put out. "Honored, Mr. Avery. I know your work."
"Thank you."
"Rotij," Leri continued, "is chief roboticist and director of this positronics lab." He looked between them for a few moments, then nodded, satisfied. "According to my instructions, you 're to be accorded every service of the facility. Should you require anything else, please feel free to see me."
"Thank you, Ambassador," Derec said. "You're very kind."
"If I may, I'll leave you to Director Polifos-"
"I need a minute, Yart," Polifos said.
Leri blinked. "I'm sure we can get together later and-"
"Now. If you please."
"Mr. Avery requires immediate attention. Afterward, of course." With that, Leri spun around and returned to the elevator.
Polifos glared after Leri for several seconds, then laughed caustically. "Busy man." He turned toward Derec with a sigh. "Well. How can I help you? Ambassador Burgess's instructions were vague except on the point that you're to have the run of the place. I'm afraid I'll have to ask that you leave us some area to do our regular work-"