Waxman smiled slightly and cocked a brow at Dacco.
“But we do have this,” Umber continued. Raising his head slightly, he spoke to the sound system built into the ceiling, “Show passageway security camera record.”
The wall screen behind Waxman glowed to life. He and Dacco both turned in their chairs to look at it. On the other side of the table, Raven and Gomez also stared at the screen.
From a camera built into the ceiling of the passageway that went past Raven’s quarters they saw and heard Dacco and Raven.
The two of them walked up to Raven’s door. She turned toward him, her back to the closed door, got up on tiptoes and pecked at his lips.
“Goodnight, Noel.”
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“You expect me to go all the way back to Haven II, alone and forlorn?”
“I really can’t ask you in.”
His smile fixed on his face, Dacco said, “You could if you wanted to.”
“Noel… I’m practically engaged to Tómas.”
“Practically.”
A youngish couple ambled past them, smiled hello, and continued on their way.
“Young love,” sighed Dacco, following them with his eyes.
“Goodnight, Noel,” Raven repeated, more firmly.
His smile disappeared. Looking down at her, Dacco said, “No, Raven. That’s not the way this evening is going to end.”
“Noel…”
He reached past her and tapped out her entry code on the door’s control panel. Almost silently, the door slid open. He pushed Raven into the apartment and stepped in after her. The door slid shut.
Umber’s face seemed set in stone. “She didn’t invite you into her quarters, Mr. Dacco.”
Dacco shrugged. “Not in so many words.…”
“Where did you get the door’s entry code?”
His eyes shifting momentarily to Waxman, Dacco admitted, “Evan told me.”
Waxman sat in silence, his eyes staring straight ahead.
Umber’s gaze was locked on Dacco’s face. He repeated, “Ms. Marchesi did not invite you into her quarters.”
Again Dacco muttered, “Not in so many words.”
Kyle Umber seemed to relax, although his facial expression remained grave. For long moments the conference room was absolutely silent, except for the faint whisper of the air circulating system.
At last Umber made up his mind. “Mr. Dacco, I personally find your conduct reprehensible. If I allowed this case to go before a jury I’m sure you would swiftly be found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to our habitat’s prison. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you leave Haven on the next departing vessel. Return to Earth as quickly as you can, and try to mend your ways.”
Dacco stared back at the minister. “I’m supposed to interview Dr. Gomez.…”
“I don’t think that will be possible now,” Umber said, his voice cold and hard.
“Totally impossible,” Tómas confirmed, through gritted teeth.
“Go back to Earth,” Umber repeated. “Try to find God’s mercy and forgiveness.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You will be placed under arrest, put on trial, found guilty, and put in jail.”
Looking alarmed for the first time, Dacco glanced at Waxman, who refused to return his gaze.
“Well?” Umber demanded. “What is your decision?”
His shoulders sagging, Dacco said mildly, “I’ll leave. I’ll return to Earth.”
“Good,” said Umber. “And I’ll pray that God brings you to His path.” Glancing at the others around the small table, he added, “This hearing is ended. Praise God.”
Raven reached for Tómas’s hand as she echoed, “Praise God.”
WAXMAN, ABBOTT, AND DACCO
The Reverend Kyle Umber remained in his chair, hands folded as if in prayer, while the rest of the group got up from the conference table and headed for the door.
“Evan,” he said, as Waxman went past him. “Please wait. Sit down.”
Waxman hesitated, then turned around and took the chair at the minister’s left. The others stepped out into the passageway. The door slid shut.
For a nerve-tightening few seconds, Umber stared into Waxman’s face, as if searching for something, some sign, some expression.
Impatiently, Waxman said, “Well, what is it, Kyle?”
“You gave Dacco the combination to Ms. Marchesi’s door control?”
Waxman’s eyes shifted away from Umber’s face. “I don’t know. I may have.”
“You did.”
With a shrug, Waxman said, “What if I did? He was taking a whore to dinner. What happened afterward was only to be expected.”
“She’s not a whore. Not anymore.”
Waxman laughed. “She comes to my bed when I want her to.”
“Because you threaten to close the shop she and Ms. Polanyi have opened.”
“That’s just her excuse. She’s a whore, plain and simple.”
Umber stared at him, his face a frigid mask. Then, “I want your resignation, Evan. It pains me to say it, but I don’t see how we can continue with you heading this habitat’s administration.”
For a moment Waxman looked surprised. Then his face broke into a wide grin. “My resignation! You want me to resign. That’s rich. Kyle, you’re really very funny.”
“This is not a laughing matter.”
“Yes it is,” Waxman retorted. “It’s ridiculous. You think you have the power to fire me? That’s beyond ridiculous. It’s ludicrous. It’s—”
Calmly, Umber interrupted, “And this drug trafficking has to stop, as well. I won’t have it.”
“You won’t have it? Hah! You’ve got it, Kyle. You’re stuck with it! How do you think we keep this home for runaway bums and prostitutes running? By prayer? It’s the money we take in from Rust and other narcotics that keeps Haven afloat financially. Cut that off and you’ll be out of business in less than a year.”
“God will find a way to keep us going.”
“God’s already found the way, and I’m administrating it. Open your eyes, Kyle!”
“I won’t have it.”
“You’ve got it. And I’ve got the Council. Try to oust me and they’ll laugh in your face. Maybe they’ll vote to kick you out of Haven.”
“They wouldn’t do that.”
“Oh no? Don’t be so sure. You’re just a figurehead, Kyle. We could find another one easily enough.”
“You wouldn’t!”
“Don’t tempt me.”
Umber sagged in his chair. Waxman stared at him, gloating, for a few moments, then got up and walked out of the conference room, leaving the minister sitting there, alone and silent.
Tómas Gomez walked Raven to her door. She tapped out the entry code on the door’s keyboard and gestured him to enter.
Glancing up at the passageway’s ceiling, Tómas said, “I think I’d better not, Raven.”
With a smile, she replied, “Not even for lunch?”
Obviously torn, Tómas said, “I have a lot of work ahead of me. An enormous amount.”
“You can tell me about it over lunch.”
He broke into a sheepish grin. “All right. But it’s all astronomical stuff.”
“Tell me about it. Teach me.”
Tómas nodded, smiled and followed Raven into her quarters.
The clock on Abbott’s desktop computer read 1:45 as Tómas came through the door. Vincente Zworkyn, sitting in front of Abbott’s desk, turned to greet the new arrival.
From his chair behind the desk, Abbott asked, “How’d the hearing go?”