Cracks in the Spires

25: An Unexpected Ally

The next morning Asken, the City's Senior Medical Officer, the Head of Resources and eight medical assistants all suitably clad in full bio-hazard outfits arrived at the Spires clinic to oversee the evacuation. At the same time a contingent of twelve MidCit CSB under the direction of Pico Dravic entered the Lon Esta villa. They encountered no resistance. Pico was disconcerted to find nine people, not including Verdank, all of whom were in bed and seemed grateful for assistance. Vedank was found in the bathroom in no fit state to resist arrest. Pico directed a search of the premises which found a water sampling kit. That was bagged and taken away as evidence. A smaller arrest party stretchered Amsolo and Mayhew out of the medical centre. Asken watched as six teenage members of the elite and their personal menservants accompanied by two Upcit medical personnel were taken to the skimmer field. Interns and other servants who were able to walk were being assisted into buggies for transportation to the City's Isolation Units. Asken waited patiently until he received Pico's report of the discovery of the water sampling kit and then ordered a retesting of the Spires reservoir.

He was in a very good humour as he watched the first skimmer take off. Everything was going smoothly and tomorrow they could put the next part of the plan into operation. He was just considering going back to his office when his assistant came up to him.

"Sir, Madam Riss is demanding to see you. She refuses to go anywhere or do anything until she has spoken to you in person."

"Very well which ward is she in?"

"She's not in the hospital she's at home with her maid. She didn't seem very ill so perhaps she's not a priority for evacuation."

"You've seen her?"

"Yes sir, not everyone is in the clinic. They ran out of room so some of the less serious cases are at home. I was accompanying the medical assistant informing people about the procedures for evacuation. Madam Riss told me to come and fetch you."

Asken found Hemia Riss sitting under an awning on the terrace of her spacious pavilion within the Riss estate. She didn't look ill at all. He climbed the three steps and stopped in front of her.

"Have a seat Administrator. Would you like some fruit juice?" Seeing his hesitation she smiled "I can assure you it is perfectly safe. My maid and I have been drinking nothing but freshly squeezed juice from my orange trees and neither of us have been ill since we stopped drinking the water."

"Then in that case Madam Riss I would be very happy to have a glass." She poured a generous amount into a glass and handed it to him

"No ice for obvious reasons and all the crockery and utensils are washed in boiling water."

"Thank you. I gather you want to speak to me."

"Yes. I'm not going anywhere. Certainly not to Greenland. If I'd wanted to go to Greenland I wouldn't be here in the heat of summer. The only place I might consider going is wherever it is that you've hidden my daughter." Asken sipped his orange juice and considered the woman opposite. Hemia Riss tapped her nails on the side of her glass. "Don't bother denying it Administrator. She came to see you and shortly after that, to Foran's unmitigated fury, she disappeared from Esperance along with her tame prostitute."

"I'm not sure I understand Madam Riss. Why would you think I had anything to do with Miss Essandra's disappearance?"

"She couldn't have done it without help and in the absence of Varlon Esta you are the only possible candidate. Besides I know what she came to see you about. I may not bother with politics but I know the City needs lithium, neodymium, terbium, indium, dysprosium, and praseodymium and those are obtainable from Greenland. The only other source of any of them is controlled by Kverstadt and they aren't in the habit of sharing anything. How full are the storage silos on 50? We both know Foran's idiocy threatens the very existence of Esperance. So don't play games and pretend ignorance. Where is my daughter?"