Kas flipped over the flimsyplast document Vinda had just handed him, scanning it absently while listening to the discussion between Vinda and Lebenan. The flimsyplast was the standard high-level holo-encoded flimsy; only the top four offices received the stuff. For “Official Business Only” was printed on the boxes, using it for figures or doodling was not recommended.
Someone with access to this…
As soon as he had thought of it, he discarded the idea. Almost everyone in the Central Office had access to this flimsy, it wasn’t guarded or restricted. Just a fancy letterhead for top office employees, nothing more.
Turning to get the attention of the closest aid, he ordered the man to carry the flimsy out and have a high detail scan set to the Central Office for immediate analization. Probably a useless action, there was no way to trace it, really. It was routine though. The best bet would be to find the courier who sent it, and work their way backward from him.
The heated protest of one of Lebenan’s aids caught Kas’ attention, and he returned his attention to the conversation at hand.
"...he was tried , convicted , and found guilty under Brentaalian law, and as such , new evidence must be bought to light in order to declare a mistrial...."
Why would someone protest so about a stay of execution? Everyone is interested in seeing justice done, but when the sentence is changed from life, to instant death… why would this man be so indignant that such an oddity would be questioned?
Frowning, Kas murmured an excuse to Vinda, and exited Lebenan’s office. Moving down to a lift, he gradually made his way over the plush carpeting that seemed to be absolutely
everywhere here, and to a com station. After few minutes finagling with the operator, he managed to obtain a direct call to Bonadan.
“This is Vent”
“Vent, Katta.”
“Oh, hello Mr. Katta. How are the Brentaal prisons doing today?”
“Fine, fine. The inmates look like they’re having a blast.”
“Great! Always good to hear… what can I do for you? Are you having trouble there?”
“A little… it appears Vinda has met up with someone he knew from a long time ago...”
“What kind of trouble is that?”
“The man is on death row.”
“… … Ouch.”
“Yes. Vinda is not very happy about the situation. I’m not even sure if he knows the man, but his reaction to seeing him was … startling. His sentence was changed from life to instant execution a few days ago.”
There was pause on the end of the line.
“That’s …. Odd”
“It gets even stranger. The order came from the Central Office.”
“Nothing strange there Kas. They usually do…”
“
Our Central Office.”
“Oh… … … I assume you’re sending me a copy of the order?”
“Yes.”
“I will start a trace.”
“Thank you, try keep it quiet, will you?”
“Yes. Also, before I forget, ‘Skopos checked out early today, something about … a cough? I didn’t hear exactly.”
“Hmm… well, make sure those papers get filed, and looked over.”
“No problem.”
The com line terminated, and some spare credits were spit out of the change hole. Leaving them there as a bonus for the next user, Kas headed back the way he had just come mulling over the strange twist this routine trip had taken.
