19

At that moment, your holo lights up with a reminder about your daughter's recital. It starts in twenty minutes. If you hurry, you might still make it. And Torvald has not gotten back to you with those files yet; you may need to follow up on that sooner or later.

"Okay," you say. "I did it. Now tell me what you know about Lori Matthews."

"Right," Doug says. "Right." He picks up his glass but then realizes he's already finished his drink. "Have you heard of Ms. Eugenie Cochard?"

"The ethopolitician? Of course. Hasn't everybody?"

"Right," Doug says again. "I would pay her a visit."

"Why? What does she have to do with Ms. Matthews's death?"

"I don't know, brother," Doug says. "But if you spend as much time here as I do, you hear things." He scribbles an address on a piece of paper and hands it to you.

"Things?" you ask.

"Yeah. Things." Doug looks around, his eyes suddenly shiny with something you hadn't seen in there until now. Something scared. He lowers his voice. "Look, I can't say more. Just go see the politician." He pauses. "And I'd be careful, if I were you. Don't show her all your cards."

"All right. I'll keep that in mind."

"Okay," Doug says. His cheerful tone comes back. "Now, how about another round?"