Kaelius was bent over his computer when his deep reverie was interrupted by a young officer, "Sir, the suspect isn't being cooperative, he won't say a thing."

"That's redundant," he snapped back, frustrated for having been startled, "He's not going to talk just because you ask him. This isn't Citadel Tower, we're not her for tea and crumpets, you gotta make him scream a little." He shoved away from his desk and stormed into the holding cells.

"Turn off the cameras!" Kaelius barked, as he grabbed the only living subject, a spineless turian with vicious face paint that made most civilians nervous, and ignored his cries and protests as he was dragged into a private interrogation room. Immediately the door locked and the light on the camera went off the moment he entered. With little effort, Kaelius tossed the turian across the room; hitting the far wall and crumpled to the floor in a heap, before he could make any sense of himself, Kaelius was on him and hammered a fist hard into the turian's gunshot wound that he had inflicted a few days before. The mercenary made feeble attempts to stop the assault against his person, but received a broken arm and cracked mandible for his troubles.

"I'm done playing games," Kaelius snarled, "Tell me what I want to know." He emphasized his displeasure with another fist to the suspects face.

"If I do, I'm a dead man!" he made pathetic attempts to get his feet under him, but the hardened officer had too firm a grip and held him pinned to the floor.

"You're a dead man anyways." Kaelius countered, "You've been in my custody for far too long, the Shadow Broker will have you killed for speaking, regardless if you did or not; he already made an attempt."

The turian made no reply, Kaelius pressed, "At least you have a shot at survival in prison. If you don't tell me what I wish to know, I'll throw you back out onto the streets."

He caved at the fear of being released and spilled what he knew, and Kaelius came out still grumpy, but triumphant, "Call the paramedics. He doesn't leave your sight. If he dies…" he let the unspoken threat linger in the air. The jail guard and a few officers waited until he was out of sight before peering into the cell to see the miserable heap of turian life sitting on the floor, moaning his complaints against the recent abuse to his body.

000

Alex lie quietly on the bench, looking up into the dim sky, listening to the birds in the Citadel's Botanical Garden. A whisper of misting water filled the air of the temperate controlled environment.

"Too bad you still don't have that giant Krogan to look out for you." A voice spoke out. She jumped, making a noise, and witnessed Kaelius strolling down the neat path. His dark uniform blended well in the grey-dusk light, "Why are you by yourself?" he growled. She smoothed out her skirt, trying to steady her heart beat and appraise his stalking posture and bad temper.

She guiltily chewed her lip and looked away, trying to come up with a reasonable excuse, his hard hand pulled her face up towards him, "Why are you by yourself?" He asked again.

"I just wanted to be alone." She admitted.

He let out a heavy sigh, believing her, his disapproval obvious and dropped her face to sit beside her, "You realize it's dangerous, correct?"

"Please don't patronize me?" Alex asked, coming out more as whining, "Why are you here?"

By the clicking of his mandibles and tight mouth, she didn't think he'd drop the subject, "I came to ask you a few questions."

Her shoulders sagged in relief, his flicked to them when she did so, "Ask away."

"What does David do for work?"

"He's a delegate for Ambassador Udina."

"That fits… Does he have any enemies that you know of? Any agendas he's trying to push that might have negative repercussions?"

Alex's eyes widened, "No. He's a good man, a generous man. People all the time tell me of their affection for him. I've never heard a bad thing said about him. I know it's odd to hear about a politician that cares, but he does, he is a very charitable man and cares about the common good."

"You really respect him?"

"I do." She said thinking about it, "He's a very gentle man. Better than I deserve. I only wish I could see him more often. He's very busy."

"Understandable, galaxy never sleeps, does it?" He paused stiffly, "I have reason to suspect that the Shadow Broker tried to harm you, to hurt David. Or to scare him."

"That can't be right. I know- I knew who that batarian was. They were customers of Mr. Din'lak, poor, distraught customers."

"Did you recognize any of them?"

She stammered, before rubbing the bridge of her nose in thought, "I don't know. I can't say that I do."

"I believe the others were paid to instigate him into an altercation with you. Used him to their advantage."

"I just don't understand how David could be involved, or could have possibly done anything to have the Shadow Broker so irate as to desire to kill me?" She felt fear return to clutch her heart with an icy grip. Making breathing difficult, "Why would David have any business with the Shadow Broker? Do you believe he's doing something illicit?"

Kaelius shrugged, "He's a politician, information is his trade. It's very common, and it isn't necessarily bad, regardless, it is a question I want answered myself. Do you know where he might be found right now?"

"He told me he had to travel out to day. Said he'd be gone most of the day. That's all I know."

Kaelius nodded, "Thank you, I appreciate your cooperation, I really do."

"I have nothing to hide."

"She says as she's hiding."

"Well, someone did try and kill me."

He stood, "Which is why you shouldn't be alone. Let's go." He held out his hand to help her stand, she took it and murmured her thanks.

000

As Kaelius' squad car came into view of her apartments, Alex let out a dejected sigh. Guilt tugged at him, he knew how hard it was to be cooped up. Doing stake outs and spying, it was hard, and he was trained for it. She wasn't.

"I'll make you a deal." He spoke out louder than he had intended, and she jumped.

"Me a deal?" She asked confused, "I haven't done anything to warrant a deal."

"I mean, I will take you out and about, where ever you want to go, if you stay inside for the rest of today until I come and get you at the end of my shift."

Her icy eyes narrowed in unsure amusement, "Take me out?" she parroted?

"Yes." He nodded, then hesitated, "Oh, shit, that's not what I meant. You need to get out- I mean, I can tell you don't want to go home- that's not any better." Alex chuckled as she watched the turian start to bristle in frustration, "All I mean is, if you have to be out, you should do it safely with someone who can protect you."

"You should always be protected." She replied solemnly.

"Exactly- No! You should stop being mean."

Alex laughed, "I'd say I was sorry, but that was too funny. You set yourself up so easy."

"Get out." He snapped at her, "Get out of my car." She just giggled as he continued to grumble and bristle.