Chapter 26
A Visit from the Antaran Princess
When the Count and Countess had departed, Plormot looked across at the other two.
"You see," Plormot said. "We make progress."
"Excellent work," Douqh said cordially. "I would never have dreamed of suspecting Count and Countess Kyrth, myself. I'll admit though, that it makes sense now. I suppose there's no doubt that she committed the crime. It's rather sad, really, given all that's happened to her.
"Still, her punishment will be a light one, whatever it may be. It's possible she will face none at all, given the extenuating circumstances. I can't imagine a magistrate or a jury who would convict her knowing all we know."
"You seem certain of her guilt."
"My dear Hilus. Surely there is no doubt? I thought you were simply reassuring them to smooth things over until we are released from this phal and the proper authorities take charge."
"So you don't believe the Count's statement – made on his word of honor – that his wife is innocent?"
"Hilus, of course! What is it with you and crisscrossing all over the place! First she's suspicious, but when she's revealed to have all that motive, then she's innocent?
"Besides, what else could her husband say? He adores her. He wants to save her. All he has to do is not offer up the truth unbidden – quite casual the way the upper classes do these things. Then, when they're caught, he simply lies. What could it be, other than a lie?"
"You know, I am getting the idea that he's telling the truth."
"No, no! What are you saying? That they boarded this very ship along with the man who destroyed her childhood and didn't have anything to do with his murder?"
"All I'm saying, dear Izu," Plormot amended. "Is that I think I believe him when he says his wife never left their rooms last night. Yes, he has lied to us without compunction, but when it comes down to it, out of all else in this matter, he values his wife. It is when he feels she is most at risk that he swears upon his honor. You may call it trivial, but I feel inclined to believe him."
Any further discussion was cut off when the door opened and none other than Princess Nehn entered. She came straight to them and all three men accordingly stood out of respect. She ignored the others and focused on Plormot.
"I believe, sir," she said. "That you have found out my lie."
"What lie is this?" Plormot asked. He found himself the object of the princess's immense scrutiny.
"My lie regarding my goddaughter. You asked after her whereabouts and I said I didn't know, because I had lost track of her. I knew full well that she was aboard this vessel with us."
"The Countess Kyrth."
She nodded.
"Yes."
"You did indeed lie, Princess. Why?"
"Because I knew how it would look. I was not about to let my last granddaughter be put through a new ordeal all over again."
"You are very dedicated, Princess."
"It takes no great dedication. Indeed, it is not about dedication. I have merely done what I think Lillian, my friend, and her guardians would want for her. Loyalty is what binds people together."
"You do not believe in doing your utmost to bring about justice?"
A sharp look from the old royal.
"But you are mistaken, sirs. In this case, justice has been done."
If Plormot had any further questions, they were inconsequential to her. The great lady inclined her head, stood and left without a further word.
"So," Plormot spoke at last. "We have shaken the whaff, now we see the orb we have shaken loose."
"She is a terrible old lady!" Douqh exclaimed. "Who could have guessed her loyalty to that human family would run so deep as to try to cover for an andorian girl of no relation?"
"It's not so complicated, when one thinks on it," Plormot noted. He turned to the doctor. "Could she have murdered Evered?" The doctor considered briefly and, once again, shook his head.
"No. Those stabs – the ones that drove the knife deep and cut through muscle and broke through bones in places – never. Even if she were in a rage, someone so frail could not have delivered them."
"But the feebler ones? The shallower ones?"
"Yes, those are possible."
Meanwhile, Douqh was again pressing his palms into his eyes.
"Lies – so many lies. And again, lies. It amazes me, the number of lies we have had told to us today."
"There are still more to flush out," Plormot told him, rather cheerful.
"Truly?"
"I will be very disappointed if it turns out I am wrong."
"So much duplicity." Douqh groaned. "But you seem pleased." He grew reproachful.
"Lies give an advantage the truth cannot," Plormot told them, twinkling. "If someone tells the truth, that is all there is to it. If you need to find more, they may not have it to give you. But if they've lied, and if you confront them and their lie with the truth, they will usually admit it. Usually, they'll admit it out of surprise, often enough out of resignation. I have realized it is the only way to conduct this case.
"I select each passenger in turn. I consider them, and ask myself whether they have lied. If so, on what point do they specifically lie, and why do they lie? It begs the answer, if they are lying, it could only be for such a reason and on such a point.
"We have already successfully found out both a lie and a truth this way with Countess Kyrth. We will now focus the same method on the next passenger."
"What if your guess on their lie or the reason behind it is wrong?"
"Then we will have found at least one person who will be free of further suspicion."
"Mm, a process of elimination, then."
"Precisely."
"Who is next?"
"We are going to tackle the ever serious Lieutenant Keller."