Chapter 3: Nervous Habits

The man was lying on his back, his torso a mass of blood and ripped flesh. This had been an aggressive killing, and the blood was spread over the floor and nearby storage cases. The cases were full of small bottles filled with green liquid. Presumably, the absinthe that Sisko had mentioned. There were four crates of the stuff, and the two closest to the body were splattered with blood.

Bashir was examining the man, his face twisted up into a grimace as he hovered his tricorder over the body. Odo decided he'd leave the doctor to do that, he was anxious to get back downstairs to Quark. The Ferengi had seemed uncharacteristically shaken up, and Odo wanted nothing more than to go and comfort him. He probably should ask him some questions while he was at it. Quark must have found the crime scene. Not too many questions though, just enough to be adequate.

"Let me know what you find," Odo told Bashir. "I'll be interested to hear the results of the autopsy."

Bashir glanced up momentarily. "I can tell you with certainty that he's dead." He said, a glimmer of mirth present in his attractive amber eyes. "Stabbed, with his own knife." The doctor gestured at a knife lying near the body. "I'd suggest running a fingerprint scan of some kind. There are likely prints or traces of DNA to be found on that knife."

Odo nodded. "I'll have one of my security officers put it in an evidence locker until I can do that. I'm going to speak with Quark."

Bashir turned back to the body as Odo hurried down the stairs back towards the counter where Quark was sitting. The Ferengi was nibbling at his fingernails, a nervous tick that Odo had seen many humanoids doing. He'd tried to adopt it himself once but had found it rather unpleasant.

Quark perked up as Odo approached. Slipping off of his barstool he met Odo halfway across the floor of the bar, over by the Dabo tables. In a second, he had thrown himself at Odo again and was clinging to him. Not so hard as before, just a constant pressure. Before Odo could even think about it, he had wrapped his arms around Quark as well. There was no one there to see them anyway."Are you alright?" He whispered. "What happened?"

Quark just clung to him harder. "I... I found them up there. I had a deal with them later, and I went up to check on the... the merchandise and found that bloody mess!"

"By merchandise, you mean illegal alcohol?" Odo asked softly, working to keep the accusation out of his voice. "You should know better."

"I'm a Ferengi, Odo. I can't help it. I'll pay the fine, I just want that mess cleared out of my bar." His voice wobbled a little on the words, and Odo couldn't stop himself. A soft little noise escaped his lips that sounded very much like a reassuring "shh".

Odo felt somewhat relieved that this was all, but there was still a nagging doubt about the whole situation. Something about what Quark had said... had he said: "they"? Odo almost asked, then thought better of it. He didn't want to know. If this was what Quark wanted him to believe, then that was good enough. It would never have been enough in the past, but Odo was content to let it be now. That was what he'd keep telling himself. Quark was the important thing. As Odo led the Ferengi back to his quarters he kept repeating it very quietly under his breath. Quark was the most important thing. Not this Bajoran businessman, not Sisko's orders, not justice. It left a very bad taste in Odo's mouth.

...

Kira never knocked. It was one of her more frustrating traits, but she came as a packaged deal and Sisko wouldn't have her any other way. Therefore he was not surprised when she barged into his office at the end of his communication with a Bajoran Minister.

"Is it true?" She demanded, an outraged look on her face.

Sisko raised his hands placatingly. "Yes, I'm afraid that a Bajoran businessman of high standing had been killed, but-"

"Not that! I couldn't care less about Drisek Zel, he was corrupt, whatever the Provisional Government claims." She leaned across the desk, her voice suddenly dropping lower. "I'm talking about Odo. Do you really expect him to investigate Quark? It's too much to ask, Commander!"

"What are you talking about?" Sisko was somewhat confused. "Odo is my chief of security, I expect him to investigate everyone who could be a possible suspect."

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed," Kira said, disbelief in her face as she leaned back again, pulling away from the desk. "The secret looks, the obvious flirting when they think they're being subtle. They clearly have feelings for each other, half the station has noticed it. Commander, asking Odo to treat Quark as a suspect in a murder case is entirely unfair!"

So that was what she meant. "Major, sit down," Sisko commanded, suddenly firm. "Of course I've noticed. I knew -and I have a feeling you did as well- long before they figured it out themselves. But I'm afraid that changes nothing. Odo is still expected to conduct this investigation and to uphold the law. I have faith that he will do so."

"I'm begging you not to do this." Major Kira had both hands planted on the back of a chair now, refusing to sit. Her knuckles were white from the pressure she was putting into them. "Place me in charge of the case. Or Dax, or O'Brien, or Bashir. Put anyone in charge, just take Odo off of it."

"I'll consider it." Sisko would speak with Odo about it, there was a possibility that Kira was right. It was a conflict of interest, and while Sisko had complete faith in his chief of security there was a possibility that Odo would be torn in his loyalties. "You are dismissed, Major."

Kira looked as if she had more to say. With great effort she pried her fingers from the chair back, leaving dents in the pliable material of the upholstery. "Very well. It's your call, Commander." She spat out, finally turning to go. Her posture was rigid as she stormed out. Sisko winced at the marks her fingernails had made in the chair. He disliked being on the receiving end of Major Kira's anger.

"Sisko to Odo, may I speak with you in my office?"

"Certainly, Commander. I'm on my way."

...

Odo had taken Quark back to the Ferengi's own quarters and had wrapped him in a blanket on the bed. He seemed to be in a state of shock, allowing Odo to manipulate him onto the mattress and tuck him in. He didn't say a word until Odo tried to move towards a chair on the far side of the room.

"Stay with me." He said softly, fingers clinging desperately to Odo's arm. "Please?"

Odo couldn't say no to him. He had gingerly lain down beside him, pressing up against him in an attempt to be comforting. He didn't really know what he was doing or whether he was being at all helpful, but Quark relaxed a little into his hold and that seemed good. They had only been lying like that for a few minutes when Sisko had summoned Odo. Odo was somewhat disappointed, he had been beginning to enjoy it and Quark was finally relaxing. He reluctantly slipped out of the bed, and with a whispered "I'll be back in a minute." He had exited the room.

Sisko was chewing on his fingernails when Odo entered his office. Amazing how nervous everyone on this station was. He looked up as Odo entered and smiled halfheartedly, removing his thumb from his mouth.

"Odo, please take a seat."

Odo moved towards the chair across the desk from Commander Sisko. The chair had odd marks in the back, and Odo found himself wondering what they could be as he sat down. Sisko saw him looking at them and smiled wryly. "Kira," he offered by way of explanation.

Odo nodded as if this made perfect sense. It didn't particularly, but he wasn't interested enough to press the matter. "You wanted to see me, Commander?"

"Yes. Major Kira was just in here, putting ideas in my head. She suggested you might be unhappy leading this investigation."

"She did?" Odo felt a flash of panic. What did Nerys know that would make her think that?

"Yes, she did. And I find myself wondering the same thing. Are you comfortable leading this investigation, Odo? If you aren't I can easily pass it on to someone else, but I need you to be open with me."

They didn't know about Quark, they couldn't. "Why would you think that I'm uncomfortable?" Odo asked casually.

Sisko looked distinctly uneasy. "That's your business. I just want you to know that there is an out for you if you need it."

"Thank you." Odo was thinking it over, but if Quark was guilty or tied up in this in any capacity, it was better, much as Odo hated the thought, that he discover it. Not Sisko, not Kira, him. "I'm quite comfortable in this position. I appreciate your concern, but I will be just fine continuing with this investigation."

It was a lie.