Chapter 5: A Confession

"Tell me again. What were you doing when the ship was stolen?" Odo asked, pacing the floor in front of the chair where the freighter captain was seated.

"I told you already!" The Bajoran whined. "I'm going to have words with your Commander if this interrogation keeps up. This has been a terrible voyage."

"I imagine it has. Drisek Zel has been murdered and someone has subsequently made off with his ship, but I can't help you or your crew unless you help me first." Odo stopped pacing and turned to face the captain again. "Who took the ship?"

"I've told you, I don't know! This is not an effective method of questioning, you're asking me the same question over and over!" The man was fuming. "I didn't see who took it, I was waiting for the docking clamps to be released while my crew loaded up our cargo bay. That's when the impulse drive started up, completely off schedule."

"Can you even guess at who might have taken it?" Odo asked. "Even a hunch might help at this stage."

"You seem awfully anxious to solve this. What's so important to you?" The captain asked, defiantly.

"Nothing," Odo said, a little too quickly. "Justice." He amended.

"Which is it?" The Bajoran asked. "Nothing, or justice? If it's really justice then I think you're going about this wrong. The Ferengi's obviously guilty of the murder."

"The Ferengi is not guilty." Odo snapped. "He's a dishonest person, but Quark's not a murderer."

"Fine, maybe he's innocent. But I think Drisek's bodyguard probably stole the ship. I couldn't say why."

This was new. "Bodyguard?" Adding another person in the equation could potentially exonerate Quark. "What bodyguard?"

"The Klingon. I think he took my ship and fled on it. Maybe he's your murderer."

Odo spun to go. This was a new lead, and he intended to follow it up right away. This could be the proof that he needed to prove Quark's innocence. To himself, and to the rest of the station.

"Are you going to do anything about my ship?" The Bajoran called after him. "I'd like it back!"

"Talk to Commander Sisko," Odo told him as he exited the security office. "He's the one negotiating it back into the airlock."

...

Odo was on his way to Ops to get an update on the situation with the freighter when he suddenly felt compelled to check on Quark. He turned to go that way instead. The door to Quark's chambers opened easily to Odo's security priority level, as he knew it would, and he slipped in quietly. The lights were still off, and Quark lay curled up on his bed. Odo hoped he had been sleeping, but it seemed unlikely as he sat up very quickly to greet Odo.

"You're back. I was waiting for you."

"Yes, sorry that I took so long. The Commander wanted to speak to me about the case, and I ran into a spot of trouble on the way home." Odo took a seat on the side of the bed.

"Mm." Quark hummed absentmindedly. He was staring down at his hands.

"Lights up," Odo commanded, reaching a hand out to touch Quark on the arm. "Quark, what can you tell me about the Klingon? That's what you meant when you said 'they' back in the bar. I wondered who you meant. Drisek had a Klingon with him."

Quark looked frightened. "Odo..."

"Quark, tell me there was a Klingon there. This could be the key to proving your innocence." Odo was clinging to Quark's sleeve. "Quark, help me. I need to prove it wasn't you." There was a desperate edge to his voice. Quark cowered back away from him slightly.

"Odo. What if it was." A tear tracked its way down Quark's face. "What then?"

Odo froze. His grip on Quark's sleeve slackening. "No. Don't say that."

"Odo, there's something I need to tell you," Quark whispered.

"No!" Odo pulled his hand back as if burned. "Don't tell me. I don't want to hear it!"

"Odo, it's important."

"No! I don't want to hear it, Quark!" Odo was shaking now. "Don't say another word."

"Odo," Quark said, his voice firmer now. "I have to tell you."

"Quark, please." Odo dropped to a knee beside the bed. "I'm begging you, don't say it. I'm happier never knowing."

"No. Justice is important to you, Odo. I can't let you compromise that." Quark knelt beside him and placed one hand gently on Odo's cheek. "I'm going to tell you the truth." He drew in a ragged breath. "I killed Drisek Zel."

Odo's eyes were screwed tightly shut. He refused to look up at Quark.

"I killed him. Odo, I need you to listen. I woke up on my back with a bloody knife in my hand. Drisek was dead, and the Klingon was nowhere in sight. Odo, there's a strong possibility that he's up there somewhere too. Dead. Odo, I need you to listen to me. A deal went badly, I had the absinthe lined up for them to buy and something went wrong. I killed them both, Odo."

Odo looked up to meet Quark's eyes. There was a heart-wrenching mixture of anger and anguish in his eyes. "Why did you tell me that?" He asked.

"I wanted to ask for protection, but now I realize how hard that is on yo,." Quark said softly. "Odo, my bags are packed. If you'll let me leave then I'll be gone within the hour. Or you can arrest me and hand me over for the Bajoran Provisional Government as a murderer. It's your choice."

"I wish you hadn't told me. I never wanted to know." Odo was looking everywhere but at Quark. He couldn't meet his eyes again. "If you hadn't told me then I could have stayed happy."

"Happy but ignorant. It's better that you know." Quark leaned in suddenly for a kiss. Odo wanted to kiss him so badly, but he couldn't. Not knowing what he knew now. He turned his head slightly and Quark's kiss landed on his cheek instead.

"No farewell kiss?" Quark laughed. It sounded forced, his voice wobbling over the words. "Oh well. Goodbye, Odo."

Odo didn't look up at him again. He heard the sound of the door closing behind Quark as he left. All Odo wanted to do was to race after him and take him into his arms. He wanted to hold him close and promise to keep him safe. But he couldn't do that now, not with this revelation weighing so heavily in the air around him. Quark had confessed. He was guilty, and now he was gone.