Chapter 8
All of the palace staff had been called together or another set of personal interrogations. Katiara had had the suspicion that this was an inside job for some time, but the previous background checks and interviews didn't satisfy her. Though Lady Bel Iblis complained it would put a halt on her party planning, Katiara was able to convince the senator of its importance.
The fourty-second interviewee of the day walked into Katiara's room, which had been striped down to the desk, two chairs and the sofa. She had little time to sleep anyways, staying up to focus on the assassin and avoid nightmares.
"Mrs. Quint," the Jedi address the older woman, glancing over Mrs. Bel Iblis' personal tailor's records. "You have been working for Lady Bel Iblis for three years now. How did you secure this job?" The same questions over and over again.
"I had been a freelance tailor for years and worked with the Lady previously until she decided to hire me exclusively," the woman replied, her voice shaking.
"Don't be afraid, Mrs. Quint. Just be honest," Katiara said, taking a moment to give the woman a hard look. She was small, late 60's, white hair.
"How involved are you in the Senator's affairs?"
"Not at all, ma'am. I only see either of them to fit things, see?"
"But in that time do you ever converse with them?"
"Certainly, small chit-chat here and there. Most of the time they are otherwise engaged."
"So you hear their conversations. Anything...sensitive? Or political perhaps?"
Mrs. Quint recognized the suspicion. "No, never. At least not that I understand. From time to time the Lady will be lobbying for her husband but nothing private, I assure you."
"Did you hear anything suspicious around the time the letters started arriving?"
"It was Lizabea's birthday then and the Lady was preparing a birthday party. Something big. The senator and she are extremely fond of their daughter, as you know."
"Yes, I am fully aware."
"Unfortunately, the magazine never came – the Lady was hoping for a special interview or feature – I'm not sure. Her dress was lovely though." The old woman was certainly comfortable now.
"Magazine? What magazine?"
"I have no idea, I am sorry, ma'm."
These upclass people were certainly strange. A magazine article for some little girl's birthday? It seemed unlikely. Especially since they never showed. Katiara studied her notes before her, her brain throbbing for answers.
"But the gentleman seemed nice enough. They talked during the fitting and I remember his voice was very young and handsome."
"Uh-huh," Katiara said, ignoring the woman and allowing her to ramble.
"He was very lively and asked all about the palace and the family and the Senator's life away from politics. I think the lady even mentioned my name!" This interviewer seemed very interested in the Bel Iblis family for sure. Maybe beyond a birthday.
"Why was he asking about the Senator?"
"Well, Mrs. Bel Iblis is a big socialite and is always trying to gain the senator favor. She likes to think of herself as an activist I think. And when this man started inquiring about the Senator's relationship with the Emperor and his thoughts on the new constitution, the lady was more than happy to obliged."
Oh, kriff. The senator's wife was probably more than happy to reveal that not only were they opposed to the new Empire, but also that the senator's weak point was Lizabea. And considering what a strong, influential voice the Corellian senator had, it would be more useful for him to be blackmailed or threatened into supporting the Emperor than to just kill him off.
"You may go. And so may everyone else for today. I need to speak to 'the lady'," Katiara ordered, standing and walking to Lizabea's door. It was still locked. And only her key would open it. Now she needed find out more about this magazine.
Katiara walked quickly down the halls, not wanting to be away from Bea for long. Even though she was shifting her focus to finding the assassin, protecting the senator's daughter was still of upmost importance. Fortunately enough, Lady Bel Iblis' chambers are close enough by to make the trip quick.
Or it should have been quick. A slight detour was made due to the fact that Logan was walking down Katiara's hall of choice and she stuck to her decision to avoid him, even if it meant an extra five minute of time.
She stormed into the senator's wife's room without knocking. "Mrs. Bel Iblis, did I hear correctly that you had an extensive interview around Lizabea's birthday from a magazine that never followed through?"
The woman was surprised, turning from the cook, a twi'lek that would most like ignore her instructions anyways. She dismissed the man quickly. "It is quite rude to burst in..."
"Ma'am, please just answer the question. It is urgent." Katiara allowed her tone to soften, hoping to in turn soften Mrs. Bel Iblis.
"Yes, it is true. Quite rude of them as well," she said, sitting down at a chair and picking up her datapad, trying to act busy.
"And you gave them pretty explicit information regarding your family and your husband?"
"Only what no other magazine had ever asked. They know that Garm is a stong man, but not about the strong family behind him. Why shouldn't they know?"
"You didn't by any chance release any incriminating information? Or perhaps security..."
"I am not stupid, Miss Orrin. I only told them what they already knew. Garm and I both disapprove of the overturn of democracy and the Emperor is usurping power unjustly," the woman turned to a little box beside her, pulling out a mirror and some powder. Katiara rolled her eyes.
"Do you happen to remember who you talked to? Or the name of the magazine?" she questioned further, becoming more and more irritated.
"Mr. Virgin? Vigil? I don't remember, it was a well respected magazine in Courscant though."
"So you don't remember or he didn't tell you?"
Adeline Bel Iblis suddenly stood, her eyes wide. "Don't you dare try to pin this on me! I have only ever looked after this family and I would never put them in danger!"
Katiara raised her hands slowly and defensively. "Ma'am, please stay calm. I'm not accusing you I'm just trying to..."
"You are trying, yes. Stop that and do something. Find this criminal isn't of interrogating her family!" She scream. Katiara was certain she was on the brink of tears or murder. She could deal with the one, but she hated it when people cried.
"I am doing something!" Katiara yelled back. She heard the door open behind her. Calm. Not anger. Anger was not the way of the Jedi. She took a deep breath. "I am doing something, ma'am. And you are..."
"Getting in your way? You are getting in my way! I can't wait till that assassin is found and killed so you will stop corrupting my family!" The senator's wife was set on a tamper-tantrum. Katiara crossed her arms, standing her ground.
"Mother! Please, calm yourself," Logan said. He must have been who opened the door. Katiara was caught off guard by his presence. "Please, sit down." He said sternly. His mother snorted and sat down. Katiara didn't mask the look of surprised amusement on her face.
"Don't stand up for her. If she was doing her job right, she would be gone by now," the woman began to pout.
"Did you get everything you needed?" Logan asked Katiara, walking over to rub his mother's shoulder.
"Not everything I need, but everything I can get here," Katiara said, disregarding any previous attempt to be polite. Lady Bel Iblis clearly viewed her poorly either way. "Good day, ma'am." She mockingly bowed and then turned, walking out the door into the hall.
She heard Logan's hurried footsteps behind her. She crossed her arms tighter, hugging her chest, and walking faster, her brow furrowed. "Kat!" Wrong. "Katiara, please wait." She didn't stop walking. She had a royal mess to clean up. A strong hand grabbed her elbow, pulling her to a stop.
"Yes, your highness?" Katiara snorted as he forced her to face him.
"I am sorry for my mother's behavior. She is just upset from the situation," he began to apologize.
"Which situation is that? That her daughter is in danger, her narcissistic mistake, or the fact that I'm not a 'proper lady'? Your mother has issues," Katiara pushed against his hands to walk away. It didn't work.
"All three. My mother isn't as cold as she seems. She has just been raised in tradition and manners, just like me. But instead of being interested in something different, she is intimidated," he said, speaking quickly to keep her attention. "My mother greatly respected Senator Ky'Varm, your mother. Maybe also a little jealous. And she doesn't know how to respect you so..."
"She's jealous of me? Yeah, okay," Katiara interjected, laughing at the idea.
"No, so she is confused. How could someone who she respected, envied, have a daughter so different? Or maybe she's afraid that if Cacilya Ky'Varm's daughter can turn out so different, what will Lizabea turn out like?"
"Because I'm sure no kriffing role model, right?" Katiara barked back. He sure wasn't helping.
"No, because you went your own path. And my mother wouldn't handle that well. It is a flaw of her's, I'll admit," he sighed. He couldn't very well justify his mother's prejudices. He looked away for a moment and Katiara took the opportunity to break free.
"Katiara, don't walk away like this," Logan said to her, but didn't make a move to follow her. She ignored him. "Stop ignoring me. You're afraid too."
"I'm not afraid of anything," she replied without stopping or turning around. She had to check up on Lizabea and look into the fact magazine interviewer. Katiara wasn't going to waste anymore time on Logan.