Chapter Five

"Operative Menthe, your status update is due."

Jacana glanced up from the sofa where she was lounging with a datapad and a glass of wine. It was late evening by now and outside the windows of her dingy apartment in the wards, she could hear the brash laughter of the drunks roaming the bars and the shouts of the krogan bouncers trying to keep them in line.

She swiftly downed her last mouthful, stood and walked across the room to where the comms switch was flashing expectantly. She activated the controls and spoke:

"I'm here, Shadow Broker."

"Have you made contact?" the distorted voice asked, disguising any hint of species, gender or age.

"I think I've peaked her interest," Jacana folded her arms and scrutinised the comms unit carefully, not that the Shadow Broker could see her, "are you going to tell me what all this is about now?"

There was a pause, through which she could almost hear a smile. She had never met the Shadow Broker, nor did she know anyone who had, but she had been one of his operatives for well over a century. Such a lengthy time in power suggested that the Broker was either a krogan, an asari or more than one person. It didn't much matter to Jacana either way, what she did know was that after her decades of service, she had earned the right to a little more backchat than most of his operatives.

"Miss al-Jilani's work into the colony attacks is of no interest to me," the Broker replied.

"Shame, I'd put together quite a good investigation."

"Good. You'll need it to stay convincing. Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani was born and raised primarily on Earth, but when she was twelve she and her family moved to Bekenstein, do you know of it?"

"Humanity's answer to Illium," Jacana nodded. Right next door to the Citadel, the planet was home to some of the most notorious human businessmen in the galaxy, revelling in wealth and luxury as they increased the ever growing divide between them and the lower classes.

"Khalisah's father was a businessman on Earth and he quickly became one of the most influential men on Bekenstein."

"Really?" Jacana frowned, "If Khalisah was born into the upper echelons of the Bekenstein hierarchy, why the hell is she working as a small time reporter for a barely average news channel?"

"Good question," the Broker replied, and Jacana knew she was expected to find the answer.

"There's more to this, isn't there?"

"In her youth, Khalisah was married to another businessman, Donovan Hock. She walked out on the marriage and left the colony several years ago but still remains legally his wife."

"She's married?"

"Widowed. Hock was recently killed under… interesting circumstances. But that's of no concern, what interests me is the inheritance. Hock was a very wealthy man."

"It must all go to Khalisah now, surely?"

"Nothing so simple. Hock left a condition in his will, his accounts are encrypted and only the person who can produce the encryption key will inherit the money."

"And you think that person is Khalisah?"

"She has shown no interest in claiming the fortune, but her father is convinced she knows the key."

Jacana paused thoughtfully for a moment, "Why are you so concerned with this?" it wasn't as though the Broker was lacking in funds, or methods of making more.

"Khalisah's father is a powerful man, he has provided me with much insight on Bekenstein society over the years."

Jacana nodded in understanding, "And now he's asked you for a favor."

"He wants what is his."

She said nothing. She didn't see how Khalisah's father had any claim to her dead husband's fortune but she could be sure that if the Broker found it for him, he would be demanding a sizable cut and a lifetime of loyalty. It must have been quite the fortune.

"I'm surprised you haven't just hauled her in and gotten it out of her the hard way."

There was a pause, "When well known figures on the Citadel disappear there are questions, questions lead to investigations and investigations lead to more disappearances."

"I'm catching your drift," Jacana agreed.

"Then I can count on your success, Operative Menthe."

It wasn't a question, but Jacana was long past being so easily threatened, "Finding an encryption key? Somehow I think I'll manage."

"I will be waiting with baited breath," the voice distortion didn't manage to mask the trace of sarcasm and Jacana smiled just a little, "Shadow Broker out."