Chapter Nine
"Are you sure about this?"
Jacana and Khalisah entered the financial district, blending into a crowd of traders and businessmen as they headed for the offices of the Citadel's top bankers.
"Completely," Jacana told her, "Barla Von is an old contact of mine. He has resources everywhere and he's good at finding people."
In truth, Barla Von didn't have access to half the resources Jacana did and she didn't need his help to find anyone, but he would be useful for keeping up the act. Khalisah was just about starting to trust her, at least as much as Khalisah trusted anyone.
"He's an agent for the Shadow Broker."
"True," she agreed, there were actually a lot of agents on the Citadel, Barla Von was just their public face, the Broker needed to be contactable after all. The real agents were never discovered unless the Broker wanted them to be, "the Shadow Broker is known for trading information, and Barla Von owes me a favour."
"How often do you deal with him?"
"Now and then."
"Hm. You have interesting contacts for a freelance journalist without the resources to investigate colony attacks on her own."
Jacana hesitated, "I've been around a long time."
They reached Barla Von's offices to find a volus standing at the reception desk, "Do you have an appointment?" he was asking a turian in front of them, "No one sees Barla Von without an appointment."
"Mm," Jacana grimaced, "this could be a problem.
Khalisah smirked softly and folded her arms, "Leave it to me."
The volus, being half the height of the average human, was not tall enough to punch Khalisah, so instead she got a kick in the shins for her trouble as she questioned him on risky business deals made by the volus government over the past financial year.
Never question the volus on their business sense, Jacana noted as he stormed away, leaving Khalisah hopping briefly on one leg before she limped over to the door of the main office. Jacana joined her and failed to hide a smile, "You're worryingly good at that."
"I've had a lot of practice," she mused, "believe me."
They entered the office to find Barla Von standing behind his console, the volus looked up as they entered and seemed to incline his head slightly through the breathing apparatus of his environmental suit.
"Ah, Jacana," he spoke in his usual slow, precise tone and his greeting was genuinely courteous, "I see you found a way past my assistant. I will reprimand him later. And you brought one of the Earth clan," his attention turned to Khalisah with polite interest.
"Khalisah Bint Sinan al-Jilani," she declared, "Westerlund News."
"Ah, yes," Barla may have smiled, it was impossible to tell beneath the chunky exterior of his metal helmet, "I have heard your name before, Earth clan, several of your stories have caused fluctuations in the markets."
Khalisah's expression remained blank but Jacana thought she saw a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes, "We need a favour Barla. We were attacked this morning, outside the human embassy."
"Yes," he agreed, turning back to his console, "by Bekenstein mercenaries I believe, what have you been up to this time, Jacana?"
It wasn't a question he expected her to answer, which was just as well, "I need to know who sent them."
"Mm," he mused, "trading information on dangerous men can be a risky business, and an expensive one."
"I'm sure we can come to an arrangement. After all, I helped your cousin with his wife."
Barla Von, to Jacana's knowledge, didn't have a cousin, with or without a wife. This was universal code among the agents for: this is Shadow Broker business, he will reimburse you. And it seemed to work.
"Mm," he purred softly, "true. Perhaps I can help you. I don't know who hired those mercenaries, but they did arrive with another human man who did not participate in the attack."
"Do you have a name?"
"Only a false one. I could do some digging, but it may be faster to question him yourself, you'll find him at Sha'ira's."
Jacana nodded, "Thanks Barla."
"It was my pleasure," he turned to Khalisah, "it was nice to finally meet you Miss al-Jilani. I am sure you will make waves in the future."