Anakin studied Ranun as they travelled up in the lift. Ranun was trying to remain aloof and professional, but couldn't restrain himself from glancing at Anakin out of the corner of his eyes. Anakin's sudden good mood was making him nervous. He scrambled to keep up with Anakin's long legs as Anakin marched back to Irus' room. The guards outside the door tensed at Anakin's approach. Anakin ignored them and knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in," called Irus.
Anakin slipped inside, shutting the door in Ranun's face.

Irus watched him warily from the bed. Obi-Wan was sitting by Irus' bedside, holding up a datapad so that both he and Irus could see it. He did not look up at Anakin's entrance. Anakin swallowed and his cocky greeting died in his throat.
"I got a call from Ben," said Anakin, slightly awkward.
Obi-Wan's head shot up.
"They're fine," said Anakin. "There was an explosion and they're being towed, but they're all fine."
Obi-Wan's shoulders sagged in relief. Irus gripped Obi-Wan's hand awkwardly in hers and gave a reassuring squeeze. Obi-Wan squeezed back with a watery smile and Anakin's knees felt weak. Anakin knew he was an idiot for saying Obi-Wan didn't care but... well, apparently, he was idiot.

"Ben wants us to investigate," added Anakin, gratified when Obi-Wan's attention was returned to him. "We have a couple of suspects to look for and the sooner we get to the bottom of this, the safer we'll all be."
"Suspects?" asked Irus. "You have a lead already?"
"Emalda encountered the smugglers at the nightclub, without realising it. They hid stolen goods on her and tried to mug her to retrieve them," explained Anakin. "Our Masters have detained their assailants but there are at least two more suspects at large. One is Spaceport Security guard Crose..."
"We suspected somebody in Spaceport Security," admitted Irus. "But we didn't know who."
"...and the other is a twilek bartender from Tscoruh Nightclub."
"Call in Ranun," said Irus.

Anakin raised an eyebrow and exchanged a glance with Obi-Wan.
"We can handle ourselves - no offense meant," said Anakin, gesturing to both Obi-Wan and himself.
"Ranun has access to the case files," said Irus. "Helping you? Is something he can do."
"I don't think he's feeling particularly helpful," said Anakin.
"Well," said Obi-Wan tartly, standing to bring himself face to face with Anakin. "Tact and a level-head would be a good start."
"Look, I know I shouldn't have said..."
Anakin jumped as Irus touched his sleeve briefly before her exhausted arm flopped back down to the bed.

"He will help, if I ask," said Irus.
"Okay," said Anakin. "I'll fetch him."
Anakin stepped away to open the door as Obi-Wan turned back to Irus. Anakin could hear Obi-Wan's quiet voice.
"While we are looking into this matter," said Obi-Wan. "It might be best for you to rest. Your body is still recovering and stress will not help you."
"So say the blasted doctors," sighed Irus. "And so say you."

The rest of the exchange was lost as Anakin stepped out into the hallway. The two hallway guards stared at him stonily. Investigator Ranun, who had been leaning against the wall, snapped upright.
"Investigator Ranun," said Anakin.
Ranun blinked and rested his palm on the hilt of his blaster. Anakin couldn't help smirking again, which did nothing to reassure Ranun.
"Investigator Irus wishes to speak with you," said Anakin. "If you have a moment."
Anakin returned to the hospital room, to see that Obi-Wan had resumed his seat beside Irus' bed. A moment later, Ranun cautiously peered through the door.
"Ranun?" called Irus. "It must be you, with such spiky hair."
Ranun seemed reassured and came further into the room.
"I told him you wanted to see him," said Anakin, mostly for Ranun's benefit.

It worked as Ranun seemed to remember he was a professional and strode forward to Irus' bed. He gave a sharp salute before leaning down towards her.
"Are you alright, Irus?"
"I'm fine, Ranun. No worry."
"I'm glad," said Ranun honestly.

"You are always my best student, Ranun," said Irus. "So I want you to arrest the people, the ones who did this to me."
"Of course," said Ranun quickly, shooting a calculating glance at Anakin and Obi-Wan.
Irus caught the glance and clucked her tongue like a mother reefta scolding a kitten.
"Do not listen to all Tylip tell you, Junior Investigator," said Irus. "These men saved my life and now, they go to arrest my attackers. Tylip is too suspicious and won't let them. So, what say you? What shall we do?"

Ranun squirmed and screwed up his face in thought. He looked unhappy.
"Investigator Tylip is very experienced," said Ranun. "But... he has been angry. Grief makes people act like fools."
"I concur, I say," said Irus. "So, again I say, what shall we do?"
Ranun sighed deeply.
"Make the arrest, even without Investigator Tylip's blessing," said Ranun reluctantly. "And hope I am not demoted to policing the traffic."
"If it helps at all, we'll do our best to prevent that," said Obi-Wan.
"I don't think it does help," said Ranun gloomily. "But thank you anyway."

"We have two suspects," explained Obi-Wan, showing the datapad he'd been holding to Ranun. "One is Office Crose from Spaceport Security."
Ranun enlarged the picture of Crose to examine it closely and nodded.
"Investigator Tylip tried to question Crose about his dealings with you," said Ranun. "He left his workplace without explanation. We think he is on the run."
"Do you know about the bartender as well?" asked Anakin. "We don't have a name but we do have a description."
"I don't remember anything about a bartender specifically," said Ranun. "But I can check the records."
"This bartender was a female twilek who worked at Tscoruh," explained Anakin.

Ranun brightened.
"If she worked at Tscoruh, then we will have her name," said Ranun. "We raided it several days ago but found nothing."
Ranun pulled a datapad of his own from an inside jacket pocket. He scrolled down, biting his lip.
"Ah, I interviewed her but she didn't stand out," said Ranun. "Her name is Hija Gan. She was quiet, but so were all the other staff. We questioned her because of her criminal record but there was nothing to connect her to the robberies."
"What kind of record?" asked Irus.
"Only minor offenses, mostly electronic theft," said Ranun, re-reading his own notes. "She's a qualified mechanic but lost her job two years ago. Working as a bartender ever since."
"Mechanic?" frowned Anakin. "Does she have any experience with droids?"
Ranun glanced back at his datapad.
"Yes...," he said. "When she worked as a mechanic, her duties included droid repair."
"Given that a modified droid was used in the robberies," said Anakin. "I think she just moved up the list of suspects. Do we have an address?"