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you must inform them。〃
〃I know that；〃 Files said。 〃But if the lady had nothing to do with it； her answer might help …〃
〃I think she will answer no further questions until you have explained； to my satisfaction； what you think it is。〃 Ser Granzia's voice； mellow and lush though it was； contained no hint of yielding。
〃We believe it to be smuggled goods。 It has not yet been subjected to forensic examination； but just glancing at it my guess is proprietary data。〃 From Files's expression； he hoped she wouldn't understand。
〃You mean … trade secrets？ Something an … an industrial spy might have made off with？〃
〃Possibly。 Because proprietary data is secret …〃
〃Are secret；〃 Cecelia murmured。 She might not know much about industry； but she knew data was a plural noun。 Files grimaced。
〃Whatever you say； madam。 Are secret … anyway； theft is not reported。 It may not be known。 It's not like jewels in a vault。〃
〃Could it be military？〃 That from Heris Serrano。 Cecelia looked at her captain who looked back with dark； inscrutable eyes。
〃Possibly；〃 Files said。 〃Forensics will tell us。〃 Clearly he had no intention of sharing his turf with anyone。 〃Then； if it is …〃
〃Fleet should know。〃 Not even a ridiculous purple uniform could make Heris Serrano look unimportant。 Cecelia tried to imagine her former captain in the same garb； and realized that he'd have looked like a purple blimp straining at its tether。 This woman； in his black； would have looked dangerous。 〃Fleet forensics could assist。〃
〃I'll be the judge of that；〃 Files said。 Ser Granzia stirred at Cecelia's side； Files shot him a glance。 〃Did you have legal advice； Ser Granzia？〃
〃That if it is possibly a military secret； the captain is correct： some representative should be present when it is examined in any detail。 Otherwise we may all find ourselves promised。 You remember； no doubt； the decision of Army versus Stillinbagh？〃
〃Very well。〃 Files looked angry。 〃I will inform the local military attached〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Ser Granzia said； 〃we could wait while you did so？〃
Cecelia wondered if she was imagining the threat in his tone。 Files flushed； asked for a link； and spoke into it。 He set it back down with care； as if he really wanted to throw it through the wall； and said the attache would be along shortly。 Cecelia was in no mood to wait for more information。 〃Captain Serrano；〃 she began； bypassing Files； 〃can you tell me how this was found？〃
Her captain smiled； as if glad to be asked the question。 〃Yes … you remember that I authorized Velarsin and Co。 to exchange all damaged units from the environmental system； rather then repairing them in place？〃
〃Of course；〃 Cecelia said。
〃That was for reasons of both time and safety。 You may recall that I also had Mr。 Brynear document the condition of those ponents； to back up your damage claim on Diklos and Sons。〃 When Cecelia nodded； she went on。 〃Some ponents could be repaired； and we were to get a refund on those。 In the process of examining the ponents removed； Mr。 Brynear's technicians found items secreted in several。 Most suggestively； in the scrubber which we were going to examine when Iklind was killed because he didn't have his suit on。〃
Cecelia felt only confusion。 〃What does that have to do with it？〃 Before Serrano could answer； Cecelia realized。 〃Oh … he knew something was there？ Something you'd find？〃
〃We can't know； Lady Cecelia。〃 Heris glanced at Files； who clearly wished she wouldn't explain more； but she went on。 〃There's a chain of occurrences that makes me suspicious of Iklind and possibly others formerly or presently in the crew。 The system flush and recharge that Diklos and Sons didn't do。 The curiously inefficient course your former captain set on the way to Court； which made you late。 Iklind's apparent haste to get to that scrubber before I did … at the cost of his own life。〃
〃You think he was smuggling something。 Iklind and。。。 and Captain Olin？〃 First came anger： how dared he？ And then fear。。。 how had she not known what was happening on her ship？ How were the smuggled items transferred； if they were？
Would Olin have opened the ship to boarders？
〃It's possible； madam；〃 said Files； with a sharp glance at Heris。 〃Ship's crews have been known to do so； without an owner's knowledge。 Of course； sometimes the owner is also involved。〃
〃Surely you jest。〃 That was all she could say。 The impertinence of the man！
〃Are you suggesting the Lady Cecelia was involved in any putative illegal act？〃 asked Ser Granzia。 〃Remember …〃
〃I remember the Sihil…Tomaso ruling； Ser Granzia；〃 said Files。 〃I made no accusation； I merely answered what seemed to be Lady Cecelia's question。〃 His smile was more of a smirk； she decided。 He went on。 〃Now： procedurally； we must impound the evidence； which includes the location in which it was found； I'm afraid your ship is that location … 〃 Cecelia could hardly believe her ears。 Was everything against her？
〃Not so； Mr。 Files。〃 Her captain's crisp voice interrupted Files。 〃The scrubbers were not in the ship when the items were found。 They had already been removed。 All environmental system ponents are dockside； what's in the Sweet Delight is new and empty。〃
〃But that's where they were；〃 Files said。 〃On that ship with the contraband in them。 There may be more； hidden somewhere else。 It doesn't matter where the scrubbers were when the evidence was actually found …〃
〃On the contrary。〃 Ser Granzia's honey…smooth voice had an edge to it now。
〃According to the rules of evidence in a list of rulings going back to Essex versus Jovian Mining Ltd； impoundment of the container does not include impoundment of the vessel in which that container was transported； if the discovery occurred while the container was not aboard。〃
〃But we know the contraband was aboard；〃 Files said； more loudly。
〃But it doesn't matter； Mr。 Files。〃 Ser Granzia did not raise his voice； but Cecelia saw the other man wilt。 〃The rulings are all clear； and all in favor of my client。 I will be glad to get a local ruling； of course； but I'm sure it will uphold my client's position。 Now … shall we contact Fleet？ I believe it is better for us to do this together。〃
Files looked angry； but nodded； Ser Granzia turned to Eniso Desin； the senior partner of Velarsin and Co。 〃May we use your equipment？〃
〃Of course； Ser Granzia。 But I am afraid that we cannot give Lady Cecelia full credit for the reparable elements of the system until they are released from official custody。。。。 I am sorry； but …〃
〃I quite understand；〃 Ser Granzia said。 〃Indeed； it would be unfair； and my client will be satisfied if you keep account of what was impounded； if it should be released； and still worth repair； perhaps you will bid on it？〃
〃Oh； certainly；〃 Desin said。 〃Mr。 Brynear assures me that at least sixty percent of the ponents would be worth working on。〃
〃Excellent。〃 Cecelia wondered if she； too； should say something； but Ser Granzia rolled on。 〃Now … it seems to me； Mr。 Files； that the discovery of items secreted in the scrubber suggests a motive for Iklind to attempt removal at risk of his life。 In fact it strongly suggests his plicity in some illegal activity； and Captain Serrano's innocence。