Which made no sense if Special Service had impounded the RI. If they had not, then what was the purpose of assuming complete jurisdiction of the investigation? And if they had, how would Chassik get his hands on it? True, it belonged technically to Solaria and would eventually be shipped back, but not before Terran analysts ripped it apart. By then, any analysis Derec might perform would be useless. Nothing would be left to analyze.

Derec rode the elevator down to the garage, his unease increasing. Chassik had to have known Phylaxis was barred from the investigation. Well, there was truth to the implication of bureaucratic territoriality-it was possible no one from Special Service, the Station, or his own people had told him anything-but surely Ariel would have said something, being the liaison from the Calvin Institute.

Too many things made less and less sense.

"Where would you like me to drop you, sir?" the limo asked him.

Derec hesitated. "What time is it?"

"Nine-ten, sir."

Two hours at least before his meeting with Ariel, all the way north of the Capitol Mall to Franklin Park. That was a good thirty-minute drive…

"Ford Theater, please."

"Yes, sir."

The limo started up and headed for the exit.