Reunion - Michael Jan Friedman [57]
Here came the lie. It didn’t exactly emerge trippingly from his lips.
“During the engine shutdown, emergency life support short-circuited on deck seventeen, causing an explosion in the ventilator shaft. An air vent blew out; Cad-vallader was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
It could have happened that way. In fact, Geordi swore he’d actually seen an accident just like it-years ago, back on the Hood. Ben Zoma nodded, taking it in. “And Cadwallader?” “She’s fine,” said Picard. “Some minor surgery, that’s all. She could probably be up and about tomorrow, though Dr. Crusher will no doubt want to keep an eye on her a little longer.”
Ben Zoma nodded again. The skin between his brows crinkled. “You know,” he said, “when you serve under a man for almost twenty years, you come to know him pretty well. You know when he’s tired, or frustrated, or
saddened. Even a man like you, Jean-Luc-one who hides his feelings well.” He leaned forward, not so much angry as hurt. “And you know when he’s lying through his teeth. You, my friend, are lying through your teeth.” “Indeed.”
“That’s right. As I told your Counselor Troi, there’s something happening on the Enterprise-something you’re not telling us about. The beefed-up security, the holodecks being out of order … and Morgen’s sudden inclination toward solitude. And now Cadwallader.” He shook his head. “You can’t tell me that you’re not hiding something.”
The situation dictated that Picard carry on the charade-that he continue to suspect Ben Zoma along with the others. But his instincts told him otherwise. And a starship captain, he had learned early on in his career, had to ultimately follow his instincts.
He took a deep breath. “You are quite correct,” he told his friend. “I am lying. In fact, Cadwallader was wounded by a phaser blast. And Morgen has become a hermit at my request-after he nearly lost his life in a sabotaged holodeck.”
Ben Zoma was silent for a second. Then he said: “Details. Please.” Picard sketched out the situation for him. By the time he was done, the man’s eyes had narrowed to slits. “So you see,” the captain said, “someone is trying to kill Morgen. And more than likely, the assassin is one of us. “dis
Ben Zoma frowned. “I wish I could disagree with you.” A pause. “Do you think it was Idun?” “Personally,” said Picard, “no. It’s too obvious-especially after the way she has alienated herself from the group. Though I am sure the assassin would like us to believe Idun is guilty.”
“Obvious or not, she’s the only one with a clear motive,” Ben Zoma pointed out. “Revenge for her sister’s death.”
“Commander Riker came up with another one-the completion of Gerda’s mission.”
Muscles rippled beneath the other man’s graying temples. “I hadn’t thought of that-but he’s right.” Picard shook his head. “No. I still think Idun is innocent.”
“A hunch?” asked Ben Zoma. “If you like.”
“You can’t operate on hunches, Jean-Luc. Not in a matter like this one.”
The captain smiled grimly. “It was a hunch, Gilaad, that led me to trust you. his
Ben Zoma smiled back. “Good point,” he said. Picard recalled something else from the meeting in the observation lounge. “Tell me about your mission to Daa’V. You were with Pug and Cadwallader, delivering medicines, as I understand it?” The dark man looked surprised at the seeming non sequitur. “Yes. Decacyclene. The Daa’Vit were hit hard by Marionis syndrome, a virus that originated on Marionis Six-was He stopped as he saw what Picard was getting at. “You want to know if we came in contact with anyone opposed to Morgen’s return. And