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No. Lando wouldn’t betray Han. What had he said? That he’d never make up for betraying Han. Ever.

The information must have come to Meido some other way.

“There’s nothing here that says Han is involved with the bombing,” she said.

“This was sent by a ship called the Spicy Lady just as it was leaving our section of space on the day of the bombing,” Meido said. “The Spicy Lady is owned by a smuggler named Jarril, who was seen in Solo’s company at the time of the bombing. Shortly after Jarril left, Solo left, ostensibly in search of him.”

It looked bad. She had known it looked bad when Lando showed it to her. She should have done something then, but Lando had assured her he had everything under control.

“This isn’t proof,” Gno said.

“This is suspicious,” said R’yet Coome. “I would suggest that we put out a notification for Solo’s arrest.”

“We can’t do that,” C-Gosf said. “He’s a hero.”

“He’s a traitor,” Meido said.

“He’s my husband,” Leia said. “He would never do anything to harm me. Someone is trying to set him up.” She clasped her shaking hands in her lap. “What else does your report say?”

“We have only preliminary results, President,” Meido said. His voice was still gentle, still filled with apology. He accused her own husband of trying to murder her and to destroy everything they all had worked for, and he was acting sorry for her.

“What are those results, Senator?” Leia’s voice was cold.

“That there was more than one detonation point.”

“We know that,” Leia said. “Our results say the same thing. Have you anything besides this message that links my husband to the scene?”

“He was seen with—”

“Have you?”

Gno put his hand on Leia’s. She shook him off.

“Have you evidence that he planted a bomb? Have you evidence that Jarril is involved in this bombing? Do you know whether Jarril sent that message or whether someone else did? Can you prove that this isn’t some scheme to get my husband or to divide us?”

“Leia,” Gno said softly.

“This seems conclusive to me,” Meido said.

“It is not conclusive,” Leia said. “It is mere speculation. I could devise a message tonight and send it along channels that would make it look as if you planted the bomb. Such things are easy. My husband and I are often targets for strange behavior. I don’t think we should make decisions about this until we have the whole truth.”

“Leia,” Gno said again.

She turned on him so fast that her hair swung loose of its tie. “What?” she asked.

“You can’t be objective about this.”

“Objective?” Leia was shaking all over with the force of containing her anger. “This man, this former Imperial, has just accused my husband of treason, and you think I should be objective?”

“Yes,” Gno said. “I do. You’re the head of government. We need your calmness.”

“Calmness? Calmness? This is not a situation for calmness, Gno. This is exactly what we feared when we brought the Imperials into this body. They’re dividing us. Can’t you all see the ploy?”

“Leia,” Gno said.

Meido’s entire face had gone white, except for crimson lines near his eyes and mouth. “I’m sorry, President.”

“I will not accept your apology. How dare you—”

“He dares because he is doing the right thing.” C-Gosf stood beside Leia and put a delicate arm around her shoulders. “Better he discusses this here, in the Inner Council, than among the other senators. Better that we do what we can to silence these rumors than allow them to spread all over Coruscant. For if we do, General Solo will always be under suspicion, even if we later learn of his innocence.”

All of her supporters were siding with Meido. “I’m sorry, President,” he said again.

“Han had nothing to do with this,” she snapped.

“Leia,” Gno said, “I think you need to absent yourself from this discussion. None of us can be objective about the ones we love, no matter how hard we try.”

Her heart was pounding. “You believe Meido. You believe him.”

“I believe we need to investigate this, Leia.” Gno looked away from her. “I’m sorry. But the charge is too serious to let slip.