“Rock, you’re just in time. I was just about to look for you.”
“…C-Chief Cha, did you need something?”
“Nothing much,”Deri said, springing to his feet and strolling leisurely around the desk to come to a stop in front of Rock.“I just wanted to ask you:I was investigating smuggled salt in the riverine area, got chased for three blocks, and finally escaped by hiding in a pig-transport wagon—who told Spisa about that?”
Lock’s legs went weak on the spot.
“Chief! I was wrong—I really was wrong!”He threw himself forward and clung to Deri’s thigh, sobbing,“I had a couple too many that day, and that aide from the Taman family was a real master at coaxing information out of people. I—I let it slip without even realizing it…Chief, punish me however you like—you can dock my pay if you must, but please don’t fire me!”
Derry staggered under the weight of his embrace and nearly knocked over the inkwell on the table.“Let go, let go! What kind of behavior is this?”
Lock let go, but remained kneeling on the floor, looking up at him with pleading eyes, like a large dog that had done something wrong.
