Chapter 15
“This is what we should have done in the first place,” Ragnar says to Khazak as the three of us enter the tribal hall and head for Murbank’s office.
“Sending him those messages just gave him more time to hide whatever it is he’s doing.
We shouldn’t even be here; we should be searching his home or the shipyard while he’s not expecting us. ”
“I need to at least appear that I am trying to do this properly, Deputy,” Khazak grumbles back.
I get what he’s saying. Murbank is someone with enough power to strike back if he wants to.
But Ragnar’s also right—if Murbank knows we’re onto him, we can’t afford to waste time and risk him hiding whatever evidence we need to find.
Plus, if he’s not already aware of what we know, I have a bad feeling he’s going to suspect something what with the captain and one of his deputies personally coming to interview him together.
I’ve been thinking about this almost non-stop since yesterday, especially after seeing Nylan. My eyes and ears are open, looking and listening for anything that might prove useful. Khazak takes the lead as we approach the office’s double doors, Ragnar and I flanking him on either side.
“Drepa lat,” Murbank’s secretary announces when the doors open, then she notices who it is. “I am very sorry, sirs, but the councilman is unavailable at the moment. I will be happy to pass along a message for you.”
“I am sure you will, ma’am, but I am afraid this cannot wait.” Khazak starts to walk toward the door to Murbank’s office proper.
“Sir, you cannot just walk in there!” Murbank’s secretary stands when it becomes apparent that Khazak is going to ignore her.
“Given the gravity of the situation, I am sure he will understand.” He prepares to push past her, Ragnar and me right behind him.
“The councilman is very busy and—”
Suddenly, the doors to the waiting room behind us swing open, and everyone turns to see Murbank entering. Why didn’t she just tell us he wasn’t in? If he’s surprised to see us, he doesn’t show it, which doesn’t give me a good feeling.
“It is alright, Tholoma. I can make some time for the captain.” The smile he gives us is innocent enough, but I don’t trust it.
Satisfied with her boss’s response, Tholoma returns to her seat behind the desk, still glowering.
Murbank steps around us, pulling out a ring of keys to unlock his office door.
I watch him slip them back into his right pocket before opening the door and holding it open, motioning for the three of us to enter.
Shit, this office is nice, lavish even (I bet Mikey would be proud of me for knowing that word).
Huge paintings of landscapes line the walls, the largest hanging over a fireplace that is twice as big as the one at Khazak’s house.
On either side of it are huge bookcases, tall enough to reach the ceiling and filled with very expensive looking leather-bound books.
At the center of the room is a massive wooden desk, the legs and sides carved into intricate patterns and polished brightly.
A number of small stone orc busts sit atop the desk and on the bookcases, though I can’t place any of their faces. How loaded is this guy?
“I am terribly sorry, gentlemen,” Murbank apologizes as he walks around his desk to take a seat. “Between the council voting on recovery efforts and preparing for the charity gala, I have not had a moment to read your messages. Will you both be in attendance tonight?”
“I do not believe either of us were aware there was an event taking place tonight.” The question catches Khazak off guard.
“This is the first I’m hearing of it,” Ragnar confirms.
“Damn, I must have made a mistake when preparing the guest list with my secretary.” He sighs. “I hope both you and your avakeshes will be able to make it. We are raising money to support the families affected by the bombings.”
“Of course, sir. We would be happy to attend,” Khazak answers. We will? Sounds like a real stuffy shindig. “Now, if I could get to—”
“Yes, please. To what do I owe the pleasure of the ranger captain and his trusty deputy coming to see me in person?” His eagerness to speak with us is throwing me off. He’s up to something.
“It is regarding the recent attacks, I am afraid, as well as your former employee, Thog Grimrock.” Khazak finally takes a seat in front of the man’s desk, Ragnar sitting to his left while I continue to stand behind them.
“Such a tragedy.” Murbank shakes his head. His feigned sincerity is starting to make me feel sick. “To think, if only he had not committed that robbery and been imprisoned, he might still be alive today.”
“We actually have reason to believe he wasn’t working alone,” Ragnar spills, and I’m thankful that’s all he says.
“Really? How interesting.” He might be a good actor, but it’s not hard to tell he knows something is up. He wants to know what else we know.
“Yes, and I am afraid we also learned of some new information regarding Mister Grimrock’s situation.
” Khazak tries to take back control of the conversation.
“Namely, that he seemed to be in a large amount of debt after attempting to purchase and reopen his father’s old weapon factory.
Debt that you now own along with the factory itself. ”
“Ah. You see, before the rebellion, his parents and mine were close friends.” His tone is still calm, but it’s changed.
“Even afterward, my mother and father did their best to make sure Thog and his mother were taken care of. When he fell onto hard times, I could not help but offer assistance to my old friend.”
“Would you mind explaining a little more about your relationship?” Khazak presses on this new bit of information. “He was your employee as well as an old friend?”
“Yes, when it became apparent that he risked losing it, I stepped in and purchased the factory myself.” The councilman stands, walking to one of his bookcases as he speaks and adjusts one of the statues.
I watch his movements carefully. “I gave him a job at my shipyard so that he could pay off his debt. When he was finished, I planned to sign over the factory. Pity we never made it to that step.”
“That is very generous of you, sir,” Khazak comments, turning in his chair to watch the councilman. “Seems rather odd then, that he would risk all of that by stealing from the very job you gave him.”
“Yes, well, desperation can drive a person to do many things, especially the less fortunate.” There’s something about the way he says it, some undertone of smugness, that just rubs me the wrong way. What the hell does this guy know about what poor people go through?
“I understand you visited Mr. Grimrock a number of times in prison,” Khazak comments as he stands, walking toward Murbank but still leaving plenty of distance between them.
“Despite his actions against me, I still considered the man a friend.” He approaches Khazak, starting to lose his patience.
“I also ensured his mother and younger siblings would be supported despite his imprisonment. Something that I continue to do now even after his death. Is that a crime, Captain?”
“No, sir. Merely trying to piece together the man’s motive and see if there is a connection to his death in the other night’s attacks.” Khazak remains calm and collected despite the increase in hostility, though Ragnar is now standing as well.
“Seems like nothing more than a very unfortunate coincidence to me, Captain.” Murbank faces Khazak, standing about an equal distance both to Khazak and me.
“Even if he had not passed, he confessed and was sentenced months ago, and the case closed. I am not sure why you are still investigating this, especially when I know there are a number of open cases you and your rangers have yet to resolve.”
“I apologize if I have caused any offense, sir.” Khazak bows his head slightly, still sounding perfectly calm. “I merely want to ensure I am being as thorough as possible.”
Alright, I don’t really know why I do what I do next.
Okay, that’s not true: I know why. I just haven’t fully figured out what the rest of my plan is yet.
I can tell that this conversation is wrapping up, and we still don’t know anything besides the fact that this guy is a fucking creep.
So, with neither man’s gaze actually on me, I take a step forward—and immediately trip over myself, falling right into Council Murbank.
“Oh gods! I am so sorry, sir,” I apologize as I quickly try to right myself.
Murbank looks at me unhappily and maybe a little confused—and so does Khazak, actually—but it doesn’t look like he felt my hand slipping into his pocket or that it’s any lighter.
“Well, if there is nothing else you men need, I have a very busy day ahead.” Murbank straightens himself and looks at the door. “Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you; otherwise, I will see you all tonight.”
“Of course, we would not miss it.” Khazak gives his most professional smile. “Thank you for your time.”
I can feel the councilman’s glare on my back as we leave his office, same for his secretary. We don’t say anything until we are far down the hallway and away from any prying ears.
“Well, he obviously does not want us to investigate this any further,” Khazak comments. “Which is exactly why we are going to continue our investigation.”
“Did we learn anything new from that?” I ask, conveniently ignoring the ring of keys in my pocket right now. “Other than that he’s apparently a saint.”
“I doubt his motives for providing Thog with employment were all that altruistic,” Khazak responds. “You remember how small the house he was living in was. He was not paying that man well. It is likely he barely made a dent in his debt.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about the family thing either.” Ragnar shakes his head. “If anything, taking care of them just gave Murbank more ammunition for threats or blackmail.”