Daniel straightened and took a deep breath. “Very good, Commander,” he said, his voice almost under control. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“And now . . . ,” the commander said. “Just go inside and let us clean up the mess, all right? There’ll be a firetruck along to wash the pavement as soon as we’ve got the debris out of the way. Just a few more minutes.”
Daniel took a deep breath. “Yes, all right,” he said. “I need to change clothes.”
He saw the footmen standing silently terrified in the midst of strangers holding guns. Two of them were talking in low voices to Hogg, who ignored the SP on one side of him and the blocky civilian with a sub-machine gun on the other. Hogg’s line and sinkers were in the palm of his right hand, and he’d folded the knife away wherever it was he kept it.
“I’ll take my people with me,” Daniel said, keeping his tone mild. There’d be time enough to shout if the need arose. He nodded toward the footmen. “Of course.”
Since Adele wasn’t present, the four were his responsibility. They straightened, looking expectant and desperately hopeful.
“Yes, take them, then,” said the commander. He turned to the footmen and said, his voice suddenly harsh, “I won’t tell you lot not to talk. But I’ll point out the obvious—getting too public is going to bring you to the attention of whoever sent these fellows the first time. Understand?”
Three of the footmen nodded agreement. The fourth stood with his mouth open in abject fear.
“Let’s go,” said Daniel, deliberately walking through the guards and carrying the footmen with him out the other side on the way toward the house. They had to step between the two sprawled corpses. Daniel managed to do that without looking down; he wasn’t sure how the servants managed.
“I’ve been talking to the boys, master,” Hogg said when they were out of earshot of the security people. “Seems this was because of the former owners, the Rolfes, getting stroppy about the way they lost their freehold.”
“Ah?” said Daniel. “Yes, that would explain it.”
The injured doorman was sitting up, supported by one of Speaker Leary’s people. He tried to stand as Daniel approached with the other servants.
“You men,” Daniel said, looking over his shoulder at the footmen. “Bring your colleague inside, if you will. I’ll send for a doctor.”
“He’s likely all right,” said the civilian who’d been tending the doorman, handing his charge over to the footmen. “Keep checking him during the night for concussion, that’s all.”
The major domo himself opened the door. The household staff was gathered in the lower hall, watching intently.
“I was thinking, master . . . ,” Hogg said. The court shook with the thrum of fans lifting a heavy aircar; the vanload of bodies was on its way off to somewhere suitable. Having waited for the vibration to subside, Hogg continued, “I was thinking that if you didn’t need me yourself tonight, I’d go tend to some business of my own?”
Daniel looked at his man. “Yes, I’ll be all right, Hogg,” he said. “Unless there’s something I can do to help you?”
“No need you getting involved, master,” Hogg said, walking off down the hall through the gaggle of house servants. “I’ll get some gear from my room.”
He looked back over his shoulder. Hogg was balding and a little overweight. His clothes, from heavy ankle boots to the kerchief around his neck, were scruffy and decidedly rural: a perfect Sam Bumpkin disguise for a man who was smart and just as ruthless as a weasel. “Tovera ‘n me’ll be plenty for this business, never fear.”
“I’m not afraid,” Daniel said quietly to Hogg’s back.
He looked at the house servants. “Get on to your duties,” he said in feigned exasperation. “And if you don’t have duties, at least don’t hang about in the hall here.”
Daniel started up the stairs. “Sir?” called the major domo. “Is there something, ah, in particular you’d like us to do?”
Daniel looked back over his shoulder. “No, just keep things ready for Officer Mundy’s return.” He paused, then continued, “I’ll be going out myself shortly. My former command’s docked at Harbor One. I think I’d like to see her before she’s sold.”