She found Mango at a rooftop establishment on Tier Four called The Squeeze — a
Fruit Kingdom venture that had planted itself in neutral territory through the combined
virtues of charm, liberal gratuities, and a cocktail menu of uncommon excellence. He
occupied his barstool as though he had commissioned it for the occasion.
MANGO: "Agent Kale. Republic intelligence. I had wondered when they would
dispatch someone green. The Citrus Sunrise here is quite remarkable, though I
apprehend thou art on duty."
AGENT KALE: "I am always on duty."
MANGO: "How very exhausting. And how thoroughly vegetable of thee."
AGENT KALE: "Thy presence in Shelf City hath not been registered with the
Pantry Authority."
MANGO: "I registered as a trade delegate."
AGENT KALE: "The Kingdom's trade party departed six days past. Thou didst
remain."
MANGO: "I am fond of the atmosphere."
AGENT KALE: "Thou wert in the Transition Office."
MANGO: "I was. A gift basket from the Kingdom — dried fruits, most tasteful —
to the incoming Archivist. A gesture of diplomatic goodwill. If I had desired the
Accord, Kale, I would not have stolen it. I would have negotiated for it."
He leaned forward, his voice descending to something quieter, more considered.
MANGO: "Here is a truth freely given: I am not here for the Accord. I am here
because the Kingdom believeth it was taken by a hand within the Republic. A
vegetable's hand. If a green soul hath betrayed its own principles to ignite this war
— the Kingdom wins by default."
AGENT KALE: "There is a dead archivist. Did the Kingdom know about Fennel?"
A pause. Longer than the charm required. This was real hesitation.
MANGO: "The Kingdom knew someone at the Tower was going to be hurt. We
received intelligence through our Pith Cartel contacts — the Cartel watcheth the
criminal underbelly of this city the way the intelligence services watch the political
surface. The Pith Cartel learned, three days before the theft, that a figure inside the
Tower had been approached by the Frozen One's network and had refused to
cooperate. Those who refuse to cooperate with the Frozen One's network tend not
to have a great deal of future."
AGENT KALE: "Fennel was approached. He refused. And so he was killed."
MANGO: "That is my assessment. And I am sorry we did not act on it faster. The
Kingdom's relationship with the Pith Cartel is — complicated. We use them. They
use us. The arrangement does not permit the kind of rapid response that might
have saved a junior archivist's life."
AGENT KALE: "Thou art on comfortable terms with a criminal cartel."
MANGO: "I am on professional terms with a criminal cartel. Comfortable is not a
word I would employ. Go to the Spice Quarter, Kale. Turmeric hath been looking
for thee. And when Turmeric is impatient, she stains things."
She was two streets from The Squeeze when she became aware of footsteps behind
her. She turned into a side passage, waited, and listened. Nothing. But upon the wall beside
her, at precisely eye level, was another golden half-moon mark. A signal. Someone wanted
her to know she was being guided.