[h3]Itzi Ku[/h3]

Ambassador Crane was already moving by the time Itzi caught up to him in the corridor and shrugged into a dark overcoat as they walked, adjusting the cuffs with ease. A staff attendant stepped forward and without explanation, handed Itzi a plain white coat.

“For you,” Crane said over his shoulder, “Best not to stand out.”

She stared at it, “From what?”

“From yourself,” he replied mildly and continued on.

[i]That did not answer the question.[/i] She thought in annoyance. Still, she slipped it on, the fabric felt smooth and clean, it felt strange over her oily damp clothes.

They descended a narrow stairwell at the rear of the embassy and emerged into a compact garage. Two automobiles waited there. They bored lacquered bodies with brass lamps and narrow wheels. One was adorned with small polished emblems near the grill and carried itself with obvious diplomatic pride. The other was darker and stripped entirely of embellishment, less noticeable.

Itzi stopped for half a second to admire the two vehicles. Crane noticed. 

“Langford touring cars,” he said with fondness edging on pride, “Early models... I like 'em better. Acquiring them required a great deal of patience. Fortunately, the Evig Company appreciates discretion.”

“You have two,” she said.

“One for being seen,” he replied, nodding toward the polished one then gestured to the darker one, “And one for not.”

Before she could respond, the garage door creaked open behind them. The same corporal who had stood silent at the library stepped in, now without his blues but rather in a simple dark suit, sleeves rolled slightly.

He looked different out of uniform, but Itzi recognized him immediately.

“Alright,” she said, irritation surfacing again, “What is going on?”

“Diplomatic channels are slow,” Crane wasted no time, “And Mr. Carter’s situation is deteriorating by the minute. If he is injured and moving through the city alone, he is vulnerable. Our best chance is to locate him before local authorities do.”

“You’re going after him?” she puzzled.

“We are going to attempt to intercept him,” Crane corrected, “The corporal knows the city exceptionally well.”

The corporal gave a small nod but said nothing.

“Time is the deciding factor,” Crane continued. “If we move quickly, we may prevent this from becoming… complicated.”

Itzi did not argue. The corporal opened the rear door of the darker Langford and Crane gestured for her to enter first. She slid into the back seat, scanning the garage entrance as if Carter might stumble through it.

Crane followed as the corporal closed the door behind him and took the driver’s position, cranking the engine and the vehicle rattled to life.

Moments later the rear garage doors opened and the automobile rolled out into the narrow service alley behind the embassy, turning toward the broader streets.

Inside the car, Crane settled back against the leather seat.

“You are far from Hunya,” he observed.

She glanced at him but kept her attention on the passing streets.

“How did such a determined young woman end up here?” he asked.

Itzi hesitated, then answered plainly.

“I grew up on a farm outside the capital. Big family. Not much schooling. We worked from when we could walk.” She shrugged lightly, “It wasn’t bad... Just too small for me.”

"And I suppose you preferred to venture out into a larger world?" Crane inquired.

“My parents didn’t like it,” she said, “But they liked the idea of money coming back home.”

"I convinced an air captain to take me on despite not being able to read at the time. I kept sending wages home and returned when I could.

Crane listened without interruption.

“I was in Inbur when the Calarians shelled the port,” she finished. “Warehouse next to our ship went up. I wasn’t aboard...”

She kept an empty gaze for a second, Crane noticed.

“And the gold?” the ambassador prompted.

She exhaled lightly, “Wrong place, rght time, or the other way around maybe. We helped move it, we fought to protect it. Now everyone wants it nd Carter thinks promises won’t be kept.”

Her eyes shifted to the streets again.

“He’s not wrong to be angry, but he isn't the smartest...” she added quietly.

Crane studied her profile for a moment, then seemed to reconsider whatever remark he had been preparing.

He tapped lightly on the driver's seat, “Circle the quarter first,” he instructed the corporal, “Then widen out.”

The corporal acknowledged with a brief nod, adjusting the wheel as the Langford turned down another street.

Crane retrieved a slim cigarette case from his pocket, opened it, and lit one.

The smoke curled through the cabin as he spoke again, tone more resigned than before.

“We are now operating on minutes,” he said. “If Mr. Carter is thinking clearly, he will head toward us. If he is not…”

He let the thought hang.

Itzi leaned forward slightly, eyes fixed ahead as if she could will Carter into view.

“He’ll head here,” she said.

The car rolled steadily through the city streets, blending into the traffic.