"Is something wrong, Major?"

"That is not the standard way of beginning an interrogation."

"It will be, for me," Cortin said. "I'll do whatever is needed to stop
criminals, but I have no intention of hurting innocents."

"He denied everything."

"But he only told the truth the first time. He's worked for the
Brothers, even though he isn't one himself, and he has some significant
information."

"You never told me you had truthsense," Illyanov said quietly. "That
is a most useful talent."

"The subject never came up--but I can't be lied to, never could even as
a child. If a question has a yes-or-no answer, it doesn't matter if he
tells the truth or not. I'll know."

"As I said, a most useful talent. Not every Inquisitor can tell truth
from lies intended only to stop the pain, and most of us who do have
that ability have developed it through long experience." He smiled at
her in a way Shannon sensed was intended to express only approval, but
hid a degree of affection the Raidmaster found both disgusting and
amusing. "Go on, then."

Shannon watched critically as she began work. This would be a short
interrogation--despite his bravado, the thief was a coward, and already
terrified of the two Inquisitors--but it would tell him whether or not
Cortin would make the grade.

The first few minutes left him with no doubt that she would. Oh, she
had some problems--the determination not to hurt innocents, as if there
were any such thing, was one. Another was giving her prisoner the
chance to answer without persuasion, then not wanting to use any more
than she had to, though neither surprised him particularly; she had
always been overly scrupulous. Which was probably why her primary
motive was to extract information rather than to enjoy herself.

It was ironic that she was enjoying herself, and thoroughly, even
though it wasn't the same kind of pleasure he experienced in giving
pain. For her, the only real passion involved here was for justice;
criminals caused pain, so it was just to inflict it on them, either as
punishment or in the interest of preventing further crime. It was
simply more immediate this way than it had been in the past--and it
gave her victims the unfortunate opportunity to repent. Even though
right now Cortin was concerned with punishment rather than repentance.

* * * * *

Cortin removed the blood-spattered coverall, then went into the suite's
small bathroo