February 12th, 1873, Government House, Wellington. 0900 Hours.

The commissioner was making his way up the path to Government House, and dodging workmen and wagons who were busy removing landfill for the harbour reclamation project. Out of breath, he paused at the top to rest a moment and focus on the briefing he would give the governor. In his bag was the transcript of the Russian's confession. The exact methods used to extract the confession would never see the ...