Mom didn't waste time showing up. We'd just wrangled the confession from Spaft when the seal Quaid made shuddered and parted, the door to the sitting room opening to admit Mom and Pender, three Enforcers at their backs, the scowling board of governors trailing behind them.

"Really, Miriam," Gertrude's gravel voice made me want to buy her some lozenges, "what is the meaning of this?" She smiled and offered a little wave to Venner before fixing Mom with her baleful beady eyes ...