Cristo visited Diana Aemilia in her flat beyond the city, almost at the quay, and for the second time in as many days he looked into eyes he knew but didn't know him, but this time that was exactly what he'd been expecting. And she didn't seem to see him.

Her puffy eyes darted between Cristo and the streets behind him and back again.

"You don't know me," he said as Diana tried to close the door on him, but he stopped it with the heel of his hand and went on, "And I know this is a bad time, but I might be able to help." She was still tearfully looking up and down the street and he was afraid she was going to cry again.

"Exequi Aemilia," Cristo persisted, "if you'll tell me what you know, I might be able to find Milana Nox."

She started and looked right at him, then pulled him fast across the threshold and into her apartment, slamming the door shut.

All the dark wood made Cristo think of the inside of a ship, and it was a little messy, with breakfast dishes still out on the bar, and clutter on most every surface. Sunlight filtered in onto potted greenery.

Diana didn't offer him a seat, but she was finally ready to speak. "They said not to talk to the authorities," she said.

"I'm not with the police. I'm just someone who wants to make sure you aren't coerced into making a mistake you're going to regret."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"The threat Milana's kidnappers made — they'll kill her unless you vote how they tell you to at the Constellation board meeting tonight."

That broke through her facade already. She burst. "How could it possibly matter who's the president of Constellation tomorrow? I just need her back," Diana sputtered.

The next moment was crucial, so Cristo waited for her to calm down, then led her to an armchair in the corner to have a seat. He was careful to meet her eyes and be gentle and reassuring while he was firm. She sniffled and looked back at him, finally tranquil enough to listen.

"I can tell you the future," he said. "I can tell you what's going to happen with certainty."

"I'm going to do what they say, and they're going to bring her back to me," Diana said.

"No," Cristo said. He gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm sorry. That's not what's going to happen. They're going to kill her anyway, and eventually, when you have nothing left to lose, you'll talk, go public, or start to, and then they'll kill you too. You have to disobey them. It's the only outcome that's any different."

She pulled her hands away, and he was surprised to see she didn't look scared anymore, just angry — but that was the Diana Aemilia he knew. "No, if I do that, she's dead already. They made a demand. Maybe you're right, maybe they'll kill her no matter what, but if you want me to refuse, you're going to have to give me something in return. Bring her back to me safe."

He pretended to hesitate, as if that wasn't the deal he wanted to make all along, and he even started to speak a few times as if he was going to refuse.

The problem was, he had no idea where Milana Nox was or how to rescue her. The best he could hope for was that Diana would do the right thing whether he found Milana or not.

Finally, a chance for Cristo to do something nice for someone — and fix the future at the same time. Let the dead lie, but what about this missing who've never been found?

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