"I will stand, thank you," Savage said coldly.
"As you wish, sir. It's hard to believe, but every file and record concerning you for the past two years, as well as the records of the trial have been either destroyed or rewritten. Officially, you are here on leave. And to top it off lor-Harna was found dead this morning. The evidence pointed to suicide, but it is believed to be murder."
"What?" exclaimed Savage and found a chair.
"The High Commissioner is blowing his jets," continued Lin with thinly veiled excitement. "He doesn't know how it was done, but he suspects that the Empress ordered it. If that's the case his hands are tied, but in the meantime he'll do anything to get you.
"I have been instructed to advise you to deny everything except that you are indeed home on leave. Incidentally, no one is to know of my visit."
"How about the guards?" Savage asked.
Lin smiled. "I am in command of the guard detail. I must return to duty now, but please remember that you are a person of extreme importance and as such you must be very careful."
Before Savage could reply, Lin turned on his heel and left the room, leaving him to ponder this sudden turn of events. How could anyone change everything so completely, he wondered. If it was on the Empress' order, why should she take such an interest in him? Why should Lin give him the information? Who did he represent?
An hour later a knock on the door brought him out of his private Hell.