Nick returned to the scene of the crime to find Izi sitting on the ground, the body gone, and a tricorder in her hand.  Surprised, he stopped and watched her, wondering what she was doing.  “Where did you get that?” he said, motioning to the tricorder.

“Why didn’t you tell me Trevor attacked you?” said Izi ignoring the question.

Nick was surprised Izi led with that.  “I was walking with Mara and he confronted us again.  Why does it matter?”

Based on the expression on Izi’s face, it seemed Nick asked something dumb.

“Why does it matter?  It makes you a suspect.  You now have a motive for killing him.”  Izi’s antennae quivered slightly.

“Me a suspect?  That’s ridiculous,” said Nick.  Had Izi been punched harder in her match than he thought?

“I know that and you know it, but the people here don’t.  Some of them have already suggested you because they know Mara and claim she would never do something like this.  As a Starfleet officer, I have no choice but to investigate you.”

“Then investigate me and be done with it.”  Nick was not happy.  

“Tell me what you did after Trevor hit you.”

Izi actually suspected him!

“Mara asked me into her cabin.  I was bleeding slightly, so she wanted to give first aid.  I said no and went back to our cabin, though *our* might not be the right word since you’re never there.

“Why didn’t you stay with Mara?”  Izi ignored his last comment.

“I was embarrassed, okay?  Some guy almost knocked me out in front of Mara and I was embarrassed.”  Nick expected some level of understanding from Izi, but that clearly wasn’t happening.

“Tell me what you did this morning,” said Izi.

“This is unbelievable!  Do you think I would throw away my career and the rest of my life over some loudmouth and a woman I just met?”  Nick was angry now.

“Tell me what you did this morning.”

She wasn’t going to let this go.

“I woke up, ate some bread, and washed up in the stream behind the cabin.  I started walking into town and saw the crowd around the body.  That’s it.  Does that help you find the actual killer?”

“If you don’t stop the attitude, Trevor won’t be the only one that smacked you in the mouth,” said Izi.

Nick wanted to dare her to try, but at that point, she probably would.

“What took you so long to get back here?” said Izi.

“It took time to raise the Eagle,” said Nick.  “I explained everything to the captain.  They’re on an important delivery run, but as soon as they complete it, they’re coming here.”

“You need to stay away from Mara.”

Nick wanted to protest just to disagree with Izi for treating him the way she was, but he knew she was right.  Both had motives and a reasonable case could be made that they did it together.  “I will,” he said.

“Good.  I’m going into town.  Try not to be in the middle of another incident,” said Izi.

“What are you going to do?” said Nick.

“I can’t tell you.”

Nick sighed and rolled his eyes.

“Go watch the matches for today.” said Izi.

“They’re not canceling the tournament?” said Nick in disbelief.

“Why would they?”

All Nick could do was shake his head.  “Fine.  I’ll go.”  Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed off.

When Nick was out of sight, Izi got up and brushed the dust and dirt from her clothes.  The tricorder wasn’t designed for security investigations, but based on the readings of the area, she was beginning to understand what happened, though she still didn’t know who might be the killer.  To be thorough, she had to cover every base.

=======

Izi stepped into the settlement bakery, a bell ringing over the hinged door.  The pleasant aroma of fresh bread filled the air outside.

A man stepped out from the kitchen and stopped behind the counter.  There was a glass display of various types of bread, muffins, biscuits, and cookies.  “May I help you?”  He was rotund, balding, and wearing a white apron over his clothes, which were sprinkled with flour.

“I’m Lieutenant Iziraa from Starfleet and…”

The man interrupted.  “I know who you are and what you want.  Mara was here.  She bought her usual order of bread and cookies.  My wife saw her as well, but she’s busy in the back right now.”

“What time was that?” said Izi.

“About an hour after sunrise.  My wife and I open the store two hours before dawn.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Yes, Mara comes in every morning,” said the baker.  “She’s a nice lady.  She would never do what you’re suspecting.”

“I’m obligated to investigate.  Thank you for answering my questions.”  Izi turned to leave.

“We have a wide selection of goods here,” said the baker.

Izi understood the implication.  Sighing, she studied the display.  “I’ll take two of those muffins there.”

“Nice choice.  I’ll wrap them for you to go.”

“Thank you.”

=======

Standing outside the bakery, nibbling on one of the muffins, Izi knew what she had to do next.  It would be questionable legally, but she didn’t really have a choice.  She would wait until round two of the tournament began.  Disappointed that she had to drop out, Izi sighed and headed for the arena, not knowing a solitary figure hiding in the shadows was watching her.