Izi sat on a bench outside the arena listening to the sounds of the tournament.  Based on the evidence, arresting Mara made sense, but there was something nagging in the back of her mind.  It was frustrating that she couldn’t figure out what that was.  She rolled her eyes when she saw Tork approaching.

“May I?” said the Ferengi, pointing to the bench.

Izi nodded.

“I can see something is bothering you.  Maybe I can help.  I’m pretty much in the middle of everything that happens here,’ said Tork.

“For a price,” said Izi.

“A man’s got to make a living.”

Izi thought for a moment.  “All right.  Tell me what you think about what happened.”

“There’s going to be latinum involved?”

Izi sighed.  “Federation credits at the very least.”

Tork tilted his head .  ”I can handle credits.”  He smiled.  “Since you arrested Mara, you obviously had enough evidence to do that, but I happen to know everyone you talked to about her said she could never do something like murder.”

“In my experiences, people are capable of doing things no one ever thought they could,” said Izi.

“In mine too,” said Tork.  “So why are you sitting out here looking like you made a mistake?”

Izi had experience with Ferengi, more than many in Starfleet, from Gren on Starbase Bravo, to Hok, and now Tork.  She learned how perceptive and inciteful they could be.  “All right.  I’ll tell you something in confidence, but if you break that trust, I’ll make sure Kurtox uses you as bait on the next grax beast hunt.”

Tork seemed shaken only for an instant, but quickly recovered.  “You have my word.”

“When we searched Mara’s cabin, I found the d’k tahg dagger Kurtox gave her wrapped in a cloth.  It had blood on the blade that was a DNA match to Trevor.”

“I see.”  Tork was visibly surprised.

“The part that bothers me is there were no fingerprints on the handle, as they were wiped off.”

“And you’re suspecting Mara was framed because there’s no reason she’d have wiped the handle if she didn’t do it,” said Tork.  “Of course, she could have done that to put doubt in your mind, making it appear she was framed.”

“You’re not helping,” said Izi.

“I’m just saying, your proof is circumstantial and any competent lawyer could get reasonable doubt from a jury.  You need more.”

“In these primitive conditions, how do I get more?”

“Hey, I’m not here to solve the case for you,” said Tork.  “Just know that Trevor had enemies here and as you said, people are capable of anything.”

“I understand, but that doesn’t help find which one did this, if it was a frame.”

Tork shook his head in disappointment.  “This must be your first criminal investigation.”

Izi scowled.

“Where did you find the dagger?”

“In Mara’s bedroom, wrapped in a cloth, and hidden under her bed.”

“Where was it normally?”

“What do you mean?” said Izi.

“Did Mara hide it or did she proudly display it?”

Something clicked in Izi’s mind and Tork must have discerned it.

“My work here is done.”  Tork smiled and stood up.  “I’ll send you my bill.”

Watching him walk away, Izi knew what she had to do next.

=======

“Kurtox said no one talks to Mara without direct permission from him.”

“Do you think he meant the Starfleet officer conducting an official investigation?”

The man was troubled.  “You don’t cross Kurtox.”

“Then I guess I have no choice but to arrest you for obstruction of justice.”

The man guarding Mara in the trial hut shifted his weight from one foot to the other.  “Fine, go ahead, but before you leave I’ll tell you how to notify my next of kin.”

Izi chuckled.  “You’ll be fine.  I can handle Kurtox.”  Izi opened the door and stepped inside.  It was dark and Mara was sitting on a small wooden chair, the only furnishing there.

“What do you want?” said Mara, bitterness in her voice.

“I need to clarify something,” said Izi.

“Why?  You’ve already made up your mind.”

“If that was true, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Mara crossed her arms over her chest.  “What?”

“The dagger from Kurtox, where do you keep it?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Do you display it or store it in a box?” said Izi.

“I display it, of course,” said Mara.  “It goes on a shelf in the living room.  I’m proud Kurtox honored me with it.  Why?”

“Who knows you have it?” said Izi.

“Everyone.  Kurtox gave it to me in a public ceremony.  Will you please tell me what’s going on?”

“When was the last time you saw it?”

Mara sighed.  “The morning the tournament started.  Whenever I’m in a competition or trial, I have a short ritual I do where I hold it and symbolically draw strength from it.”

“Thank you.”  Before Izi rushed out of the hut, she saw Mara toss her hands in the air in frustration.

Assuming Mara just told the truth, Izi was certain she knew who killed Trevor.  She just needed to check something so she could prove it.