“Yes. Communicator-taps are out—violation of privacy.” “Exactly. And telepathy is worse. Any attempt to introduce telepathic testimony, on almost any non-telepathic world, does more harm than good. So, beyond establishing the fact of guilt in your own mind—a fact already self-evident, since such outrages can happen only when both courts and police are corrupt from top to bottom—I fail to see what you hope to gain.” “Wouldn’t a Tomingan Lensman be interested?” “There are none. There never have been any.” “Well, then, I’ll take it up myself, with. . . .” Cloud stopped in mid-thought. With whom? He could talk to Phil Strong, certainly, but he wouldn’t get anywhere. He knew, as well as Nadine did, that the Galactic Patrol would not interfere with purely local politics unless something of inter-systemic scope was involved. The Galactic Council held, and probably rightly, that any people got the kind of local government they deserved. He certainly couldn’t expect the Patrol to over-ride planetary sovereignty in regard to a thing that hadn’t happened yet! He wrenched his mind away. “Having any trouble following her, Nadine?” he asked. “No. She’s just leaving the fast-way now; going into his office.” Thus, through Nadine, Cloud accompanied Tommie into the office of the District Attorney, saw her tender the spool of tape, heard her explain in stormy language what it was. “How did you get hold of it?” the D. A. demanded. “How do you suppose?” Tommie shot back. “Do we have to come down to City Hall and take out a license to hang an ear onto such a stinking crumb, such a notorious mobster and general all-round heel as Number One is? Public Enemy Number One, it ought to be!” “No, I wouldn’t say that you would,” the politician soothed. He had been thinking fast. “I’ll run this tape as soon as I can take a minute alone in my chambers, and I promise you full and fast action. They’ve gone too far, this time. Just what, specifically, do you want me to do?” “I’m no lawyer, so I don’t know who does what, but I want this Protective Association junked and I want those murderers arrested. Today.” “Some of these matters lie outside the province of this office, but I can and will take initiatory steps. No one will be harmed, I assure you.” Apparently satisfied, Tommie left the D. A.’s office, but Nadine did not leave the D. A.’s mind. This was what the Blaster was after! Sure enough, as soon as Tommie was out of sight, the official dashed into his private office and called Number One. “One, they hung an ear on you last night!” he exclaimed, as soon as connection was made. “How come you didn’t. . . .” “Horsefeathers!” the gangster snarled. “Who d’ya think you’re kidding?” “But they did! I’ve got a copy of it right here.” “Play it!” The tape was played, and it was very clear that it was in no Tomingan’s voice. “No, it wasn’t an ear,” the D. A. admitted.