"But violence breeds violence. Veta Hall's starak-crazy brother stole the bad batch, thinking it was good, proposing to sell it to Astrell. "I sent my man to get it back. Also, I ordered him to kill Hall, because Hall would have talked in order to get starak. "Unfortunately, though, Hall managed to pass on my address here before he died. At which point, you came and killed my man, and Astrell died of acute catabolic poisoning, and my people attended to that cutthroat Cheng." Once more, Mawson spread his hands in the familiar gesture. "Well, Mr. Ross, I believe that brings us up to date." "Does it?" Ross clipped. "It seems to me you've left out the most important part: the place where I come in." "For my part, I thought I was being almost too obvious," the adjudicator came back. "My difficulty is that as a result of all this bloodletting, my own tracks have been uncovered. I'm told on reliable authority that Security's already closing in on me. I'll be fortunate if they don't arrest me before dawn." Ross frowned. "So--?" "So, as I said before, I need your help." * * * * * Ross shook his head. "I still don't see it." "Then you're a bigger fool than I thought!" Mawson beat his grav-seat's arm in sudden fury. "Don't you understand? When my people brought me Tornelescu's notes, his formulae, I'd have sworn I had the whole universe in my grasp. "Only then it turned out that all Tornelescu's data was in an arbitrary code: one figure, one symbol, was substituted for another. Consequently, I might as well not have had the papers. "That's why I sent Cheng after you, when I thought that you were Thigpen: Tornelescu's notes mentioned that Thigpen had the code. It was a precaution they took, so that neither of them could betray the other." "So?" Ross repeated. "There's still a way out. That is, if you'll just help me." Mawson squirmed in his seat. Of a sudden his eyes were bright and feverish. "Look, Ross, here's how we'll work it: in your role of Security agent, you arrest me. I'll even go so far as to confess to murdering old Tornelescu. "However, I'll also claim that Sanford Hall stole the papers from me. Consequently, I've no idea whatever where they are or what they say. "I'll be convicted of killing. They'll send me off to Venus Barracks. In a Martian month the case will be past history. "That's where you come in, Ross: right then. My conviction will be another feather in your cap. No one would think of suspecting you of anything, let alone denying you full access to Security's files on the case. "So, you go into those files and dig through them till you find the code. For all I know, it may even be in your property rooms here in Calor City. Because if Lewis Thigpen's dead--and he must be, or you wouldn't have dared to use his name--then all his things will likely be there. "Then, when you find the code, contact me. I'll tell you where I've hidden the formula: that's how much I trust you.