“What do you mean there’s a crisis?” I asked.

Dino said nothing but hurried away. My curiosity exploded. Why did the Itlans want asylum, and why was it considered a problem?

My drive to Starlight gave me time to think. I saw a multitude of data ribbons but how did they connect? Hopefully, Dino would return soon with an explanation about the asylum seekers.

I joined the ambulance medical staff in the alley’s restaurant for a bite to eat. Everyone who’d arrived to practice had also joined us, as Starlight offered free meals tonight. I’d hoped to have a chat with Raj but he didn’t appear.

So I ate and daydreamed about bowling until Ambassador Takka interrupted my reverie. “May I join you?”

“Of course, Ambassador. Although, I thought you would’ve been involved in the discussions regarding the asylum seekers.”

“We are finished for now. I want to discuss board games with you.”

“Certainly.” Again Takka wouldn’t reveal any information. Perhaps Dino would be a little more enlightening when he returned.

“Why do you think humans are so interested in playing board games?” said Takka.

“Actually Ambassador, what you saw was a section of humans interested in board games. Bear in mind, there are a lot of people not interested in playing any kind of game.” Where was Takka going with this?

“What are games?” interrupted Dr. Kyne Barb. The on-shift Tristorian doctor had joined us for a meal. I’d been surprised when he asked to eat with me after the impression he’d given of humans during the Keepe Style incident.

“Gaming is a little hard to describe, but I’ll try.” I thought for a moment. “I’ll start by telling you about one type of game. A board game involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface, known as a board. The pieces are placed or moved according to a set of rules.” My hands waved over the restaurant table. “Games can be based on strategy, or chance, but usually a mixture of the two is involved. There’s always a goal needing to be achieved. Most contemporary board games are based on accomplishing something before anyone else. For example, the player might need to get the most counters, or a winning position on the board, or reach a certain position on the board before the game ends.”

Kyne Barb thumped an appendage on our table. “This is confusing,” he said.

Before I had a chance to reply, Ambassador Takka said, “If you see the game board, Detective Sergeant Dominion’s explanations will be clearer. Most human board games are not complicated.”

I was getting a little tired of Takka’s negative thoughts.

“Actually, I find some of the human games equivalent in complexity to some Tristorian and Itlan games,” said Dino, who had joined us during Takka’s comments. “Although it took me a while to figure out we, Rheinon, actually have games, too.”

Dino, my hero. I wondered what he meant about not realizing they had games.

“Perhaps you are correct,” said Takka. “Detective Sergeant, may I touch your skin again?”

“Ah, of course,” I said. This second request surprised me as much as the first.

Takka reached out and touched the skin on my hand. “Your appendage skin is similar to your face skin. Is this true of your entire body?”

His question made me uncomfortable. “Yes, I guess this is true. And I have a question for you. Why are the Itlans asking for sanctuary?”

“I cannot tell you.”

So much for bargaining.

Dr. Kyne Barb had intently watched our exchange. “May I also touch your skin?” he asked.

I had been about to agree but Dino, much to my surprise, said, “That is not appropriate.”

“Certainly,” said Dr. Barb. He stood up. “I will take my leave.”

“And I also,” said Takka.

After they walked away, I said, “What was that all about?” I ran my hand through my hair.

“Humans have dissimilar skin to all other races, as you know, so you are curious to us.”

“I understand that. But why did you allow Ambassador Takka to touch my skin, but not Dr. Barb?” I resisted the urge to stamp my foot.

“Ambassadors are allowed many actions. Dr. Kyne Barb is of a lower class than Ambassador Takka. Therefore, I deemed his request inappropriate.”

Spoken like a true diplomat. But now I knew the aliens had a class structure. Although how that translated across alien worlds would require research.

“Could I have allowed Dr. Barb to touch my skin?”

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Of course.” Dino’s hands twitched.

“Well, why didn’t you tell me? You are here to help me tip-toe through the diplomatic mine fields. I’m disappointed and unhappy, Dino.”

“My apologies. I made a misstep. However, you do not fully understand galactic politics.”

“You got that one right. It’s your job to enlighten me, though.”

Dino nodded and outwaited my rampage.

Finally my heart slowed down, and I took a deep breath. “Okay, I forgive you. Now tell me about the Itlans. Why do they want asylum, and what’s happening about it?”

Dino made the equivalent of a sigh. “The Itlans are from a water world. The Itlans asking for asylum have discovered your city called Venice. After wandering through that town, they believe their clan was created there and transported to Itla. So these particular Itlans want to make their home where their clan was born.”

“That makes no sense. They don’t even look like us. They have eleven fingers, and different skin, and different internal organs, and, and, and …” And I ran out of words.

“You are correct. However, in this particular Itlan clan’s ancient folklore, there is one line about arriving from another planet. That fact was all they needed once they learned of the concept of asylum.”

“Are they going to be allowed to stay?” The whole notion of their perceived origin boggled my mind.

“It is possible.”

His response surprised me. Although I had noticed his hands twitching a lot lately,

“So why did you have to go and consult with the diplomatic staff? I thought they wanted to keep you out of this.”

“I cannot say. My only comment will be that humans are particularly interesting to me.”

Well, be like that. “Okay, let’s go watch the bowling practice. I want to see how the stress is affecting everyone.”

We sat down to watch the Tristorian and human teams practice. They were on adjacent lanes since I suspected they wanted to spy on each other. I wanted to study the spectacle of four-legged bowlers, and the Australians also were of interest.

Brian interrupted my reverie. “Tari, I need to talk to you.”

“Yes?” I hadn’t seen much of him recently, and I was beginning to lose my sense of humor regarding the situation.

“There’s a rumor going around. Apparently, a human wants to mate with an alien.”

“Bowlers?” His statement surprised me.

“No, one of the Bremen staff met a human, and they’ve been spending time together.”

“Well, that’s definitely an interesting rumor. What do you want me to do about it?”

“I think you should talk to Hayden.”

“Why should I talk to him? It’s not really our business.” Why would police officers get involved in interspecies relations? Were there laws I didn’t know about?

“Inspector Hayden needs to look into it before it becomes an intergalactic incident.”

I saw some truth in his statement. “Do you have any de- tails I can take to him? Any names?”

“No. It’s just a rumor going around.” Brian blinked his eyes a great deal, like they were irritated.

“Fine. I’ll speak with the inspector later.”

Brian didn’t take notice of my dismissal. “By the way, gossip has it the two of them meet at eight in the morning behind whatever bowling alley the bowlers are going to be at that day to have meaningful discussions, if you get my drift.”

That seemed a pretty crude location for a meeting, but I just said, “Useful information. I’ll let the inspector know.”

Brian wandered off, and I continued to watch the bowling—albeit with an uneasy mind.

A while later, Jack settled by my side. “Taking it easy?” he asked.

“Sure, I have nothing better to do.”

“Relax, I was teasing,” said Jack. “I have a bit of information regarding why Skitem-Carry was late that one morning.”

I sat up straighter.

“Apparently, he met the Bremen and Rheinon security chiefs.”

“Why was he doing that? And is your source reliable?”

“My source is very reliable, and her descriptions are accurate. She waits tables at the restaurant where the three of them met, and she’s very good with details.”

“I agree serving staff are usually pretty attentive. Any details on what they talked about?”

“No, not really. Although she got the impression Skitem-Carry didn’t agree with whatever the other two proposed.”

“Excellent. Have you talked to the security directors yet?”

“No. I just interviewed her, and I wanted to run it by you first. You know—chain of command and all.”

I thought about reprimanding Jack but I knew he was just trying to yank my chain. The grin on his face confirmed my opinion.

“Okay, why don’t you do that after our morning meeting tomorrow?”

After Jack left, I turned to Dino, who I knew had listened to my exchanges with Brian and Jack.

“Dino, this meeting of the security chiefs with Skitem-Carry, is that what you wanted us to find out?”

“Yes.” Unusually for Dino, he kept his words to a mini- mum.

“Is this meeting important?”

“It seems unlikely for these three parties to meet,” said Dino.

“Do you know why they met?”

“No.”

I didn’t know what else to ask. And I could hardly ask Dino to spy on his own people. “Okay. I think that’s all for today. I’ll see you at the office early tomorrow.”

Dino and I went our separate ways.

* * * *

I relaxed for a while at home with my mother. “It’s been a weird day. Aliens infiltrate everything I do.”

“Isn’t that natural since you’re involved with an intergalactic competition?”

“You got me there. It’s just that Brian brought up a strange rumor today. He said a human was trying to mate with an alien. And, of course, every murder and rumor involves aliens. Wouldn’t you think just one of my problems wouldn’t involve aliens?”

“I’m sure there are lots of issues happening involving only humans, but the ones you need to deal with right now involve a bowling competition.”

Venting had relaxed me a trifle.

“Mom, speaking of aliens, I have to tell you something about Maori.”

“It’s okay. I know what you’re going to say. Dr. Cabin called today, and told me about the alien poison.”

“Rest assured, I’m going to find out who did this.” I felt like pounding the arm of the couch.

“I know you will, dear. Now, have your feelings about being off the team changed?”

“Oh, I’ve settled down a lot about that. I’m too busy with the murders to miss bowling very much. I do like to watch the bowling though. In the guise of watching suspects, of course.”

We both laughed.

“Other than Maori, you have only one murder left to solve, right?”

I nodded.

“Do you have any suspects?”

“No one viable. Harrison has gone to check over the actual physical evidence, in case the pictures missed something.”

“Have you eliminated everyone who had access to the washroom during the appropriate time-frame?”

“Yes, and that leaves no one, which makes no sense, although Brian was there and tried to revive the murder victim. Now Harrison has a vague theory about Brian being the murderer.”

“Why would he want to murder an alien?”

“I don’t know. Harrison is pushing me towards looking at Brian as a possible subject. And I can see from your face what your opinion is.” I sighed. “I know I have to consider him.”

The retired commissioner was so subtle at times. However, Mom could also be tactful, so she changed the subject. “How are you getting along with the aliens? How about your sidekick?”

“It’s been a lot easier than I expected. Perhaps practicing with the alien bowlers at the beginning of the competition helped my unease or, perhaps, dealing with so many aliens all day long. Anyway, my discomfort has eased.”

“So, you’re gradually losing your xenophobia?”

“That’s what Dino said. You two are very much in tune.”

“Just call me alien,” she said, smiling.

At that point we called it a night.