Deadman Switch by Timothy Zahn

snorted, taking it in the serious but nonthreatening way I’d intended him to. “So you say. You might have trouble proving it. Anyway. You’re in charge of getting Paquin ready for the reception tonight—you know what kind of clothes and whatnot women are expected to wear at such things?”
    â€œI can handle it, sir.”
    â€œGood. Don’t stint, either—there’s no point in playing a game like this halfway. Well, go on—get out before Aikman gets here.”
    â€œYes, sir,” I nodded. “Thank you.”
    I passed Aikman on my way down the corridor. From even that brief touch of his sense I was glad I hadn’t stayed around.
    Kutzko was just where I’d expected to find him: loitering around the exit-corridor storage closets, where he was within easy reach of both the gatelock and the slightly more extensive storage areas where our duty cargo was stored. “All hail the conquering hero,” he greeted me. “How’d Mr. Kelsey-Ramos like it?”
    â€œWhat, our report on the meeting?” I shrugged. “He wasn’t as attentive as Lord Kelsey-Ramos would have been, but then he’s new to this. He seemed impressed enough.”
    â€œI’d say so, yes,” was his dry rejoinder. “Considering the order just came through that she’d be coming to the reception tonight.” He grinned with a mock-evil-tinged dreaminess. “Can you imagine what the assembled dignitaries would say if they knew they were hosting a zombi?”
    I could, and it made me wince. “Mikha, I need a favor.”
    â€œSure. What?”
    I hesitated. “I need a complete listing of capital crimes under Solitaire law.”
    His eyebrows raised a couple of millimeters. “You looking to start a new hobby?”
    â€œIt’s for a friend,” I told him, matching his dry tone. “I also need to know if there are any places in the system—the ring mines for instance—where Patri law might possibly take precedence.”
    â€œSolitaire law covers the entire system.” He shook his head, eyes boring into mine. “This unnamed friend wouldn’t by any chance be our outzombi, would it?”
    I hadn’t really expected to fool him. “It would, yes,” I admitted. “I’m trying to get her a new hearing back on Outbound.”
    Understanding came into his face. “And having the hearing take place after she’s dead kind of defeats the purpose?”
    I nodded. “Unfortunately, in order to keep her alive I have to find a replacement for her.”
    Kutzko’s eyes defocused a bit. “So you want a list of capital crimes to see who we could stick with that honor. And you want the ring mines because that’s where we’ll be leaving the system from?”
    â€œMore or less.” For the moment, there seemed no reason to mention how limited the pool of potential zombi candidates actually was. “Can you do that?”
    â€œNo problem,” he assured me. “Now: what’s the other favor you want?”
    â€œWhat makes you think there is one?” I countered.
    He smiled slyly. “Oh, come on, Gilead. The blazing Solitaran penal code you could find on your own.”
    I sighed. “Sometimes I wish you’d been born stupid,” I told him. “Okay. At the moment we’re scheduled to leave tomorrow, which means the reception tonight will probably be my only chance to talk directly to Governor Rybakov. And I have to talk to her—privately or reasonably so.”
    Again, that knowing look. “And you want me ready to run interference?”
    â€œBasically, yes.”
    He paused, considering, and I could see that he was weighing the risks of possibly winding up square in the middle of this whole mess. “You really think she’s innocent?” he asked at last.
    I nodded. “I do. The more I see of her, the less I think she could be a