45

Once outside, Chalidah leads you back to the main area, near the entrance of the warehouse.

"So," she says. "I've shown you more than most people ever get to see." She walks to one of the printers and gets herself a coffee. She doesn't offer you one. "Now let's talk about your case," she says. She sips her coffee. "I know Lori. We all do. She used to spend a lot of time with us. She was pivotal in organizing our activist work." She looks you in the eyes. "So you understand why we are all eager to work with you, knowing that you are trying to find out what really happened to her."

"Is there anything to find out, though? Her partner, Ms. Furreira, hired me based on some pretty unbelievable theories. That it wasn't a suicide. Maybe even that she's not really dead at all."

"Have you met Eugenie Cochard, André Timoteo?"

You haven't told Chalidah about your meeting with the ethopolitician. Perhaps it's better to keep it that way, for now. "I know of her," you reply. "But no. Can't say we've met."

Chalidah takes another sip from her coffee and rubs her forehead. She takes a deep breath. "Okay. So here it is: Eugenie Cochard claims that her campaign is looking out for the interests of vulnerable people, both feeders and users, and that's the reason she's trying to ban VE. But the truth is that she wants VE illegal to keep prices up. She's already extorting feeder shops–keeping them in business as long as she gets her cut. A ban would simply mean her cut gets larger."

"How do you know this is true?"

"Because she's made offers to other establishments. Friends of mine. Right now, VE exists in a gray area that already works in Eugenie's favor. If it is banned, then her profits will sky-rocket."

"So will yours."

Chalidah chuckles sadly. "Only if she permits it, and only to the extent that she and her likes tolerate our existence and exploit it for their own gain. Besides, do you think I'm in this for profit?" She spits the word out like something dirty.

She shakes her head and continues before you have a chance to respond. "I've already said too much," she says. "Sendra and Mike should be finished by now. Perhaps you'd like to have a chat with either of them instead? I believe they'll make my point for me much better than I ever could."