Rovan thought about asking Havel for help three times.
Each time, he stopped before entering the man's office.
Havel had not become softer after the Maren case. If anything, he had started watching Rovan with more patience, and that was worse. A loud officer could be handled with anger. A patient officer waited until a mistake became useful.
When Rovan finally stood near Havel's door, he heard his own name from inside.
"If Rovan touches another report without clearance, send it to me first," Havel said. "I want to see where his hands are going."
Rovan stepped away before anyone saw him.
That road was closed.
He could not go to Havel and say an unknown organization had forced him to move against Rust Gate. He could not say Maren's death had been arranged through him. Even asking for protection would sound like confession if Havel looked at it from the wrong angle.
His next road was George, but George's building was worse.
