She folded her arms, furious. "Such as?"
"You pretended to be a journalist and lied to a fellow employee, violating the agency's code of ethics."
Imala threw a hand up. "I lied to a secretary. And I did it in the interest of the agency. Gardona wouldn't see me otherwise."
"You also snooped around agency files for which you had no authorization to access."
"I was conducting an investigation into illegal practices. I couldn't exactly go to Seabright and ask to see his files."
"There are channels to follow for this kind of thing, Imala. You skipped them all and played sheriff."
She couldn't believe this. Here she had done what no one else in the agency had the courage to do--and maybe even the brains to do--and they were vilifying her.
"Whom was I supposed to go to?" she asked. "Pendergrass? Because I did go to him. He blew me off."
Fareed seemed surprised. "When was this?"
"A month ago."
"Do you any have documentation of this? E-mails? Holos?"
She tried to remember. "No. I pulled him aside and showed him everything in person."
Fareed was disappointed. He shrugged. "He'd probably only say he thought you were being zealous and admit he made a mistake."
"That's exactly what he said. Right before he led me outside and put me in a car with Ukko Jukes."
Fareed was startled. "When?"
"An hour ago. That's where I was at lunch."
"I see." Fareed went back behind his desk, paced a moment, then turned to her. "I can't get you your old job back, Imala. Even knowing that you went to Pendergrass. The executive team was adamant."
"Of course they were. Ukko Jukes has them in his pocket. They're trying to shut me up and make the whole scandal with Seabright go away."
"It already is going away," said Fareed. "Jukes has agreed to pay all the back taxes and tariffs as well all fees and fines. Both the agency and Jukes will conduct separate internal investigations, and that will be the end of it."
"Tell me you're joking. We should be taking this to prosecutors."
Fareed shook his head. "Not going to happen, Imala. They're going to bury it."
"Then I'll go to the press. I'll tell whomever will listen."
"No one will listen, Imala. There are influences here much greater than you realize."
He was telling her that Ukko owned the media as well; that anything she did would be squashed by Jukes. Unbelievable. They were letting this man bully them. Even Fareed--who seemed like a decent enough guy and who probably didn't take a dime from Ukko--was stuck under Ukko's thumb simply because he was in a system Ukko controlled.
"I got you on at Customs," said Fareed. "It's not glamorous, but it's working with people, which you need."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You're a little rough around the edges, Imala. You haven't made any friends since you came here. You despise everyone. This could be good for you."
"I don't despise everyone."
"Name one person in
your department with whom you have a friendship."