“Those of us in the go-between business try to be careful not to leave footprints online, too,” she said. “Lot of weirdos out there.”

North looked up, frowning. “You’re in a dangerous line of work.”

“You’re a cleaner. You have no room to talk.”

“I’ve had training. I’ve got the Foundation behind me. That’s a lot of backup. Go-betweens operate alone. All it takes is one bad client and you find yourself in real trouble.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Famous last words,” North said. “Are you planning to work as a go-between for the rest of your life?”

“You want to know my five-year plan?”

“Got one?”

“No, unfortunately. Still trying to hear my calling.”

“I’ll be looking for a new career soon, too.” There was a grim edge to the words.

“Think you’ll stay with the Foundation?” she asked.

“Victor and Lucas will find a place for me if I want it. Maybe training cleaners in the basics of investigation techniques. But I won’t feel comfortable there after I lose my talent. You want to know the truth? I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do next and I don’t like to think about it.”

“Believe me, I understand. You’re talking to someone who has screwed up every job she’s ever had.”

“Yeah, there was a note about the auction house scandal in your file.”

“Don’t believe everything you read in a Foundation file,” Sierra said.

“I don’t. And for the record, you haven’t screwed up your current job. According to Victor you’re one of the Vault’s best agents.”

“That’s nice to hear, but I don’t get a lot of satisfaction out of delivering hot objects to obsessive collectors. It’s just a job. I’ll admit it gets exciting once in a while. The night before I met you, a client pulled a gun on me.”

“Shit.” North looked up, mirrored glasses glinting in the shadows. “Are you serious?”

She flipped through the file she had removed from the drawer. “I don’t make jokes when it comes to guns. Here’s the conclusion I have recently arrived at: I am willing to risk my neck for a really good cause, but damned if I want to do it just to deliver hot artifacts to collectors.”

“Sounds like a sensible career decision.” North paused. “I can’t help but remember that last night someone tried to blast our senses with some kind of light grenade. You could have been seriously injured or killed.”

“But for a good cause. We’re trying to save your dad’s life here.”

“You don’t even know him.”

“So what?”

“Sierra—”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get my bill.” She scanned the handwritten notes in the file she was examining. Excitement shot through her. “I think I may have something here. Listen to this. ‘Female patient. Homeless. No known family. Strong aura reader. She is clearly delusional. Convinced she is the subject of experiments conducted by extraterrestrials. Refuses to cooperate in the experiments. I am convinced she has enough talent to operate the devices, but she pretends she can’t sense the energy. Will try the new hypnotic drug.’”