“I’ve learned one thing through this crapfest, Nick,” I said, forcing myself to be calm. “People treat you like they see you, not who you really are. Let’s say you’re right. Let’s say I’m the bad guy here, and you’re the poor abused human. Is that who you want to be? The helpless human? ’Cause that’s not how I saw you. And if I’m the big bad witch who is unreasonable and mean, then that’s how I’m going to act.”

A year of bottled-up frustration surfaced, and his eyes widened as I came at him.

He raised a hand to block my punch, and I shifted my grip, levering his own arm under his chin as I shoved him back into the wall. Yelping, he froze when I used my free hand to find his nuts. That fast, it was over, and Al was laughing.

“Still think you don’t owe me anything?” I shouted, inches from his face, and giving a little squeeze. Okay, maybe I could do bad cop.

“Ow,” he said, not moving apart from his chest as he breathed fast. “Let go, Rachel.”

“Why?” I said. “You don’t use ’em!”

“I’m not helping you,” Nick said breathily. “You can go screw a demon for all I care.”

From behind me Al chuckled. “No offense, but this is a lot more entertaining.”

Having made my point, I let go and backed up out of his reach. I was shaking inside, but I wasn’t ready to give up yet. Not by a long shot. “You’re not the man I thought you were,” I said. “Thief extraordinaire? Right. Fine. I’ll go talk to Rose. I should have gone to her anyway. Come on, Al. Nick doesn’t have the guts for it.”

“Rose?” Al said, confused as he looked at me from around an open crate.

“Yeah, the gal at the place with the thing?” Turning my back on Nick, I went to the middle of the room and stood as if waiting for Al to join me so we could pop out. In a bad temper that wasn’t faked, I scoffed, “You don’t think you’re the only thief I’ve run into, do you? The Turn diamond?Or England’s lodestone? Who do you think lifted them?” I was making this up as I went along, but the diamond was legendary, as was the lodestone.

Catching my drift, Al sidled closer to me. “You are a versatile itchy witch,” he cooed, and I wiggled my fingers to get his lips away from my ear.

Nick, though, had paused. “No one’s lifted them,” he said, doubt on his face. “They’re right where they belong, under enough security to kill a cockroach.”

I smiled brightly. “I’m sure you’re right. Al? We’ve got only a few hours.”