Two steps onto the street and he met an immovable force. Bosun, appearing out of darkness. Pulling his right arm behind him. Inexorable, the man all muscle. Felt Bosun’s other hand looking for his gun. Felt it taken. Again.

Bosun’s hot breath at his ear as Finch was marched toward a side alley. Helpless as a child.

“Find my carving?” Bosun muttered.

Against the discomfort, twisting, “For Truff’s sake, you don’t have to break my arm.”

“So you didn’t find it.” Bosun seemed disappointed.

“What carving?” Grunting. Contorting to try to get relief.

“Stop moving. In your apartment. Left it there while we took the place apart. Would’ve done in your cat if he hadn’t hidden.”

Another mystery solved. One that didn’t even matter anymore.

“Fuck you. Your breath smells like shit.”

Bosun just laughed. “Be lucky if yours doesn’t begin to smell like blood.”

In the alley: Stark. With five other men. Bosun shoved Finch forward, releasing him.

“Finch, what a surprise!” Stark said. “I know you’re just coming from a party, but we’re having our own little party out here. Glad you could make it.”

Bosun punched him in the gut before he could react. Fists like stone. Sent him slumped over onto the ground. Begging for air.

Got to his feet slowly, not sure if he should. Could’ve used Wyte coming out of the darkness in that moment.

Stark’s face was a vicious half-moon in the dimness. Hard to believe Bosun was his brother.

“Where’d you go, Finch? Where’d you go for an hour and a half? Bosun says you were there and then you weren’t.”

The question so much smaller than the answer. Contempt for the interrogator. What kind of spymaster came in person for this kind of ambush? Only someone who’d never gotten past the simple art of the shakedown. Came in hard and fast and thought that was enough.

Not here it isn’t.

Secret knowledge gave him strength. “Just enjoying the party.”

Stark circled him. “I’ll bet you were. Saw your exotic girl leave. She looked well satisfied. Did you give her a good time in there? You should be glad I’m a man of such refinement, Finch, or we might’ve given her a better one.”

“Is that all you came here to say?” Finch asked.

Bosun nodded and two of his men wrenched Finch’s arms back. Painfully.

“No, not really. We’ve some more serious matters to discuss. Like, did you know there’s a bounty on the head of the Lady in Blue?” Stark came close, looked him in the eye. “I think you do know that. It applies to anyone who associates with her—on my side or yours.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Stark nodded. Bosun punched him in the stomach again. Grunted. Fought through the pain. The thugs held him up.