“Yeah. He's all book smarts, more interested in how we did the jobs than the fact that we did them. I've been playing along for a couple of days, taking him through stuff as I tease out information. I think Asano knows I'm doing it, but hasn’t let the guy know for some reason. Which means he's either on the level or is playing a game his partner doesn't know about.”

“Could be either,” Sophie said. “When I was talking to him, he knew I wouldn’t trust him, so he cranked up the shadiness until I didn’t know what to think.”

“So, what’s the move?”

“I don’t see any good angles,” Sophie said. “The deal with Ventress is burned, so even if we get away from these people, the streets aren’t safe. We could try the plan to leave the city, but we’d have not much more than food and a map.”

“Then what?” Belinda asked. “Going along with this guy’s plan puts us right into his hands. No way out if he’s playing us or any of a dozen other things go wrong.”

“Did they tell you they would let you go?” Sophie asked.

“Yeah. They said I should stay here, where Ventress and Silva wouldn’t dare come for me.”

“What do you think?”

“I think the one I’m worried about is you, Soph.”

Sophie sighed.

“We’ve been running further into the fire for a while now, to escape being cooked,” Sophie said. “It could be that all we have left is to choose who bakes us, if we can choose even that much.”

Belinda nodded. “I think maybe we take a risk with this guy. Jory and Janice have known him for months. The whole time he’s apparently been coming in and healing people for free.”

“Sounds like he’s running some kind of scam.”

“I know. But Jory sees him as a friend, as does that partner of his, Clive. I know Jory’s alright, and I like Clive. He’s refreshingly straightforward.”

“That’s not a lot to bet the future on.”

Belinda hopped down off the table and walked over to Sophie, giving her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.

“You know why I like Jory? Most people I’ve met, us included, are out for themselves. Those that don’t have are trying to get. Those that have are trying to get more. Jory could have set up shop on the Island, selling his alchemy to rich folks, but he didn't. He came here, and he helps people.”

“He can’t be doing too badly,” Sophie said. “The money to rebuild it all came from somewhere.”

“It came from Asano,” Belinda said. “At least according to Janice. Asano just gave Jory the money. No loan, no questions asked.”

“Why would he do that?”

“I think, and I’m just guessing here, that Asano looks at Jory the way I do.”