Shizuka was startled—so that was what a starship captain sounded like.

The owner blinked. “Maybe I can do four twenty-five, but that’s it. I believe the instrument was made in Germany.”

“You believe wrong,” Lan said. “Two hundred. Cash. It costs me at least two hundred to repair, and it’s still fair profit for you.”

“Three hundred.”

“Two hundred dollars. And a good Yelp review.”

She did not have to add that she could also write a bad one.

“Make it a good review,” he finally said.

Lan reached for her purse, but Shizuka held her arm and put her finger to her lips.

“I don’t think you understood what this girl said,” Shizuka said innocently. “This violin was stolen.”

“Of course she did. People say that all the—” The pawnshop owner looked at Shizuka and stopped cold.

Now it was Lan’s turn to be startled—the pawnshop owner was terrified.

“Surely, you’re not implying that she would lie to you?” Shizuka said sweetly.

“Uh, of course not.”

“The girl should have her violin back.”

“Y-yes, of course,” he stammered.

“And her case.”

“Yeah, sure. Case too.”

Katrina and Lan watched wordlessly as Shizuka inspected the violin.

“A peg is missing. Strings are missing. The bridge … what happened? Was it you?” Shizuka glared at the owner. “I can find out, you know.”

“No! I didn’t do anything! I swear it was like that when I got it!” He was in near hysterics. He pulled out a roll of cash and peeled off some bills. “This should pay for the damages. Please. J-just take it.”

“Thank you,” she said politely. “And I shall.”

Once outside, Shizuka placed the violin gently in Katrina’s arms.

“We’re lucky that he was so nice,” she said nonchalantly.

“My other violin was smashed, but this one will be okay.”

What was the girl talking about?

“Katrina?”

“My other violin was smashed, but this one will be okay,” she repeated. She held her violin case tightly to herself.

“Katri—”

Shizuka felt a hand on her back. She turned and saw Lan shake her head gently.

Lan pulled out a small device that was shaped like a soy sauce bottle.

“Please hold her still,” Lan said.

Lan waved the device in front of Katrina’s eyes. Almost instantly, her eyelids fluttered, then closed. Shizuka braced to bear her weight, but the girl remained standing.

“The effect is a bit like sleepwalking,” Lan explained. She looked at her scanner and frowned. “How she stayed conscious until now, I don’t know. The poor thing is exhausted. She’s not been eating well, either. Her bruises are healing, but that rib has been fractured and reinjured. It’s not life-threatening, but it must really hurt.”

“Should we take her to a doctor?” Shizuka asked.

“No. I can repair everything here,” Lan said. “I’m no doctor, but I’m trained in basic field medicine.”