“Sure. Annoy the people involved until the guilty party tries to make you go away.”

He grimaced. “You know that the Order’s investigating this matter?”

In other words, run along, little lady, and let people who are more competent handle it. “Greg Feldman was my only family,” I said. “I’ll find who or what killed him.”

“And then what?”

“I’ll burn that bridge when I cross it.”

He laced the fingers of his hands into a single fist. “Anything able to take out the knight-diviner is packing some power.”

“Not for long.”

He thought about that for a while. “So happens I could use you,” he said.

That was unexpected. “Why the hell would you want me?”

He gave me what he must have considered his cryptic smile. It reminded me of a grizzly awakened in midwinter. “I have my reasons. Here’s what I’ll do for you. You get a Mutual Aid sticker on your ID, which should open you some doors. You get to use Greg’s office. You get to look at the open file and police report.”

Open file meant I would get the case as it came to Greg: bare facts and no or little findings. I would have to retrace Greg’s steps. It was bloody more than I expected.

“Thank you,” I said.

“The file doesn’t leave the building,” he said. “No copies, no quotes. You’ll make a complete report to me and only to me.”

“I’m bound by the Guild’s disclosure of information act,” I said.

He waved it aside. “It’s taken care of.”

Since when? This knight-protector was going far out of his way to help a worthless merc. Why? People who did me favors made me nervous. On the other hand, it was bad manners to look a gift horse in the mouth. Even if you’re getting it from an overweight cracker in a fringe shirt.

“Officially you have no status with me,” he said. “Screw up and you’re persona non grata.”

“Understood.”

“We’re done,” he said.

Outside the receptionist waved me over and asked for my ID. I gave it to her and watched as she affixed a small metallic Mutual Aid sticker to it, an official “stamp” of the Order’s interest in my humble work. Some doors would open to me and more would slam in my face. Oh, well.

“Don’t mind Ted,” the receptionist said, returning my ID. “He’s harsh sometimes. My name’s Maxine.”

“My name’s Kate. Would you point out the late knight-diviner’s office to me?”

“I’d be glad to. The last one on the right.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled and went back to her work. Peachy keen.

I reached Greg’s office and stood in the doorway. It didn’t look right.