“I told you that smoothie would turn out to be a weasel,” Paulette insisted. “It’s him, isn’t it?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Miriam shook her head. “Things are messy, very messy. We ran into one of Angbard’s couriers on the train over, so I gave him a message that should shake things loose if it’s anyone on his staff. And now…well.” She pulled out the two lockets from her left pocket. “Spot the difference.”

Paulette’s breath hissed out as she leaned forward to study them. “Shit. That one on the left, the tarnished one—that’s yours, isn’t it? But the other—”

“Have a cigar. I took it off the first hired gun last night. He won’t be needing it anymore.”

“Mind if I?…” Paulette picked the two lockets up and sprang the catch. She frowned as she stared at the contents, then snapped them closed. “The designs are different.”

“I guessed they would be.” Miriam closed her eyes.

Brill stared at the two small silver disks as if they were diamonds or jewels of incalculable value. Finally she asked, timidly, “How can they be different? All the Clan ones are the same, aren’t they?”

“Who says it’s a Clan one?” Miriam scooped them back into her pocket. “Look, firstly I am going to get a good night’s sleep. I suggest you guys do the same thing. In the morning, I’m going to hire a car. I’d like to be able to go home, just long enough to retrieve a disk, but—”

“No, don’t do that,” said Paulette.

Miriam looked at her. “I’m not stupid. I know they’re probably watching the house in case I show up. It’s just frustrating.” She shrugged.

“It’s not that bad,” Paulette volunteered pragmatically. “Either they got the disk the first time they black-bagged you—or they didn’t, in which case you know precisely where it is. Why not leave it there?”

“I guess so,” Miriam said tiredly. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s safe where it is.” She glanced at Brill, who mimed incomprehension until she was forced to smile. “Still. Tomorrow I’m going to spend some time in a museum. Then—” She glanced at Paulette.

“Oh no, you’re not going to do that again,” Paulie began.

“Oh yes, I am.” Miriam grinned humorlessly. “It’s the only way to crack the story wide open.” Her eyes went wide. “Shit! I’d completely forgotten! I’ve got a feature to file with Steve, for The Herald! The deadline’s got to be real soon! If I miss it there’s no way I’ll get the column—”

“Miriam.”

“Yes, Paulie?”

“Why are you still bothering about that?”

“I—” Miriam froze for a moment. “I guess I’m still thinking of going back to my old life,” she said slowly. “It’s something to hang onto.”