“There’s more,” Cat said, like she enjoyed her role as the harbinger of doom. “That fool Flinn told them about the jinx-flingers. Queen Raisa didn’t want to believe him, but then, after he left, Captain Byrne brought up that flute player pendant you used to wear.”

Han’s hand crept to his neckline, finding only the replacement talisman that Dancer had made him. “What about it?”

“Captain Byrne found it in Ragmarket, with one of the bodies. He said he knew whose it was, and Raisa did too, so—”

“Wait a minute!” Han put up his hand. “He found it in Ragmarket? How’d it get there?”

“I figured you must’ve dropped it when you did the wizard,” Cat said matter-of-factly. “Anyway, so Captain Byrne, he—”

“When I did the wizard?” Han sat back on his heels, dumbfounded. “You think I’m the one that’s been killing wizards?”

His voice had been rising with each new revelation, and by now he was practically shouting. Dog scrambled to his feet, hackles raised, and growled at Cat.

Cat blinked at Han. “You saying you’re not?”

“I’m saying I’m not,” Han said, horrified. “Why would you think that?”

“Well, we didn’t know for sure, but whoever did them was as slick as vapor and rum smart, which fits. And you had reason to hush wizards ’cause of what happened to Mam and Mari and the Raggers. Plus, you’ve been out in the streets every night.…” Cat trailed off under a glare from Dancer.

“Hunts Alone wouldn’t ambush people in the streets,” Willo said. “You should know that.”

“Maybe Hunts Alone wouldn’t, but Cuffs Alister would,” Cat said defensively.

“You all thought I did it?” Han said. “You were covering up for me?”

Cat shrugged. “Well, me and Sarie and Flinn, anyway, who knew you from before.”

“So when Flinn said I was behind the murders, he thought it was true,” Han muttered.

Cat rushed on, as if eager to explain. “I mean, even at the time we didn’t think it made sense, putting your gang sign on them and all. And at least you should’ve tossed them, to make it look like a robbery. We wondered if you wanted to get caught on purpose—to make a point.”

“It sounds to me like someone else was trying to make it look like it was Hunts Alone,” Dancer said.

Han’s heart twisted. If the people who knew him best thought him capable of shoulder-tap murders, then what should he expect from everyone else?

“What did the queen say?” he asked, not really wanting to hear the answer.

Cat frowned. “She was crying and saying she was going to get to the bottom of it, and Captain Byrne, he was trying to console her and saying he’s sorry.”

“All this happened with you in the room?” Dancer said.