Cameron had engaged in a fair amount of espionage in the weeks since arriving in Pritt, the details of which remained unknown to his friends. The final bit, which they did know about, was planting an A.V. recording bubble in the café, though as it would turn out when he retrieved it later, a spell had been cast that prevented any such recordings from working in the building. He never did learn whether that spell had been cast by Faye Mireille or Ford Inspector, or by Garrison Finger's Sorreters, or perhaps by someone in the third group. However, his earlier surveillance at various other places had worked out better.

He and his friends saw the third group leave the café, with Mireille apparently as their prisoner. A few moments later, Marlowe Gateman exited the building, and quickly started walking in the direction opposite that taken by those who'd left just before him. Cameron turned to his friends and said, "You guys keep an eye on that group. I have no idea what their connection to Mireille is- that's her, in the handcuffs- but I want to be sure she doesn't get away. Meanwhile, I think I should follow that other gent. That's Gateman... and I'm just as puzzled by his early departure as by Mireille's. Well, almost as puzzled; at least he hasn't been taken captive."

"We're on it, buddy," said Tino. The others nodded their agreement.

"Oh, but one of you stick around to keep an eye out for Finger and Inspector. The latter can't be allowed to get away, especially if he still has the prototype of his spell device. Though it might be with Gateman, now. One more reason for me to follow him. Anyway, no need to worry about anyone translocating away; I can tell an anti-translocation spell has been cast over the café, and that won't dissipate for awhile."

"I'll stay," offered Alecstar.

So, Cameron began tailing Gateman, while Tino and Ginger went after Mireille and her mysterious captors.

As they followed the latter group from a safe distance, Tino said in a hushed voice, "You know, that café is in a rather secluded area of town, but even so... doesn't it seem weird that there was no one else around to notice the goings on?"

Ginger replied, "I noticed a lot of the businesses around here close fairly early, which isn't unusual for a sleepy little village like Pritt. Besides which, the concierge at our inn mentioned there are a number of events being held on the other end of town. Local variations on the World Fair. If you'll recall, I mentioned that it would be nice to check that out, if we got a chance, after all this stuff we're doing for Cameron is over with."

"Oh yeah. And I do hope we'll manage that. It's been rather boring waiting around for Cameron to hear from Yuki. But there should be a few days of festivities left, assuming it lasts as long here as it does in Sorret. Anyway-"

He stopped short, both his walking and his talking. It was just a moment before Ginger stopped walking, as well. Up ahead, the group they were following had been nearing a lot with a few wagons, when they had stopped, themselves. Before they did, Tino had been about to say he and Ginger might want to double back to their own wagon, as it would be impossible to continue following on foot, if their targets were in vehicles. But suddenly, the group escorting the captive Sorreter scattered, leaving only one woman and one man guarding Mireille. The three of them began walking back the way they'd come, giving Tino and Ginger barely enough time to duck into an alley without being noticed. Moments later, they heard shouts from the police, demanding that the runners stop. Of course, none of them did. Suddenly, Mireille and her two guardians turned into the same alley, and were surprised to find themselves face to face with Tino and Ginger.

Mireille had been gagged, but she immediately tried to implore the two strangers to help her, or to call out to the police. Of course, neither Ginger nor Tino could make out what she was saying, but it wasn't hard to guess. The two of them glanced at each other, wondering what they should do, when suddenly the man and woman who were guarding Mireille each drew a sword and pointed them at Ginger and Tino. The woman said, "Slowly draw your swords and place them gently on the ground." Tino and Ginger did so, and then complied with the woman's further instruction to back farther into the alley, and remain silent.

However, before he could find a booth, he was stopped in his tracks by someone calling out from behind, "Gateman."

He turned to see who was addressing him; it was no one he knew. "Can I help you?" he asked, in a tone that clearly indicated he had no desire to do anything of the kind.

"I believe you can," replied the stranger. "First, I need to know if you have a certain spell device on you, or if it's back at the café with Inspector and Finger."

The question surprised him, but he tried not to show it. He merely narrowed his eyes and asked, "Who wants to know?"

"My name is not important. But I represent a group that has a vested interest in preventing this new spell from becoming operational. To that end, I have been watching a number of people very closely. Including you, Mr. Gateman." He held up a bubble, and played an audiovisual recording he had made the other day. A most incriminating recording. When it was finished, he said, "This is just one copy. There are others, which could find their way to the authorities, and the newspapers. So I'll ask again: Do you have the spell device?"

Marlowe hesitated just a few moments before growling, "No."

Cameron smirked. He actually knew already that Gateman didn't have it, as he'd done some rather unsavory scrying beneath the businessman's clothes, prior to attracting his attention. The only magical items on his person were a fairly standard t-mail bubble in his pocket and a timepiece on his wrist. "I believe you. So, I'll leave you to carry on with your evening. Just remember, my people will be watching to make sure nothing comes of the project you asked Faye Mireille to initiate. If anything ever does... you will have problems."

Marlowe nodded. He had various thoughts as to who this stranger's 'people' might be, and wasn't at all sure the threat wasn't idle. But he had no intention of testing his claims. "Very well. It was just a whim, anyway. Frankly I was surprised Faye didn't say the idea was impossible, when I first mentioned it. No great loss, then." And it was true; to him, it wasn't much more than a passing fancy. He was much more annoyed to have had strangers get the better of him, twice in one night. Or was that three times? He turned back in the direction he'd originally been heading, and resumed his walking.

"Out of curiosity," Cameron called after him, "I was rather wondering what happened, back in the café. Who were those people that took Mireille away in handcuffs? Obviously not police."

"Damned if I know," Marlowe replied without looking back or slowing his pace. "Bloody woman just claimed Faye once killed someone she loved. Also claimed, quite rightly, I'm sure, that that didn't narrow it down."

"No, I suppose it doesn't," Cameron said quietly, more to himself than to Marlowe. Considering all that Yuki told me about her, he added mentally. With a sigh, he turned and headed back toward the café.

"Who are they?" asked the person who had opened and closed the door.

"Not sure," said Sloane. "I'm guessing they just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time." Turning to the man who was still holding tightly to one of Mireille's arms, she said, "Find some place to put her until we know what to do next." He took her away to another room.

The man at the door asked, "And why are you even here? Shouldn't you be on your way to the park?"

"The police arrived, quite unexpectedly. Honestly, I thought we had taken every precaution to keep them away from this area, so I can't imagine-" she stopped suddenly, and cursed under her breath. "I can't believe I overlooked that. I'm such a fool."

"What?"

"The café's owner, Mireille's friend. He wasn't in the room with them when we came in. Or at least I now assume he wasn't. I was preoccupied with staging my own little drama, and thinking about how to deal with Finger deciding not to kill her himself. There were enough of his people in the room, but of course I don't know any of them by sight- or by anything, for that matter. So the proprietor could just as well have been among them. But apparently he wasn't. If he was in another room, and heard me and my people come in and abduct Mireille, he surely would have called the police. Hell, come to think of it, he could have even done so when Finger's group came in, before us."

Tino couldn't help commenting, "The Devil's in the details, no?"

Sloane's head snapped around to look at him sharply. "Say again?"

Tino, who had briefly adopted one of his trademark goofy grins immediately switched to an expression of fear. "I, uh... that is... I'm sorry?"

Sloane narrowed her eyes as she continued to stare at him for a few moments, before turning to Ginger. "What about you? Got anything to say for yourself?"

"Who, me? No, nothing. I mean... like you said before, we were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. We don't want any trouble, so... maybe you can just let us go? We won't say anything to the police, I swear."

"Well, in any event we can't let you go until the police have left the vicinity. But perhaps even then... it occurs to me that most people don't carry swords around when they're not expecting to use them. Which makes me wonder what you two were actually doing here. At least, I was wondering that, until I heard your friend speak. You see, I've a keen ear for voices, and I've heard both of yours, recently. The other day I was... listening in on a conversation between four people, and you're two of them. I'm sure of it. You work for Drag, don't you?"

Ginger and Tino exchanged shocked glances at each other. Then Ginger turned back to their mysterious captor and replied, "Well... not exactly."

"No, perhaps not. But your Sorreter friend does, at least. Where is he, then? And the fourth member of your party?"

Neither of the captives answered. Sloane was just beginning to raise her sword again, when the man at the door suddenly said, "Look, I'm sure whatever you're talking about is interesting, and all, but do we really have time for this?"

Turning to him, Sloane replied, "What? You mean that business with Finger and Inspector? If you'll recall, I'm not part of that. Or rather, my part is finished. If you and your people want to carry on with your part of the plan, feel free. Although by now I expect the police will have arrived at the café."

(unfinished)