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Tothe destruction of my wardrobe hurt most I’d never been much of a fancy dresser, but because I’d left Middy with only the clothes on ether a decent, serviceable supply of skirts, bodices, and cloaks Some I’d taken in trade for my services; others I had saved forfroown Rina had lent own I’d not had the chance to return

My friends had dressed owns, my virtue, my office, and my home What did I have left?

"Kit?"

"The main shutoff valve for the pipes is out by the boiler," I told Doyle My voice sounded flat and hollow, echoing in my own ears "Or whatever is left of it"

"Kit" He put a hand under my elbow "Come away now"

I pulled my arm away "Go and shut off the water before the place floods out Please, Inspector"

As soon as he left I went toleft The door had been badly dented, but it had not been opened; the locks had held Quickly I used the co all the cash I had to my name in my reticule Happily I’d never trusted banks, and kept only a small amount of funds in my business account, to which Walsh had likely already helped himself Then I went upstairs to see whatat the bottoet at the rest?"

I nodded "He s they ell paid, too"

"I’ll have hbors," he assured me "We’ll find them, Kit"

"Don’t bother" My heart felt like a stone in my chest "If you would post a beater outside to watch the place, I’ll have sohtfall to board up the s and doors" I walked out

"Where are you going?" Before I could answer, he said, "Wherever it is, he’ll find you"

I didn’t look back at him "Not this time, he won’t"

Wrecker le’s Nest; he removed his cap and held it between his hands but couldn’t seeet any words out

"I’ve seen it," I told him "I need someone to board up the place"

"Already on his way" He scuffled his heels round the snow a bit "I’s to a lady like you Carri’s over here"

Wrecker drove me the rest of the way to Rina’s house, where I found her wrapped in furs and pacing back and forth in the alley As soon as she spotted us she ran to the carri and practically dragged er all, Kit Someone said you’d nearly been shot outside court I nearly worried myself into the vapors" She s th "Inside Now"

I followed her inside, up the stairs and into her chaers to loosen the icy tresses round my face

"I’ve put a tray upstairs, madam," Almira said as she came out of the kitchen "Miss Kit" She folded"Go on with you"

Rina guided me upstairs to her chambers and forced me to drink a cup of tea so hot it scalded et off her chest

"Bleeding Walsh’s going to pay for this, I swear on the cross" She threw her furs over a chair and kicked a tuffet across the roo you tossed out your office, then taken into court like so bullets, razing your place? It’s too htassed son of a poxbox like him"

"No, it wasn’t" For so about Drede outside court Why had he come there? To see me convicted, and applaud as I was sent off to prison? Or to bribe someone to place me in his custody? Why had he bothered to defend"No, I think he’ll do him in hours and hours, while we have a bottle of wine and watch and estions"

"Rina" I waited until she looked at "

"But after what old blueballs did to you--"

"No killing, no torture," I told her flatly "The saoes for Dred and reaching for my cloak