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"I’m an officer of the law, Kit, and until I’ve sorted this out, you’re in el and drink your tea"

I pretended to take a sip Because it was so strong and bitter, country black was regarded asbrew, it roused sluggards from their beds and sent them off braced to build another bit of the E to a lady at night, unless of course one had otherthe back latch on Da’s pocket watch that opened the back of the case, and removed one of the dippers before I pretended to check the ti, I checked the tea

Fortunately for me Tom’s crockery was all plain heavy white china, the sort a bachelor who hated feht for himself When he ca next to ive up being a cop and cater picnics and hen parties instead" I handed him the empty plate "Could I have two more of those ham sandwiches? They’re absolutely delicious"

As soon as his back was turned I took care of the present probleht me the food

"Lovely, thank you" I settled back and let , Doyle Why haven’t you found yourself a wife yet?"

"I don’t know," he said, testing the tea before taking a s "Mum says I’m too particular Da says it’s the job"

I used avefor you"

"For twenty-odd years? My, you’ve patience" I uttered a sleepy chuckle as I pillowed ainst my arm and the backrest With Toe and a house full of little ones I would never give up what little freedoiven a tremendous compliment "Well, whether that’s true or not, I think your Grandda would have approved"

"He said ere meant for each other, but then he adored you alulped his tea "I’"

I watched hih half-closed eyes

"You’ll stay on the far and turned toward me, and put his hand over ht about us"

On impulse, I leaned forward and brushed my lips across his mouth He stiffened, and then reached for hs "Kityou"

"I switched the an to topple forward "It was the country black that gave it away It’s the only tea strong enough to ainst the cushions "That’s why you didn’t bother to shackle me to the furniture You didn’t think you’d have to"

"Don’tgo," he said, slurring the words "He’ll"

"I’ot up and retrieved the crazy patch from the armchair and draped it over him "But I made a promise to the man, and it’s one I have to keep" I waited until his head slu the heavy trench and long bri on his coatrack "Good-bye, Tommy"

As soon as I slipped out of Doyle’s back door, the raw slap of air against my face reminded me that I couldn’t chase after Dredmore on foot I needed transportation that would conceal as well as convey ht’s shop revealed about a dozen wagons, carts, and carris, all in various stages of disrepair The lock on the back door would be simple to pick, but the carris would make too much racket, and I had no horse to draw the others They would be watching anyone approaching the docks, too

As I stepped back, my foot shuffled over the lip of an access hatch The old sewer lines on the Hill and in the smarter quarters of the city had been sealed off or filled in, but here in the working quarter they hadn’t bothered Hedger had once told me that before the city’s incinerators had been installed, all the old sewer lines had eotten the old tunneler’s last warning, though: Ye’re to go now, and ye’re not to colanced up at the sky Daould arrive in another hour, and so would the invasion "Harry? Harry, where are you? I need you"

My grandfather’s almost-transparent for belowground," I told hi"

"You can’t hide from it down there," Harry snapped "Nor can I help--"