Once the letters settle, I flip to the beginning of the journal, reading by firelight. The first few pages are useless, dating back to the beginning of the year, before I’d stolen so much as an earring. They’re all filled with notes like:
Look behind Saint Frieda statue Widow DEFINITELY lying about the hat order Writing this just to make suspect nervous, he definitely doesn’t like it, still going, I’m going toUNDERLINEthis and see if
And immediately below that:
Full confession.
Smug bastard.
I flip ahead, but my thumb catches on a break in the pages. A folded-up paper falls out, one that definitely wasn’t there before I cut the binding thread. It’s a letter, short and in a strange hand, dated just over a week ago.
Boy— Think you’ve got some solid leads on the Minkja case, but this is a major one. Still, best to do it the usual way. I’ll meet you on the sixth and we’ll nail this thing down. Remember, cases are built, not just solved. It’s not enough to be right, you have to prove it—you’ve got a good eye, but that’s nothing if you can’t make others see what you do. Don’t neglect the evidence.
H
I frown at the paper.H, as inHKlemens, as in Prefect Hubert Klemens. Adalbrecht requested Klemens, which means he has a strong record. A standout among prefects would have dealt with the most monstrous criminals in the Blessed Empire.
So why would a man like that call a short string of jewel thefts a major case?
The letter fell from between two pages, and only one is blank. The other page was used to draft a response, with a couple of fitful starts:
Hubert—Don’t tell me how I know what I’mNoted. I’ll handle
It stops there, likely interrupted. So Ididstrike a nerve with Emeric earlier, when I told him he had no proof.
The pages after it are empty. I thumb back earlier and find myself in the entries from last month.
PFENNIGEIST
Started early in the year, shortly after Falbirg-Reigenbach
betrothal
Striking only nobility in Bóern
No signs of grimling or godly influence at present
Red penny for calling card—wants attention
Why, that little—I donotwant attention.
The next page is a packing list. I jump ahead a chunk, irritation simmering in the back of my throat, and find what I’m looking for: the notes from last evening onward.
Imposter carrying marks from Death and Fortune, along with enchanted pearls. D v Falbirg lied, enchantment isn’t just for charm but illusion. Will verify identity, whereabouts of former staff in the morning + confirm for Pfennigeist.
He wasn’t bluffing about knowing since last night, then. This morning’s notes continue:
Imposter attempting to distract from sausage
Distract from everything actually
Imposter has acquired curse overnight from Eiswald, will termi
nate on full moon; related to Eisendorf theft?
Confirmed: Only missing Falbirg servant is Vanja, the “Red Penny”
Confirmed: Imposter aware of Eisendorf theft, despite leaving
