Marcus’s smile did not convince anyone that he was harmless, but it did something more useful. It sounded reasonable. Hwicce’s addition, meanwhile, carried just enough velvet over the knife to make the point plain.

The clerk’s eyes moved between them, then to the faceplate in Elora’s hand, then briefly to Piero and Gears. That last look was the telling one. Not surprise. Recognition. Calculation.

[color=aba000]“One of our coaches being damaged on Calabrese ground would indeed qualify as a moderate problem,”[/color] he said at last. [color=aba000]“Though records of private bookings are not discussed on the pavement.”[/color]

[color=f26522]“Cute,”[/color] Gears muttered.

The guard with the cigarette shifted his stance. Not reaching. Just reminding everyone he could.

Hwicce’s read on the man was immediate enough. The clerk knew something about carriage fourteen already. Not everything, perhaps, but enough that this was no ordinary found-property conversation anymore.

Piero smiled the way a silk noose might. [color=00a651]“Then let us save your pavement the indignity.”[/color]

For a moment it looked as though the clerk might refuse on principle alone. Then his gaze flicked once toward the smoked windows behind him, as if measuring who inside might prefer this handled quietly. He stepped aside.

[color=aba000]“Very well. Briefly.”[/color]

As the doors opened, cool perfumed air spilled out to meet them. Brass Lantern’s lobby was all polished black wood, brass trim, and quiet money. Clerks moved behind a long counter with the forced calm of people who had already noticed trouble and were pretending not to.

The man stopped just inside and turned back to them. [color=aba000]“Carriage fourteen was leased last night under a private name. Paid in cash. No company rider requested.”[/color]

Piero’s smile thinned.

[color=00a651]“And the name?”[/color]

The clerk hesitated only a fraction too long.

[color=aba000]“Mr. Bell,”[/color] he said.

Gears snorted.

[color=f26522]“Yeah,”[/color] she said. [color=f26522]“That sounds fake enough to be expensive.”[/color]