Elora agreed with Gears' assessment, the clerk may as well have said the name Mr. E for all the help it gave them. But she kept her composure, calling him out directly would get them nowhere. "And this Mr. Bell gave no identification? No references? Just cash and a request for privacy?" She kept her tone level, not explicitly accusatory, but the implication was there. "Without a company rider then this Mr. Bell would have had to do all the work himself to release the carriage when he returned. Unless, of course, someone here helped him and simply didn't thoroughly inspect the vehicle for damage afterward?"

She let the question hang for just a moment too long, not enough for someone else to begin, but enough to be felt. She then continued, "We don't wish to cause embarrassment for Brass Lantern, but if someone is being reckless in your carriages during midnight joy rides..." She trailed off, hopefully her meaning was obvious.