This is absurd, I thought as I slipped into my dress. Counting it, it was the eighth time I had swapped appearances on that day. I’m certain it was a record of some sort. Regardless, once clothed, I retrieved my heels and summoned Wynn to follow. If you’re wondering why I didn’t bring Becca, it’s because she officially wasn’t present. I could acknowledge her presence from an unofficial perspective – it’s part of how I intended to explain the room if questioned – but I had no desire to unless pressed.

Regardless, I instructed Becca to hide in the bathroom, behind the shower, while Wynn and I carried out the sting.

I sent a text to Narcissa which went as follows: I know about O. Come to Room 214 alone in ten minutes or else. If any Dama tries to stop you, threaten them with kidnapping charges. If they try to follow, threaten them with stalking. Make sure you aren’t followed.

If you’re wondering why I lured her to my rented room, the reasoning was simple: I had no inkling what spyware or such might exist within her room. The less Vincent heard or could learn about what I would say to Narcissa, the better.

It didn’t even take ten minutes until a series of rapid whacks met the door. I gestured for Wynn to open the door, which he did.

Narcissa stormed into the room, the putrid odor of cigarettes wafting around her.

“How do you know?” she asked, her tone aggressive yet her voice pitched low.

“Wynn,” I said, “please step outside.”

He nodded before following orders. The door clanked as it closed.

“You can thank The Grandmaster,” I said. “I received a notice informing me of the big picture. Of why you pursued her.” I paused and leveled a stare at her before saying, “Of Ozonnole.”

“The Grandmaster is an outlaw!” Narcissa barked out, defensive. “It’s criminals—”

I placed my finger to my lips and shushed her. With a voice half her volume, I said, “I’d rather we not go through all this trouble for a secret meeting only for you to blow our cover by being loud.”

She began to flash a glare back, but she wiped the grimace off her face and lowered her voice. “It’s criminals going after criminals. Nobody good would’ve been hurt.”

I ached with the effort of maintaining a polite smile. My mind went to Sylvia, but I realized that then and there wasn’t the time. “I’m not here to judge. I’m more of a…broker.”

She surveyed me with an accusatory squint. “So, you were working for The Grandmaster…”

I jerked my head in a no. “The Grandmaster contacted me tonight because I aligned myself with you.”

“Why are you helping her now?”

“Her feelings on the matter echo mine. We both wish to help you escape Ozonnole’s grasp.”

“How?”

“By…”

My previous scheme, the one I tailored to punish her manifested in my head once more. Then a jolt shot up my back. The scheme still had some utility.

“By sending you into hiding,” I said. “I have the resources to arrange and maintain such a feat. What’s more, your disappearance could easily be explained thanks to your conflict with The Grandmaster.”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

My comment made slits of her eyes. “This is a quid pro quo, isn’t it? You protect me, I give over The Maker’s Tear. That’s the only reason The Grandmaster cares.”

I kept grinning. Truth be told, I was pleased she reached such a conclusion on her own. It saved me time.

“It’s better than the alternatives,” I said. “You could turn yourself over to the police, but I doubt it’ll do you any good. If there isn’t sufficient evidence of Ozonnole’s existence, they’ll drop the case, leaving you vulnerable to Ozonnole’s reprisal. If there is sufficient evidence, you’d be confessing to participating in a criminal conspiracy to kidnap and possibly murder someone.”

“I’m not a criminal,” she gritted out. “I didn’t want anything to do with this. I’m the victim.”

I propped my head against my hand and indulged in a smirk. “Do you truly believe you’d elude any consequences? Do you believe the law will take your side?”

Narcissa’s wrinkled forehead, fidgeting eyes, and tremoring hands spoke far more than her words ever could.

“What do you get out of this?” she asked. “If you cared about helping, you could just help.”

“I won’t deny I have an ulterior motive, but it doesn’t negate my desire to help.”

“What do you get out of this?”

“I’ve assets to protect from The Grandmaster.”

“Tell. Me. I’m tired of this runaround. I’m tired of you avoiding questions. Tell me or I’ll leave, and we can suffer together.”

Her demand flattened my lips. Kakaz… I cursed as I realized I needed something plausible. The answer came to me within seconds: Rebecca. Narcissa likely knew I spent the night at a hotel with her, thanks to The Damatessa, so it would corroborate what she discovered on her own.

“My pursuit or your safety,” I said, to appear to resist a little more, “what matters more?”

Narcissa twisted her back to me and trotted to the door. I internally counted to three as she edged closer to the door.

“The Grandmaster somehow learned about my girlfriend,” I said, “and she’s blackmailing me.”

Narcissa snapped back around to face me, her brows practically melted together. “Why does that matter?”

“My girlfriend doesn’t advertise her sexuality due to her job. Well, jobs… It’s all ultimately part of one unified project for her as a magician. Regardless, her work requires a certain amount of fantasy for the male portions of her audience – of which there are plenty. She pretends to be interested in guys when performing.”

She glanced down while attempting to maintain the mask of uncertainty. It dissolved, however, as her face softened.

“Let’s say I go along with this plan,” she said, her voice weary. “All you’d be doing is stashing me away. I’d be all but dead anyway.”

“Your disappearance would be temporary. My grandfather and I will bring Ozonnole to justice.”

“What could you possibly do that I haven’t already? I already hired a detective. Had them investigate Vincent and Sharpe Security after Oz told me to contact them for help. Know what they found out? Zilch.”

“I’ll solve the case,” I said. “I’ll do whatever I must, even if it means aligning myself with The Grandmaster of Theft.”

She tilted her head and cast a skeptical gaze. “Just to protect your girlfriend’s stupid secret?”

I shrugged. “Love is a double-edged sword. Though if that knowledge doesn’t suffice, we can draw up a contract.”

“What kind of contract?”

“We’ll document this entire affair. I’ll admit to cooperating with The Grandmaster of Theft as well as placing you in hiding and my commitment to bringing Ozonnole down. You can expose me if I fail to uphold my end of the bargain.”

She pursed her lips. I’m sure she was seeking some sort of trick or trap in my statement.

“What about my babies?” she asked.

I arched a brow. “Babies?”

“My pets! I don’t want to be separated from them for too long!”

I pinched the bridge of my nose while fighting back the urge to laugh. I had her.

I once learned a persuasion trick known as the “Door-in-the-Face.” The persuader opens with a large, almost unreasonable request which will likely be declined – hence the name. Then a second request, one smaller and more reasonable, is made.

Studies have found that people accept the second request more readily than if they had been asked outright. The contrast between the two sweetens the second deal – especially since if one appears you’re making a concession.

“If you don’t wish to go into hiding,” I said, “there is a second option… You’d essentially do what you are now, but for me instead of Ozonnole.”

Narcissa’s face scrunched up while her jaw eked open.

“Allow me to explain. You surrender The Maker’s Tear and publicly end your conflict with The Grandmaster. This will leave Ozonnole with two choices: retaliate or yield. If they decide to retaliate, they’ll be ensnared by whatever we prepare to handle them. And if they decide it isn’t worth the effort, you continue living the same as before.”

A frostiest of frowns gathered on her face. “I don’t want to be involved in this at all.”

“Then go into hiding.”

“But I want my—”

“You need to prioritize,” I said, voice firm. “You’ve three options here. You can go into hiding, which means surrendering your lifestyle. You stay in the public, which means risking your life. Or you could try your luck with Ozonnole. Who knows how that’ll play out, especially if you continue to fail them.”

Narcissa blanched at the mention of option three. “Fine! I’ll go into hiding!”

I blinked. What?!

“But,” she said, “I want results in six months.”

I blinked twice. “Six months? Seriously?”

“If you’re as great as they say,” she said, voice dripping with derision, “you’ll find a way.”

My temples throbbed, but I resisted the urge to massage them. I had to maintain my cover.

I’ll explain everything to Grandpa later, I decided. I was certain he’d understand. He was the one who taught me to modify my plans according to the predicament.

Besides, while the deal was far from ideal, we knew who Ozonnole was. Toppling him in time wasn’t impossible. And if we couldn’t, well, I’d figure out a way out of our arrangement without any blowback.

“Well then, if I’ve only six months to work with, let’s make haste on the deal.”

I recorded Narcissa signing a statement that clarified who owned The Maker’s Tear. Furthermore, I made her state as much on video. Our exchange can endure any legal scrutiny – meaning there’s nothing to fear should the truth ever surface. The Maker’s Tear was, is, and shall forever be safe from Narcissa.

Narcissa returned to her room not long after, though before she did, she granted me The Maker’s Tear once more. It dangled in my hands as Wynn returned to the room and Becca exited the bathroom.

“Finally,” Wynn said as he admired the diamond necklace. “Never been happier to see a shiny rock.”

His joke quirked the edge of my lips into a faint smile, though I decided against celebrating yet. After all, the job wasn’t over. I still had to address the head of the conspiracy.