Flint was waiting at the rendezvous point. His brows were lowered and the crease between them only deepened when he took in Tip’s panting and dishevelled state. “What went wrong?”

Tip wiped a sleeve across her face and puffed a breath out. “Dogs.”

Flint’s expression darkened further. “She didn’t mention dogs.”

“I think they were meant to be locked up,” Tip said, omitting the fact that she had been the one who had caused them to be let out. “Also the client and her husband came home early. I had to hide and sneak out while they were showing the Guard the damage I’d caused.”

“Home early! Of all the…” Flint growled in frustration. “The client assured me they would be gone for the whole evening. Said a theatre trip would be foolproof. ‘It would never do to leave before the second half!’” He waved his hands, mimicking a rich person’s accent.

“It probably wasn’t her choice,” Tip said, able to have charitable feelings now that she was safe and her breathing had recovered somewhat. “The husband seemed overbearing.”

“Did you…” Flint looked questioning.

“Did I?” Tip replied, not getting his meaning. “Oh! The jewel.” She pulled it out of the pocket and tossed it to him. “I hope it’s worth a whole load of food because it caused me enough trouble.”

Flint held the huge sapphire up to the light. “Excellent work, young Ferret. You’ll get your reward.” He dusted the jewel on the lapel of his jacket and slipped it into a pocket. “Can you give me a recap of what food you wanted as payment? I’ll put my people on delivering it to the Hog.”

“Um,” Tip floundered. “I’m not sure. Val normally takes care of that stuff.”

Flint chuckled. “I see. Then let’s go and find out how Lady Copper is doing.”

The leather-clad woman had apparently finished imparting her wisdom. Val didn’t say much when she emerged from behind the red-painted door, but she had a new air of quiet assurance. Tip wanted to pepper her with questions but decided to wait until they were by themselves.

Sol, on the other hand, would hardly shut up about his time with Flint’s grandmother and the things he’d learned. He insisted on looking at Tip and Val’s hands, spending long minutes scrutinising the lines there before pronouncing they both had extraordinary and complex futures and that he’d have to do more work before he could give them a ‘com-rehensive reading’.

“Is that what Nana taught you to say?” Flint asked with a grin as they walked the frosty streets on their way to meet Kerrick.

“She wants you to call her Floss,” Sol told him. “And yes. She said if I’m not sure what the palm says, that’s what I should tell them. It makes customers feel special so’s they come back for another reading later.”

Flint ruffled Sol’s hair. “Can’t you just tell them they’re going to meet a tall, dark stranger?”

The boy shook his head solemnly. “That’s old-fashioned these days. Floss said I mustn’t use such hackneyed phrases because everyone expects it. You have to make people feel unique.”

“I feel like we should be paying you,” Val told Flint. “It sounds like Sol has received a real education.”

Flint laughed. “Nana’s a pro alright.” His face turned grave. “It’s not all garbage though.” He held up the hand with the crooked thumb. “Night my hand got broken, she told me not to go. Said I’d get hurt. I didn’t listen.”

“You’re a stubborn one,” Sol told him. “Floss says it took a few hard knocks to make you see sense. But you’re a lot better these days.”

“Glad to hear I’ve improved,” Flint said drily. He brought their little group to a halt at a corner by a frozen fountain. “Here’s where we’re meeting Hawkeye.”

“Why are you calling him Hawkeye?” Sol asked. “His name is Kerrick.”

“I know that,” Flint said. “Just like I know your proper name. But you’re in a street gang now and here on the street we use street names.”

“What’s my street name?” Sol asked excitedly.

“Sunshine,” Flint told him with a straight face. “Sunny for short.”

“Oh.” Sol looked disappointed. “Kerrick’s name is cooler.”

“Don’t underestimate the value of a bit of sunshine,” Flint said. “There’s precious little of it around at the moment.”

“What’s Tip’s street name?” Sol wanted to know.

Stolen novel; please report.

“Ferret,” Flint answered.

Sol turned to Tip. “Really?” When Tip merely wrinkled her nose at him he turned back to Flint. “Why’s she called Ferret?”

“She’s small and feisty and good at stealing things.” Flint grinned. “It fits perfectly.” He lifted his gaze and looked down the street. “Ah. Here we are.”

A group of cloaked figures was coming along the street. As they neared, one of the figures peeled off and came towards them. The figure had a definite limp.

“Hawkeye!” exclaimed Sol, then shrank back as the others glared at him.

“Hey,” Kerrick greeted them when he got close enough. His eerie amber eyes flicked rapidly over the party. “Done?” he asked Tip. When she nodded, he grinned. “A successful night all around then.”

“Indeed,” Flint said. “And now to the real business of the night. What exactly will I be providing in return for your labours this night?”

Val and Kerrick took over negotiations for more food than Tip would have thought they could ever transport and reiterated about its delivery to the cellar of the tavern where they had arrived. By then it was already getting close to dawn and Flint said they would have to wait for the following night since it would take some time for his people to gather the necessary supplies, and during the day the street outside the tavern would likely be too busy for them to sneak the stuff into the cellar. “I’ll take you to a quiet place where you can sleep,” he told them. “You’ll be well taken care of.”

“Won’t Marit be worried if we don’t come home?” Sol asked the others.

“She will,” Kerrick told him. “But she trusts us. She’ll give us another day before panicking.”

Flint took them to a cosy house in a back street where a silent older woman showed them to a room furnished with dozens of mattresses where they could sleep. By this time dawn was breaking and they were all exhausted from the night’s labours. Tip hardly had time to wrap herself in a blanket and lie down before she was asleep, dreaming of coloured jewels and dogs who chased her through endless carpeted corridors.

*****

When she finally woke, there was afternoon light peeping around the corners of the curtains. Sol and Kerrick were asleep on neighbouring mattresses, breathing deeply. Val was awake and standing in front of a wall mirror, combing her hair. She gave Tip a brief smile and said, “There’s a bathroom down the hall,” in a low voice.

When Tip returned from her necessary trip the boys were still asleep so she and Val left them and slipped out of the room in search of food. Downstairs they found a kitchen, where there was a hearty stew that had been left simmering over the fire. Four bowls and spoons had been set out on the table and they were obviously meant to help themselves. Val served them both a large helping and Tip promptly burned her tongue out of impatience to get some sustenance into her.

“Steady on,” Val laughed.

“Stealing’s hungry work,” Tip said. A loud growl sounded from her belly as if to prove the matter. “I should have eaten something before sleeping,” she grumbled. “I’m sure I dreamed about stealing jewels from a full larder.”

“I’m so glad you managed the job.” Val had a worried line wrinkling her forehead as she set her stew bowl down on the table in the place opposite Tip. “I was worried about you.”

“You should know you don’t need to worry about me,” Tip said stirring her stew rapidly in an effort to cool it.

“I know you’re good at stealing and everything, but…” Val hesitated. “Well, sometimes I wonder if you rush into things without considering properly.”

“I never rush in without considering,” Tip told her. “I just consider very fast and decide quickly whether it’s worth the risk.” She blew on another spoonful of stew and shovelled it into her mouth.

Val looked amused. “How can you know for sure whether it’s worth the risk when you decide so quickly?”

Tip shrugged. “I’m good at figuring my chances.”

“You don’t always succeed,” Val pointed out. “There was that time you fell out of the apple tree in Widow Grant’s garden.

“That’s true,” Tip admitted, “but I knew the risk of that happening before I climbed. There’s always a risk. It’s very rare that my chances are 100%. If I choose to take the risk, I have to be prepared for it to not work out sometimes.”

Val frowned again. “I don’t think I could do that.”

Tip grinned. “That’s why I’m the dirty thief and you’re the glamorous manager of the group. Speaking of which, what’d the Leather Lady teach you?” When Val hesitated, she added, “I mean, if you can tell me about it. If it’s not secret or something.”

“No, it’s ok,” said Val. “It was… interesting. We mainly just talked. She — Kitty — is a fascinating person. Do you know she can change the way she looks too? It works a bit differently, but it’s the same basic thing. I suppose that’s why Flint took me there…” Her voice drifted off and Val got a faraway look in her eyes, then seemed to shake it off and return to the present. “But anyway. What’s nice is that Kitty said I’ll definitely have control over when and how I change. It’s a matter of practising with a mirror until I can do it. She gave me some exercises and things-“

“But that’s great!” Tip broke in. “That you’ll be able to control it, I mean. Bloody useful.”

Val smiled broadly. “Isn’t it? Honestly, it was such a relief when she said that. I think I was worried I’d be stuck with this out-of-control power and end up having to hide myself away.”

Tip snorted. “You basically have to hide yourself away in Grevick anyway. This will give you more freedom. And more of your favourite thing. Time in front of a mirror!” She poked Val’s arm and received a playful shove in return.

“Kitty said I have to practice a lot, so there’s that. She also said I shouldn’t worry too much about people noticing me changing. I was worried about that after Flint spotted it so quickly last night, but she told me he’s a special case. Most people will only see what they want to see.”

“The store people didn’t notice anything when you changed on our last run,” Tip said. “Heck, we barely noticed, and we know you better than anyone.”

“That’s true,” said Val. “It felt like everyone had noticed, but you’re right. That girl at the counter didn’t react or say anything.”

“She was just glad to talk to someone like herself,” Tip said.

Val’s expression grew sober. “That’s the other thing. Kitty said I need to practice reading people. I need to be able to figure out what they want since my power seems to revolve around it.”

“What’s so tough about that?” Tip asked. “People usually want money or attention. From what I’ve seen, it all comes down to those two in one form or another. If they’re talking to you they probably want attention so all you have to do is act interested in them and the rest will follow.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Val sighed and smiled. “I think sometimes I overthink things.”

“You think?” Tip deadpanned and dodged as Val playfully went to slap her.