Part Twenty-Nine

Sparky looked like a cat that had swallowed a canary and Marie restrained the urge to punch him.

"Who?"

"Well, it wasn't easy to find out, if it hadn't been for my incredible intellects and amazing deduction skills we would still be fumbling about in the dark of unknowing..." Sparky made a rather flamboyant hand gesture.

"We are still fumbling, Sparky... unless you start talking more sense!" Marie tapped her fingers on the table while Miss Sarah hid her smile behind her tea-cup.

"Oh, OK then if you insist on being boring."

"I do. Might have something to do with the whole someone-trying-to-kill-me deal but I don't know..."

"Snark is really not your color Marie, really. Anyway. Remember Lord Amberfitch? He was run out of Chrysopoeia some years ago for sponsoring illegal experiments."

"Yeah, I remember, he wanted to re-invent time travel and where hiring inventor's and thaumaturges all over town to do it."

"Exactly. The Watchers found him out and not even his considerable fortune could save him. It did save him from execution though and he got exiled. No one has heard from him since... at least not officially."

"So, he's back then. But why would he want to kill me?"

"Because he still has the same plan, and still lacks the necessary skills to do the job on his own. He was more careful this time though, hired people to make parts without telling them what they where for and so on an so forth... Although, since he had to hire smart people, some figured it out and had to be eliminated. Which is what happened last night. Of course I can bet on him not planning for you to get away from the Sniffer like that. He probably thought you where one of those two-bit thugs other politicians like to hire."

"His loss. You really found this out by just getting into Forrester's papers?"

"No, of course not, most of this I've pieced together earlier. The things I found over there were just the glue to piece all the parts together."

"Excellent work, Sparky, excellent work indeed..." The voice was metallic and came from somewhere near the teapot.

part Twenty-Eight

Marie and Miss Sarah had just about finished their food and were choosing their after dinner tea's when Sparky entered the bar. He nodded at Zora and made his way to their table with is purposeful stride.

"Good evening ladies, I see you got my message..." Marie nodded and eyes the leather bag slung over the thief's shoulder.

"Since I now know time is of the essence I'll start by saying that my mission, of course, was a success but I come bearing both good and bad news. But before I start babbling I need tea." Sparky turned and caught Zora's eye, held up a finger and she nodded her confirmation. Marie could see her adding another cup to the tray the was preparing for their table.

"Good news and bad news you say... get the bad ones out of the way first then."

"OK, straight to the point, Councilman Forrest is dead - and has been for at least three days. Whoever sent you that assignment was using his doves and his types but it wasn't him. Unless he managed to become an unusually solid ghost and I doubt that. especially since he seems to have gone over at once and not lingered. There where no ectotrails anywhere."

Marie nodded and swallowed a curse. Forrest had been a good client, up until now, and she would miss his business.

Zora came over with the tea and the conversation stilled while she served them. When she turned to leave Sparky flashed her a brilliant smile and winked and the young waitress blushed prettily. The smile faded as soon as he turned back to Marie and Miss Sarah though. The latter one had her notebook and pen out and was taking notes in her spirally shorthand.

"What's the good news then?"

"I found out who's behind it all!"

Part Twenty-Seven

It was a bit passed dinner time when they stepped into Brodie's and therefore there where a few open tables. Most of the evening regulars had yet to come in and most of the dinner guests had cleared out. Zora the waitress was clearing tables and she nodded her head towards a booth, her many braids bobbing with the motion. Marie nodded back and her and Miss Sarah went to sit down. They didn't have to wait long before Zora walked over, hips swaying as she swerved between the small tables dotting the room.

"Hey there lovely ladies, what can I get you tonight?"

"Is Steve working tonight?"

"He is, want me to make him whip up a special?"

"Please do, tell him to hold back a bit on the onions this time, last time my breath was foul for a week."

Zora laughed. "Sure thing! Oh, right Sparky left a message for you, said he'd be back in two nips and a jiffy - whatever that means - and that you should wait here if you came in."

Marie smiled at the waitress. "Thanks Zora, strangely enough that makes perfect sense to me."

"Good, cause it didn't mean a thing to me." She winked. "The usual to drink?"

"Sounds good." Marie said and Miss Sarah nodded as well. When the waitress walked off towards the kitchen Marie fished out her pocket watch and flipped the lid open.

"Hmm... Sparky should be here in about an hour then. Plenty of time to eat!"

Part Twenty-Six

As Marie and Miss Sarah exited Madam Diode's house they felt eyes on the back of their necks and when they turned left on the street Marie chanced a look. The big black cat, The Duke, were sitting in the upstairs window looking at them with his mismatched eyes, the mechanical one glinting in the last rays of sunshine, and Marie shivered slightly. She'd never been a cat-person.

"Was it just me or was she hiding something for us?" Miss Sarah asked as the two of them continued down the street.

"Of course she was hiding something. Lots of things even. But she wasn't lying, or she's damn good actress..." Marie kicked at a rock and sighed. "So basically we don't know much more than we did before this little detour..."

"That might be true, but we killed some time and I didn't have to restrain you to keep you from driving me mad while we waited."

"That's something at least." Marie flashed a grin at her assistant. "So what did you think of Madam Diode then, she seems to be an inventor more to you tastes..."

Miss Sarah has the decency to blush a little. "She is rather beautiful yes, and to be honest I do hope she does not turn out to be a liar."

"I knew it! Well... You'll have to call on her again after this whole business is over. Beware the cat though, I get the feeling that thing is fiercely protective of his mistress." Suddenly in a better mood Marie hailed a steam carriage passing by and directed the driver towards Brodie's with a smile.

Part Twenty-Five

"So you are saying you're not the one who sent this after me then?"

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't... I didn't know where it was until you showed me just now, that much is true."

"Not a fan of straight answers are ya?"

"Now where would the fun be in that?" Marie sighed in frustration and glared at Madame Diode.

"I don't like having to resort to threats of bodily harm but right now I am loosing my patience."

Madame Diode made a disproving sound. "So crude. Very well... No. It wasn't me who sent the whirlyfly after you although I did make it."

"Who did you sell it to?" Suddenly there was a crack in Madam Diode's composed exterior.

"I can't tell you. You might threaten to kill me but he will. No doubt about it." Now it was Marie's turn to sound frustrated. She took in Madam Diode's appearance, ample body barely contained in a black and grey utility corset decked out with pockets and tools, dark red skirt covered by an grey embroidered apron with even more pockets and black hair held up with what looked like skinny screwdrivers serving as hair-sticks, but she couldn't find any signs of deceit. Either Madame Diode was a very good liar or she was telling the truth about being more afraid of her unnamed customer than Marie herself.

"If you are lying to me I will find out, and if I do I won't be pleased."

Madame Diode waved her fair hand dismissively. "There's no need for more threats, I know you're a dangerous woman, just remember that this person you are after, he is even more so."

"We'll keep it in mind."

"Can I have my whirlyfly back?"

Marie thought for a second and then shrugged. "Sure. I'd appreciate if you didn't send it after me again though. If you did I would have to stomp it and that would be a pity."

She carefully walked over to the seated inventor. As she came closer she saw that Madame Diode's chair had wheels attached to it and a lever and some buttons she hadn't noticed before sat on the armrest. Marie's eyes went to where the inventor's legs where hidden by her shirts.

"My whirlyfly?"

"Yes, of course. Here you go..." Marie realized she'd been staring and quickly handed over the little metal bug.

"Thank you. Now, would you kindly get out of my house?"

Part Twenty-Four

Marie and Miss Sarah advanced carefully, staying well away from the walls. At the end of the hallways was a large room which looked like it covered most of the bottom floor of the house, a spiral staircase clung the the wall in the back corner and every spare surface was covered with odd looking machinery and mechanical parts. A door on the opposite wall from the stairs seemed to lead to a kitchen of sorts and in the middle of the room were a set of burgundy sofas and chairs surrounding a table with a steam powered samovar as a center piece.

Madam Diode was sat in one of the chairs and the other was occupied by a unusually large black cat with one green eye and one mechanical one. The brass setting covered a quarter of it's face and moving parts were visible under the faintly green glass casing. The cat looked straight at the two newcomers with a clear sense of distrust.

"The Duke does not care for strangers. I'd make this visit brief if I were you, ladies." Madam Diode's voice was was even more dark and sultry without the interference of the speaking tube and she looked at them steadily while she stirred her tea.

"I'll go straight to the point then. Someone sent this thing after me, it has your mark on it. Was it you or one of your customers?" Marie stuck her hand in her pocket and then raised her hand in what she hoped was a calming manner as the large cat, The Duke, hissed threateningly.

"Shh, she's just taking out what's mine... right." Madame Diode glared sharply at Marie.

"Of course, of course..." Marie opened her hand to reveal the little whirlyfly.

"Ahh, so that is where it disappeared to..."

Part Twenty-Three

"Madam Diode?" Marie asked, keeping her tone professional.

"And who wants to know?" A horribly enlarged single eye became visible in the domed window in the door.

"A friend of a friend..." It never hurt to be careful, names where powerful things.

"Names, honey, or you are not coming any closer." How the single eye managed to look condescending none of them knew but that it did.

"Listen, we found something of yours... we thought you might like it back but if you're not interested we'll just find someone else." Marie made to turn away and walk back down the path. All inventors where curious, it was a requirement for the job, and she counted on Madam Diode to keep to the mold.

"Something of mine? Really, and what would that be. Hold it up to the Eye please."

"No, I don't think so. You wanna know, you let us in."

A huff of irritation. "Fine, but you keep your hands where I can see them."

There were a few clanks and clonks and then the door swung open, revealing a hallway illuminated by wall-mounted bowls of fireflies and decorated with paintings of insects and spiders in various more or less gruesome settings. All in all it was not a very welcoming sight and Marie and Sarah looked at each-other before shrugging and stepping inside.

The door swung shut behind them and locked with a rather ominous rattle.

Part Twenty-Two

Madam Diode's house was far enough away that Marie and Sarah felt justified in hailing a steam carriage to get get there. The driver turned out to be an old acquaintance of Sarah's and while the two played catch up Marie stared at the houses and people passing by. As she watched store-keeps bringing in their wares for the evening and couples walking about arm in arm and enjoying the clear evening air she felt a faint twinge of longing for the life she'd never had. She didn't really know what it was like to be ordinary but the people on the street looked so happy being so. Although judging by the popularity of adventure books and the like she was pretty sure many of them fantasized of leading a similar life to her own. Funny how the pulp books rarely mention the waiting and the boredom and the worry, she thought and instantly felt a bit better.

"I guess everyone wants to be someone else sometimes..."

"What was that?" Miss Sarah turned absentmindedly to her boss.

"Oh nothing, just talking to myself." Marie smiled at her assistant.

"OK then. Well, we are almost there. Just another block or so."

"Great." Marie straightened in her seat, casually checking that all her concealed knives and assorted nifty gadgets where in place. It was not that she expected trouble but all inventors where by default crazy (even down-to-earth Argyle had his insane moments. Like that time with the tortoise and the feathers and the sprockets) and she was pretty sure Madam Diode was no exception. And it never hurt to be prepared for anything.

The house in which Madam Diode lived was one of many similar ones along an ordinary city street but no-one could mistake hers for anything but an inventor's abode. The short part up to the house from the street was lined with metal contraptions, some spinning, some oscillating and others just seemed unmoving until you stopped looking directly at them. The windows where fitted with bars from which weather vanes, gleaming extensions that looked like arms grabbing for the sky and various other instruments and contraptions hung like misshapen growths. Slender antennae shot out from the roof and a glass dome could be glimpsed up there as well. The house looked like it was sending out feelers before deciding for or against devouring the adjoining buildings.

Marie and Sarah walked up the path, trying not look like they where avoiding the machinery. The door was covered in corrugated metal and had a round window with slightly bulging glass covering it. As Marie reached out a hand to use the knocker, shaped like a slightly out of place fat cat, a shutter opened behind the window and a a speaking tube detached itself from the wall next to the door. The women could see themselves reflected in the glass as a dark, almost sultry, voice sounded from the tube.

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?"

Part Twenty-One

To Argyle's benefit he actually worked fast and kept from doing any harm to Marie when she went from pacing to hovering around him as he worked. It was close though and hadn't Miss Sarah stepped in and distracted her boss with a fresh cup of tea Marie might have become more closely familiar with Argyle's instruments than was really healthy.

"I really should have guessed. She doesn't have a smidgen of morals anyway."

"You figured it out? You know how made the little thing?"

"Indeed. I found the signature woven into the wings, really delicately too... if she wasn't such a despicable woman I would almost admire her."

"Who? Who is it?"

"Argyle held up the little metallic fly again. "This is made by Madame Diode, she specializes in miniature invention and has no qualms about using magic in her work either." The wrinkle of his nose said exactly what he thought about that.

"OK, so let's pay Madam Diode a visit and see if she can shed some light on this for us..."

"Well, I better stay here. She won't be too friendly if I am with you. I kind of got her kicked out from the Inventor's Guild." Argyle had the decency to blush as he mentioned this.

"Argyle, really? I am surprised!"

"She was being rude! And wrong!"

Marie chuckled. "I believe ya. We'll go on our own. You go on home and we'll let you know what happens. You can start on my coat! I feel down right naked like this."

"As you wish..." Argyle smiled at Marie and then turned to Miss Sarah and bowed. "Thank you for a lovely afternoon, Miss Sarah, I hope we can take tea together some other time as well. Maybe just the two of us?" The hopeful tone in his voice was heartbreaking.

"I always enjoy a nice cup of tea, dear, but I am afraid I don't have much time right now." As Argyle bent to kiss her hand he missed the quick look of pity that passed over her face.

"I am always at your service." And with that he was out the door and Marie and Sarah looked at each other.

"You are going to have to tell him sometime."

"I know... I just can't bear to break his heart, he's so sweet."

Marie sighed. "Let's get going, maybe we get some information to compare with what Sparky manages to dig up..."

"Right behind you, boss"

Part Twenty

The three of them talked the rest of the afternoon, re-telling and analyzing and finally starting to speculate who was behind Councilman Forrest's sudden betrayal. They knew they wouldn't be bale to actually come to a conclusion without Sparky's input but for that they would have to wait. About an hour after sunset Marie started to get impatient. She didn't mind downtime between jobs, in fact she cherished them, but the waiting game was her least favorite part of an active assignment. And that's what this was, even if the client in effect were herself at the moment.

As she paced the length of Miss Sarah's small apartment she played with the little brass mechanism, the whirlyfly, which had once again found it's way to her pocket. Suddenly she got an idea and turned to where Argyle was softly talking to Miss Sarah.

"Hey, Argyle, this is a scouting unit, right? Could you find out who made it? You guys put your signatures on everything, right?"

"Let' me see..." Argyle got up and walked over to his bag and pulled out a set of goggles with various interchangeable lenses. He put them on and took the little metal insect from Marie.

"Hmmm... yes... beautiful craftsmanship, first class parts. This was not a cheap thing to build... it's a bit knocked around, probably from riding around in you pocket all day." He looked up over the edge of a lens, making his eyes seem strangely shifted with the enlargement of half of them.

"Yeah, yeah I know - be more careful and all that..."

Argyle made a disapproving sound. "Anyways, there are only a few people in the Inventors Guild that can build something like this and I know all their signatures. Give me a minute or two." He went back to studying the thing and Marie sighed. More waiting... great.

Part Nineteen

The next time she woke up it was to the smell of food. She stretched and then swung her legs off the sofa. It was only her fast reflexes that kept her from crushing the little whirlyfly and she picked it up and brought it with her to the table that Miss Sarah had now overloaded with food.

Marie raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? This is for just us?"

"Actually no... I send a runner off to Argyle too. You know how he likes to know how his inventions worked. And he can measure you for a new coat too."

Marie made an approving sound already busy chewing on a piece of meat. Miss Sarah poured them both tea and started filling her own plate as well. The two ate in silence until the doorbell rang and Argyle made his entrance.

It was obvious the inventor had made an effort with his appearance, his hat was brushed, the crease on his trousers was sharp as a knife and his vest and shirt spotless. While he was always well-groomed this was a polish even for him. The reason for this was obvious when he lay eyes on Miss Sarah and a faint blush crept up on his pale cheeks.

Sarah threw Marie a knowing look before turning on her obliviousness and welcoming Argyle to the table, pouring his tea and playing the part of hostess perfectly. Marie swallowed her grin with the bite of her steak. Poor Argyle didn't know he had the wrong parts for Miss Sarah's tastes.

After the usual pleasantries Argyle turned to Marie. "So, with you sitting here with bed hair and calmly inhaling food I assume the Sniffer is taken care off?"

"You would assume correctly. I had a little help from an iron fence but your little ball of death did most of the work."

"Excellent." Argyle took out a leather bound book and a pen from his bag and cleared a bit of room for them next to the cheese and the teapot. "Tell me everything, in detail please Marie. Leave nothing out."

"Oh OK." Marie refilled her tea mug. "But I want a discount on my new coat for that."

Part Eighteen

With the Sniffer out of the picture Marie could finally relax and she really felt she needed it. Running on full speed and fueled by only a sandwich her energy was running out. She barely made it to Miss Sarah's cosy apartment before she collapsed on the sofa.

"OK, boss, I'm gonna send out for something for us to eat... Sparky won't be finished for a few hours yet so you just sleep."

"No pita! And no gherkins either... bad... stomach..." She drifted off into almost sleep and Sarah smiled as she watched.

Marie twitched back into wakefulness when Miss Sarah closed the window after talking to the runner boy on the street and she blinked a bit, yawned and shifted to her side. Something dug into her hip and she frowned before getting it out of her pocket. It was the little metal bug that had been disabled by Argyle's nifty defenses. She held it up to the light and studied the design, it was beautiful and the thin filament of the wings glittered in the afternoon sunlight filtering in through Miss Sarah's sheer curtains. Someone had sent this after her, maybe it was the same person that sent the Sniffer, maybe it was someone else. She yawned again. It would be time to look into it later... she just needed a few more seconds of sleep.

The whirlyfly slipped out of her hand and onto the carpet as Marie fell asleep again.

Part Seventeen

The explosion had been violent but directed almost straight up and thus only a few large droplets had landed on or near Marie. The instant they hit her the leather in her coat started smoking and she struggled to get out of it. It took a bit longer than usual as she was still dizzy from the shock-wave and she felt the strange coldness creeping closer to her skin. Then there where finger helping her and the solid presence of Sarah at her side.

They got the cloak off and threw it on the ground. The remains smoldered silently on the ground and Marie watched mournfully.

"I really liked that coat. It fit just right..."

"Don't worry boss, we'll you a new one. I bet Argyle has a new prototype for you to try out..."

"But..."

"We really should move. This wasn't a silent event and The Watchers are bound to come looking soon..."

Marie sighed. "You're right. Let's move." She'd saved what she could from the pockets of the coat and now she took a branch and shoved it into one of the smoking piles that where all that remained of the Sniffer. The leather dissolved and as the final wisps of smoke faded and the Handler's thin body swayed in the wind the two women walked out from the vacant lot and into the back streets of Chrysopoeia again.

Part Sixteen

She neared the abandoned lot with the Sniffer not to far behind. A bright red piece of cloth waved from the nearly broken fence indicating that Miss Sophie had finished her preparations. Marie's smile got even wider.

She vaulted over the fence and landed softly sprinting towards the other side of the lot. It took a lot of self-control not to glance at the nearly invisible patch of disturbed earth when she passed it but she managed and continued towards the back of the lot. She was almost there, almost at the other fence when her foot found the wayward branch and she fell, barely managing to curl into herself and roll to avoid damage.

As she scrambled in the loose dirt she could nearly feel the triumph coming of the monstrous pair behind her and she closed her eyes. Just a few more steps. Just a few more. She kicked out and made herself roll away a little bit more and hoping to gain a bit more distance, be a bit safer. The fact that she had her back to them when Argyle's device exploded probably saved her life.

The explosion caused a geyser of multicolored slime to erupt from the earth. It was the Sniffer itself that stepped on it and it was caught in the blast full on causing the glass bubble to shatter and a horrid shriek to tear from it's throat. The Handler flew backwards towards the fallen iron fence, its frail body tumbled though the air before being pierced through by a stray metal bar, dying instantly. The Sniffer took longer to perish, it ran around in circles, skin bubbling and coming loose in slimy slabs where-ever Argyle's compound had hit it. Flesh melted off until the skeleton showed and finally after a few long minutes it's legs gave out and it fell to the ground with a resounding metal clattering.

Part Fifteen

Marie left Miss Sarah at the abandoned lot and started back towards the backyard where she hoped the Sniffer was still wandering around confused. She tried to remember exactly what route she'd used when she'd left the coal cellar, if the Sniffer had regained it's senses it would be on that trail.

She didn't have to wonder any longer when she turned a corner just as The Sniffer and it's handler did the same two houses down. She stopped still for a second before smiling suddenly and turning on her heel. The chase was on again.

She knew she had to lead her pursuers without them catching wind of her scheme. It was a simple plan and that's why it was going to work. People chased by Sniffers seldom chose simple, the one that didn't give up the second they saw the silhouette of the monster tried to outsmart them and that really only just prolonged the chase. So simple it was, fewer things that could go wrong and fewer things to remember. Just a chase, a bang and a sweeping up of parts.

As Marie navigated the streets, occasionally looking back to make sure her tail was still there, she hadn't stopped smiling.

Part Fourteen

Miss Sarah had no idea where Marie was but she did know at least one stop she was supposed to make today. Sparky was still at Brodie's, his table now overflowing with even more of the bar's large tea mugs as well as parchments filled with notes and drawings. He waved when Sarah entered and shoved some of the sheets of under others without even bothering to do it sneakily.

"Miss Sarah, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

"Business I'm afraid and I'm in a bit of rush, luv, would you happen to know where Marie has gone off to?"

"Ah, well she didn't say exactly, I don't think she knew actually, but I know she was looking for a nice place for an afternoon ambush."

"Ah, I see. Thanks Sparky, I think I might have a shortlist for that."

"My pleasure, do take care now!"

Miss Sarah left the bar and unknowingly copied Marie's earlier actions and thoughts almost exactly. She also reached much the same conclusions and soon she stood beneath the building upon which Marie perched.

A sharp whistle brought Marie out of her thoughts and she smiled down at her assistant as she used the fire-escape in a rather unorthodox way to get to the ground.

"Sarah, I was just coming to get you!"

"Well, I had some urgent information. The runes seems to have done their job perfectly - the Sniffer was in that backyard all confused when I left it."

"Brilliant! That's the final piece of the plan... Here's what I need you to do..."

Part Thirteen

Miss Sarah ran into the Sniffer when she returned to her building carrying the briefcase containing Marie's rifle. Fortunately she saw it before it saw her and she quickly sidestepped into an alley. It was rare seeing a Sniffer out and about during the day, the sight of the modded creature tended to freak people out, but it was equally rare for someone to avoid the Sniffers for as long as Marie had as well. Sarah watched the Sniffer and it's Handler stop near her neighbour's wall and she guessed that was where Marie had climbed over. The guess turned to certainty when the Sniffer swung it's bulbous head around to look at the Handler and something wordless passed between them.

Sarah didn't know how the Sniffer would react to the runes etched into her coal chute and she wasn't sure she wanted to stick around and find out. Still, her boss needed all the info she could get. That in mind Miss Sarah walked out from the alley, looking for all the world like she just happened to stroll by. The Sniffer and Handler had finished their little unworded chat and were moving towards the small gate, Sarah followed as slowly as she could without seeming suspicious. She wished she'd been carrying something less valuable than the weapon, something that could have been dropped "accidentally", creating a convenient excuse for her to stop outside the gate. The pair was through the gate now and had disappeared from view.

Sarah forced herself to continue to move slowly, when she was almost past the gate she faked a miss-step on the cobbled stones and sank to one knee. As she pretended to adjust her shoe she glanced through the gate, the Sniffer and Handler where in plain view and she could have sworn the looked confused. Miss Sarah couldn't help but smile slightly. It seemed the gold spent on the runes had been well spent.

With any luck Marie's followers would be stuck on the backyard of Sarah's neighbour for a while, trying to figure out how the scent of their prey could have just disappeared. It would give Sarah the time she needed to find her boss. Not wasting anymore of those hard-earned minutes she got up and started moving.

Part Twelve

After sorting the last few details with Sparky, and watching him work his way through another couple of big cups of tea, Marie stepped out into the sunlight again. She stood there for a second, letting the rays warm her skin, before she took a deep breath and started down the street again. Things where falling into place nicely, now she just had to find a nice ambush point to lure the Sniffer to.

As she kept moving she ran through potential spots in her mind, mentally sorting them into No, Might Work and Definitely Possible-piles. In the end she had three places in the last pile and she started moving with more purpose. The ghost blood effect was mostly gone now, only vague after-images followed her when she weaved through the busy city streets.

The first place on her list got scrapped at once, it seemed a class of botanist students had chosen this day to catalogue all the species in the usually deserted park. Marie offered the situation a single curse before moving on.

The second option looked promising, the deserted lot was over-grown and filled with mysterious scraps of metal but it was empty. Despite this she moved on to the the third spot as well, unfortunately that one was now occupied with a house which had not been there the last time she needed an open area somewhat out of the way. So, second spot it was. Marie sat down on the edge of the roof of one of the buildings overlooking the lot. She had the where and the how, now she only had to wait for the when.

Part Eleven

Marie blinked a few times when she entered the dusky interior of Brodie's bar. The place was mostly deserted at this time of day but even in a crowded room the man she was looking for stood out. Sparky Sanchez was large, loud and the best thief in town by far. How he managed no one knew but if one needed t get something stolen one went to Sparky. So here she was.

Marie pulled out a chair at Sparky's table and sat down, eyeing the large man carefully.

"Hello there Marie and to what do I owe the dubious pleasure of being roused from my bed before I even went to bed by your charming assistant, not to mentioned dragged off to the one bar in town without a decent selection of tea and then left. Alone. For several hours."

"Oh come off it Sparky, you can't have been here for more than a quarter, I only count two tubs of tea emptied in front of you." The red-head waved dismissively at her.

"Beside the point. Now, spill!"

"I did a job last night, clean easy as pie and then suddenly I have a Sniffer on my tail. Had to take a swim in the harbor to get some breathing room" Sparky whistled softly at the revelation.

"Ok, I see how that make someone be annoying to her friends."

"Mhm... so obviously I want to know who the heck wants me out of the picture. That's where you come in. While I deal with the bubble-puppy I want you to go find me some answers in Councilman Forrest's papers. Can you do that?"

"Forrest?" Sparky got a faraway look in his eyes. "Decent security, one secret entrance, human presence and a few charms and runes... yeah, shouldn't be too much trouble."

"Shiny. Expect the unexpected though... this whole thing stinks."

"Yeah, but of what?"

"That, my sticky-fingered friend is the real question."

Part Ten

When Marie had devoured her sandwich and finished her tea Argyle guided her to the back of the workshop. The table was cluttered and she wondered exactly what it was of the bits of pieces that was going to help her get rid of a Sniffer.

"I've been working on this for a while now, not for Sniffers especially but all enhanced critters." Argyle picked up a shiny ball with tiny vents scattered over the surface.

"I have no idea what that is..."

"Of course you don't. It's the only one in existence. You see a certain mixture goes in here..." Marie recognized the signs of Argyle venturing into lecture mode and she held up her hand.

"I don't need to know how it works, just tell me what to push and how to keep myself from getting blown up."

"Hmf! Very well..." Argyle held up the ball, it fit nicely in his hand, and pointed at a small button. "This is the safety, after you push it these-" he pointed at the small pressure vents "-activate and you want to keep from pushing them."

Marie nodded and tilted her head. She still failed to see how the small thing was going to take out something as stubborn as a Sniffer.

"Now the base of this is filled with enhanced explosives, my standard mix, but it's what's in the rest of the space that's interesting. That is filled with enthrodust and dried water, now this might sound like a rather timid mix but when it activates it creates a rather nasty slime which will incapacitate any modified being rather effectively."

"Hmm... what about the Handler?"

"The explosives should be enough to handle it but just in case the slime will not play well with human skin. So don't get caught in the blast."

"I'll do my best. What's the radius?"

"Now, see this is a prototype so I am not entirely sure... I'd try to have something solid between me and the blast if I was you, like a house or a brick wall..."

"Untested dangerous explosives - you sure know how to show a girl a good time Argyle." Marie smiled at her friend who tried to look like he wasn't blushing at all.

"Just... be careful. OK?"

"Always. Pack it up for me? I have a date with a certain sneaky red-head soon."

"Oh, do send Sparky my regards will you? And tell him that thing he ordered has come in." Marie nodded as she watched Argyle put the volatile ball into what mostly looked like a house wife's purse and secure it with a few straps.

Soon she was out the door again, on the way out she saw something glimmer on the ground. When she bent to look she couldn't figure out what she saw at first but then she remembered the electric wave and the thing that had tripped Argyles alarms.

She put the disabled whirlyfly in her pocket. It might be of use later on, if nothing else it was a clue.

Part Nine

It was easier to disappear during the day. Not even a Sniffer could track her through a throng of people, at least not easily, but despite that she felt that itch at the back of the neck that told her she was being watched and no matter what she did she couldn't loose it. Finally she wrote it off as paranoia and went about her business.

The first stop was Argyle's workshop. Partly it was because she wanted to see if he seemed surprised to see her and partially because she needed a few things only he could create.

When she knocked on the door she held her breath until her friend opened.

"Ah, Marie, I didn't expect you today. Do come inside." His eyes betrayed nothing but he did tap his fingers on the door in their pre-arranged code: something tripped my alarms.

"Well, you know me - I got an idea in my head and couldn't wait." She tapped out her answer on her leg - it wasn't me - before stepping inside. As soon as she was inside the door Argyle pushed it shut and slammed a button next to it. Something sparked and a burst of electricity emanated outwards. The two of them stood silent for a few seconds before Argyle waved her deeper into the cluttered room and went to look at a black screen on one of his mystifying contraptions.

"Seems I got it, means it most likely was mechanical. What the blazes are you up to, Marie?"

"Someone screwed me, Argyle."

"Well, that much is obvious. You made Miss Sarah very nervous."

"I know, I know... Damnation! I hate it when people screw with me"

"You need a cup of tea if anyone ever did." Marie's stomach rumbled loudly. "And a sandwich too it seems."

"Thanks Argyle, you're a doll." He waved dismissively at her.

"Don't mention it. It's only proper to take care of one's best customer." Marie smiled and plunked down in one of the big chairs, then she got up and removed the strange contraption she had accidentally sat down on and sat down again.

She was still holding it when Argyle came back with a tray containing a rather large sandwich and two steaming metal cups.

"What the heck is this? I've been trying to figure it out since I almost smooched it..."

"That? It is part of new breathing apparatus. With it you'd be able to breathe under water without having to trust your life to a two-bit thaumaturge with a fumes addiction and no conscience." Argyle's dislike of magic-users was well known, his life goal was to find a mechanical solution to everything. Marie only nodded at his rant as she set down what probably was the mouthpiece of the breathing machine and reached for the sandwich.

Argyle wound down in his ranting and reached for his own tea mug.

"So, how exactly have you been screwed." Marie swallowed the urge to answer something suggestive just to see Argyle blush.

"Dtrhej sesnfdt a frklgtkinfsg Snjkiffkoe" At Argyles raised eyebrow she finished chewing and tried again. "They sent a freaking Sniffer after me." Argyle whistled, half impressed.

"You must have pissed someone off good..."

"No kidding. So - obviously I have to get rid of it."

"I have just the thing!"

Part Eight

When Miss Sophie finally arrived Marie had the first inklings of a plan.

"I'm sorry I took so long, boss, I just had a very bad feeling in my stomach. Here I brought you some clean clothes."

Marie cut straight to the chase as she started stripping out of her dirty and slightly damp clothes: "They put a Sniffer on me."

Sarah cursed harshly. "But it was councilman Forrest who sent the assignment, why would he want you out?"

"I don't know and honestly I don't think it was him, not deliberately any way. He know I know him too well."

"So... what are we going to do?"

"Well, I need to see Sparky. I don't know how long it will take before the damned thing figures out where I went but I think I have some time yet. Could you set up a meeting, over at Brody's I think."

"Of course, I'll have him there in an hour if I have to drag him out of his lab myself." Marie couldn't help but smile at the metal image of Miss Sarah dragging the large red-headed man down the street by the ear.

"Oh, I hid my gun case under a doorstep in Slinktown. Could you send someone to get it?"

"I'll get it myself. You left the usual sign?"

"Yeah, on the wall." Marie sighed. "Everything was going so well too... Guess nothing lasts forever."

"No time to get sentimental, I need to get going. You toss those dirty clothes - that shirt it totally unsalvageable."

"Thank you, dear. And Sarah... be careful."

Sarah smiled sharply. "Ain't I always, boss"

Marie's answering grin was equally edgy. Things always felt better after talking to Sarah. She waved the other woman off and waited 15 more minutes before sneaking out herself.

She didn't notice the small brass whirlyfly that detached itself from the wall.

Part Seven

Marie passed the time in the darkness by taking out every little tool, knickknack and knife in her pockets - and there where quite a lot of them - and rubbing them dry the best she could on her shirt. As her hands worked so did her mind. Something had obviously gone awry and she was pretty sure it wasn't she who'd made a mistake. The basis of her whole business was trust no one but despite that she couldn't help but rule out Miss Sarah. The other woman had saved her life on countless occasions and this whole mess didn't seem like her either, if Sarah was going to come after her it would be to the face and probably with the knives she kept hidden in her corset, not with a Sniffer.

Marie sighed. She hoped it wasn't a relative of someone she had killed. While she understood people wanting revenge when their loved ones was killed it really wasn't her they should go after, she had nothing against the people who ended up on her to-do list, to her it was only a job, it was the people who hired her who was to blame. She slid her unlockers into their sheath in her belt again and went on to the thaumabullets that sat in a neat row on her other belt. She felt her fingers tingle as she handled them and her thoughts went back to the Sniffer. Never mind who sent it after her she had to get rid of it.

It was obvious that she had to set a trap for the creature and it's handler, something they where highly unlikely to avoid and survive. There was no chance she'd get the name of whoever hired them out of the Handler, Handlers routinely had their tongues cut out - officially because it made it easier for them to communicate sub-vocally with their charges but Marie suspected that client security also had something to do with it. If you can't talk you can't tell who hired you. So, they both had to go and she was thinking explosions, big explosions.

Part Six

The sun shone brightly when she finally arrived at Miss Sarah's house. She'd taken every conceivable detour and done everything in her might to distance herself from her tail and she hoped it was enough. As she crouched in the shadowed nook she took out her sling shot from her inside pocket, from a pouch on her belt came the soft pebbles. There where several different colors and she chose the red one. It was a long time since she'd had to use that one...

It had been the first time her assignment was someone she vaguely knew and in the second she hesitated her former butcher, who had been dealing in illegal fumes under the counter, had both managed to grace her arm with his cleaver and scream loudly. Panic made her sloppy and instead of a nice clean stab under the ribcage she slit his throat and the didn't quite manage to avoid the spray of blood.

That time she'd been hiding in shadows bloodied and disappointed in herself but this time it was anger that made her hand shake. Despite that the red pebble landed exactly where she wanted it, on the round window in Miss Sarah's bathroom. Keeping a careful eye out she slipped away again, made a quick lap half way around the block before climbing a wall and jumping down into the backyard of Miss Sarah's next door neighbour. She stayed and listened with her back against the wall for a second or two before taking two steps and jumping down the coal chute.

As she landed in the almost darkness of the coal cellar breathed a little easier. She'd felt the moment she passed the concealment runes, thaumaturgy always made her skin tingle, and she knew not even a Sniffer would be able to follow her now. She trailed her fingers along the wall until she found the door and there she slid down to sit on the floor. Hopefully Miss Sarah wouldn't take too long to get here.

Part Five

Marie couldn't see the Sniffer and it's Handler when she reached the seafront but she knew it wouldn't loose her track, even getting into the water wouldn't get it completely off but it would give her time, time to prepare a trap.

The morning was clammy and she did not look forward to the swim so the last stretch she ran, full-stop, and dove off the edge of the boathouse. The dark water swallowed her up and the cold seeped through her whole body in no time. She started swimming against the faint current, her coat tangled around her legs and made her heavy and she felt her strength draining faster than she would have liked.

When Marie pulled herself up from the water she was totally exhausted. She lay on the wet ground in the slowly brightening morning and just breathed for a few minutes, every muscle screamed at her and she was already beginning to shiver. Luckily she was near Miss Sarah's house. She knew they where going to look for her there, or they would if they had done their homework, but the two of them had their tricks.

She got up on her feet finally, her trousers, shirt and vest clung to her skin and the leather coat weighed at least twice as much as usual. She stuck a hand into one of the many pockets in the coat and breathed a little easier when she found what she was looking for. Had she lost it in the water things would have become more complicated.

Streaking a hand though her brown hair she braced herself and began moving through the back streets towards Miss Sarah's house. She'd been in worse situations, she was gonna get out of this one too. She just wasn't completely sure how yet.

Part Four

She ran swiftly on top of the thin wall, the rubber under her soft shoes ensuring her grip. Her coat billowed out behind her and she breathed fast. And it had all gone so well too... a perfect hit, a perfect get away and now....

She reached the end of the wall and jumped down, landing in a crouch. She was off again before the after images had caught up with her and she darted from shadow to shadow until she found a suitable dark corner, there she stayed and stood perfectly still, watching the empty street and calming her breaths.

She was almost ready to decide that she had lost her follower when she saw it. The tall shadow in the light from the gaslights was accompanied by the sound of a strange echoing sniffing, when the figure stepped into one of the yellow circles of light Marie barely kept the curse in. A Sniffer, someone had set a fucking Sniffer on her trail.

The man was tall and scrawny, the top hat on his head seemed almost to big for it, the thin stripes on his suit made him seem even more drawn out. Even at the great distance Marie could see his eyes slightly magnified under a pair of goggles and she shivered despite the calming effect of the Ghost Blood.

While the man was imposing in himself what was the real reason for her curse was attached to the thin man's wrist with a slender chain, it was fastened in the collar of what had once been a dog of unknown breed. It wasn't much of a dog any longer though, all of it's head - besides the nose - was encased in a bubble of glass and metal and it's eyes where an unseeing milky white. All along the creatures body patches of fur had been shaved off, tubes were inserted in some and squares of something was bubbling in others. Marie felt her heart pound in her chest and she knew she had to move. Had to get away. Had to get them to loose her scent.

She looked around for her alternatives, she could run - continue down the street they where on - but that would not make it all too easy for them to follow. Instead she looked up, the roofs were a possibility, she could move faster there, get some distance between them. A scent passed by her upturned face, it was filled with salt and seaweed and suddenly she knew. Over the roofs to the sea - it was her only chance.

The walls behind her back were made of uneven bricks and it wasn't hard to climb upwards in the corner, when she reached the roof she swung herself onto it as silently as she could. When she cast one last look down to the street she saw the Sniffer and it's Handler stepping into the nearest light circle. The Handler looked up, straight at her and smiled. Marie shivered again before pushing herself onto her feet. She had to run, she had to live. Something was seriously wrong here and she had to find out what...

Part Three

Marie tried to relax as the thick needle went into her arm. She was no big fan of needles but in this case it was too beneficial to pass up.

"Argyle, this is safe, right?" The tall well-groomed man looked at her over the edges of his round glasses.

"Of course it's safe. You've gone through the treatment several times now, you should know."

"I know, it still freaks me out though..." She looked at the machine hissing and whirring next to the metal framed bed she was laying on. Rubber tubing ran in and out between clear glass globes and ended up attached to the needle lodged in her arm. Fumes rose from a vent at the top and a smoky almost insubstantial fluid dropped into globes where the blood pulled from her arm churned before being returned the same way it came in. Marie leaned back and tried to relax as she felt the coldness spread through her body.

The whole process took about 45 minutes and when it was done she sat up and looked at her own hand. When she held it still it looked almost solid but when she moved it back and forth it seemed to leave images of itself behind. Ghost blood, made sneaking so much easier but put a cramp in your social life.

"Everything looks fine, you are good to go..."

"Thanks Argyle." Marie said absentmindedly. She always felt a bit detached from reality after a treatment.

"Please send my regards to Celia."

"I will. See you soon. Oh and Miss Sarah told me to tell you to come by for tea soon." Marie looked directly at her friend and didn't miss the faint blush on his cheeks at the mention. She smiled. Argyles crush on Miss Sarah was almost as well know as the fact that she would never see him as anything but a friend.

Marie buttoned her fitted dark leather coat and waved at Argyle as she left. The treatment was the last step and the familiar thrill were settling in her stomach. It was time to go to work.

Part Two

The door to the her little office said "Marie Nilsson" in neatly printed letters, underneath it were the words "Consultant and Problem Solver". It wasn't a lie outright, more a slight re-interpretation of the truth and it kept the questions away. No one really knew what a consultant did anyway so at the most it drew a few nods before people changed the subject to cover for their own ignorance, and that suited her fine.

Marie pushed the door open and was greeted by a shapely female bottom wriggling as it's owner tried to find something under the dark wooden desk facing the door.

"Come here you stinkin' little..." Miss Sarah's voice was muffled and it was apparent she wasn't aware that her boss had come through the door.

"Aha! Got ya!" Sarah sat back up and held up her find. It was one of Marie's special made bullets, the faint inscriptions gleamed in the light from the small windows.

"Oh, Hi boss, I was unpacking the new shipment and this one got away from me..."

"So I see... find anything else interesting down there."

"You mean besides some dust bunny babies and one of Celia's old marbles? No, not a thing."

"Oh, that reminds me, I have a letter for Celia, could you make sure it gets sent? I'll get it at once. Is there tea?"

"Whenever is there not?" Sarah got to her feet and dusted off her dark red striped skirt. "I'll bring a cup in for you in a sec." She adjusted her supple leather corset and straightened the blouse underneath it. All traces of her time on the floor removed she went to get the tea.

"Thank you, dear." Marie walked into her office and put her leather briefcase down next to her own desk before grabbing the letter she'd written the night before. It was half hidden under the paperwork she'd never gotten around to finishing.

She returned to the outer part of the office suit and exchanged the letter for her cup of tea.

"Have you had time to look at the assignment that arrived last night?" Marie leaned against the door frame and watched Miss Sarah get her own cup of tea from the samovar nestled in the corner.

"I have and it doesn't look to complicated. It's been long enough since you worked locally that we shouldn't have a problem with that. I sent off the confirmation off with the morning pigeon." Sarah sat down in her chair and breathed in the steam from her cup. "What kind of time-frame are you aiming for?"

Marie rolled her shoulder in a half shrug. "The usual, about a week for planning and setting up and then two weeks of laying low after." Sarah nodded.

"Going to visit Celia at school then?"

"Thinking about it. If she wants me to."

"I'm sure she does, she can't still be miffed can she?"

"You know how stubborn she can be." Marie smiled as she thought of her strong-willed daughter.

"Hmm.. yeah... I wonder where she got that..." Sarah's brown eyes twinkled as Marie made a face in reply. "Anyways, I'll start the planning... let me know if you have any special requests."

"Will do, I just have to finish this damned paperwork first."

"Good luck!" Marie made another face at her perpetually cheery assistant before returning to her desk. paperwork was always easier when you knew there was some actual work waiting around the corner.

Outside a great Zeppelin slowly made it's way across the sky and on the other side of the street a tall scrawny man lowered his looking glass with a nasty smile.

Part One

The faint tapping got louder and louder until Marie finally looked up from her paperwork. The pigeon on the window sill stopped tapping and gave her a look that told her to just freaking let him in already. Marie sighed and pressed the button that released the hatch holding the pigeon sized door in the window shut. The bird pushed it open with a butt of his head before flying over to land on her desk.

"You better not leave any 'presents' this time, buddy!" Marie fiddled with the birds leather harness and released a small vial from it's fastenings.

"Thank you, now - off you go!" She gestured towards the still open and the pigeon rustled his feathers dismissively before taking off into the night.

Marie twisted the brass cap on the vial and freed the tightly rolled piece of paper from the dark glass tube. She recognized the writing at once, it was one of her more frequent clients, and she read through the short message several times before taking down a few notes. Attaching the message to the notes she looked at the time keeper on her desk, 10 pm, the rest of the preparations would have to wait for tomorrow. Adding a final note telling her assistant, Miss Sarah, to send confirmation to the client that she would indeed take the assignment she gathered her things and headed for the door, dropping the sheet of paper on Miss Sarah's desk as she passed it.

On her desk the paperwork lay forgotten.