I thought I heard voices. I turned to see the door to the meeting hall that Frank had just gone into. I followed him in and sat down in between him and Jim. I turned to Frank.
"Where's Syd?" I asked.
"He couldn't make it, his father needed him at the shop. His representative's here for him."
As the meeting got under way, I looked around for Syd's representative, but I could not see anyone I recognised, apart from Frank, Jim, the Duke and Duchess. As I looked around I saw a tall, thin stranger standing by the door to the Ballroom. Just as I was about to ask Frank where Syd's representative was, and who the man was, there was a loud crash from the door, as J-F bounded in! He made his way to the head of the table and bowed to the Duke and Duchess. He then took the Duchess's hand and kissed it. It was like he owned the room.
"Good afternoon your grace!" he said.
I was astonished: this seemed a very sentimental gesture for the thief king. J-F made his way over to me.
"Hello there Cat!" He grinned at me.
"J-F! What are you doing here?" I asked as I threw my arms around him.
"I had to get away from Billy Shepherd! Or he'd tell Barton I'd been stealing again, and my heels will be swinging in the wind."
Jim patted my hand. He tilted his head towards the door. A party of the watch passed us at a run, heading for the Ballroom. I watched as they piled their way in. I noticed as the last one had gone in, that the stranger had disappeared.
