Disclaimer: I don't own Garrett or anything else that I've taken from the game.

There were a few typos in the first section for which I humbly apologise. I have tried to correct them but they won't go away. Typos are evil and must be stopped before they take over the world.

XXX

The House

I creep up behind the woman, blackjack raised. She's noticed something is missing and I can't let her raise the alarm, can I?

She tenses. I bring the blackjack down. I hit nothing but empty space. She rolls sideways, legs crashing into mine. We hit the floor in a heap and she has a blade at my throat. What in the hells…?

'Don't move, thief,' she says. 'I imagine you're responsible for my lost scissors, so I'll take them back before this goes any further.'

I feel her rummage in my belt pouch, and she takes out the scissors. They weren't worth much anyway, and I have much better loot in there. But having something so recently stolen taken back stings my professional pride.

'You're Garrett, aren't you?' she says. She sounds coldly indifferent. She could be talking about the weather.

'That depends whether you're going to call for the Watch,' I say. 'If you are, my name is John. If you are not, then yes, I am.'

She nods. 'I thought so. It's the eye. It gives you away.'

'Is there a point to this pleasant little chat? I have business to attend to and I don't –' she puts pressure on her knife and cuts me off.

'Let me tell you, Garrett, that you have put me in an awkward position. Should I scream for help? In doing so I would put myself at risk. To be spoken of in the same breath as you would be a terrible scandal among the stupid nobility. My clients would scatter like dockrats caught redhanded. And if I let you go, I risk being linked with you anyway when news of your theft here tonight gets out.'

I think I see where logic is leading her. It'll be a smaller scandal for her to turn me in. Though it's hard to reason when you find yourself with a knife at your throat, I know what I'd do if the positions were reversed.

'It would be easier for us both if you had chosen another house tonight,' she says ruefully. I couldn't agree more.

'I can make it worth your while to let me go,' I say. I feel cheap for resorting to bribery, but her grip on my throat isn't loosening.

She laughs bitterly. 'I don't want your stolen money. I gave that up a long time ago. If I take away this knife, will you just go?'

'You took stolen money?' I say.

She stiffens. She didn't mean to say that. I could be on to something here.

'I was a dockrat. I ran with the Light Fingers until I was twelve, when I picked a larger purse than I was expecting. I used the money to buy myself an apprenticeship and I left the streets behind. You could really learn from my example,' she adds sharply.

'Then you can't turn me in,' I say. 'Loyalty between thieves.'

This time her laugh is more genuine. 'The only loyalty of a thief is to money,' she says, but she takes the pressure from my throat.

I press home this advantage. 'Are we going to sit here all night? Because, although it's pleasant, I've a living to earn.'

She pushes me away. I stand, rubbing my throat. I feel a few drops of blood. Feeling suddenly courteous, I offer her my hand to assist her up. She ignores it.

'I'm going to give you a headstart,' she says. 'Once I've gathered my things I will wait five minutes. I suggest you use that time to get away. When I go downstairs I am going to tell the butler that I saw someone on the stairs, all dressed in black, running.'

I don't question this. I make for the nearest window and disappear.