"Garrett!"

I was awoken early in the morning by a soft rapping on my door. Chances were high that it was probably going to be some form of authority. After jumping from rooftop to rooftop for most of the night, the last thing I wanted to be doing was answering someone's questions as to where I had been, and why the houses of people known to be on my "lists" had been broken into.

The Watch. Had there ever been a more disappointing lot of thugs located in one spot? Throw them a still bloody steak, and watch them tear each other apart. What could they possibly want with me this time?

Then again, the Watch didn't usually knock softly on ones door. They burst in screaming allegations, and last time they had tried to raid my flat, I had been long gone. It pays to know the dirty, dark secrets of those high up in the scheme of things, especially when you are told of the impending searches for "lost" property that ends up in your possession.

So as I was saying; I was awoken by a soft call and a knock. With a dagger in each hand I slowly cracked open the door. Dim light flooded into my apartment but just for a flash. In a split second, I had grabbed my visitor and thrown him into my room, shutting and locking the door behind us.

"Your life depends on your answers," I hissed into my guest's ear as I pinned him to the ground with one dagger at his throat and another pressed lightly against his groin. "One; who are you? Two; how do you know who I am? Three; how do you know where I live? Four; couldn't it have bloody waited until daylight?"

Whilst asking my questions, I took in the details of my caller. Mid to late twenties I would guess. Possibly a porter by his cheap, but obsessively clean clothing. Poor weaving, faded dark dyes. The porter to one of the newer aristocracy. A merchant who had just made himself rich, but still did not know how to spend his money wisely. Green eyes, fair skin, and dirty blonde hair. If this fellow tried anything tonight, I now had his face etched in my mind. There was no escaping me now.

"Please sir! Mister Garrett sir! I mean you no harm!" he squealed at me!

"Answer the questions," I growled softly at him.

"I'm Jacob Smitson. I work for Pionell & Son!"

"The gem merchant?" I asked. I knew the answer already. I love it when I am right.

"Yes sir. I am one of his guards, watching the front the gate," he said almost calmly. He was starting to regain some of his confidence. Not a good thing.

I pushed my two blades in a bit more at his two soft areas making him squeal again. It is better to extract information from a panicked victim. You know than that they aren't going to lie.

"You still have two more questions to answer," I snarled.

"Yes sir! Sorry sir!" he said, coming close to crying. "Mr. Pionell sent me here because he says that he has valuable information for you."

"How valuable are we talking?" I asked, my curiosity starting to rise.

"Valuable enough for you to do a job for him. He would like to meet you at his residence tomorrow, just before midnight. He said you could come through the front gate, as the guards will be informed that you will be coming, or to find your own way in, as is in your nature to do," Smitson recited. Clearly not the brightest of lads, his employer must have threatened him something awful to get him to remember the whole speech.

"Get out of my flat before I cut you and give your mother the daughter she always wanted," I said to Smitson, taking my blades away from him.

He got to his feet, and throwing one last fearful glance at me, he ran away as fast as his still shaking legs could carry him.

After making sure everything was secure, I couldn't help but smile at Pionell's words.

"Find my own entrance," I chuckled to the shadows, my only friends. "Perhaps I shall do that Mr. Pionell."

It seemed this man knew my very nature, but why should I let him dictate this meeting. He was clearly going to get something out of our conversations too, so I should have a say as to when and where we meet. Say… early this very morning… in his bedchambers. I'll teach the bastard for waking me up, I mused to myself.