Twin shadows slipped through the night, making their way to the garden-level door of a shabby apartments. Slivers of metal gleamed momentarily in the hands of one, who bent to apply them to the door-lock, while the other held steady the beam of light from their dark-lantern. The sounds of sparse evening traffic could be heard from several streets over, and a drunkard singing loudly two streets to the west, but nearby, all was silence.

Then footsteps sounded on the dry pavement, and grew louder.

"Someone's coming," the guard hissed to his companion. The light was extinguished, and both retreated into the deep shadows of the archway, expecting it to be the constable passing on his beat.

But the footsteps slowed, and paused just out of sight. After a moment a trim figure descended the steps, an intent and urgent air about him that lead him not to notice his company. Keys jangled brightly as they were pulled from his pocket. When the first one failed to turn, he could be heard to sigh impatiently and mutter, "Must be the other one."

"Hopkins?" whispered Holmes' deep voice from just off his shoulder, tone curious and amused.

Hopkins spun at the sound, blinking as the figures of Holmes and Watson materialized from their hiding-place not two feet away. "Mister Holmes?" he whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"Likely the same as you, Inspector, following a lead on the McKinnett kidnapping," Holmes answered. His brow furrowed as he scrutinized the keys in Hopkins' hand. "Those are the master set, aren't they?"

"They are."

"Very nice. I see they talked you into an undercover assignment after all. Which pocket did he keep them in?"

Hopkins ducked his head, his answer slightly muffled by his collar. "His right-hand waistcoat pocket."

"And the address?"

"Was in a ledger on his desk."

"Hm. Expedient, if questionable."

Hopkins' gaze snapped back up, eyes narrowing. " 'Questionable', mister Holmes? You pick the lock, I purloin the key, but either way we're burgling the place."

" 'We', Hopkins? You have a warrant already?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Well then, as an officer of the law, I should think your best course-"

"Then you'd think wrong, mister Holmes," Hopkins interrupted. He continued in a firm, masterful tone, "This is my case, and I am willing to do whatever is necessary to bring young miss McKinnett home safely and bring a swift end to this kidnapping racket. If you try to dissuade me again I will be forced to waste valuable time by dragging you both downtown for burglary."

Holmes' eyes glimmered with pleasure. "Very good, Hopkins." He gestured to the door. "Lead the way."

"Thank you, mister Holmes," said Hopkins with as much bite as he could muster, though even Watson could see that he brightened at Holmes' concession.