The Crow Club always got more crowded when it was raining outside. The noises were loud; full of happy people winning money and complainers losing money. I stood next to Kaz, like most nights, as he scanned the tables looking for anyone who may be skimming. A shot goes off at the table Jesper was gambling at and I heard Kaz sigh.
'Why does he always have to cause trouble?' he mumbled.
I followed Kaz over to Jesper who was trying to collect all the money on the table. Kaz slams his walking stick on top of the money and Jesper slowly looks at him. I try to hide my smirk at his petrified face.
Kaz slowly shook his head. 'No loud noises at the table, Jesper. You'll scare off the pigeons.'
'Wouldn't want that, boss,' Jesper said.
'Shouldn't you be at the door?'
'Yeah, right away, boss.'
Kaz tilts his head but removes his cane from the table and starts to walk away. I follow him, just like always, and pat Jesper on his shoulder as I pass.
'Early for action, innit, Kaz?' Rotty said, following after us.
I roll my eyes.
'What do you want, Rotty?' Kaz asked, already annoyed.
'Someone stole a DeKappel from a Merch's private residence last night,' Rotty said.
'Is that so?' I say, feigning interest.
'It's a painting,' Rotty continues. 'A landscape of Ravka. The Fold. Oil on parchment.'
'I know who DeKappel is,' Kaz said.
'Well, he don't do nudes so I never heard of him,' Rotty tries to joke.
Kaz sighs and turns to Rotty. 'Get to it, Rotty.'
Rotty pulls out the smallest painting I have ever seen. A fake of the one that Kaz and I picked up a couple days ago.
'Worth something like 10,000 kruge,' Rotty said. 'The thief had to get past four roving guards, high fences, padlocked doors, a security system designed by one of them Grisha witches.'
'Fabrikator,' I say, bored.
'Whatever,' Rotty said. 'The point is, either it was a group or a ghost.'
Kaz shook his head. 'Why does this concern me?'
'I've got a buyer lined up. Legit money. So, uh... if you hear a whisper...' Rotty clicks his tongue and winks.
Kaz moved closer to him. 'Who can hear a whisper here?'
Then, he turned back around and limped towards his office. I follow him again much lighter on my feet. He opens the door to his office and lets me in before he closes and locks the door. I stare at the DeKappel for a second before following him deeper into the room.
'Why do we keep Rotty around?' I ask. 'He's annoying.'
Kaz takes off his jacket and then slowly removes his gloves. He always wore gloves. He only ever removed them in these chambers, and as far as I know, only in front of me, and occasionally Inej when she snuck through his window. Whatever affliction he might be hiding, I could see no sign of it, only slender lockpick's fingers, and a shiny rope of scar tissue from some long-ago street fight
