(Under time pressure to get some of the backlog out from under. If you want, I can replace this with my usual rambling Author's notes.)

(Those of you just joining here, start with Callan and Sian 1)



Locke put the Suburban in idle, which was only slightly less deafening than in gear to Callan. Geravances climbed out, hopping the gulf between the bottom step and the parking lots' gravel, and landing poorly. Fortunately, Callan caught him. His words of greeting were drowned out by the engine's choked last gasp.

"Why'd you tell her you were meeting her here, lad?"

"Because that's where I was. And where Marcarius' car is. I can't think of any good reason to meet her anywhere else."

"All right, good answer. Locke explained everything else to me on the way over. I just didn't know why you yielded choice of field."

"Where will you be?"

Geravances opened the sports car door and climbed in. "I'll be in my car, of course." With a touch of his finger to the shiny circle, he started the engine. The top started to deploy.

===

Lavender approached, her heels slowed by the challenging gravel with every step. As she neared, she waved at the hulking Suburban. "If I had known, I would have asked for a ride." She looked at the four other distrustful faces and smiled. "Not that either of you boys would have given it to me."

"It could be worse. I could have called the Garde instead."

"The thought had crossed my mind, Callan. You could have still, and they could be lying in wait." She winked at him. "But you are a person of honour, one of few." She nodded to Locke. "You are another, Erasmus. Thank you both for talking to me in spite of what you may have heard."

"And just what is it we are supposed to have heard?" Locke squeezed Ceili's hand tighter.

"You know. That tragic business with Fafe. We ought not play coy with each the others."

"'Tragic business.' You killed him, you bitch!" Ceili tried to free her hand, but Locke kept his hold on it, and on her.

"That is indeed the rumour. You've my word I didn't do it. But you aren't surprised I said that, ne?"

"I'd be honestly more surprised if you hadn't, Lavender." Callan stepped in front of the others. "But what proof do you have?"

"I was at my station. I was in the Library, just like you wanted. In fact, you and that lovely Sian stood right in front of me and reassured one another. I offer that as my proof."

"I didn't See you."

"I was there, Veiled. How can I prove my proof?" She gave again that welcoming and hungry smile.

Callan paused. "I didn't know you could Veil."

"Now you do. The question is, do you believe it?"

"Not until I see you do it. Or don't see you at all, as it were."

"Very well, turn around."

"Of course I won't see you then."

She shook her head, smile never fading. "No, dear. The art of the Veil is to start unseen, proceed unnoticed, then depart invisibly. At its best, I can suddenly appear amongst you. Will that suffice as proof?"

"That will do."

"Then turn around."

"I trust you enough to talk to you--"

"But not more than that? Very well, then. Excuse me, gentlemen." She nodded to Callan, and further behind, Locke. "Sweet Others." She nodded again, but her smile grew larger for the two ladies.

Then she walked around the mammoth vehicle.

Locke let go of Ceili's hand and whirled around. Ceili and Ressa nodded to each other and turned outward as well. Ceili groped for Callan's hand, and grasped it tightly. "Do you see her? Hear her?"

"No, not after she walked around the back of the car."

Locke tossed his words over his shoulder. "She's damned powerful. Could she have somehow blinded you to her?"

"Maybe, but that wouldn't have worked on someone with more power."

Callan's emphasis on the last two words worked. Geravances opened convertible's door, unfolded himself from the low-slung seat and stretched. "She's not there, lad. I don't know how, but she's not behind that tank. But you do realize--"

"Boo!" The four jumped as the exclamation burst from within their circle. Geranvances smiled, nonplussed.

Callan and the others spun around. Lavender smiled sweetly at him. "I'll have to practice more," she said with a purr. "I don't know how the old man saw me." She nodded to him. "Geravances. It's been too long, as they say."

"Lamentine." He gave her a slow and respectful nod. "You did indeed best me. But you cannot change the laws of physics." He pointed at her feet. "Sneaking about on pebbles is quite difficult."

She followed his direction, and her ever-present smile grew again. "I suppose you were going to say, 'but you do realize she's right behind you,' to Callan?"

He shook his head. "Actually, no. I was interested in what you were going to do. I was pointing out to him a logical fallacy in his reasoning."

Callan stirred from watching the conversation. "What's that, Geravances?"

"That she can fool us doesn't prove she was at the Library, lad."

Again, that self-pleased smile. "I was wondering when one of you were going to point that out."

Callan nodded, then pondered. "All right. If you were at the Library, and not just at the Library, but next to us when we first entered in, what did I say to reassure Sian?"

Lavender smiled so wide she almost giggled. "You said nothing, dear boy. Shame on you for trying to trick me." She paused, and her eyes hardened the first time since they met at the carpark. "And double-shame on you for not kissing her right then and there."

Callan took a step back, into Locke. His breath caught. "All right. You were there. You didn't kill Brank."

"So who did?" Ressa's bell-clear voice echoed everyone's thoughts.