Dawn was breaking over the skyline as Lucky and I climbed from the vent to the fire escape, then dropped from the fire escape into the dumpster below, rolled out, and took off hoofing in double-time. We ran, alternately looking over our shoulders, until we reached the street in front of her building. I climbed the stairs behind her, gasping and grasping the rail for support, and thought it funny she didn't tell me to beat it. In fact, she hadn't said a word to me since we hit the vent.

We reached her door, and she fished a key out of her pocket and threw the deadbolt. When the door opened, she went through without a glance towards it, or me. She waved her hand over her shoulder and muttered "Make yourself at home." before dropping her coat to the floor, kicking off her shoes, and disappearing through a door on the far wall. I stood for a minute, thinking how out of place her discarded shoes were in the middle of this tidy space. The place looked like a photo-shoot for "Cheap Apartment Monthly". She must dust constantly. It was then I heard the unmistakable sound of running water, and heard the pipes squeal as she hit the flipper for the shower.

I wandered into the kitchen and grazed through the cupboards until I found what I was looking for, and started up a pot of coffee. I was watching the guy across the street take out his trash when I heard her voice behind me.
"What are you doing?" she asked bluntly
"Just making myself at home" I replied, pouring her a cup of coffee and setting it on the table. She sat across from me, wearing one of those old-lady chenille bathrobes, and she looked positively tired. "So, Nora, tell your Nick here what went down..."

She pulled her knees to her chest, modestly wrapping the robe around herself, and her fingers around the coffee mug. "You saw the note same as me." she started "Theet just said I would be surprised, and boy was I. Why in the world would Condolezza Rice or Schwartz or Whatever-her-name-is be hanging around with those guys? And that roadie, the other night in the pub, he made out like he hated her, but they were chummy as all get out last night. They were working over a map of the festival grounds and performer schedule when I dropped, that much I know, but the only thing I could catch before hand was that she was pissed about a change in the booking that the arab fella wanted, but she felt it didn't have the right aura or something....Maybe we should check out some of the other performers? She seemed really worried about who followed her, and what was happening on the other stages..."

We sat for a moment longer before I asked "What now for you, Nancy Drew?"
"Oh stop it already..." she sighed "I have to get ready for work. Some of us have to punch a clock, you know....Billy will have my ass on a platter if I miss my shift..." she trailed off, looking out the window.
"Okay, just keep your eyes peeled, I'll get in as soon as I can, I have some things to take care of first. Just don't do anything as stupid as the stunt you pulled last night, eh? Leave the detective work to the professionals." I got up and walked to the door, and she followed behind me. When she handed me my hat, I noticed the rope burns on her wrists and softened a little bit. "Hurt much?" I asked.
"Nope." she said "How about your shins?"
"Nope." I lied, and pulled the door closed behind me.