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‘At least she got my message.’

‘Let’s hope she has good news about the Mime Order.’ He sat down and rested his elbows on the table, steepling his fingers under his chin. ‘Any more thoughts about Operation Ventriloquist?’

‘Not yet.’

‘And you still think Warden is on Capri?’

‘Yes. That’s the island named for love, and it’s closer to shore, so it’s more tempting.’ I pushed my hair back. ‘I think Warden is there as bait. I’m thinking about taking it.’

Nick waited for me to go on.

‘I’m trying to learn from my mistakes. I know I can be impulsive and reckless, and I need to get a handle on it. If I don’t play it safer, I’m going to get someone killed again, like I did in London,’ I said. ‘I know this is a trap. The water, the name – it’s like Nashira is testing my nerve and my loyalty, asking me how far I’m willing to go to save him.’

‘But you want to see for yourself.’

‘I’m afraid that if I don’t, he’ll be stranded there for good. It would give Nashira such a kick to prove she’d finally broken us, to the point that I would ignore an obvious sign that he’s there.’

‘Reverse psychology. It’s possible,’ Nick said. ‘If thisisa trap for you, we’ve learned about it before Nashira is ready, which might work in our favour.’ I nodded. ‘What would Warden tell you to do?’

‘Avoid the islands. Don’t risk my life,’ I said at once, ‘but he’s selfless to the point of absurdity. What he would tell me to do isn’t necessarily the right thing to do.’

Nick considered for a while.

‘Going there would be dangerous,’ he said, ‘but in our line of work, everything comes with risk. Sometimes that risk is justified. In this case, I think it is. First, because Scion doesn’t know we’re aware of the islands being annexed. And regardless of your personal feelings for Warden, saving him could be a smart move for Domino. He’s been with the enemy for months, which means he’d be a valuable informant. He might even know something moreabout Operation Ventriloquist. You could use that to sell the idea to Command.’

‘So if I can get them on board, you’d support me doing this?’

‘Depending on the strength of our plan. We rushed into the ambush in Fulham,’ Nick said, ‘but Scion has only held these islands for a month. I doubt they’ve had time to fortify them.’

‘That’s what I was thinking. That patrol ship didn’t stop there for long,’ I said. ‘They won’t have had a chance to unload much security or surveillance equipment, but they must be planning to put it there at some point. That means we have a small window of opportunity.’

‘And no thief would get anywhere by walking past an open window.’

‘Jax said that.’

‘I think we can agree he was occasionally right. And remember what Eliza told you, when we first taught you to pickpocket,’ Nick said. ‘A mouse can steal bait from a trap. It just needs care, speed and subtlety.’

‘Carrying a big Reph off an island might be harder than lifting a watch off a mark.’

‘We got him out of Camden, even if it drew attention. I’m just glad you’ve warned me this time.’

‘I did say I would.’

Verca and Maria arrived at that moment, looking as tired as us. Soon we all had a drink and a meal.

‘So tell us, Underqueen,’ Maria said. ‘Are we going to Naples?’

‘Not yet. I’ve heard from Terebell,’ I said. ‘She wants to see me in Bologna tomorrow.’

‘How did she get here?’

‘No idea, but if she agrees with my theory that Warden might be on Capri, I’ll go to Command and make a case for a rescue attempt. We’ll need decent equipment – weapons, mine detectors, maybe diving gear. A way across, too.’

‘I have a few old friends in Napoli,’ Verca said. ‘I’m confident they could find us a boat.’

‘Any guards on the island would see a boat from a long way off,’ Nick said.

Maria reached for the basket of bread in the middle of the table. ‘Submarine?’