Page 138 of Mortal Sins

as a printer’s apprentice, helped run one of his papers for a while, and he was so impressed with me

that he took me on as his secretary. I worked for him for many years.”

“And you went with him to France when he was an ambassador,” Snod said, filling in the gaps now.

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“Yes,” Frankie said with a nod of his head. “That’s when I lost the desk. Mr. Franklin gave it to me

while we were still in America, I’ll never forget. It was the finest thing I’d ever owned, and I

remember weeping over it. He knew how much I loved it, and he insisted on taking it with us

overseas.”

“But you didn’t you bring it back with you?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because France is where I met my Maker,” Frankie said after a brief pause, his smile now one of

grieving. “He was an acquaintance of Baron Friederich von Steuben, an officer that Mr. Franklin was

trying to recruit to help General Washington. He... he was charming. Completely wooed me,

absolutely swept me off my feet.

“I had no idea what he was until it was too late. Once he had turned me, I had to leave Mr. Franklin’s

employment. I had to leave everything behind. I never knew what happened to the desk until I saw it

at the auction, and... well, here it is now.”

Snod was tempted to push about Frankie’s Maker. The opportunity was right there to interrogate him,

right in front of him, but instead he said, “Yes, and now it’s yours again.”

“Thank you,” Frankie murmured, squeezing Snod’s hand and kissing him. “Really. I never thought I

would see this again.”

“You’re welcome,” Snod replied, his heart warming right up and all the tension melting away. “So

does this mean we’re going to celebrate?”

“Yes, this is definitely worth celebrating!” Frankie grinned and blinked away, retrieving the bottle of

his special blood and Snod’s rum. Another flash and he was in the kitchen, pouring them each a glass.

“Also, maybe promise me no more illegally gained gifts?”

“I promise to try,” Snod chuckled, raising his glass to Frankie’s in a toast.

“Good enough.”

One glass turned into two, and three, and Snod quickly lost count after that. They watched more