“Do you work alone?” Lace asked.
“Oh no, I have a workforce, lost buggers mostly but staunch, which is more important to me considering the places I send them off to. Your fancy man, the Mudlark, he often does a turn for me. A good sailor, not afraid of a wave or three.”
“I said ‘no’ to the mind reading. Any more of that and I will have to take you in!” Lace was smiling as she said it and Black Maria nodded.
“And on that note, Sergeant, we should be heading back to the Yard. Your master has need of my assistance.”
Lace placed her empty mug on the corner of the desk. It was piled high with paperwork and books, and she valiantly fought the urge to take a quick look at what was written down on them. The policewoman in her was naturally nosey but she liked Black Maria, so she closed her mi
