As she watched Kitturian walk away, Julie felt that sinking sensation that comes when you can see trouble coming, but cannot quite make out its exact shape yet. It was the sort of moment that separates those who stand idly by from those who act. And so she hurried after him.

  “Excuse me, sir,” she said.

  Kitturian stopped and fixed her with a look that was hard to read. It could have been surprise, confusion, or perhaps a hint of suspicion. In any case, his attention was now fully on her.

  “Um, I overheard your conversation with Madam Nerivana,” Julie said.

  “Ah, eavesdropping,” Kitturian said. “Not a habit I would recommend, Miss…?”

  “Julie, sir. And I apologize, it’s just that I couldn’t help but hear…”

  “Couldn’t help? Oh, don’t be modest. Hearing through a closed door requires quite the commitment. By the way, you’ve been shadowing me, aren’t you? Subtlety clearly isn’t your strong suit.”

  Caught off guard, Julie found herself uncharacteristically silent—a rare and telling moment.

  “I suspect Madam Nerivana wouldn’t be amused to find out her servants are playing spy in the shadows, overhearing things not meant for them,” Kitturian said.

  “Okay, yes. You caught me. I was listening in,” Julie said. “But before you say anything else, you need to know something: that girl you’re talking about? Rose? She’s my cousin, and I know in my heart she would never do this.”

  “Interesting. You ‘know in your heart,’ do you? Is that intuition, evidence, or just a particularly sentimental guess?”

  “I just know her better than anyone, sir. She’d never do something like that. Not in a million years.”

  “Fascinating defense, but emotions and biases often blur the lines. What matters is evidence, not gut feelings.”

  “Wait a second. You want to talk about bias? Then let’s discuss how Madam Nerivana hasn’t given Rose a single fair chance since this whole thing started!”

  Kitturian looked at her, his head tilted slightly to one side. His expression shifted from puzzlement to something more calculated.

  “Madam Nerivana’s bias is irrelevant. I’m not here to be fair; I’m here to be right. If your cousin is innocent, the evidence will say so.”

  “Really? That’s wonderful. All we need is for the facts to be heard, and then everything will be clear! Thank you. This means everything!”

  “You’re welcome. Now, let’s skip to the part where you tell me about yourself.”

  “Oh! Well, nothing too exciting to tell. I only started working as a maid for the Nerivanas this spring. Actually, Rose’s the whole reason I got this opportunity. I owe everything to her.”

  “The household, its people—how well do you understand the dynamics? Anything useful?”

  “I mean, sure, I see everyone going about their daily routines and we chat sometimes. But that’s about it.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  “That’ll do. You know the routines, the faces—valuable enough for now. Care to assist?”

  The request came at Julie with such stealth and surprise; she wondered if her ears were not playing the same sort of trick on her. Her eyes opened wide, mirroring the ‘O’ her mouth formed in surprise.

  “Assist you? Me?” she said. “But what about my duties? I’ll get in trouble!”

  “Duties? Right. Were they on pause when you decided to dabble in espionage?” Kitturian said. “Don’t worry. I’ll speak to Madam Nerivana if needed. I highly doubt she’ll mind if you happen to assist in finding her precious heirloom.”

  Julie weighed the proposal carefully. The chance to prove Rose’s innocence made the decision quite simple in the end. After all, opportunities to collaborate with a detective did not come along every day, and it was not the sort of thing to let slip by without a second thought.

  “Okay, then,” she said. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you. But, sir, shouldn’t you suspect me as well?”

  “Everyone is a suspect,” Kitturian said. “It’s the essence of a proper investigation. Ready to dive in, Miss Julie?”

  §

  Julie led Kitturian to the living quarters she shared with Rose. A scanner passed its blue beam over Kitturian’s face and released the door with a soft click.

  The room was cleverly designed, with walls lined with hidden storage compartments. There was a compact kitchenette for basic needs and separate sleeping areas for Julie and Rose, with a sliding partition for privacy. Each side had a bed with storage underneath, a small wardrobe, and a display screen for communication and entertainment. Rose sat on her bed and looked up in surprise as they entered.

  “Rose, are you okay?” Julie asked.

  “Okay? No, I am not okay,” Rose said. “I’ve been wrongfully accused, wrongfully blamed, and now I’m stuck here like some criminal! It’s completely unfair!”

  “Yeah, this situation stinks. But hey, you’ve got a detective here who’s going to help sort it out, okay?”

  “Ha, like a detective can actually do anything,” Rose said. “Madam Nerivana has already decided I’m guilty, and now he’s here to make it official.”

  “Let’s get one thing straight,” Kitturian said. “I’m not on your side, and I’m not on hers. I’m on the side of the evidence. If you have nothing to hide, that should suit you perfectly.”

  “And I’m helping him,” Julie added. “So you can trust this will be handled fairly and honestly.”

  “Alright, time to establish some ground rules,” Kitturian said. “Your role? Offer insight and resist the urge to meddle. I need your insider knowledge, not another cook in the kitchen.”

  “Got it,” Julie said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to clear Rose’s name.”

  “Thank you, Julie,” Rose said, looking a touch relieved. “And sorry if I come across as a bit… pessimistic.”

  “Time for a few inquiries,” Kitturian said. “I need details about your role here. How long have you served Madam Nerivana, and what exactly do you do?”

  “Two years, I’ve been here. As a maid, my duties include…”

  “Yes, I am aware of typical maid duties. Please specify any tasks that may set you apart from another maid.”

  “I-uh, I’m in charge of Madam Nerivana’s quarters. I clean, organize, and, uh, make sure everything is in order.”

  “I need a rundown of your cleaning activities in Madam Nerivana’s quarters this morning. Was there anything that struck you as unusual?”

  “Cleaning activities? Uh, well, I first dusted off the furniture, then mopped the floor, and tidied up the shelves… but, no, nothing unusual, I don’t think.”

  “And what about the Star? Was it present during your cleaning routine?”

  “Yes, it was there. But I didn’t touch it.”

  “You have to believe her,” Julie said. “Because Rose? She is the most honest person ever! Trust me, stealing wouldn’t even cross her mind.”

  “Remember our agreement?” Kitturian said. “No intruding. Your job is to assist, not to interfere.”

  “Right, sorry.”

  “One more detail, Miss Rose. I noticed the window in Madam Nerivana’s study was open. Did you leave it that way when you left?”

  “Yes, I opened that window. It's part of my routine, actually. But if you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, that window has a security system that would go off if anyone tried to climb through. And the only people who could even get to that window are family and staff.”

  “Thank you for your cooperation,” Kitturian said. “Your insight has been invaluable.”