Nighthawks?
Once her thoughts turned in that direction, Angel quickly found more evidence.
For example, Police Chief Duller did not show much respect for Hopper, a senior inspector four ranks above him. And this senior inspector's mannerisms and speech did not quite match the "Sivellaus Field" style people had described...
Of course, even if he was an official Sequence 7 Beyonder who had been granted the rank of senior inspector, he was not necessarily a Nighthawk. He could also have been one of the Mandated Punishers or Machinery Hivemind.
However, Angel sensed something familiar in his movements and gaze. He resembled the "Nightmare" she had encountered before.
If Senior Inspector Hopper was indeed a "Nightmare," then the people and matters involved in the Difference Engine manuscript in her possession were likely far more complicated than they appeared...
It was highly likely that Beyonders had been involved, which was why it had drawn the Nighthawks' attention!
The more Angel thought about it, the more certain she became. She subconsciously looked toward the study, where there was a hidden compartment behind the bookshelf. The document bag containing the manuscript was inside, waiting for the Secret Gathering two days later.
"Looks like I need to make some preparations. If nothing unexpected happens, this Nighthawk will come back to investigate again in the latter half of the night, in a dream..."
As she pondered this, she returned to the open kitchen beside the dining room, only to discover that the eggs and bacon she had fried were stuck fast to the pan, giving off a burnt smell.
"Ah, I can only eat one egg now..."
After tossing the ruined breakfast into the trash, Angel fried another serving and filled her stomach with toast and cream.
The skies over Backlund were unusually clear today.