Just as Shade had guessed, although Moon Bay City Police Department in the city center was not far from the Parsifal Club, the journey after the second round still took exactly an hour, not a second less.
Thus, when Shade stepped down from the carriage, it was already past three thirty that afternoon. Meanwhile, the Detective had likewise spent an hour entering Dawn Church. Seemed he would need to do some persuading next to get The Church's help. But given that policeman's Social Credit, it was surely only a minor problem that would cost a few action rounds.
The Silent One, who had arrived at the police station early, was nowhere to be seen. From the conversation of the three people atop the Clock Tower that Shade had heard, he learned that The Silent One, who had already entered the police station, had begun his third round. No matter what checks he made next, he would be one step ahead, and once a confrontation began, priority would grant him additional bonuses.
"The weather is truly awful."
Having decided to end this game in this round, Shade complained as he paid the coachman an exorbitant fare—the carriage ride had taken far too long—then turned and prepared to enter the Police Department.
Though this was also in downtown Moon Bay City, it was a full two blocks away from Belinder Big Ben. The Witches atop the Clock Tower wanted to follow the successful approach from just now, having the Outlander persuade or charm someone for information before finishing with an investigation. But when Shade, standing at the entrance to the Police Department, looked up, he unexpectedly saw an acquaintance walking out:
"Mr. Ptolemy Albert."
The coroner who worked in the Lower District was the one with the little bat symbol floating above