Suspicion

"I don't believe that's really the Evernight Goddess's birthday," Neph said, rolling her eyes. "But whether it is doesn't matter anymore. The problem now is that her believers think it is-"

She paused, then reminded Klein, "Wait, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. I meant Leonard-have you had any contact with him since then?"

"I saw him during routine prayers." Klein shook his head. "I think he arranged that encounter deliberately, but he never made another move, so nothing came of it."

Neph sighed and shook her head. "All right, I get it now. Neither of you wants to be the first to approach the other, right?"

"If a colleague who'd been dead for ages suddenly came back to life and went out of his way to approach me, wouldn't that be strange?" Klein couldn't help retorting.

Neph paused, then smoothly changed the subject. "Have you met Hazel Macht?"

"Who?" Klein looked momentarily bewildered. "I think I remember-Councilman Macht's daughter?"

Neph nodded, and Klein asked in puzzlement, "Is something wrong with her?"

"You'll understand when you meet her." Neph shook her head, her tone mysterious.

"That should be soon, then," Klein said without much eagerness. "Once I've made enough progress in my etiquette lessons, I should be able to meet her at a banquet."

Judging by the timing, it should be sometime in the next few days. Neph glanced at him, then abruptly asked, "Do you still have Mr. Azik's Copper Whistle?"

"Why?" Klein sounded puzzled.

"No, it's nothing-" Neph pressed her lips together, said nothing more, and shook her head as she stood. "I'll come see you another day."

She left soon afterward, but walked down the street alone with a frown.

The key to opening the Death God's mausoleum had been divided into three