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why Freddy was so sure you’d recognize what you were looking for.”
    “Uh-huh. He even gave me a clue. Remember, when I tried to push him on what I’d be looking for, he said, ‘Top secret, I’m afraid.’ Clever, really.”
    “Top secret,” Victoria repeated, as if she was trying the phrase out for size. Her words were a touch more slurred than she might have liked. “But didn’t Freddy’s text say that the woman staying here is a security specialist? Maybe she has permission to be keeping the file.”
    “Not according to Freddy.”
    “Huh. And did you … you know?”
    “What?”
    “Take a peek?”
    I placed my hand on my heart. “I can’t believe you’d even ask me that.”
    “You looked,” she said, and wagged her finger at me. “You’re you, after all.”
    I squared my shoulders. “Vic, I’m working on Her Majesty’s Service, here. I’m practically a Knight of the Realm.”
    “You so looked. I know you did.”
    “I’m genuinely hurt by your accusation.”
    “Yeah, right. So what did it say?”
    I signaled to the girl behind the bar. She was busy stocking a low fridge with bottles, but she came across to us right away, wiping her hands on her apron. I requested the bill in German and told her that my colleague would like to charge it to her room. The girl nodded and moved away to the till.
    Victoria kicked me in the shin. “Cheapskate. Do you think I don’t know what you just did? You expect me to pretend to be this Parker woman.”
    “Vic, come on, I’d never underestimate you,” I said. “And anyway, I’m glad you’re up to speed. Because she’ll need you to sign off on the charge.”
    The girl returned and placed a small leather folder and a pen down on the counter in front of Victoria. Then she bid us good night and returned to her work.
    Victoria flipped open the folder. She stared at the printed bill and the spaces where she could write Jane Parker’s name and room number. She chewed her lip. Then she exhaled sharply and reached for her handbag and removed her purse, counting off a handful of euro notes.
    “You’re mad,” I told her.
    “No, just honest. There’s a difference.”
    I didn’t say anything to that, but I was sorely tempted. Speaking personally, I’d done pretty well out of the evening, at least in cash terms. I’d be able to keep Freddy’s two thousand euros for the first apartment and charge him a further two thousand five hundred for the hotel room. I had the money I’d found in the safe, and when I added all that to my finder’s fee, my earnings would be just shy of ten thousand euros. But there was no doubt in my mind they’d be a little more shy by the time Victoria had climbed down off her high horse (not to mention her bar stool) to claim her cut.
    “Here,” I said, and closed her hand around her money. “Allow me.”
    I peeled off the necessary notes from the bundle I’d found in the safe. The bundle didn’t escape Victoria’s notice.
    “How very kind,” she said. “Stop at a cash point, did we?”
    I offered her my arm and helped her down from her seat. We walked toward the exit, and I couldn’t help casting a smug glance toward the pickup artist.
    “Am I forgiven?” I asked. “For ripping off those German editors, I mean?”
    “Nope.” She shook her head. “Not even close.”
    “There must be a way I can make it up to you.”
    “You can start by telling me what’s inside the folder you’ve found.”
    “I’ll do better than that,” I told her. “I’ll show you, once we get back to my apartment. And we’ll take a taxi. My shout.”
    We stepped out from the hotel onto the street, and I signaled to a nearby cab.
    Victoria scrutinized me, as if she didn’t entirely trust her hearing. “Really?”
    “Really. And in return you can do me one tiny favor.”
    She opened her mouth to complain, but I placed my hand on her lips and shushed her.
    “All I’m asking is for you to send Freddy a text to let him know that we’ve