"So you're better than Sumner?"

My face flushed. "I'm not saying that, it's just… my training is-"

"That's all right," he said, smiling. "Look. I didn't mean to hold you up. I'll get straight to why I'm here. I want your client list." He must have seen my jaw tighten, so he raised his hand. "Now, don't get antsy. I won't force you to turn it over-"

"You're right about that," I snapped. "In Georgia tattooing is practically a medical procedure-that list is private, and sensitive. I could lose my license if I gave it to you without a warrant, and I really doubt you can get a warrant."

"Really?" Philip said, raising an eyebrow. "You don't think I could get a warrant?"

"Maybe," I said, "if you were investigating a crime, and not trying to prevent one. Unless I or one of my clients were suspects in the prior killings. Are we suspects?"

"Well, no, but given the circumstances there are other legal avenues I could-" Philip began, then stopped. "Look, I'm not trying to be a dick here. I know how the Edgeworld works-I don't want to come down heavy and scare off the very people I want to protect. But I would like to talk to you about setting up a procedure to warn your client base. They could be targets… if you are as good as you look."

His eyes were drifting over the tattoos on my arms, but his mouth quirked up a bit as he said it, and I gaped. I could swear the cheeky little gnome was hitting on me! OK, perhaps "gnome" was too strong: that was just an automatic reaction to an advance from anyone in a suit. Strip him out of the suit, on the other hand… he'd be buffer than Alex Nicholson. Oh my. Either way, I was too dumbfounded to speak, so he continued.

"Think it over," he said, all serious. "I know you think I'm spooky-black-helicopter man, but I'm really a nice guy who doesn't want to see you or any of your clients hurt. Please think about how we might warn them-perhaps you could contact them, let us know who's willing to talk to us?" He held up his hands. "No innuendo here-seriously. Twelve people have been killed. I don't want to see that number hit thirteen. You should think about it."