The man's eyes flick to the dwarf before focusing back on Mirella' and he says "Not a copper under 20 and this is a one time offer."

This was a big game and Mirella knew it. Like as not, this merchant already suspected who they were working for; it would hard to be a neighboring business to a brothel and not know the management. She considers a hard line approach for a moment before dismissing it. Bad public relations would likely be frowned on more than paying a bribe...

"Good information would earn the favor of my group," she says. No need to spell out the converse. Mirella hands him her entire pouch of money. "That's exactly what I brought today. Perhaps you know me better than I know you." She flashes him a wink and grin.

The man opens the bag of coins and hands her back half of it sayingol' jack will need half of this to have fun tonight. As to what I know...There's been some rumors about new folk from out of town coming in here and buying folks out. Jack hasn't been asked yet."

"Follow the buyouts? More than we've had since the start," Norston says letting a rare smile cross his lips. He was glad that none of the spent coin was his. "I'll fetch our friend," He walks off to get Colt.

Once back over to the remains of the building he says to the half-elf, "Got a lead, small one, but something,"

Mirella shares a smile with her informant as the dwarf ambles off satisfied with one tidbit, "Sorry about that...so Jack... I Can't say I'm familiar with him? He run the neighborhood or local guild of merchants? Does he give his okay on major investments here?"

"We,since i'm Jack...what do you think?" He says as he walks off putting the coins into his pocket along with the necklace

Mirella scowls a bit. So someone didn't want to sell...could it be that easy? Ask the guild who has expressed in interested in purchasing the brothel? But if that didn't pan out, it would be better to avoid a second trip out here to face the smell and site of the dead, especially in this weather.

With a deep breath, Mirella looks around at the neighboring shops in the area. Nothing to do but try them all. She picks one closest to the Lily and begins the business of inquiring if the owner is willing to sell. Failing that, she'll directly ask if anyone else has expressed an interest.

You walk into a pawn shop that's next to the former site of the Lilly. There's a low counter with a half-elf standing behind it. He looks up from some stones. His right eye has an eye piece that's meant to help he look closer at the stones. He removes it and puts it in his pocket along with moving the stones off the counter. He smiles and says "Hello dearier."

Oh there you are. Where'd you run off to? And where is Mirella?, Colt asks with annoyance in his voice when he sees Norston approaching.



What's the lead? He asks the annoyance in his voice gone.

"What a nice shop you have here," Mirella says looking about with only half-feigned interest. Shopping was always fun, especially in a pawn shop where the desperate parted ways with items for far less than their value. "Thankfully the fire didn't reach you." She smiles back at him, "I presume though that you must be curious as to who your new neighbor will be." Mirella pauses and covers her mouth. "Oh, I'm sorry; how insensitive of me...you must've known, in a friendly manner, of course, the manager and some of the employees. Terrible business..." She shakes her head, but allows a genuine shudder of revulsion at remembrance of the body and the accompanying stench.

"Terrible indeed, but I don't quit catch the meaning of what you're saying. As for who will be next in that spot, I have no clue or interest. Now, unless you're here to buy or sell please go away." He moves his hands out of sight but keeps his grey eyes focused on Mirella

"Someone's buying a lot of businesses up in the area. Word of a street vendor, but might start asking if someone does know something. Guess this Jack didn't know much,"

Norston turned to see where Jack and Mirella were, and audibly grumbled to see both were no longer there. "Ran off again... Let's quit digging and start picking some brains,"

Mirella is shocked. What businessman doesn't know the skill of small talk to make the sale? She wondered how many return customers his rudeness had driven away. Not like there was a line here...Mirella composes her features and squelches down any outward sign of her annoyance. "I'd love to see what you have insofar as lapels and pins; I have a casual yet informal occasion I need ornamentation for. I Have heard rumors of someone coming in to acquire businesses, and I wondered if this place was under new ownership."

"Then I suggest you try the shop down the block. I deal only in high value merchandise, not trinkets and such. As for who owns this shop, that would be me. "

As he says this a woman walks in. She is an elf with a scar down the right side of her face. Her hair is black with grey in it. She walks up to the counter next to you and says "Nice that the weather has cleared, Mr. Wilbanks."

He looks over at the woman and smiles saying "Indeed, it is. If you give me a moment, I can attend to our business." HE then turns his attention back to Mirella and says "If you would be so kind as to vacate my store."

Norston gets a little frustrated with looking for Mirella among those on the streets and decides to tug on the nearest piece of cloth and ask its wearer the following, "This Jack fellow, some sort of jewelry merchant hang around these parts often?"

Mirella is mere seconds away for violating the ban on magic, when the woman walks in. She had acquired "pins" that could've paid for a year of this man's income...trinkets indeed...

Instead, she decides to test her intuition. She shakes her head at the man and smiles at the newcomer, "Be careful in your business, ma'am, with this one. He has little interest in curtesy or in being a gentleman. His interest is in coin only and his approach more rude than abrupt."

Mirella smiles to herself as she heads out. His reaction to both the women and the hiding of the stones spoke more than any interrogation could. She looks for her two companions once on the street. She had been made, but now the men could prove their worth...

The woman ignores Mirella and says to Mr. Wilbanks. "So, about the objects i gave you..."

The person who you tugged on turns and looks at you showing a gap in their front teeth "Jack, he just sells what he finds and sometimes buys what is found and offered to him."

Mirella approaches her colleagues and, with a nod, indicates they should walk a few feet with her so she can speak without being heard by public ears.

"Huh. Guess a friend of mine got the details mixed up," Norston lied. "At least I'm set straight now," He left the person with the gapped teeth to their own business.

Following Mirella a little ways out of the crowd he said, "If we keep losing each other... Bah," he shook his head and wiped his hand across his brow. "Well?"