Wait a minute,” Hadrian said. “Was it a beat-up brown leather notebook?
About this big?” He gestured with his hands.
“Yes,” the Patriarch said.
Arista looked back and forth between them. “How do you know that?”
“I know it because I have lived in the Crown Tower,” the Patriarch
said.
“And you?” Arista looked at Hadrian, who hesitated.
“Ha-ha! Of course, of course. I knew it!” Cosmos DeLur chuckled and
clapped his hands together in single applause while smiling at Hadrian.
“Such a wonderfully delightful rumor as that had to be true. That is
an exquisite accomplishment.”
“You stole it?” Arista asked.
“Yes, he did,” the Patriarch declared.
“Actually,” Hadrian said, “Royce and I did, but we put it back the next night.
