"Do they know how? When? Any idea who or why...?"

"Some time last night - they don't know how. Or who, or why. Or if they do, they haven't told me."

"Shit. On campus I can just - keep well away from any walls thick enough that I wouldn't hear the tic, but if it's been stolen - it could be anywhere, they could be gagging themselves or stuffing their mouths with caramel if they're willing to steal the damn thing in the first place -"

He winces. "Yeah. I - since I'm a tracker and immune to mind reading anyway, I'll look for it myself. But I might not find it quickly, or even at all. I - what do you want to do, Annie?"

"Flee the country?" she says weakly. "I - that's probably an overreaction. I can't stand - thinking about somebody watching me think -"

"You're allowed to flee the country if you want to. Or - house in the country, where no one could find you?"

"I - school, and - what if it isn't found quickly?"

"Tutoring, and - I... Hire guards? To watch for mind readers?"

"But I can't stay in the middle of nowhere forever. And it's stupid, they're almost certainly not interested in me specifically, or anything..."

"It's not stupid to never want your mind read," he assures, gently.

"I know, I mean it's stupid to expend that many resources on it when probably to the thieves I'm just some random person."

"Well. I'd help you anyway, because it's important to you."

"I know you would, but - I'm not asking you to. I might stay home from classes for a few days in case it blows over quickly. There's probably fewer things the thieves might want in my neighborhood than at school."

"Okay. I can pick up your homework for you before I go searching?"

"I'd appreciate that."

"I'll drop them off in a little while. I'll call you later if there are any updates, okay?"

"Of course. Be careful?"

"I will," he promises.

And the call is concluded and Annie goes to sit in the exact center of the top floor of her house.

Aldaras retrieves Annie's homework with minimal explanation, drops it off at her house, and goes to retrieve his sister to start looking for the artifact-stealing thief. Zevaia comes along without fuss.

When he gets home after a fruitless day's search, there is a note under their door from the administration - Called, but you didn't pick up. Necklace found. It did not leave the premises; it's been glued to the inside of the vase. Will not help in finding the thimble.

"Salutations?"

"Salutations. They found the necklace, but not the thimble."

"Where's the necklace?"