Chapter 9

Summary

• Cyclops hires Gabe for an investigation into the missing Medici Manuscript since it contained magic and he had previous experience with tracing its origins.
• Gabe arrives at the library with Alex and Willie. They begin discussing the case with Sylvia and the professor.
• Willie asks Sylvia to not let Gabe know about their meeting the previous day when she revealed Gabe's breakup with Ivy.
• Sylvia tells the group that the thief must have worn gloves as the fingerprints found in the library were probably theirs. Cyclops was trying to eliminate them as suspects.
• They discuss their next move. Gabe plans to question the neighbors, but Sylvia doubts this will be successful due to the buildings mostly being daytime offices.
• Gabe is noticeably distant and distracted, likely due to his recent breakup, but reassures the group he will focus on the investigation.
• The group begins to discuss who had knowledge of the Medici Manuscript, coming up with a list of four people: Carl Trevelyan, Huon Barratt, Lazarus Sidwell and Francis Stray.
• They add Daisy to the list. Willie wants to investigate Daisy as she believes she might have been involved with Huon Barratt the previous night.
• Cyclops shares his theory that the thief was unfamiliar with the library and unaware of the professor's residency, and suggests it was more a crime of opportunity than a planned heist.
• Gabe is protective of Francis Stray and doesn't believe he is a likely suspect. They plan to start their questioning with Carl Trevelyan.
• Despite being followed, Gabe refuses the offer for police protection. He wants to maintain a low profile and plans to avoid any further publicity.
• As Gabe and Sylvia leave the library, Gabe confronts Sylvia about Willie's information regarding his breakup with Ivy. They align their understanding of the situation and agree to continue focusing on the investigation.
• As they travel to Trevelyan's studio, they realize they are being followed by the same vehicle again. Alex manages to lose the followers with skillful driving.
• At the studio, they confront Trevelyan about the theft, but he denies involvement. He offers them to search his studio to verify.
• A neighbour of Trevelyan's tells Gabe and Sylvia he heard a man and a woman in the studio late at night. The woman left with a small bag.
• Upon confronting Trevelyan with this information, he reveals it was a client, Madge Dowd, who was there for a late-night photography session due to her work schedule, and that she had arrived with the bag in question.
• Gabe and Sylvia become skeptical of Trevelyan's story and suspect it might have been a buyer for the manuscript instead of Madge. They pinpoint Lady Stanhope as the potential buyer and plan to pay her a visit next.