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We slipped out of Gumshoe's apartment and down the fire-escape stairs with as little ceremony as when we arrived. We retraced our steps to the grafitti'd alley where we had emerged earlier without incident. "How do we get back?" Campsie asked. "Don't you remember the incantation?" I said sharply. "Err, I think so," she admitted sheepishly. "Okay, take my arm," I said more gently, "And we'll do this together." Muttering a series of words which would be incomprehensible to almost all human ears, we stepped forward into the brightly-painted brickwork and promptly disappeared. Campsie staggered again as we arrived on the landing mat, but recovered quickly. We both flicked out our PI badges to show to the guards, who gave a very good - if entirely false - impression of not caring much either way, then made our way out to the street. Campsie looked up and sighed hugely. "Good to be back?" I asked. "Yes," she breathed, "Do you ever get used to it up there?" "Sure," I laughed, "Just give it fifty years or so!" She laughed too. We set off back to the office. On the way, somebody made a spirited attempt to pick my pocket. It was in one of the more crowded sections of the transit tubes, where a mass of people were jostling to get into the tube entrance. Interestingly, whoever it was, they didn't seem to go for my wallet - not much in there anyway - or even for my gun. They seemed to be seeking something specific. I grabbed the perp's wrist less than a second after his hand was inside my coat. I'm fast like that, when I have to be. He panicked and tried to pull away, but I swung him around and looked him directly in the eyes. I'd certainly recognise him again. "You're going to have to try harder than that!" I snarled, then I pushed him hard against the rock walls of the tunnel. He fell, spun around, then scrambled off as quickly as I could. "Who was that?" Campsie asked. She had stopped a few yards further down the tunnel and had missed most of the action behind her. "A clue," I said, "A clue who had his hand in my coat pockets." She looked bemused. "Let's get some coffee," I said, "And I'll explain."
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Part 17