The pipe was ugly enough to be guilty.
It crossed a workshop wall through three generations of mismatched plaster, vanished behind a cupboard and emerged below a painted notice asking residents to respect the household’s ceremonial traditions.
Vera read the notice.
“There’s the problem.”
Nora set her bag beneath it. “Part of the problem. Move the cupboard.”
Felix took one end. A workshop hand took the other. They discovered a fourth patch of plaster, a small inspection cover and a spoon nobody admitted owning.
The first morning of the review had begun.
Nora opened the cover while Oss watched the lower readings. Felix fixed his portable contacts at the permitted points. The return steadied, then rose when a worker opened the cooling line.
