". . . and the guy paid for all those flowers in cash. No payment plan or anything."

"That ridiculous," I said out of the corner of my mouth finishing my last bite of roast beef.

"It is!" Everett pointed at me with a forkful of potatoes. "It's like all the odd ones came out once you left." The two of us prodded at our food, allowing a moment of silence to pass between us. "You seem troubled Ellowyn. I doubt it's every day you make dinner for men you just met."

"The doctor and I were working on getting your arm open, to look at what's jamming it. All we could find was the panel for the keyhole. There are initials around it, S.E.B, the doctor saw that and lost it, he's so excited. He's convinced is some master of mechanical creation invented it and he's been trying to find the man forever." I cleared our plates, "He said it means the master was on the island during the great collapse, he's going to hole up in the library and search public records until the thread runs out. Then there is the inevitable period of depression that follows, and I have to pick up the pieces."

"The doctor is a complicated man, then." He joined me at the sink and started drying what I had washed. "I know what it's like to lose a parent, at least yours comes back. Eventually."

I shrugged. "I lost my birth parents too. They were medics in the great collapse. The survived the war just to die at home."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Ellowyn. My parents worked in the factories too. The great collapse didn't get them. Mom and Dad owned a greenhouse, the only time people needed flowers was for funerals during the war so they, like everyone else went to work in the factories. Mom went back to the greenhouse with me after the great collapse and dad stayed in the factory. The air ended up destroying their lungs.

The people of the West End are fortunate to have you and the doctor." He added.

"They are. We're able to do most of it on donation. Princes and generals are willing to drop large sums of money to be both functional and fashionable." I rolled my eyes.

In the apartment beneath us, the door slammed and there was the sound of moving furniture was accompanied by shuffling feet.

"Loud neighbors, huh?"

"No, the doctor's apartment is downstairs. He usually sleeps in the shop. I don't think this change of habit is necessarily a good sign."

"Maybe it would be a good idea for you to visit him, Ellowyn. Either way, I should get going. The last thing I want is to be hit by a stray streetcar in the dark." He shook my hand and I walked him out.

"Wish me luck," I called after him, knocking on the doctor's door.

"Ellowyn? Is something the matter?" He slid out the door closing it with a click behind him. I knew it had to be a mess. He hadn't been there in months.

"I just heard you come in, did you get the chance to eat I saved you some leftovers."

"I ate on the way to the library. Everything is fine, better than fine even. I have so much to read through, and a great deal to show you tomorrow. Good night Ellowyn." He slid back behind the door.

"Goodnight Doctor."

#

Once in the shop, I found a stack of books nearly the height of the doctor of the counter, topped by an arrangement of flowers.

"Hello, Ellow!" He called stepping into the center of the shop.

"Good morning Doctor." I sat up on the counter swinging my legs. "I see you're wearing your adventuring arm." I smiled; glad to see him in such good spirits. "and leg of course."

"I found the ship manifests. A man came over with the initials S.E.B, stayed for the great collapse, left immediately afterward, and he returned to the old country. I won't be able to go to the old country, not without good reason, but I can explore the great collapse. Maybe he left some clue behind."

"Speaking of clues, Capricorn stole this from Everett." I let the key roll off my palm into his.

The doctor's eyes lit up as he set the arm on the counter and inserted the key with a clink. He twisted it counter clockwise and the panels of the arm slid over one another reducing the size of the limb. "Fascinating, do you think Everett would mind if I kept this? Not forever, just long enough to study its construction."

"For a few more days sure, I do think he misses it. He doesn't have a standard nerve port arrangement. I'm a little worried about the modification I rigged up. I'd hate for him to get an infection."

"You brilliant girl, doing everything in your power for the patient." He smiled gently, examining the shoulder cap. "Cancel all my appointments for the day. Tell them something has come up. He tucked it under his arm."

"Are you certain?"

"Absolutely." The workshop door clicked shut behind him, "Oh and Ellowyn," He emerged once more, "The flowers are for you."

I twirled the tag between my fingers, Ellowyn, for catching the cat burglar –Everett Greene.

"It's not really catching him if he lives with me," I remarked quietly to myself, setting the vase in the sun where it could be admired before making my deliveries for the day.

*

By the time I returned home I smelled like the smog of the West End factories. I tossed my boots against the wall, sending a black streak of fur running my direction. "Hello boy, I'm home." He nuzzled his damp, cold nose against my face. "I missed you too."

He meowed defiantly as I set him back on the floor.

"It's not time for dinner, yet." I kicked my dress in a crumpled heap across the hall running hot water for a bath. "Do you think we should have Everett over for dinner again?" I dipped a foot in stirring soap into the water. "He seems nice enough, and I don't think we're going to be seeing the doctor anytime soon."

I sunk into the water up to my chin, letting the warm water encase me. The doctor was still in good spirits; maybe this quest wouldn't go awry. Everett's arm was a fascinating piece of machinery and the master certainly lived up to his namesake. I still couldn't help but wonder why someone so gifted would work so hard to stay secret. Why was the doctor so obsessed with finding this man? He was talented himself, world-renowned even, why search for someone who was possibly dead.

I lather up my hair and dunked my head underwater, dreading the moment I'd have to leave the tub and see all the grime I'd inevitably leave behind.

Capricorn came darting into the room and balanced on edge of the tub and batted at the bubble. "You're going to fall in."

No sooner did I speak, Capricorn came crashing into the water with an unceremonious splash. I leapt to my feet and fished him out of the suds. So much for peace and quiet, I though feeling the sting of the cold air on my wet skin. I wrapped Capricorn in the towel originally meant for me. Still surprised by his fall he didn't fight against my attempts to dry him.

Someone knocked at the door and sent the wet ball of fur catapulting from my arms. "Just a minute!" I called rushing into my room and making myself decent.

Everett stood in my doorway flowers in one arm, a bag of takeout in the other. "I thought it was only that I bought food tonight."

"Everett you didn't need to."

"Neither of us have anyone to dine with. I've met your cat and he isn't much for conversation." He scooped up Capricorn, the tiny kitten dwarfed by Everett's height.

" Capricorn is a very good listener," I added unpacking the food Everett brought.

"Rice and noodles from one of the West End food carts. It took me a minute to find where the old guy had wandered off to. He used to give a handful of us leftovers when we left the factory. He served us both. "It's hard to believe that was over ten years ago."

"Ten years ago the doctor and I lived in the same apartment. He used the scraps from work to make me toys. I'd wind all of them up and watch them race across the carpet. Eventually, I started taking them apart and putting them back together. I landed a spot in the shop after that."

"I can't imagine you being little. I just see I-wear-dresses-covered-in-oil-also-I-ride-bike Ellowyn."

"Are you mocking me Everett?" He rose his eyebrows and dramatically sipped his tea, "I'm Everett, and I work with plants. Also, I waited for my arm to break before I called Ellowyn to come to fix it. Everything that comes out of my mouth is sarcastic and Ellowyn is like, my best friend."

Everett cleared his throat and put on his best falsetto, "I talk to my cat."

"I talk to plants." I pressed my lips together trying my hardest to laugh.

Everett took another dramatic sip of his tea his face red, "So you think I'm your best friend?"

"I think we're each other's, only friend." I responded, "Somehow this island managed to be completely comprised of old people and the occasional school-aged child."

"They didn't have a school when I was younger."

"Oh please, I take back what I said, you fit in the category of old men."

"I'm serious, you either worked in a factory, or your parents could afford to send you to a boarding school on the mainland." He joined me in packing up leftovers. "Speaking of leftovers how is the good doctor?"

"Better, I do think he's up to no good. He had is adventuring arm and leg of this morning and I found a colossal stack of public records on the front counter. So he's alright for now. Your arm should be done by tomorrow."

"I'm glad to hear it!" He grinned. "It's not that this one isn't fabulous but it isn't mine. You might even say, it rubs me the wrong way."

"Everett." I scolded, "You could have told me earlier It's dangerous to wear an ill-fitting prosthetic."

"Well consider my visit twofold."

                                                                                                *

"Ten years of peace, my ass," He commented reading the newspaper on my coffee table, his right arm deflated at his side. "There's a little more to peace than just not killing each other."

"I think you might be correct but it's better than nothing." I picked away at the adhesive on the nodes, "You're rally lucky this didn't do more damage. Your skin is a little red but not torn." I examined the nodes once more, his skin warm in comparison to the metal I had been holding.

"You still look troubled Ellowyn might I know what that matter is?"

"I'm just as curious about the doctor about your arm but this obsession of his. It makes me nervous. He's wandered off before and taking over the shop isn't fun. I'm a good mechanic, a damn good mechanic. But I'm no expert, I can oversee repairs but I don't have the medical knowledge. If your skin were to tear I don't know the first this about nerves. You could lose your ability to wear out prosthetics. You'd be in pain."

"Ellowyn. I'll sleep without it. Take a day off from heavy lifting. It'll heal up. I'll be as good as new." He messed up my bangs, "I see you later, kid."

"I'm not a kid." I protested seeing him out and softly closing the door behind him.