Tal beamed at being correct in his guess, just like a real junior detective! Or, well, detective's assistant. Look, he was helping and it made him feel very important and smart. He had no intention of leaving now, not when the investigation was getting good! So he helped Finn light the lanterns and look around a second time.
He helpfully pointed to the brick inside now that Finn could see it, too, but at the other man's question Tal's face pulled into his thinking-scowl; nose and brows wrinkling up and a baleful thousand yard stare landing on the brick in question. "Uhhh... wellll... what if heeee... hmm." It was a strong start, but there was something missing... "Promised somethin' t'one person an' then someone else came in later and was willin' t'pay more for it?" He thought his sister had mentioned something about that once; an unscrupulous merchant's trick. "If the first person was important or powerful or someone he can't afford t'piss off, he pretends the piece is stolen so he gets out of the contract an' can slide it to the other guy without any trouble?"
An invisible tail was practically wagging behind him as he waited eagerly for Finn's reaction to his brilliant deduction.
He helpfully pointed to the brick inside now that Finn could see it, too, but at the other man's question Tal's face pulled into his thinking-scowl; nose and brows wrinkling up and a baleful thousand yard stare landing on the brick in question. "Uhhh... wellll... what if heeee... hmm." It was a strong start, but there was something missing... "Promised somethin' t'one person an' then someone else came in later and was willin' t'pay more for it?" He thought his sister had mentioned something about that once; an unscrupulous merchant's trick. "If the first person was important or powerful or someone he can't afford t'piss off, he pretends the piece is stolen so he gets out of the contract an' can slide it to the other guy without any trouble?"
An invisible tail was practically wagging behind him as he waited eagerly for Finn's reaction to his brilliant deduction.
