The room's appearance shows it's function.  It's filled with crystals, and mirrors of various shades and sizes.  Its steel walls and bare stone floor make it look more like a safe than parlor, though a fine oak table and several well cushioned chairs sit in the center of the room.   The only light comes from the center of the table, where a young human woman of very generous girth is watching a scene of delight in a crystal ball some 20 inches across, and apparently taking quick notes in short hand.  She looks up as Lady Nightshade and Ithi'ka enter, and smiles a contented smile at her employer.  "No alarms tonight, boss." She says, and frowns suddenly.  "Not like last night."<br/><br/>Nightshade nods, and walks over to the young woman, placing a kind hand on her shoulder.  "It's not your fault, Mary.  You couldn't have predicted what happened, and I certainly had no worries about it."<br/><br/>The young woman's smile returns somewhat diminished, and she nods.  "If you say so."<br/><br/>Lady Nightshade takes a seat, and motions for Ithi'ka to do so as well.  "I know why you're here, my<br/>dear." She addresses Ithi'ka quietly.  "You've something for me to sell for you.  I'd be glad to do so, of course, but I brought you here first.  You see, I've a bit of a problem... one I hope you can solve for me."<br/><br/>She guestures around the room.  "This is the crystal room.  Most of these are fakes of course, though all have a magical aura.  The others are mostly Clairvoyance and Clairaudiance crystals, linked to my staff rooms.  I show you this to explain what I need to show you.  You see, last night, a man was murdered in one of our staff rooms here."<br/><br/>She frowns.  "We only monitor the staff rooms if we have reason to believe there's a chance of danger, and the man who was killed was a staff member of the Military Intelegence unit near here."<br/><br/>((Nightshade is not aware of Ithi'ka's own employment with the military, for obvious reasons.))<br/><br/>This man usually asks for one of our two changlings on staff... he's got a hate on against his C.O. apparently, and he comes here to let off some steam on a harmless replica.  He pays... or paid well, and never left more than bruises, so the staff member was happy enough to get his money... something of a masochistic personality."<br/><br/>Nightshade sighs then, the most human she's acted so far.  "Last night should have been no different.  He came same time as usual in the month, and my girl... Her name is June." She says suddenly.<br/><br/>"June met him in the lobby, and they headed straight upstairs."<br/><br/>Nightshade looks pained.  "I should have suspected something was going on then, as June likes to hang around the parlor with her guests for a while, catch Talia's act, get a drink or two.  But I figured at the time that he must have been in a really bad mood, and June didn't want him acting it out downstairs."<br/><br/>"Next thing I know, this morning when Robin... he's our maid." Nightshade explains with another sigh.  "When Robin came screaming downstairs that there was a dead man in the 'dungeon' room upstairs.  And of course it happens on a morning when one of the watch is in for a chat."<br/><br/>She looks grim.  "I've managed to stall a full investigation so far.  Talia's been keeping them laughing for hours.  But sooner or later their going to remember their jobs, and ask to know WHO the body upstairs is, and who killed him."<br/><br/>She looks straight at Ithi'ka then.  "I know you have the skills to help me. I need the killer before the watch asks me for them.  It was a changling, of that I'm sure.  But I'd swear it wasn't June.  It doesn't help that June's been missing since I saw her going up the stairs last night."<br/><br/>Lady Nightshade looks at Ithi'ka. "This is the situation.  If I don't hand the watch a killer, one they can test under a detect lies globe, or one they can ask questions of his delayed spirit, I'm going to be shut down. The sergeant who runs this part of the City Watch has been looking for a reason to shut me down for months now, and he won't miss this chance.  A full investigation here would ruin me, and he knows it, but I've got enough powerful clients that so far, he's been unable to get a request for such an investigation through channels.  But with a murder of a Military Officer?  He'll get his investigation.  I think we can keep things quiet for another 24 hours... but after that, if we haven't got our killer, I may as well close down, and save him the trouble."<br/><br/>She sighs.  "I hadn't time to find a good investigator that's not connected to the watch somehow." Suddenly she grins.  "And then you walked in.  Can you help me?  Believe me when I say, I can make it worth your time."