Lyss is clearly trying to keep a straight face, holding a hand in front of her face to hide smirks breaking through.

"What he- what gnome? Who was it?"

Aimee calls out from where she is at with,

"Don't know him! Couldhave beenour first customer!"

She smiles brightly at both Cromly and Blastwind.

Cico looks from Sergeant Cromley to Blastwind.

"What was the gnome's name?" Cico asks bluntly. "A name might trigger their memory. His face was likely unrecognizable." 

Cico looks up to the ceiling, willing his pulse to slow down but only minimally succeeding. He takes a breath and looks at Blastwind again.

"And what of the dead zhentarim? Where they coming to their front door too?"

 The elf does look at both Lyss and Aimee, wondering why they have not made comment on the mage's name yet.

Blastwind adjusts his spectacles as Cromley writes in a notepad. ”I wouldn’t worry about no Zhent’s, they seemed to be in pursuit of the Gno-“

Barnabus shoots Cromley a sharp look before pacing around Cico looking him up and down“I had hoped you would be able to answer that question. Two individuals were spotted lifting something from the Gnome’s body at separate times. One of these fit’s your description. You were then spotted attempting to flee the scene by rooftop. I am not one to jump to conclusions, but it would seem some explanation is in order.”

Cico stares at Barnabus Blastwind for several long moments without saying anything or looking away.

"Why would I ask what the Zhentarim were doing if I already knew the answer?" Cico finally asks. "That makes no sense."

Finally Cico realizes that there must have been a different question buried in what Barnabus had said.

"Sometimes people want answers but forget to ask the question," Cico recites from memory another piece of advice he'd been given.

Cico looks at Blastwind for a moment longer, waiting. Finally he sighs and takes a breath before continuing.

"Had a wished to flee, I would not have used the rooftops. They are too exposed. The alley over there would have been more suitable and you would never have found me," Cico says. "I was trying to find out what happened and see whoever caused the blast was still there."

Kerri stops the boy, "Can I see those prayer beads real quick? I'll trade you," she slips her amulet with Mystra's symbol from her pocket.

(Persuasion from Kerri and Cico)

Mister Charisma's Persuasion Roll: 15  

Cico watches Blastwind, not caring whether he's believed or not, but curious as to what the mage's reaction will be.

Edvord has stayed out of the conversation, pretending to peruse the wares of the shop. He will attempt to find a quiet corner where he can break line of sight from the investigators.

Persuasion: 13

Aimee really wants to say a bunch of definitely helpful stuff but needs to finish her thing first. Then she will explain everything!

(It's been an hour - Aimee's thing is definitely finished.)

The child stares between the necklace and the amulet, hesitant. His eyes lock with Kerri's and he sheepishly pulls out the necklace. "You seem nice, most adults aren't. I'll swap if you like. What's your name? I'm Martem." He juts out his hand to shake before running off to the pastry shop once you've aquainted and swapped. (So you reconvene with everyone at Rishaal's as the timeline's converge?)

The pair give eachother a look, and both men seem to tense up. 

"Playing dumb I see. You know we were referring to the name of the gnome. I have seen every avoidance technique in the book. Your insistence on focusing on the Zhentarim implies you may be part of a rival gang. Xanathar's maybe?" 

Cromley stands between Cico and the others, panicked "Get back everyone, this man could be dangerous."

Blastwind paces back and forth, confidently gloating. "You see, you criminals can never resist a little boast. 'You would never find me' you said, as you suggested escaping down a barricaded alley. An alley, that features a manhole. A manhole that leads to a sewer in which the unique composition of the faecal matter matches that on the Gnome's clothing."

"Bravo sir, genius as always"

"So.... accomplice, empty your pockets and bag so we shall find just what dastardly deeds you and his gnome have been up to. Unless we will need to call the guards?"

Aimee raises her hand and waits to be called on. She mind talks to Lyss with wider smile than usual,

<Mr. Blastwind is an expert on poo!>

If she has to wait too long (15-30 seconds) she'll ask politely,

"May I provide some valuable information?"

She'll roll on from there whether they say yes or not,

"Mr. Cico is an assessor monk! He came over to assess work the Trollskull Manor needs, we're trying to fix it up! Now he lives with us, in the room next to mine! Also he was just about to buy me some pastries when everything blew up! He's super nice and would never be part of a bad gang! Huh, Lyss! Please Misters, he is like a big, weird brother!"

Persuasion: 18

She mind sends to Lyss,

<Too much? Should I start the crying? Should you?>

Cromley tries to hush Aimee, speaking with true compassion "Now, now. I'm sure he seemed very convincing and that's the sad thing about this world. Sometimes the baddun's seem like friends. Master Blastwind is a true genius, he'll get to the bottom of this and you'll all be safe. "

Lyss stamps a foot. "Typical Watch! Something bad happens and you look to whoever is easiest to pin it on, rather than finding the REAL people who did it. We were just about to have breakfast, when the front of our home blew in... with dead people! And... and it was awful! And my friends ran out to help, and there were so many people injured, or worse, and Mister Cico was trying to find out what was going on, and it smelled like burnt person, and that other guard wouldn't let us have pastries, and don't take Mister Cico away, and I haven't had breakfast!"

Lyss is getting tearful and overwrought, approaching Blastfart and latching onto his leg (or Cromley's if he intercedes).

Cico nods when Blastwind mentions the sewers.

"Ah, that's what it was," Cico says, taking the cloth with the 'muck' sample out of his pocket. "So the gnome came through the sewers to get here."

Cico is too busy thinking about what that might mean to pay much attention to Blastwind's demeanor.

"But then how did the attacker know the gnome was coming here?" Cico asks the room. "They must have known where the gnome was going to begin with." 

He does pause and looks a little uncomfortable when Lyss and Aimee step in to vouch for him. But even if it's just an act, being called a weird older brother makes him feel good. Feeling anything is often a surprise but to feel good was something special.

"It is . . .," Cico begins but then stops when he notices the attention from Blastwind and Cromley. Both thumbs begin rubbing the index fingers next to them as he looks away from the two inquisitors.

"Lyss is right," Cico finally says, speaking to a spot on the floor, "How else could so many gangs operate so freely in this city? Incompetence or corruption?"

Too late Cico remembers one of his mantras that he repeats several times to himself "if speaking won't help, then don't."

Kerri rejoins the others, "Sorry about that, there was a child over there... what on earth is going on?"

"The watch are harassing poor Mr. Cico! They say he is a gang member!"

"That's not fair! He just always says exactly what he thinks. It's nice! Most adults don't like to say things like they are, they tell kids like me lies, just because they think we can't handle it."