The severed hand of Alchemist can turn lead to gold. The hand has been stolen, and Mystique is hired to recover it–from Rio’s Carnival. She tracks it down to find it has been taken by a pre-op M2F transsexual who stole it to create money to fund her operation. Before taking the hand back, she gives the thief enough gold to fund her surgery.
Solid international adventure with a nice twist when we learn the thief’s identity and motive.