I hired a merc in the inn at Windhelm. Never knew him, now I'll never know him. Although I haven't been back, maybe I got a bounty from that?

I've moved this to the Spoilers section.

Seriously, though - this thread is looking for a hint, about a quest - the details of which are innately a spoiler. So it really should have gone here from the beginning anyway.

In any case, back on topic.