by Mac Flynn
I led the way outside where a black limo awaited us. The windows were so tinted I wondered if they were one-way mirrors. Puer himself opened the door, and I followed Dives into the dark interior. Lush leather and a small fridge awaited us. I took the seat opposite Dives, and in a few moments we traveled down the road.
I leaned back and looked to Dives. "So how does this Lasco person work, anyway?"
"Latro, and in a flashy manner," he told me. "Latro's main objective is to tell the world that the paranormal is real."
I raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
He shrugged. "I haven't asked for motivations, but Latro probably had parents or a second cousin-twice-removed killed by a death maggot or were-rabbit, and is seeking revenge."
My face fell. "Those things don't actually exist, do they? And what the hell is a death maggot, anyway?" Dives opened his mouth, but I held up my hand. "Wait, on second thought I don't want to know. The less I know the more I like."
He leaned back and stretched his arms across the top of the seat as he studied me with that evil yellowish twinkle in his eyes. "Actually, the paranormal world is quite interesting, and lucrative. Cotio makes quite a killing on the items he sells."
I snorted. "After seeing what you could do last night I don't doubt killing is involved, and I'd rather not have my hands in that stuff. Blood's too hard to wash out."
He chuckled. "Perhaps you're right, but I forgot to tell you about the rules for Cotio's shop."
I raised an eyebrow. "What rules?"
He held up three fingers and dropped them with each rule he listed. "First, no touching anything. I would also avoid looking at any of this books, otherwise you might find them staring back at you. Second, don't go wandering through the store. His shop is full of booby traps for those with a lesser purse than me."
I snorted. "Like everybody."
There remained one finger, and he held that out to me. "And finally, and perhaps most importantly, don't make any sudden motions. Cotio is friendly with people he knows, but he's very nervous around strangers."
I frowned. "So what would happen if I tried to scare him?"
Dives grinned. "Have you ever wanted to know what it felt like to have a vial of acid thrown in your face?"
I cringed. "Point taken."
Puer drove us through urbana and back into the commercial districts, but not the sections with the high-rises and skyscrapers. We drove to the older district where four-floor brick buildings still reigned. The ground-floor windows were wide and showed off the merchandise. Back-alleys with rear doors delivered the goods, and some of the buildings sported apartments on their upper floors where air conditioners hung out the windows. Parking hadn't been on the minds of the street architects at the time of construction, so Puer parked us in a public parking lot and we stepped out.
Puer opened the door, and Dives and I stepped out. "Stay here. This shouldn't take too long," Dives assured him.
Puer bowed his head. "Very well."
Dives led me onto the sidewalk and down the street. Ancient streetlights hung over us as we walked down the cracked brick sidewalks. Shoppers passed by us holding bags filled clothes, jewelry, and the occasional tin of cocoa for these long autumn nights.
We reached one of the older three-floor brick buildings. There was a large window on one side that showed off cheap jewelry, and to the left stood the wooden door with a long, tall glass in the center. The worn sign over the front of the building read 'Cotio's Curiosities.'
Dives paused in front of the door and half-turned to me. "You remember the three rules?"
I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Yes, Mommy. No touching, no running, and no sneezing."
I was surprised when he frowned. "This is serious. What are they?"
I raised an eyebrow, but counted down the rules with my fingers. "No touching, looking, or scaring the owner."
He nodded his head and a smile graced his lips once more. "And stay close to me. I wouldn't want to lose you so soon after I found you."
Dives opened the door and we stepped inside the shop. A bell above the door chimed our entrance. The old musty building smelled like the pages of dried books and herbs. Shelves lined the walls on either side of us and center, and didn't stop until they reached the wall halfway down the shop. The shelves were covered in jars, boxes, and tins full of food, dolls, kits, and other stuff I couldn't quite identify. Some of the kits looked like they held dried heads, and some of the dolls stared at us with a little too much intensity.
My eyes caught sight of a familiar tin. The cocoa I'd seen in someone's bag. I pointed at the tin. "So is Cotio a grocer or a broker?"
"A broker is many things, but I wouldn't believe every label you read," he advised me.
We strode through the aisles to the central wall. A long desk ran along half the wall and behind it was the only door to the rear of the building. A mess of fabric, dolls, tins, and what looked like dirt was piled high on the desk. There was also a small silver bell like you'd see in a hotel.
Dives stopped in front of the bell and gave it a couple of rings. "Cotio? I know you're here. You never leave."
A head popped up from behind the desk. I started back, but Dives only widened his smile. The head belonged to a short man of some five feet who wore a black suit and red tie. His fine short hair was slicked back and he looked at Dives with piercing black eyes.
"Where else would I be?" the man countered.
Dives shrugged. "Bermuda?"
The man cringed. "And get lost in that triangle?" He closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, not for me. I'm glad to be here in my shop waiting for all my fine customers."
Dives set his arm on the counter and leaned towards Cotio. "I was informed of a different type of visitor this morning."
Cotio frowned and his dark bushy eyebrows crashed down over his dark eyes. "Yes, and rather unpleasant, it was. Latro nearly removed my head when I refused to relinquish my client list."
"Latro isn't one to take 'no' for an answer," Dives agreed. "But was that all Latro was looking for?"
Cotio pursed his lips. "That hunter was asking questions about you again."
Dives raised an eyebrow. "The usual ones?"
Cotio shook his head. "No, some other ones. Like how much you spent a month and through what bank. I told that stupid hunter I couldn't divulge any of that information."
"But you didn't give it?" Dives asked him.
Cotio stood to his full five-foot nothing height and puffed out his chest. "Do you think so little of me?"
"No, but-" The conversation was interrupted by a loud, melodious burst of song. It came from the door behind Cotio. Dives raised an eyebrow and looked to the proprietor. "What was that?"
Cotio blushed and shook his head. "N-nothing! Nothing at all!"
The access to the rear of the desk was an opening to our left and on the side. Dives pushed off the counter and strode around to the access. Cotio jumped in front of him and held out his hands.
"You can't go back there! It's employees only!" the owner insisted.
"I doubt you'll be calling the police on me for trespassing," Dives countered.
Dives pushed past Cotio and through the rear door. I hurried after him and was behind Cotio when I slipped into the back. The rear of the shop was filled with wooden crates and metal boxes stacked to the ceiling. A few cages sat on the old wooden floorboards. Most were empty, but Dives stopped at one at the very back that held a very feathery surprise.
Cotio and I followed Dives, and my eyes widened as I beheld the brilliant creature that stood in the cage. It resembled a peacock, but its feathers were all the colors of the rainbow, and more. Its sleek body and long neck were covered in a soft white down of feathers, and its cylindrical head was topped by a large crest of feathers. A halo of light surrounded the creature and its beady green eyes watched us with more intelligence than the normal bird-brain.
Dives pursed his lips and
his eyes flickered to Cotio. "Where did you get this?"
Cotio shrank beneath Dives's frowned and nervously smiled. "In the Himalayans. It was very difficult to catch, and very expensive."
"Who bought it?" Dives questioned him.
Cotio shook his head. "You know I can't-hey!" Dives had picked him up by the collar and lifted him off the ground so they were face-to-face.
"Who bought the phoenix?" Dives growled. I started back and whipped my head to the bird. It definitely looked like that.
Cotio cringed and turned his face away. "I-it was Fox, okay? Fox!" Dives dropped him to the floor and Cotio landed on his knees. He sat up and clapped his hands together as he looked imploringly at Dives. "But please don't tell him! I'd lose all my customers if I lost him!"
Dives glanced back at the bird. Its eyes stared back. "What's he going to do with it?"
Cotio's eyes widened and he shook his head. "I don't know. I never ask that question. But you won't tell, will you? It would hurt your trade, as well."
"Fox?" I spoke up.
Dives dropped Cotio. He half-turned to me and showed off his frown. "William Fox."
My eyes widened. "You mean the William Fox?"
Dives nodded. "The only one."
I stared down at the floor and blinked. "Wow. William Fox, the billionaire in charge of Indigo Industries, bought a phoenix." I raised an eyebrow and furrowed my brow. "You think he wants it as a mascot?"
The bell above the door rang. Cotio cringed and slid towards the central door. "If you'll excuse me, a customer awaits." He slipped through the door and shut it behind him.
I turned to Dives. "So what's so special about having a phoenix? Besides home fire insurance not covering its habit of combusting."
Dives pursed his lips and shook his head. "I'm not sure, but it's a very rare creature and Fox never buys anything except for a purpose." He glanced at the bird who continued to stare at us. "Unfortunately, there's not much we can do. Even if Fox bought the creature illegally there's no system in the paranormal world to stop smuggling of this nature."
"I'd hate for normal people to get a hold of it. The thing would be plucked dry," I commented.
He nodded. "I agree. But we should-" A horrible cry came from the front of the shop.
CHAPTER 9