by James Wisher
Gabriel’s throat closed up. It meant the world to him to hear her say that. He managed to say, “Thank you.”
Chapter 15
The next morning Gabriel stopped at the library before he left home and collected the notes Solan asked to see. He met Griff at headquarters and they headed over to the church together.
“Do you suppose our canary will be eager to sing this morning?” Griff asked.
“I’m not sure about eager, but Mooche doesn’t want to die and as long as we keep him safe I expect he’ll cooperate.”
Gabriel smelled mint tea as soon as they set foot inside the church. He thumped he door twice so they wouldn’t startle the old man. Solan appeared from behind the altar a minute later.
“Good morning, Gabriel, Griff, would you like tea?”
They went to the kitchen and sat down to a cup of tea. “Mooche give you any trouble?” Griff asked.
“He’s still sleeping. When I finished here I was going to take him his breakfast.”
“I brought the notes you wanted.” Gabriel pulled the notes from his pocket and handed them to the priest.
Solan set them on the table. “I’ll study them a little later.”
They finished their tea then Gabriel and Griff went down the ladder to the hideout. Solan lowered them a tray with a pot of tea and biscuits for Mooche, who still snored in the cot.
“Can I wake him?” Griff sounded so eager Gabriel didn’t have the heart to say no.
“Not too rough.”
Griff leaned down beside the unconscious information broker and pinched his nose shut. A few seconds later Mooche came sputtering awake. Griff let go and backed away.
“Breakfast time,” Gabriel handed the tray to Mooche who looked at the tea and biscuits with disdain.
“Where’s the bacon and eggs?” Mooche asked.
“With the pigs and chickens I expect,” Griff said. “If you don’t want those biscuits, I’ll eat them.”
Mooche devoured the food in a few seconds. Gabriel wouldn’t have dared try to steal a biscuit for fear of losing a finger. Mooche sighed and took a sip of tea.
“So,” Gabriel said. “Let’s get down to it.”
“What do you want to know?” Mooche asked. “Murders, thieves, drug smugglers, corrupt Watchmen?”
“Let’s start with drug smugglers,” Gabriel said.
“All right, down by the river there’s a husband and wife team that smuggles Black Lotus. They run a legal ale importing business as a cover. The black lotus is in sealed vials inside the ale casks. Only one or two casks in each delivery have the poison inside, they’re marked with a small black lotus flower near the bung.”
“We’ll check it out,” Gabriel said. “It’ll be a good test of your honesty.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“If our positions were reversed would you trust me?” Gabriel asked.
“Good point. Would you tell the priest I’d like some meat for lunch?”
* * *
The black lotus smugglers turned out to be legit and after searching their warehouse Gabriel and Griff found fifty vials of the stuff, they figured it was worth thousands in gold. While Griff finished processing the smugglers Gabriel return to the church to tell Mooche his tip worked out.
“Ah, Gabriel, I was hoping you’d stop back this afternoon,” Solan stood by the altar when he entered the church. “I finished examining your mysterious notes.”
“And?”
“They were either written by or in proximity to a demon, a powerful one. The paper absorbed a hint of the creature’s corruption.”
“Could it be the one that led the attack on the estate?”
“It could be, if nothing else this confirms our suspicion that the demon that attacked your home is the same one that tried to have me killed. We’re getting closer, Gabriel, you need to be careful, very careful.”
“I will be, but I still have my work to do,” Gabriel had hoped for more information. Confirming the involvement of the same demon in both attacks was nice but he was already pretty sure it was the case. “How’s Mooche?”
“Hungry, but he needs to lose weight if he wants to fit through the trap door so I’m putting him on a diet. I believe he’s sleeping, again.”
“When he wakes up tell him Griff and I will be by in a day or two for more information. Do you want to keep the notes?”
“No I’ve learned all I can.” Solan returned the notes to Gabriel.
He took the notes and headed for home. It’d been a good day and Gabriel thought he’d go to bed early and catch up on his sleep. Gabriel made the walk back to the mansion without having to kill anybody which was a relief. Inside he found John pacing in the entry hall.
“Is everything all right?” Gabriel asked when he saw the unflappable butler pacing and wringing his hands.
“Master Gabriel, thank goodness. His lordship needs to talk to you. He’s waiting in his office.”
Gabriel left John in the hall and went to Duncan’s office. He found his adopted father sitting behind his desk, a full tumbler of brandy in his hand. “Uncle Duncan, is everything all right.”
“Yes, yes, everything’s fine. John sent you, didn’t he? It was an argument, nothing to get upset about.” Duncan took a long pull on his glass.
“Who did you argue with?”
“Eric Ericsson. He came here and had the nerve to demand, demand mind you, that I make you tell him where you’re keeping your prisoner. The unmitigated gall of the man to walk in to my home, threaten my staff, and then demand that I do anything.”
“Eric threatened, John? He must be desperate to find out where Mooche is, but why?”
“I couldn’t tell you, but he warned me that there would be consequences if I didn’t keep him informed. Can you imagine? He actually threatened me. I told him if I saw him again or he spoke another word on this subject he could find work in another city. That shut him up and he stormed out. I’m afraid he’s going to make your life difficult, Gabriel.”
“I suspected,” Gabriel said. “We know or at least we’re pretty sure the knight commander is corrupt, and we have no idea how many guardsmen are with him. What do you think of letting me and my partner work on our own? The prisoner he’s trying to find has information about a huge number of criminals in the city. I suspect that’s why he wants to get a hold of him so bad, to shut him up.”
Duncan ran his finger around the rim of his glass, looking at the ceiling. “What you’re saying is you want to start you own Watch, comprising two men? I don’t see how that would be enough to accomplish much.”
“You’d be surprised. We can always grab an extra man or two when we need them. We’d be free to act on information as soon as we get it which will reduce the chances of word leaking out about who we’re after. If we get evidence of corrupt officers we can deal with them.”
Duncan nodded. “Good point. Things can’t continue the way they are now, with all the mistrust. We can let Erik handle the day to day patrols and guarding the low value prisoners.”
“So we have your permission?”
“Yes, after today I can’t see that Erik has a future in my city. But, Gabriel, you have to go slow. Don’t move against any nobles without discussing it with me first. And for Gods’ sake be careful.”
“I will be, and Uncle Duncan, I’m sorry I brought all this trouble down on you. It wasn’t my intention.”
“I know, my boy. It’s been a trying day.”
* * *
The next month flew by and Mooche was true to his word. Two or three times a week Gabriel and Griff would meet the former information broker and he would reveal a little more about underworld activity in Lord’s Way. The sheer quantity of information he had staggered Gabriel. Besides the smugglers, they’d arrested a pair of corrupt Watchmen, brother and sister killers for hire, and broken up a slave prostitution ring.
They made their way to the church for their meeting with Mooche, Griff a silent presence beside him. “What
do you think we’ll get today?” Gabriel asked.
“I don’t know, but I hope it’s not more corrupt Watchmen. I hate turning out one of our own even if he is crooked.”
“Agreed, but it’s better to deal with them before they can do anymore harm.”
“I guess.”
The church was ahead of them, the sun peaked above the horizon and the streets sat empty. They’d decided to make their visits early and at random to reduce the chances of anyone spotting them. They also swept the area several times a week to check for spies.
Despite the early hour the door was unlocked, not that it would have mattered if it was midnight the door still would have been unlocked. The Church of the Bright Shield never turned away those in need or wanting to pray. They entered quietly so as not to wake Solan if was still asleep.
The church was quiet so they went straight to the storeroom and down the trap door. Gabriel went first and found Mooche snoring fit to wake the dead. Gabriel waited for Griff to join him. His partner took great pleasure in waking Mooche and he wouldn’t deny him for anything.
Griff reached the bottom of the ladder and raised an eyebrow. Gabriel grinned and nodded. Griff eyed the snoring mound of flesh then sat at the end of his cot. He grabbed Mooche’s foot and tickled him. Mooche came sputtering awake and jerked his foot out of Griff’s grasp. Gabriel and Griff chuckled and Mooche scowled.
“Good morning,” Gabriel said.
“It will be once you two leave me in peace.”
“Why don’t you tell us something interesting and we’ll do that.” Gabriel said.
“I was thinking last night about a former associate of mine you fellows might be interested in. Johan deals in blood rubies. He used to pay me to provide the Watch patrol schedules so he could be where they weren’t.”
Gabriel whistled. Blood rubies were a highly addictive drug that gave the user a feeling of euphoria that lasted for days at higher doses. They looked and felt like real rubies. You had to drop them into an alcoholic beverage where they’d dissolve and you could drink them down. “I’m surprised anyone would risk selling them. The penalty is to be drawn and quartered.”
Mooche shrugged. “The harder they are to come by the more you can charge. As it is now only nobles and rich merchants can afford them. So you interested?”
“Very,” Gabriel said.
“What day of the week is it? I’ve been down in this hole so long I’ve lost track of the days.”
“It’s Wednesday,” Griff said. “Now get on with it.”
Mooche frowned at him. “Midweek he sets up in the warehouse district. Johan’s got a spot behind Southern Silk Trading’s warehouse he uses three days a week. You should be able to catch him there any time after noon. Johan likes to sleep in.”
“And?” Griff asked.
“And what?”
“What about muscle, he must have bodyguards.”
Mooche shook his head. “Are you kidding? The last thing he wants is a couple gorillas hanging around drawing attention and making the customers nervous.”
“What about rival dealers?” Gabriel asked. “Isn’t he worried about someone killing him and taking his merchandise?”
“We’ve been having these chats for a month and you still don’t understand how things work. Johan pays a fee every month to the local protection crew. Everybody knows he pays and they also know if they mess with him they’ll have to answer for it. Selling blood rubies is risky, but messing with those boys in one hundred percent lethal.”
“Thanks,” Gabriel said. “We’ll see you in a few days.”
Before he started up the ladder Mooche said, “How about a night visit? This early morning shit is for the birds.”
“We’ll see.” Gabriel climbed up and pushed the trapdoor open. “What do you think?”
Griff climbed up beside him. “I think blood rubies are way too dangerous to leave on the streets.”
They left the supply closet and the scent of mint tea caught Gabriel attention. Solan poked his head out of the kitchen door. “Morning boys, have you eaten yet?”
“No, sir,” Griff said.
“Would you like to join me? The baker’s boy brought fresh scones while you were downstairs.”
“We wouldn’t want to be a bother,” Gabriel said.
“Nonsense, I never eat alone if I can help it. By the way, Mooche’s lost enough weight that he can fit through the trapdoor. I was thinking of inviting him up for lunch. You don’t suppose he’ll run off?”
“Not a chance,” Gabriel said. “Mooche’s too fond of breathing.”
* * *
After they broke their fast they left the church, the sun colored the sky bright pink, they’d have rain before the day was over. Gabriel shook his head. It had rained every day for the last week and he was sick of it, same as everybody else.
“We’ve got about five hours to kill before the dealer gets to work,” Gabriel said. “Any thoughts on how we should spend it?”
“Let’s walk a circle so we end up in the warehouse district an hour before noon. There’s a tavern where we can get an early lunch on the way.”
Gabriel grinned. Griff never forgot about the food.
The morning patrol didn’t amount to much more than a leisurely stroll around the city. Nothing much happened during daylight hours. Day patrol was a way for the fat Watchmen to get some exercise and the old ones to run out the sand before retirement. For Gabriel and Griff it was a pleasant way to kill a few hours before the target arrived.
It was about half an hour till noon when they finished their fried fish and ale at Griff’s favorite warehouse district tavern. They left the tavern and found a place to hide behind a pile of crates outside the weapon merchant’s warehouse across the street from the silk warehouse.
“How long do you think we’ll have to wait?” Gabriel asked.
“Until he gets here.” Griff slid down the wall and settled on his heels.
Gabriel sat on a crate beside his partner. He could see across the street through gaps in the slats of the crates they hid behind. They waited for the better part of an hour before someone walked down the opposite side of the street.
Griff started to get up but Gabriel laid a restraining hand on his arm. “Let’s wait a little longer and see if a customer shows up. We can get two for the price of one.”
Griff settled back down and half an hour later an older man in blue and silver servant’s livery came walking down the street straight for the dealer loitering in the alley.
“Talk about a man out of place,” Griff said.
Gabriel nodded. The proper, stuck up servant belonged in an alley in the warehouse district like a whore belonged in a nunnery. “Looks like our man has his first customer of the day. Get ready.”
Both men got to their feet and drew their swords, but stayed crouched behind the crates. When the servant was a few steps away he drew a pouch out of an inside pocket of his uniform. It must be his drug buying uniform, most servant’s uniforms didn’t have pockets for fear they’d fill them with the good silverware. The dealer smiled and it was clear they had met before. The scowl on the servant’s face made it clear he would rather be about anywhere else. In a minute he’d really rather be somewhere else.
Gabriel couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the dealer brought out a small pouch and they traded. When they both looked down at their respective pouches Gabriel said, “Now!”
They leapt up and raced across the street. The dealer spotted them and ran, dropping the money pouch on the ground, coins spilled out in the dirt. “I’ll get this one,” Gabriel said. “Watch him.”
Gabriel sprinted after the fleeing dealer, confident his partner wouldn’t have any trouble with the gray haired servant. The dealer, Johan, was quick but Gabriel slowly closed the gap. With a huge effort he got within five feet of Johan.
The dealer must have felt him closing the gap because he put on another burst of speed and pulled away. He wouldn’t catch the speedy man dresse
d in armor. Gabriel whipped his arm forward and slung his sword between the fleeing dealer’s legs, tripping him up and sending him sprawling the ground. Before he could think about recovering Gabriel leapt on him and punched him hard in the back to force out whatever wind he had left.
Gabriel got up, recovered his sword and his breath then flipped Johan over and put the tip of his sword under his chin. “Get up, and so help me if you try to run again I’ll run you through the gut. It’s not a pretty way to die.”
Johan put his hands up. “Easy, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Wrong, you’re going to headquarters. Now get moving.”
With several none to gentle prods Gabriel guided his prisoner back to the alley. He found Griff and the buyer had attracted an audience of half a dozen bored freight handlers. Gabriel ignored them and focused on Johan, lest the man try to run again.
Griff looked his way as they approached the starting line of their race. “I thought I was going to have to come looking for you.”
“Don’t start.” Gabriel offered a good natured grin. “Did he have the goods?”
Griff dumped four glittering, crimson, stones out of the small pouch into his hand.
“How much was he getting for those little beauties?”
“I counted the coins while you were gone. There were one hundred pieces of platinum in that pouch.”
Gabriel whistled. That was more coin than most people made in a lifetime. “You two do realize the penalty for buying and selling blood rubies?”
Sullen silence answered him. “Well.” Gabriel looked at the servant. “For buying, you’ll receive life at hard labor in the iron mines. Don’t worry though a man of your age won’t last more than a few months. Johan, you have a less pleasant fate. For selling blood rubies you’ll be drawn and quartered in the city square. I understand it’s quite painful.”
The dealer was shivering. “You don’t want me. I’ll be replaced in a week. You want my supplier. If you can get me out of this alive I’ll tell you who it is.”
“I can put in a good word for you if you’re honest with me.”