by TR Cameron
He seemed about to argue the point, then shrugged it off. “We can’t plan in the absence of information, so this effort is all about getting some. Focus on gathering every piece of data you can while we’re there. Ideally, we’ll see patterns emerge that we can follow up on.”
“And if there aren’t any?”
Tanyith sighed. “If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to do it the hard way. Find someone who has access and force them to share. I don’t really like that option, though. It’s dangerous and has the potential to go wrong a dozen different ways.”
“So, you’re kind of an indirect type of guy, is what you’re saying.”
His expression seemed a little disgruntled. “Has anyone ever told you that you have a real talent for being irritating?”
Cali laughed. “Once or twice, but usually in an appreciative way.”
His flat, sarcastic tone conveyed the falsehood of his statement. “Consider my appreciation boundless.”
She slapped him on the shoulder as she rose from her chair. “Wait until you really get to know me. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Dude.”
Chapter Eighteen
Their car dropped them off two blocks away from the nightclub. They’d agreed it would be better to leave their potential enemies no way to track them if things went awry. Cali was surprised at how comfortable the shoes Tanyith had selected for her were and planned to keep the outfit as payment for assisting him in the investigation. And if that wasn’t already his plan, he’ll have to deal with it.
They rounded the corner to find a short line of people waiting to enter The Shark, full of smiles and talking enthusiastically. It required a careful study to note that many had visible telltales of Atlantean ancestry—thicker than normal hair, skin that was a little healthier than the usual, and slightly larger eyes than the average. They were subtle but easily found when you looked for them. Of course, as her mother had said enough times that it was almost a mantra, “We see what we expect to see, regardless of what’s actually there.” Cali filed the information away to examine more carefully later.
When they arrived at the door, a burly man with dark skin and thick braids that hung over his shoulders to his chest stood in their path. He looked at them, his expression unreadable. “The cover’s ten. Each.” Tanyith pulled the required admission fee out of a money clip, plus an extra ten that he handed over with it. The guy nodded and moved aside to let them enter and pointed at a woman waiting within. She greeted them warmly. “Welcome to The Shark. Please come this way.”
Her companion gestured for Cali to take the lead with a satisfied expression. The woman was easy to follow, her dress made of silver sequins over black fabric. The outfit sparkled in the dim lighting and her long blonde tresses and pale skin shone. The club’s main room was almost exactly as he’d described it. A bar occupied the entire long wall to the right with three bartenders in white shirts, black vests, and red bow ties working behind it. On the opposite side was a small semicircular stage with three microphones around the front and a keyboard and drum kit in the back. A dance floor occupied the space immediately before the stage, and the rest of the room was filled with small round tables for two, some of them pushed together to accommodate larger groups.
The drinks menu on the table was several pages long, and there were a number of interesting-looking glasses being held by equally interesting-looking people around them. She leaned over under the guise of reading the offerings with him. “So, have you noticed anything useful?”
He turned the page. “I think we need to choose something fancy to keep our cover. Probably a Shark Tail would be best.” He pointed at the description, which included rum, some kind of blue liquor, and a wedge of lime. She resisted the urge to smack him. “Order what you want.”
“That’s not what I was asking and you know it.”
His reply was interrupted by the arrival of a waitress. She was in an outfit similar to the hostess, except it shimmered in blue. Cali received a smile, while Tanyith got a hand on the shoulder while she took his order. He turned to her as soon as the woman departed.
“Okay, here’s how I see it. The place is divided into three zones. The seats over there on house left”—he snapped his gaze toward the wall the door was on—“are for members of human gangs. There’s probably a plan to divide separate groups up, but I only see the main one here tonight. The Zatoras.”
She flicked her gaze theatrically over his shoulder and he stopped talking as the woman arrived with their drinks. The menu hadn’t mentioned that dry ice would spill mist over the edges but all in all, it was a pretty presentation. The server departed, and he continued. “Our seats are in the middle. A buffer between the gangs. House-right is for the Atlanteans.”
Cali peered around the room and identified the divisions he described. The ones in the left area did seem similar in dress and attitude, while the ones in the right didn’t match quite as well but had the “home turf” vibe. Those near their own seats were a mixture of locals and tourists. “Why do you think they’re still doing shows and stuff if this is their base?”
Tanyith shrugged. “It could be anything. They want to be respected by the community or need a way to launder more cash. Maybe it’s simply to keep the authorities a little less suspicious since a nightclub that doesn’t have entertainment would be odd in this city.”
She sipped her drink to avoid suspicion and winced at the bite. While she wasn’t any more or less a stranger to alcohol than anyone else in her age group, she saw enough drunken stupidity at work that she had no desire to emulate it. Tanyith echoed her movement without the wince. She leaned in again. “I noticed the hostess heading through that door back there.”
He didn’t turn but nodded. “The restrooms are through and to the left if everything is the same as it used to be. Going straight takes you to the offices and probably stairs to the second level. Maybe a basement. I wouldn’t know since I’ve never been down that hallway. Well, not when I could see anything, anyway.”
“It seems like a good time to check it out then.” She rose and patted him on the shoulder with some pressure when he tried to stop her. “I’m only going to powder my nose. I’ll be right back.” She snagged her purse from the table and headed toward the door. On the way, she gazed around like any person new to the place would and narrowly avoided crashing into a suited man who crossed her path. She muttered, “Excuse you,” softly enough that he wouldn’t hear it and continued.
The area behind the door was as Tanyith had described. The walls were black, the floor white tile, and an arrow indicating restrooms pointed to the left. A velvet rope sectioned off the corridor leading forward in case anyone failed to heed the Staff Only sign positioned immediately before it. She stepped into the ladies’ room, stood in front of the long mirror, and extracted a lipstick from her purse. The space was made claustrophobic by the babble of the others crowded into it busily adjusting their own looks. There was nothing interesting to hear, so she finished and wandered out again. A quick glance down the prohibited hallway almost caused her to collide with the hostess who was coming out of the main room.
Cali apologized, “Oh, I’m sorry. I was tempted by curiosity, I guess.” She gestured at the area beyond the rope.
The other woman gave a short laugh. “Looking isn’t a problem.” Her tone suggested that anything more would be.
“Thanks,” she replied and headed out into the club. The band was taking the stage to the sound of applause as she slid into the seat next to Tanyith. He looked over and asked, “So?”
“Nothing interesting. My look is still perfect, though. So is yours.” She was pleased with the way the illusions were holding up. It required very little effort on her part since she’d stored it in a corner of her mind where it could work without her focusing directly on it. Thank you yet again, Sensei Ikehara. His reply was preempted by the arrival of the singer who belted out the opening lines of “I Put A Spell on You.”
They relaxed and watched the show
while they sipped their drinks slowly. Cali managed to accidentally-on-purpose spill a good portion of hers. There was a two-drink minimum, so replacements arrived without their involvement when their first ones were almost empty. They took turns surveying different areas of the club by unspoken agreement and one of them always kept an eye on the door to the restricted area.
She stiffened when the man who had trailed her emerged from that entrance to talk to the bartender. Her kick under the table caught Tanyith’s attention, and he darted a glance in that direction as well. She whispered, “That’s him.”
He turned to face her. “I don’t recognize him.”
“Let’s go and see what’s in there. We’re in illusion, so even if they throw us out, they won’t know who we are. It’s worth the risk.” Her shadow slipped through the door, carrying two drinks.
Tanyith shook his head. “No. We wait, and we watch. No improvisation. It’s too dangerous.”
Cali ground her teeth in frustration. She wanted to do it. Her magic felt like it wanted her to do it. She’d never before been able to find any lead on her parents’ deaths and now, one was in the same building with her. When she suddenly noticed the crowd was clapping around her, she realized she’d lost focus. She twisted to look at the stage, where the band was filing off, apparently taking a break. A heavy hand fell on her shoulder before she could renew her urging to Tanyith to head to the back. Her gaze rose to the bouncer who’d guarded the entrance and now loomed over her. Dammit, we’ll be thrown out. What did we do?
She looked at Tanyith and saw her confusion mirrored on his face. The big man who stood between them rumbled, “The boss wants to talk to you two. Let’s go.”
Chapter Nineteen
They stood at the same time and Cali watched her companion’s eyes for some sign as to how he wanted to handle it. He gave her nothing, however, and simply maintained a neutral expression. Fine. At least we’ll get to see what’s behind the curtain. She followed her partner in the direction of the bouncer’s gesture and toward the door that led deeper into the nightclub.
The man who she’d tracked to the club waited at the velvet rope, and he pulled it aside to allow them to pass. He exchanged words with the bouncer, who returned to the main room as their new escort gestured them forward and trailed behind them. They were about halfway down the hallway when a door that had been virtually invisible on the black wall opened on the left. A woman in a dark suit beckoned them inside, and she saw the back of Tanyith’s neck tighten at the sight of her. It seems like we both have friends in here. Awesome.
The room beyond the door was elegant, completely at odds with the club outside. It was covered with a lush brown carpet. The walls were a forest-green with art hung on each of them. Ornate chocolate leather couches faced each other across an empty space, with end tables at each side. They created a lane from the entrance to a desk near the room’s far wall. Behind that desk was another woman in a suit very similar to her subordinate’s. She was thin with tanned skin and deep-red hair that was braided and pulled back from her face. A dark shirt and tie were visible beneath her jacket. Cali pictured the matching trousers and imagined she’d wear sensible shoes.
She gestured at the chairs across from her and clasped her hands together on the polished mahogany top of the desk. File folders were stacked to her left and an expensive-looking fountain pen and ink bottle stood to her right but otherwise, the wide surface was bare. Her voice was smooth, and she spoke as if she selected each word with great care as she raised a manicured finger to point at Cali.
“You are the one using magic in my club. Stop now, or I’ll ask Ms Cudon to make you do so.” Damn it to hell. I must not have concealed the magic as well as I’d thought. Kind of a big fail, there, Cali. She considered denying it but decided being forced would probably involve a blow to the head. It was way too early in the situation to escalate things that far. With a sigh, she let the power fall, except the tiny amount that kept her bracelets’ true nature obscured.
The woman nodded. “That’s better. Thank you.”
Tanyith replied, “Why did you bring us back here if you knew we were in disguise?”
The woman smiled. “I haven’t reached this position by avoiding conflict, my friend, but by seeking it out. Why leave a problem for tomorrow when you can stamp it out today?”
Cali frowned. “That sounds kind of like a threat.”
The club owner grinned. “Is that how you heard it? I really can’t control how you interpret my words. Perhaps you need to be less suspicious. Then, you might not find yourself in situations like these in the first place.” She swiveled her head to Tanyith. “I know you. Well, I know of you. I had just joined when you vanished.”
He leaned forward and the woman from the door moved behind him instantly and pulled his shoulder back until he was seated normally again. The Atlantean leader smiled. “My people are highly concerned about my safety. Fanatical about it, even. You would be wise not to make any further sudden movements.”
“So you’re not responsible for sending me away?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Not I. It happened before I had the power to do it, not that I disagree with the concept. From what I’ve heard, you were a man of small vision.”
He chuckled. “New boss, same as the old boss.”
“Speaking of getting fooled…” She turned to face Cali. “Who are you, and why are you in my club?”
Tanyith interrupted. “I asked her to come. I assumed you’d be on the lookout for single men.”
The woman stared at him and quiet menace crossed the distance between them. “If you speak out of turn again, Ms Cudon will break your jaw so you can’t do so a third time. Nod if you understand.”
His eyes widened but he obeyed. She turned away. “Answer the question, please.”
Cali shrugged. “What he said. He needed a date for the evening to make him seem like he wasn’t alone. Plus, he claimed his illusion skills were pitiful but for all I know, he was sucking up.”
She laughed. “But that’s not all, is it?”
“No. I had my own reasons. One of your boys was following me.”
“Did you wonder why?”
“Of course.” She raised a hand slowly to push back her hair where it had slipped into her face. “But I assumed it was some street thug thing. Watching me to score some money.”
The woman broke into laughter again. “Honey, we make more in an hour than you do in a month. We don’t need your money. What’s important is who you are and what role you might play in what is to come.”
Cali’s face screwed up in confusion. “What?”
Her partner slowly raised a hand. The leader turned toward him and rolled her eyes. “Is there something you need, Tanyith?”
He nodded. “How about we do away with the dancing around. You clearly possess information we’d like to have. There must be something you want from us or you would have thrown us out by now. Can we jump ahead to that? The kid has a curfew.”
Her annoyed stare at him mirrored his partner’s. She smoothed her tie and looked at Cali. “Is he always like this?”
“Annoying as hell? Yes. But he’s smart, so I imagine that at least part of what he said is right.”
She nodded. “Yeah. I do happen to have information that you need. Both of you. But you’ll have to do something for me to get it.”
Cali summoned a car to take them to a big hotel on Poydras street, a couple of blocks off Canal, where they found a secluded seat in the restaurant. They both ordered coffee, and she requested cheesecake. The only conversation they’d had during the drive was her insistence that she deserved dessert for what he was putting her through, and his agreement that the demand seemed fair.
She leaned forward. “So, who is that woman?”
“The server? I don’t know her.” He had a half-smile on his face.
“Don’t be a jerk. You know who I mean.”
“All I’ve been able to discover are rumors, so I’m not sure. She
’s originally from New Atlantis and has gathered power aggressively since I was sent away. Her name is Usha, and it’s usually said with some trepidation.”
The food arrived, and as the server departed, Cali pointed at him. “Talk. Explain it again.” When the Atlantean boss had laid it out, she’d used some kind of street jargon that resulted in several of the details sailing completely past her.
Tanyith took a drink of his coffee with a sigh. “Basically, it’s a simple barter. We do something for her and we get what we want from her. It has to be both of us because that’s the only way we each find our answers.”
“I got that part. But what is it she wants us to actually do?”
He laughed and shook his head. “Nothing big. Only to steal something important for her.”
She shrugged. “It seems simple. But by the look on your face, I think not so much?”
“You think right.” He scratched the back of his neck. “The owners of the objects in question—a pair of derringer pistols that hearken back to the Matranga crime family—are the Zatoras.”
She set her fork down with a clatter, her dessert only half-finished. Everyone knew about New Orleans’ biggest crime syndicate. “That’s harsh right there.”
“That’s how they work. They put you in a position of need and everything from then on only digs you in deeper. I don’t know if it’s even conscious. It’s like breathing for them. Gang leaders are always good at that stuff. It’s one of the reasons I’d be terrible at the job.”
Her lips twisted in a wry grin. “Not smart enough? I get it.”
“You really are a pain in the ass, you know that?” She stuck her tongue out at him and started eating again. “No, I’m definitely smart enough. But I don’t have that particular killer instinct. Those people are individualists by default. I’m innately a team player.”
“Did you say inmate-ly?”