“We can’t just hide here,” she said.
“With everyone on the street recognizing you, we don’t have a lot of options. I need to keep you out of sight for a little while. And then I’m going back to the Dragon and Rose and getting my brother somewhere safe.”
“But you have to help me. The sheriff—”
“Doesn’t matter. Once I find Monty a new place to hide, the sheriff won’t be a problem.”
“A new place? What do you mean?”
The word had slipped out. He was tired. Maybe it was the beer. He wasn’t used to sharing his plans with anyone. “It means I take care of my brother first. I’m steering clear of this sheriff. If you want to survive, you’re going to have to do the same. Let the watch go. There’ll be other prizes for you to steal.”
“Nothing that valuable.”
“Why are you sticking your neck out like this? This jeweled watch is more than some score, isn’t it?”
She hesitated before answering. “My work at the Black Rock Mission. I believe in it. And that watch will do a lot of good.”
“I’m sure it would, if it could be easily fenced. But I don’t buy it. Bringing the mission a piece of jewelry like that will cause problems for them, I’d imagine. And you won’t help anyone if you’re dead. You’ve got the law, a gang of thieves, and now a pack of well-armed tourists looking to kill you. So what aren’t you telling me? Why is my brother’s life in danger?”
Her voice grew soft. “Because stealing it from Lord Angel is payback for what he did to me.”
He set his beer down and crossed his arms. “Explain.”
The drunk sleeping at the table stirred for a moment to wipe drool off his mouth. He gave them both a dreary eye before stumbling away from the table, his legs miraculously staying beneath him as he tottered down the exit hallway.
Isabel waited until he was out of sight. “Like you, I can almost pass for pureblood. I was brought on as a house servant to Count Barca. His son Jamie was sick. I was helping him. We grew close. Jamie thought he could change his father’s mind about us, but I convinced him not to. Count Barca found out anyway. He exploded. Jamie tried talking to him. But the count couldn’t tolerate his son having a romantic dalliance with a fel. He tried to have me killed.”
“How does Lord Angel and the watch fit in with this?”
“Lord Angel was the one who exposed our relationship. He’s Jamie’s younger brother. So I fled here to Loom Island.”
“This place isn’t safe for us either. Not in the last couple of years. Not since the edict.”
“It’s worse on the mainland. I’d worked before with the Black Rock Mission so I returned there. But then I saw Lord Angel was in the city. He didn’t recognize me. When I was able to get close to him and learned about the watch, I knew I had a chance to hurt him. He’s in debt. He stole the watch to pay off some gangster.”
Digger saw something in her face that wasn’t there before. Something dangerous. “You stole it so Angel would get hurt.” It wasn’t a question.
Isabel nodded. “Maybe this makes me sound crazy.”
“A little, but I get it. That doesn’t mean I want to risk our lives going after this thing. It’s time to cut your losses.”
She rose from the table.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“Out to finish what I started. I’m sorry I brought trouble your way. I don’t know how to explain it to you, but I’m not done with this.”
“So you’re going to charge out into the street and look for the sheriff again? He’s not going to just hand the watch over.”
“I’m going to do what I have to.”
“Hold on. Sit. I said I was going to help. But I’m not committing suicide. We wait a few hours. The tourists will find someone else to bother. We go back to the Dragon and Rose. Find my brother and hide him. Then I’ll join you and we get your treasure back.”
She sat back down on her chair. “Why help me with this?”
“Because just now it sounded like you were being straight with me. And you weren’t afraid to get your hands dirty tonight. So how far are you willing to go to get back at this pureblood?”
She picked up her beer and brooded silently.
After receiving no answer, he set his cup on the table. “There’s a slim chance—slim—that we can pull this off. If we find an opening, we take it. With the sheriff out of the picture, my brother has a better chance of staying out of trouble. But if we discover this sheriff has handed the watch over, it means we walk away. Are you good with this?”
She nodded. Swirled her beer. Studied the white foam.
“You going to finish that?”
As if to spite him, she drank down the whole mug.
Chapter Twelve
ANGEL FOUND HIS AUNT Claudia in her waiting room just off the great hall. Early afternoon light streamed in through high windows. A few women were waiting their turn for her attention. Each bore bundles of colorful fabric, ribbons, and clothing.
Claudia inspected a bolt of satin. “I like the teals and orange. Will there be time to fashion uniforms for all the castle guards?”
One of the women curtseyed. “If we make haste, yes.”
“Then off you go.”
Angel waited for them to leave. “You sent for me?”
“I would have liked your presence this morning to have at least lasted until breakfast. The viscount still will need convincing.”
“He sounded favorable to my suggestions.”
“And what a suggestion it was. A brilliant idea, inviting the duke to handle transportation. But us paying a fee? I do wish you would have talked to me before even mentioning such a notion.”
“He was being unyielding, and making a big gesture should soften him. And the numbers work. We can go over the figures together, Aunt Claudia. But I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
She waved her hand. “No apologies. I’m impressed with you, Angel. But you have things to learn about making deals. He hadn’t offered anything yet and we just handed him a generous prize. Once he tells us how much this will cost, the duke will find more to tack on. It’s how these matters go.”
“What would you have me do?”
“First, we don’t give anything away for free. But you’re perceptive in seeing the viscount will need careful handling. Let’s find what makes him happy. Because when he’s happy, he’ll make the duke happy. And then you can guess what I’ll be.”
“Happy.”
She gave a cheerful nod. “Yes! Now let’s get you something to eat. You skipped breakfast but there’s plenty left from lunch.”
“I’m sorry, my stomach is a bit upset. I have some matters to attend to. Where is the viscount?”
“Retired to his room. Said he would pen a letter. The duke has requested daily reports. We’re under close scrutiny, my dear. I can count on you, can’t I?”
He kissed her cheek. “Of course, Aunt Claudia. My friends need me this afternoon. I’ll return in time to speak with the viscount further. But my companions have expressed interest in the catacombs and I want to be sure they know what they’re getting into.”
Claudia giggled. “That would be lovely having them. I can’t wait. I have such surprises in store. If we can convince the viscount to stay through the tournament, I’m sure we can make him a fan. Now tell what you think about this swatch.”
One of Angel’s companions, an illegitimate cousin, was waiting for him out in the hall. Her name was Marisol, and she was the fastest of his band with the rapier. On her left hand she wore a thick black fighting glove with which she could parry and even snatch a blade away from an opponent. Her bleached ash hair was in a long braid that dangled between her shoulders.
Even as his aunt was speaking, Marisol was trying to get his attention.
He set down a selection of scarves and neckties. “Aunt Claudia, please excuse me.”
The queen frowned. “I was going to have you speak to the flower people while they’re here.”
“I know. But I’d like my friends to have the best chance of giving a good showing at the tourney. They’ve got a case of nerves and I’d be remiss if I neglected practice. After all, I was blessed with sword training from the finest instructors.”
“Will you be in the castle courtyard? I’d love to watch!”
He shook his head. “Er, no. We’ll go down to the inn’s garden where we’ll have some privacy. Plus, I’d hate to spoil the surprise.”
“Oh, goody. I do love a surprise. I expect everyone to do their very best.”
“Anything for you, Aunt Claudia.”
He hurried Marisol away from the waiting room and into an alcove so none of the castle staff would be in hearing range.
“What have you learned?”
“We have a lead. We caught a wounded bandit who says he and his crew almost caught Sprite. What do you want to do?”
“Take me to him.”
HIS COMPANIONS HAD taken over a small courtyard between four homes not far from the castle. A small fountain trickled water. Planter boxes stood replete with tiny red and orange peppers.
Sitting against a wall was a miserable-looking man in dark leathers who was cradling a swollen arm. The hand had turned purple. His face was beaded with sweat and he was gritting his teeth. A few fresh bruises were turning deep red on his cheeks, and his lip was split and bleeding.
Angel nudged the man with his boot. “Who’s this rabble?”
“We stopped him and his friends coming out of an alleyway,” Marisol said. “I thought there was something suspicious. His friends escaped. This one didn’t want to talk at first.”
“I’m no rat,” the man said.
Marisol kicked him in the ribs. The man groaned but there was nowhere to escape.
“And I told you we’re no city guard,” she said. “We’re just concerned citizens. We’re not interested in you or your friends. Tell Lord Angel here who you were after.”
“A girl. Isabel. Named Sprite by some.”
Marisol nodded encouragingly. “Describe her.”
“Pale-green skin, brown hair, dark eyes. Covers up that she’s fel. Wearing a blue cloak, we were told, but she’s changed clothes.”
“That’s our Sprite.”
Angel sneered. “Yeah, I followed that. She beat the three of you?”
The rogue shook his head. “No. She had another with her. Some guy with a shovel and cart back in the alley by the florist. Right across from the stockade.”
“Tell me what you wanted with her.”
“We were supposed to catch her for the bounty.”
“And who, pray tell, placed this bounty on her?”
The man didn’t answer. Marisol delivered another kick.
He writhed and held up a hand. “All right! Red Eye hired us.”
Angel crouched to get a closer look at the rogue. He pulled the man’s good arm straight and turned it. The man winced but didn’t cry out. On his arm were a selection of tattoos, but prominent under the forearm, in black ink, was a skull with stars in its eyes.
“You’re Karanog? I thought you were all fel. You don’t look even like a halfblood.”
The men let out a laugh. “I’m no fel. Karanog’s changed. Expanded.”
“And you’re here in Diregloom?”
“We’re everywhere.”
Angel released the arm and stood. “So Red Eye is working with you now. What kind of a purse was he offering?”
The man shook his head. “Lieutenant told us our orders. We obey.”
“Had to be enough to get you involved.”
Angel cursed under his breath. Marisol and his companions stood waiting on him. He had been desperate when appealing to Red Eye to give him enough time to pay his debt. He had been stupid to have mentioned the watch. Now Red Eye was after it. Had he learned what it was? The crime lord was going to find the watch first and keep Angel indebted, and wring every copper from him.
“This complicates things.”
“What do you want us to do?” Marisol asked.
“Did his friends recognize you?”
“They were too busy running.”
“Get rid of him. City watch will find a dead thief in a city full of armed catacomb contestants.”
The man let out a cry as one of his companions ran him through with a rapier. The companion then cleaned the blade on the rogue’s clothes before putting it away. Angel stepped out onto the street. No one was paying them any attention, but it was time to get out of there.
A murder, even of a thief, could still cause problems.
So where in the big city had little Sprite run off to? It had been such a surprise seeing his older brother’s fel plaything at a party in the upper room of one of Diregloom’s new clubs. He had heard the girl had come to the island, but he had no idea how she’d escaped his father’s wrath. How his brother had raged after Angel had let it slip to their father that the new servant was not only a fel, but in love with his oldest son.
Angel had thought she’d make for a night of sport. A final chapter he could lavishly describe in detail in a letter to his brother. Knowing what had been done to his dear Sprite would send his older sibling not only back over the edge, but permanently down into the abyss of madness. Delicious. But Angel had overindulged, passed out, and woke the next morning with both Isabel and the purloined watch missing.
“Follow me,” he said.
“Where to?”
“Our Karanog friend said they found her near a florist. So let’s start there, shall we? Sprite has made a new acquaintance and it’s time we found out who he is.”
ANGEL’S COMPANIONS scoured the alley as he inspected the overturned cart. That and the broken flowerpots confirmed something had happened there. The rogue hadn’t been lying.
What had the cart carried? There were traces of dirt. Made sense, if it belonged to the florist.
The flower shop was still open. Angel motioned for Marisol to follow as he left the alley and went inside. He made a show of perusing the dried arrangements as the small woman who ran the shop finished with a customer. Once the customer left, Marisol locked the door.
The woman looked confused, then angry. “Hey! Don’t do that!”
Angel leaned on the counter. “You’re closed for now. What happened out in the alleyway earlier today?”
The florist’s lips trembled. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Of course not. We’re here to help. We understand there was a fight.”
“I don’t know...yes, there was. I didn’t see it.”
“Who was it out there? You must know something. Whose cart is that?”
“Some man. A fel. He placed an order.”
“Name? Looks like he was delivering to you.”
“He’s not my delivery man. Not one of the greenhouse people either.”
“Describe him.”
Her description was next to useless. Large fel. Everyone was large to a squat woman like her. But as Angel studied her and pondered, the florist added, “He had a shovel in his cart. And orange eyes. A woman with him too. I don’t know what they were up to in my alley, but I didn’t like it.”
“Yes, we know about her. These are both morally objectionable characters. I’ll be sure to mention them to the watch. But tell me, what kind of order did he place?”
She pointed. A small wreath on the back counter bore a card that read Beloved Brother.
“He said it was for a client. It’s ready for pickup.”
Angel nodded. The woman knew nothing else. A cart with dirt, a shovel, and a wreath. The fel could hold any number of professions, but one obvious one came to mind. He exited the shop and crossed the courtyard towards the stockade, with Marisol following behind.
“What is it?”
“A hunch,” Angel said. “I want to talk to the city watch. They’d be the ones who know the fel who collect the dead.”
THE LETHARGIC OFFICER at the desk was mostly blind and his hearing wasn’t much better. By
the time he got out the clipboard of the previous night’s incidents, Angel was ready to stab someone.
Angel snatched the clipboard away and paused to decipher the chicken scratch.
A few bar fights, the usual robberies, a drunk lighting a fruit stand on fire. One death.
A body needed pickup at the Thirsty Seven, a brothel and bar on Prudence Street. It was on the far side of the Temperance District. His man Victor had vanished near there.
Interesting...
Angel flipped the clipboard onto the guard’s desk. “Our Sprite has gotten help from a gravedigger.”
“Eh?” the guard said.
Marisol examined the clipboard but had nothing new to add. The officer stared at her, his hazy eyes settling on her breasts.
Angel snapped his fingers to get the man’s attention. “Are there any reports of anything happening in the Temperance District after first watch?”
The officer sat with his mouth agape for a moment. Angel was about to repeat himself when the man motioned towards the clipboard.
“Just what you see here, son. Might want to ask the sheriff, though. He was out last night in that area according to the boys. But he doesn’t report things to us.”
“Oh? And why is that?”
The officer grunted. “Jurisdiction. Has his own investigation.”
Angel felt the final shreds of his patience falling away. “Into what?”
“The missing lawmen from two years ago. That magister who vanished. Cold case. Nothing will turn up, if you ask me. Those men might have found a prize worth a career change. Of course, they might have tripped on something bigger than they were. It’s why we double up patrols at night since then.”
Angel stepped past the desk and marched down the corridor, passing the inner offices of the stockade. The officer protested, but Angel ignored him. The sheriff was sitting behind a desk in a small room at the end of the hall. The door was ajar.
The sheriff looked up from a notebook. “Lord Angel, how can I be of service?”
“You were in the Temperance District last night.”
“I was many places.”
Midnight Monster Club Page 6