Strike at Midnight(49)

“Jacque knew her father. They worked together once or twice, and he said that her father had mentioned that the girl had a way with potions and the like. There are also rumors that she has a way with food if you know what I mean.”

“Magic?”

“She has a gift with potions and herbs and shit, so maybe she’s just a good cook. I don’t know. She isn’t regulated by the MLO, I know that much, so maybe that’s why she keeps it quiet. But the way Jacque said it, it was like he knew something he didn’t want to tell me. Like she was special and that she had links to magic. It was pretty hush-hush.”

“And what makes you think she’s just going to grab a name of a witch out of thin air?” she asked with a look of confusion on her face.

“I don’t know. It’s just a place for me to start.”

“And if she doesn’t know of anyone?”

“Then we’ll have to try and find someone who deals in underground magic. Jeez. Any more questions?”

Rapunzel looked like she wanted to shake me until I came up with the witch’s address, name, and shoe size, but then she sat back on her seat.

“I’m sorry,” she said, looking out of the window. “It hits me from nowhere that we still need to find the duke. One moment I’m fine, and the next…”

“You’re worried about shit?”

She gave me a meek smile and said, “Something like that.”

“We’re on the right track,” I said, trying to give her some form of reassurance. But I had to admit I was worried too. The more time that passed with us trying to find him, the less likely were his chances of survival. Especially if whoever was behind this decided to cut their losses and run now that the imposter had been arrested. “We have to follow this witch thing through and try and get the true identity of the imposter, even if it gives us nothing. Same with the questions. I know it seems futile, but we need to confirm if Lord Camembert was indeed a target and to try and speak to the man himself to see if we can trip him up. Then we need to see if we can get more information on this Billy slash Iain guy—all just to confirm or eliminate information for another lead to come to light. It’s bullshit, I know.”

“But it’s a necessity. I get that in my line of work,” she said, and she started to play with a small rose that had been placed in a cute blue vase at the center of the table.

“It’s still shit,” I said, and I felt sorry for her. “I don’t know how you do this as a job. I just prefer the hunt and the payday.”

She laughed. “Usually it’s just boring stuff like ‘I need to find this asshole who owes me money’ or ‘I need to find out if my wife is doing my brother.’ Day-to-day stuff.”

“Nice,” I said as I scrunched up my nose. “You really are saving humanity one affair at a time.”

“Hey,” she said, but she wasn’t really offended. “At least it pays well.”

“True.” I had to admit that my job hadn’t exactly been my first career choice either. “I guess sometimes we just have to make the best of what we’re given.”

“And roll with the punches.”

“Until we can’t get up again.”

“Wow,” she said, and she let out a big sigh. “We’re so screwed up.”

“At least I can go out at night,” I said, and she looked at me with curiosity before letting out a guffaw of laughter. It was good to know she had a sense of humor about it, and it was good to see a smile back on her face.

“Now who’s the bitch?”

“You deserved that for sticking your nose in earlier,” I said, and she chuckled.

“Yeah,” she replied. “I guess I did.”





CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Where there is a Will, there is a Witch for Hire





Briar Rose looked like a simple serving wench when she made her way over to us from the back of the bar. But when she got closer, you could see the curiosity and sparkle of intellect in her eyes. She wasn’t someone to be trifled with, but one who liked to give the impression of a person who could barely give you a slap. The contradiction put me on my guard.

Her honey-brown hair had been braided over her shoulder, and you could see the toned muscles in her arms if you looked hard enough. She dragged a chair from one of the spare tables and sat down next to us.

“I heard you wanted to speak with me,” she said, and her eyes landed right on me. I suppose the pink hair gave me away.

“We’re looking for a witch,” I said in lowered tones. “I thought I would start with you.”

“Me?” she asked with a pretend look of surprise on her face. It was pretended because of the knowing look in her eyes. “Why would I know of a witch?”

“I knew someone who knew your father. He worked with him a few times.”

“I remember Jacque,” she said, tilting her head to the side and looking at me like I was a puzzle to work out. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

“I take it you know of me, then?”

“I know your name,” she nodded towards my hair, “and the fact that you look unconventional. Jacque also spoke of you and Marcel quite often too, so I guess part of me feels like I already know you.”