A Glimmer of Hope (The Avalon Chronicles #1)(53)
“And a few not too far from here as well.”
“Get me an address,” Elias told Shane and Reyes. “Good work. Dara, you’re with me, we’re going to go pay Chloe a visit. Get some of the blood elves to accompany us. She’s going to tell us where Layla is, and then she’s going to help us get Layla to agree to our terms.”
Elias and Dara gathered the blood elves and drove into Southampton in the Range Rover, parking it in one of the many car parks that sat around Ocean Village.
“I’m going in alone,” Elias said, and turned to Dara. “You know what to do.”
He exited the car and walked along the marina toward the coffee shop. He continued to look out for Tommy or any of his people, but saw no one watching him, or following. He wondered why Tommy would put people on Harry, but not on Chloe. There had to be a reason. Over the last few years, he’d grown to almost admire Tommy, a man with a singular vision to find Elias and those who worked with him. Tommy had been close on several occasions, had even managed to capture several blood elves who hadn’t escaped in time and had executed them in an unexpectedly ruthless manner.
Nergal had been less than impressed with Tommy’s actions and had wanted to send a death squad after the man, but Elias had managed to talk him out of it. If Tommy was killed, people who Elias didn’t want to deal with would become involved. Tommy was a known entity, but some of his friends were the kinds of people you ran from and never stopped. Nergal might be incredibly powerful and dangerous, but even he would have trouble against some of those Tommy considered friends. It was best to just let Tommy think he was getting close before the end goal was snatched away from him.
Keeping a dog on a leash was easier than getting it back on once you’d let it have free rein. Elias smiled at the metaphor; he thought it summed up Tommy well.
He reached the door to the coffee shop and pushed it open. The aroma of freshly ground coffee assaulted his senses. He didn’t dislike coffee, in fact he loved it, but the way it had permeated so many people’s lives made him feel as if it was more and more something people bought because they were supposed to, not because they actually enjoyed the taste. Over the years it had become cheap and easy to buy, and not the luxurious commodity it should be.
He walked past several patrons—all on their phones, or in one case, a young woman reading a book—and took a seat at the far corner of the shop. It allowed him a full view of the place and he could see all of the comings and goings of the staff and visitors.
There were eleven people in the shop, and a further two behind the counter. A third member of staff was busy wiping down tables and exchanging pleasantries with some of the customers. The customers themselves didn’t concern Elias. All but two were in their twenties or thirties, and those two were well over fifty. They sat beside each other on one of the three chocolate-colored couches, though they didn’t talk, apparently completely at ease with the idea of silence. Elias presumed they’d been together a long time and were simply comfortable in each other’s presence. He wondered for a second if he’d ever get that, but quickly pushed it aside.
The nine others were made up of four men and five women, three of whom sat around one table. They were wearing designer clothing, carrying designer handbags, and occasionally flashing their expensive, and probably new, phones.
A man and woman, probably a couple from the way they were occasionally touching hands on the table, sat opposite one another by the window.
The remaining customers were either alone, or might as well have been for all the attention they were giving their friends or partners.
Elias looked over at the two baristas, who were busy talking to each other. He didn’t care what about; he had no interest in eavesdropping. He got up from his seat and walked over to the counter, where one of the two, a young blonde who Elias was sure was the same one Shane had discussed, walked over to him with a smile.
“Can I help you?” she asked, the happiness in her smile traveling into her words, something Elias hadn’t been expecting.
“Hi. Can I have a latte, and do you happen to know if Chloe is about?”
The girl’s smile faltered just a little bit, but not enough for Elias to be concerned. “She should be in today; she’s been away for a few days. Are you friends?”
Elias passed her a five-pound note, and returned the woman’s smile. “We have a mutual friend, the one in the hospital. I saw Chloe at the General yesterday, and she told me to come see her here.”
“Oh, isn’t it horrible? I heard about Layla. She’s such a lovely person, and it’s so sad what happened to all of those people. I’m so sorry. I’m sure the doctors and nurses at the General will do everything they can to help her, though.”
Elias nodded, while inside he knew he had the information he wanted. He’d contact Shane and Reyes and tell them to get over to the General. He’d guessed it was this one because it was the largest hospital in the city. “It’s a sad thing. I’m hoping Layla will get better soon. She’s a fighter.”
The woman passed the changed to Elias. “She really is. I took a few classes with her, and she’s tough.”
“Classes?”
“The MMA stuff that she goes to with Chloe.”
“Ah, right, sorry, I wondered what you were talking about.” He chuckled. It was forced, but he’d had enough practice over the years to make it sound almost genuine.