Page 9

Although the very different patrons of Hirsel Street usually behaved themselves and didn’t allow a fun night out to descend into fisticuffs – or worse – unless it was absolutely necessary, there were enough establishments packed into the area that the effect could be a real assault on the senses.

My days of enjoying loud thumping music and sweaty crowds were behind me; after all, I was an unassuming little cat lady, not a wild party animal.

At least January was one of the quieter months, and a cold, drizzly Tuesday night all but guaranteed that even Hirsel Street would be half-dead. Even so, I was hopeful that there would be some people about and one of them would know who Cos was.

‘I guess this unknown dead witch has got under my skin.’

Thane’s response was surprisingly gentle. ‘You said nobody cared about him – but you care.’

I flashed him a quick grin. ‘And now I’m forcing you to care, too. But right now we won’t think about our John Doe. We’ll find Cos instead.’

‘He sounds like a leafy green salad vegetable.’

‘All the more reason to learn his real name,’ I said.

Thane nodded gravely. ‘I accept the mission,’ he intoned. ‘We shall not fail and no lettuce shall remain unturned.’

I wasn’t quite so optimistic but I liked his attitude.

‘Thank you, Kit,’ he said after another beat.

‘For what?’

‘For giving me an excuse to escape Tiddles’ claws for an evening.’

I snorted.

‘But mostly for inviting me to join you. For trusting me to help.’

I glanced up and our eyes met. ‘You’re welcome.’ There was a surprising – and pleasing – warmth in my belly. I pulled my gaze away and pointed towards a small, quaint pub on our right. ‘Druids often frequent this place. Let’s try in here first.’

Thane bowed. ‘As my lady commands.’

‘Keep that up,’ I told him, ‘and you’re in the running to earn a permanent place as my sidekick.’

‘Loner by day, Cat Boy by night,’ Thane said, then pulled a face. ‘Maybe not. ’

‘We’d have to get you more kittens first.’ And Thane wasn’t a boy. He was all man.

He shuddered. ‘Please, no.’ Then he paused. ‘Would Tiddles like a friend? Should I get another kitten?’

I smirked. ‘Maybe leave it a while yet.’

As we ducked into the pub Thane exhaled loudly; it might have been from relief or it might have been from disappointment.

Unlike many of the other venues along Hirsel Street, the music here was muted enough for the punters to hold conversations.

I swept my gaze around the room on the off-chance that Cos was in here having a pint, but that would have been too good to be true.

Although the pub was busy there was no sign of him and, frustratingly, the clientele appeared to be mostly older druids rather than a young crowd.

It was unlikely any of them would know Cos but we had to start somewhere.

In a vague bid to fit in to the druidic crowd of drinkers, Thane and I went to the bar and ordered two pints of frothy beer. While the bartender filled the glasses, I held up my magic portrait. ‘Seen this guy around?’ I asked.

The bartender didn’t look at it. ‘Nope.’

‘Please take a closer look,’ Thane said, his voice friendly. He knew instinctively that playing the hard man wouldn’t work here.

The bartender topped off the pints and put them on the counter. ‘Nope.’ I drew a breath but he didn’t let me speak. ‘I don’t care who you’re looking for. You’re not druids and you’re not regulars. That means you’re trouble.’ His smile didn’t reach his eyes. ‘Enjoy your drinks.’

I cursed inwardly. He’d spoken loudly and the drawback of being in a bar where you could hear conversations was that you could hear conversations .

Every customer was watching us with narrowed eyes.

Less than thirty seconds in and we’d already managed to turn them all against us.

Perhaps there were reasons why I’d ended up as an assassin instead of as a private investigator.

Neither did it help that Thane was a lone wolf; I doubted either of us possessed the charm and charisma that would encourage these people to speak to us. But I didn’t intend to give up.

Thane paid for the beers while I found a small table between a group of bearded druids who looked to be good friends and a couple who were holding hands and gazing dewy-eyed at each other. A roundabout approach might be more productive. I leaned towards the beardy boys.

‘Fucking board,’ the nearest one was complaining. ‘How can they do that? How can they ban us from visiting Myrddin’s grave?’

‘Control,’ one of his friends muttered. ‘They want to control us. I told you when this lot were voted in that they’d cause trouble. They’re power-hungry bastards.’

There was nothing quite like political debate to get a party started. It didn’t matter which Preternatural group you hailed from, there was always someone in power you wanted to complain about – especially over several beers.

‘Evening,’ I said brightly. ‘Do you?—?’

‘No.’ Everyone in the group frowned at me and the druid who’d spoken first pointedly turned his back. Their discussion stopped and they sat in stiff, unyielding silence.

Thane, who had ambled over from the bar, had witnessed the exchange. He sat down next to me, took a sip from his pint and tried the loving couple. ‘Braw night.’ They ignored him. He persisted. ‘Bit chilly out, but not bad for this time of year.’

The female druid glanced at him. ‘Fuck off.’ She immediately returned her gaze to her partner. I rolled my eyes. Well, this was going just swimmingly .

‘The weather?’ I muttered. ‘Couldn’t you think of anything else to start a conversation?’

‘At least I managed to complete a sentence,’ he returned, tipping his head at the other table.

I couldn’t disagree so, for want of a snappy response, I tried the beer. It was bitter and not particularly pleasant.

While I admired persistence and it often produced results, it was important to recognise when a situation was untenable. We wouldn’t learn anything here, even if someone knew Cos. It was time to retreat. ‘Somewhere else?’ I asked.

Thane nodded. Without another word, we stood up and headed for the door, our barely touched pints resting on the small table where we’d left them.

‘I’ll choose the place this time,’ Thane said, turning his collar up against the cold. ‘The people in that pub were the wrong generation.’

We couldn’t do any worse. ‘On you go.’

He walked decisively towards another bar while I followed.

There was a collection of people hovering outside sucking on bowl pipes of magicked tobacco and shivering.

They appeared to be of a similar age to Cos.

There was only one druid amongst them, but maybe a mixed crowd would be more willing to answer questions.

I pasted on a smile. ‘Hey! We’re looking for a friend of ours. He’s gone missing and we’re really worried about him.’ I held up the picture to draw attention away from my obvious lie. ‘Have you seen him around?’

At least this time they looked at the paper but I didn’t need to hear their answers; their blank expressions told me they didn’t know him.

‘Thanks anyway,’ Thane said, reaching past them for the door. As it opened, we were blasted with a wave of music. It wasn’t disco or heart-thumping dance beats; this was pure country.

The counter was empty and vacant stools lined its length. Nobody was buying drinks and the lone bartender, a troll, was looking bored as he polished a glass. There were plenty of people, but they were dancing rather than drinking and chatting. Line dancing.

‘We’re still in Scotland, right?’ Thane asked.

I gazed at the rows of cowboy boots and tasselled shirts. ‘Last time I checked we were,’ I said. ‘But we’re here now. Let’s give this place a try.’

I walked up to the first line of jiggling, bobbing people and raised the picture. ‘Seen this guy around?’

‘Yeeeeeeee-ha!’ They all turned away in unison, legs flicking upwards.

I moved around and tried again. As soon as I did, the line of dancers spun for a second time. I looked at Thane and shrugged helplessly. He pursed his lips and leaned into my ear. ‘Maybe not here.’

I jumped back as a waving arm was thrust in my direction. Yeah, maybe not.

‘What’s wrong with young people these days?’ he asked as we walked towards yet another pub. ‘Why aren’t they getting drunk and having a good time instead of…’

‘Dancing and having a good time?’ I asked.

‘The tassels, Kit. All those tassels.’

I smirked. ‘I think you’d make a great cowboy.’ Especially if he wore tassels.

Thane spun on the spot. ‘Howdy partner!’ he shouted. ‘Let’s have ourselves some rooting-tooting fun!’

Oh no. ‘I take that back. You’d be a terrible cowboy.’

‘Come on, dahlin’,’ he drawled with a wink. ‘We’ve still got ourselves a varmint to find!’

I raised my eyes heavenward. This was going to be a very long evening.