AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’ll do it.I’ll figure out how she framed that Vinduthi, and I’ll find the evidence to prove it. Because I’m a detective.
And that’s what detectives do.
TAZHR
Iwas sitting on twenty with the dealer showing eighteen when I felt a tap on my back. My shoulders tensed. Luck was against me that whole night, and the last thing I needed was to get called away just when the cards were being good to me. The Black Star Casino was supposed to be a place where I came to unwind.
“Yeah, what is it?” I snapped. It better be important.
“I’m so sorry, sir,” the waiter behind me said nervously. “When you’re available Alkard wants to talk to you.”
I nodded to the dealer. “Hit me. I’ve got this one.”
The dealer passed me a card. A three. My lucky streak finally started. “Um.” The waiter coughed. He was a human and, like most humans, looked fragile enough to blow over if you breathed on him too hard. “Actually, Alkard was very specific that if you were gambling, I was to keep bothering you until you came with me.”
I turned around and straightened, letting him take stock of my complete Vinduthi bulk. “And you feel like it’s a good idea to follow that order? To bother me, the operation’s enforcer, while I’m trying to have a night off and enjoy some cards?”
The waiter trembled. “Well… it is what Alkard said…”
I laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “Well, good on you. You’ve got spirit. Give me just a second.”
I turned around and flipped over my cards. I raked in the chips I just won, then handed one of the blue ones to the waiter.
“All right. Take me to him.”
The waiter quickly stashed the chip away and then walked me to the private section of the Black Star.
Alkard took over Draven’s office, looking just as comfortable there as he did on his own.
It made sense.
The Black Star, as well as Draven and his men, were all part of Alkard’s syndicate.
Alkard, as usual, had his feet up at the desk and was listening to some weird, modern music I didn’t understand. He paused it when I entered.
“Tazhr!” he greeted me, smiling. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon!”
“You nearly didn’t,” I said, sitting down on the chair opposite him. “But the waiter you sent insisted. I felt good about the next few hands, so whatever job this is, I hope it’s at least that important.”
“Oh, it’s very important.” He swept his feet to the floor and leaned in closer to me. “It’s about Havek getting framed.”
I cracked a smile. “Probably one of those mercenary companies. With all the prisoners using them to buy assassins to take out Havek, they’ll double their business in a week.”
Alkard scowled. Apparently, he wasn’t in the mood for humor. “Tazhr, do you ever take things seriously?”
“Not really,” I answered. “Everyone goes out the same whether they take things seriously or not. So I figure I might as well have a good time while I’m stuck here.”
“You don’t really think that,” he said. A statement, not a question.
I gave another shrug. “I don’t know what I think. All I know is I’ve seen a lot of beings get killed. I’ve done a few myself, as you know, and I haven’t yet seen anyone who seemed like they were happy to go.”
I didn’t mention the war, but I didn’t have to. Alkard knew that’s what I was talking about. Did it screw me up? Maybe. But when you work as muscle for a gang, there are worse things to be than a little screwed up.
Alkard shook his head. “I don’t know if you mean it, but if you do, that makes me sad.”
“I mean less of it than I say, more of it than I think. That’s usually how it works.”
Again, not even a smile. “You’re a good Vinduthi and you’re loyal. But I also worry about you. I worry that you’re just drifting. That you haven’t found anything you care about or anyone.”
