The next day brought hope at finally getting to the bottom of Seth’s infamous date night while standing across from Gail’s Meat Shack.
I had already informed mister “I have rules.” About my where abouts so I was in the clear with that one.
Even if it was an overbearing inconvience that reminded of my teenage years where every move I made had to be metally documented by my parents that were ready to pounce the moment I wasn’t where I said I’d be.
Though I did understand why he insisted on said, “Rules.”
I watched as the woman I spoke to yesterday was busy setting up for the nights runs.
All while an elderly lady I assumed was Gail squawked orders from her perch behind the bar.
She was a burly individual complete with chin hairs who looked exactly like the type who could take on a drug cartel with her bare hands and still have strength left to bring down a bear shifter on the charge.
“That’s some face you got there. Did someone step on your toe?”
I snapped out of my focused state turning to see none other then snake skin’s tanned hide standing right next to me.
Too close for comfort if I’m honest.
Stepping back I lifted my chin with a complimentary smile and greeted the venom wielder himself.
“Just observing.”
His gaze followed my previous line of sight with a raised eyebrow in a teasingly arrogant motion.
“Gail’s meat shack?”
What I was doing was no business of his.
Promptly changing the subject to avoid having to lie to him I asked.
“What brings you to this neck of woods?”
Pointing with a thumb that was fixed around a shopping bag full of groceries he indicted behind him.
“I live just up the street remember. It was on my client info.”
Shit that’s right forgot about that.
To be fair it’s not like I memorise every clients address.
Ok I do but due to my current mission it’d slipped through the preverbial sieve.
“Right sorry of course it was.”
With a tilt of his head he stared at me with a peculiar look before asking.
“Are you alright? You seem distracted.”
Laughing off what could only be discribed as my “Is this really happening.” Cackle I responded with an overexagerated.
“Oh I’m fine.”
Before reeling back the feeling of “Why am I being so wierd.”
“You sure because you seem a bit off from your usual perky self.”
Perky?
I wouldn’t say I was perky.
Spirited maybe but perky?
“Sorry didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that you don’t seem like youself.”
Did he notice my furrowed brow at the word perky?
This guy was more observant then I first thought.
“Don’t worry it takes more then that to bring me down.”
A strange look flashed across his features so fast I thought I must have imagined it.
Taking a deep breath to reset my flubbergasted self I started anew.
“So hows the case coming? Has Seth annoyed you with his OCD yet?”
A genuine laugh had his lips parting with a sound like birds singing making him seem all the more melt into me while I stroke your back and whisper sweat nothings in your ear.
“He does like to be thorough.”
Talking about Seth and his maticulous methods had my chest brimming with pride.
“You won’t find another PI like him. He’ll find your brother’s killer, just wait and see.”
“You two are close?”
“As close as friends can be.”
Getting in a well placed “hmming.” Noise his green jewels fixed on mine with the focus of Vizsla on the hunt for it’s next prey.
Quickly interjecting with what I hoped was my best, “Letting you down slowly.” Stare.
It was time I adressed the elephant in the air.
“Look Zare, You seem like a really nice guy and all but I’m really not looking for anything.”
Stepping back with a surprised look on his face while peering around like he was embaressed by the situation he’d found himself in at the same time shaking his head with a vigerous back and forth motion of a bobble head toy that just couldn’t stop moving.
His speach usually dripping with the confidence of a pornstar changed into an adolescent school boy who’d just been put on the spot in the middle of a crowded gymnasium.
“I didn’t mean, you’ve got me all wrong. I wasn’t trying to hit on you. At least not like that.”
Huh?
“What I mean is I was just trying to get to know you. That’s all.”
“What about at the office?”
He seemed to be trying to recollect exactly what I was talking about when a sudden realision hit.
“Oh that, I thought we were just playing around.”
Could I have gotten it wrong?
In a matter of seconds he’d gone from confident sex god with enough tension to snap a whip across your arse while he made you beg for more, to a fumbling buffon.
What was with this guy.
He was a walking contridiction straight out of an 80’s sitcom from yester year.
Narrowing my eyes, my suspicions elevating to new hieghts I asked.
“Is that really all?”
“Promise.” Only to be added with, “Unless you change your mind one day.”
It was hard to tell if he was being honest or just joking until he followed it up with a heartfelt laugh that set my mind at ease in an instant.
“That’s great then.”
“Glad that’s all cleared up.”
Checking the time on his watch his eyes widened in shock.
“Shit is that the time. Sorry Rex but I’ve got somewhere to be.”
Already walking away he shot over his shoulder, “Have fun with your meat shack observations.”
He rounded the corner before I could even get an answer in.
Strange guy. Find the original chapter at g.com.
Returning to the task at hand I made my way over to Gail’s Meat Shack.
Just as Gail was about to squawk another order at the already filled to the brim task master that was her staff I offered an introduction.
“Good morning. I’m Rexy from Shifters Investigations. I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time?”
Still with her mouth open, my body involuntarily tensing up.
“This the girl?”
“That’s the lass.”
Springing from her branch stool, flapping her wings she shimmied her way towards me with a grace not equal to her obvious age.
Cringing like she was about to scream like a curlew at me I braced for the impact.
It never came.
“So looking to know what happened to yer boss on his date night eh?”
Wait what the fuck is happening.
“You know who I am?”
“Haha of course I do. That boss of yours never shuts up about ya.”
Walking herself around the table she sat in one of the stools on the custumers side of the bar.
As she reached over her too large breast scrapping across the counter top while the song “do your boobs hang low do the wobble to and fro.” Played on repeat inside my head, to pour a drink from the tap on the other side.
Why she didn’t do that before came round the bar was a complete mystery to me but what do I know.
Sliding it my way she noted my step back with a crooked smile.
“Don’t worry girlie done heard about the no touching rule. You need not fear it from me.”
Puffing out a breath of relief I sat next to her taking the drink with both hands.
The liquid hit my tongue like a vat of acid making me cough the second it hit my throat.
Clucking like a hen brooding on her eggs she puffed out her chest feathers with a, “Best brew around. Got a bite to it but you’ll not find it’s like round these parts.”
It was true the slums made thier own, for lack of a better word moonshine since the uppers believed that we lesser shifters didn’t need the added hits to our conitive senses less we get to bolstered with a false sense of bravado.
Which obviously didn’t matter seeing as what we made do with was ten times stronger then anything they’d banned from the streets.
Pounding at my chest like the action would somehow help the crude bleach like subtance make its way to my stomach I croaked out a, “Smooth.” Before setting the glass back down on the counter.
“You get used to it with a few more sips.”
Reluctant to test her thoery I pushed it as far away as I could without offending the woman before she pecked me to death with her sharp beak.
“Thanks for the offer but I think I’ll pass.”
“Suit yourself.”
Reaching over she snatched up the drink and glupped its contents in one go.
With a resounding, “ahh.” at the end slamming the glass down on the counter hard enough to crack the edges into tiny splinters.
“So what ya wanna know?”
I thought it was about time I left some thoughts.
So here goes.
I love to hear from my readers so if you have any questions about the charcter or even just want to share you own thoughts your welcome to leave a comment or drop a howdoyado and I’ll do my best to answer to everyone.
ps please no scam comments that I have no intention of following up from now on they will be deleted and ignored.