Adam held his cellphone out for Dakota. “Call the mayor, or the chief of police, whoever you’ve given more money to,” he said. They were outside the precinct; it was a beautiful, sunny day, a stark contrast to the dark night before and the dank police interrogation room.

 

“No, I can’t,” Dakota said.

 

“Why not!?” Adam demanded, letting the phone drop and staring at her. Why was she so stubborn? Why wouldn’t she let anyone help her?

 

“Because I can’t order the police around. If I do, my case takes priority over someone who doesn’t have any money. And what if I’m wrong? What if it was just another guy in the garage? How would that look if I diverted police resources for it?

 

“Why do you care so much how things look?” Adam demanded. It was crazy to him that she would put people’s opinions of her over her own safety. There was no question that someone had tried to attack her the other night, both he and Dakota knew it, so why wouldn’t she do what needed to be done?

 

“Because when I make a mistake, it’s international news. I just received a condolence card from the Sultan of Brunei!” Dakota yelled, and then her voice quieted, “We don’t use our money to tell the government what to do; that’s not how my father raised me. We support politicians who agree with us, within the bounds of the law, but that’s all. I know it seems stupid and prideful, but I can’t do it, not yet.”

 

“All right,” Adam said. She was right, he had to give her that. Her selfless nature wasn’t just something she used for good press; it was a part of her. Even if it led to her death, she couldn’t let it go. Adam, however, was not so prideful, he would do whatever he needed to in order to protect her. “Then I guess I’m going to talk with the Soul Stealers.”

 

“Fine, but I’m coming with you.”

 

“No, you’re not.” Adam said firmly. “It’s too dangerous.”

 

“If it’s that dangerous, you shouldn’t go either.”

 

“Dakota, please,” Adam begged. “I’m not implying anything about you. I know you’re tough and strong and resilient, but this is different. These guys, they’re an element you’ve never dealt with before. They’re dangerous, cruel, and mean. They only care about your family name for the price it will get them.”

 

“So what’s your plan, then? To just march into their headquarters and demand answers?” Adam opened his mouth to argue, but couldn’t find the words. He didn’t have a plan, but if he did, it would have looked a lot like the one Dakota had just described. “Seriously?” Dakota demanded, “How is that not dangerous?”

 

“Fine, we’ll think of a better plan, but I don’t want anyone to know about your involvement, just me. I’ll tell them I’ve picked up the case again.”

 

“I’ll call the lawyer and have them resend the contract,” Dakota said. “You are actually working for me; it’s only fair that you get paid.”

 

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest, considering our history?” Adam asked.

 

“Let’s think of it less as a conflict of interest, and more as an extra incentive,” she said reaching out and taking his hand with hers.

 

Adam was always surprised when Dakota reached out to him. She was so lovely, and so kind, and so above him. It was like a swan reaching out to a crow. Adam knew he didn’t deserve her, but he certainly wasn’t going to push her away. Her accepted her hand and squeezed it in his.

 

“That guy, Andre, you said he liked money, right? I have a lot of money, more than enough to buy the info we need.”

 

“He might not have the information we need,” Adam said.

 

“Then he can at least tell us who gave him the information. It’ll be a trail we can follow.”

 

Adam looked at her, her ideas weren’t bad, but they were dangerous. She was so innocent, she had no idea what hid in the shadows and lurked under the stairs. Monsters and demons were real. Adam met them; hell, he had worked for them. Not that he had ever told Dakota, but now she wanted to get involved. She wanted to meet and question his underworld contacts. What happens when she finds out? he wondered. What happens when she learns what I’ve done in the past?

 

“Can you hear me?” Adam asked the empty table around him. The lights above him flashed once for yes and he settled back into the booth stirring his drink. In the end, Adam and Dakota had sorted out a compromise: Adam would talk to Andre in the booth his phone on in his front pocket so Dakota and Joey could hear everything. The phone was on mute, so any noise Dakota made wouldn’t come through and tip Andre off that someone was listening.

 

He looked up at the large two-way mirror that lined the west-facing side of Scarred Angels. He reminded himself that no matter what happened she would be safe up there. The steel doors were locked and it would take a rocket launcher to get inside. He could imagine her up there, sitting in front of the light and sound controller, biting her lip from worry. She had promised that, no matter what, she would stay up there, and Adam could only pray she would keep her word.

 

Adam had told Andre to meet him at one, so it was no real surprise when Andre swaggered in at one thirty. Dressed in a red tracksuit and spotless, bright white shoes Andre joined Adam in the booth. There was a forty dollar glass of scotch waiting for him, and Andre took a strong sip as he settled in.

 

“So, you pick that Kane contract back up?” Andre asked.

 

“I don’t want to talk about me. I want to know who gave you the information about the Soul Stealers.”

 

“That information was a grand the other night, but the price has only gone up.”

 

“Well, I paid you five hundred of that grand already, so let’s remember to knock that off the asking price.” Adam knew that all this negotiating over a few hundred dollars must have been driving Dakota mad. If she were here, she would have thrown the money down on the table and demanded answers, but Adam knew better. This was a dance. Andre trusted no one, not even Adam. So he needed to do this delicately. He needed to keep Andre happy. He needed to get the information without Andre having an incentive to tell the other side that someone was sniffing around. He needed to know who had ordered the hit and get to that person before anyone else could.

 

“Five grand.”

 

“For what?” Adam demanded, rolling his eyes.

 

“For the name of the guy who told me about the Soul Stealers job.”

 

“So, this guy isn’t in the Soul Stealers?” Adam asked. “If he were a member, he never would have talked and you wouldn’t have told me. So, you only have a name; that guy has all the real information.”

 

“Yeah, well, without me telling you the name, you’re stuck,” Andre said, taking another sip of his drink, “so why don’t you call the Kanes and have them route through their couch cushions to find the money, we both know they have it.”

 

“I’ll give you two for it, which is a good deal since the other day you would have told me for one.”

 

“Yeah, but as I told you then, that was a one-time offer. Time has passed; the offer has changed.”

 

“I’m not giving you five thousand dollars for a name. But I will give you two. That’s a lot of money for a couple of words.”

 

“Three, and we’ll have a deal.”

 

Adam pretended to think about it. He ran his hands over the table and let a concerned look cross his face. He waited an uncomfortable amount of time, but Andre didn’t care. The other man stared straight at Adam, patient and waiting. “Fine, three. But if the name doesn’t pan out, you owe me for that money.”

 

“You know it doesn’t work like that.”

 

“And you know that this is my club, you and yours skip the line and get in for free, and that kind of access can be revoked.”

 

“This ain’t the only club in the city.”

 

“But it is the best one.”

 

Andre smiled and said, “The info’s good. I heard from the guy himself. His name is Lance Declor. He used to work at the shipyard, but it didn’t appeal to him. He’s been bouncing around town working here and there, but nobody likes or trusts him enough to bring him on the crew full time.”

 

“Nor should they, considering what he told you,” Adam said.

 

Andre scoffed in agreement and continued, “He lives with his mom on Second Street, but he can normally be found at the Black Mark, you know that bar?”

 

Adam nodded. He had drank at the Black Mark before. It was a workingman’s bar, cheap beer and they didn’t sell food, so smoking was allowed. Adam had stopped going when he quit the temptation had been too strong.

 

“He’s a tall, skinny guy, over six foot, with shaggy brown hair, and a fucking mermaid tattoo on his right arm. My advice, just sit down next to him and shoot the shit, guy can’t keep his mouth shut. He’ll start talking and you can take it from there.” Andre said.

 

“Thanks for the info,” Adam said, “your money’ll be at the door.”

 

Andre nodded, but didn’t move. “This stays between us, but I hope you get them. These Soul Stealers, they’re a mess. They’ve got no idea what they’re doing. It’s causing some real problems in the city, messing up everybody’s business.” Adam nodded and with a heavy sigh Andre stood finished his drink and walked towards the door. Joey had been instructed to give Andre the money while Dakota waited.

 

“Who’s Lance Declor? Let’s go to that bar,” Dakota said the second Adam walked into the office. Joey was standing next to her his arms crossed. “Have you ever been to the Black Mark?” she asked.

 

“We’ve been,” Adam said, “but it’s pretty seedy.”

 

“I can handle it,” Dakota said.

 

“Not dressed like that you can’t,” Joey said.

 

“I’m in jeans and a t-shirt,” Dakota said. And she was, but her jeans were clean and fit perfectly, the t-shirt she was wearing blue and white striped. Nobody was going to think she had bought them from Walmart. There was something about them, they were too nice, too clean, and they fit too well.

 

“You’ll have to change. I have some shirts you can wear,” Adam said, aware that nothing would help. Dakota was too beautiful. There weren’t enough bad clothes in the world to hide that.

 

“So I can come?” she asked. Adam looked at Joey who shrugged. One of them needed to stay and watch the club and a beautiful girl like Dakota might get farther with Lance with than Adam would.

 

“You can come if you promise to listen to me and do as I say,” Adam said.

 

“I can do that!” Dakota answered, pumping one fist in the air.