Page 125 of A Breath of Life
“Not intentionally.” Kitty motioned for Costa to move so she could take over the computer. “I suspect he tried to save himself, knowing the kind of man he’d struck a bargain with.”
Diem had taught me a lot about delving into financial records since it was often part of the job. Companies hired us to do financial breakdowns, audits, or investigations into new hires, but I wasn’t nearly as proficient as Costa or Kitty.
My not-so-senile co-worker quickly pointed out what she’d discovered.
It didn’t take a genius to see Clarence’s steadily decreasing funds as the months flittered by. Significant chunks, to the tune of tens of thousands, had been withdrawn at notable intervals, often on Friday or Saturday nights. Apart from the odd, unremarkable deposit, Clarence’s inheritance gradually diminished until there was nothing left.
The pieces clicked. “The Royal Whispering Ace. Memphis said it’s an underground casino.” I smacked Costa’s shoulder. “And you said the name suggested it was run by this organization or whoever they are. They’re the guys who kidnapped Diem and tried to have Clarence killed. The same ones Clarence hired to murder his wife. Fuck me sideways. He was trying to win back enough money to pay off his debt before it came due.”
“Looks like, but he failed,” Costa added, “because Ace was never going to let him win back that money. Not at his place of business. Clarence should have known better. Wins and losses are all controlled in places like that. No one walks away with significant cash unless the boss gives his approval.”
I took a moment to absorb. “Okay, but none of this tells me where Clarence went, and if I don’t find him by five tomorrow night…” I let the sentence hang, not wanting to speak the truth aloud. Instead, I glanced at my wily co-worker. “Any luck locating him?”
For the first time since entering the room, Kitty’s face crumpled. Her confidence vanished. “No, sweetie. I have feelers out, but nothing yet.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? You know everything.”
“I’m sorry, Tallus. I tried.”
“What good is it having a clairvoyant, time-traveling sorceress as a friend if you can’t tell me where Clarence went? They’re going to kill the only man I’ve ever loved if I don’t bring that fucker in. Diem is counting on me. I can’t fail him.”
“No one’s going to die.” Costa’s gaze shifted from side to side as he stared into the middle distance. “I think… Yes. That might work.”
“What?” I wanted to scream. “What do you think? What might work? Can everyone stop being elusive and sketchy and speak fucking English.”
Costa nodded as though deciding. “Our best bet is to find where they’re holding Diem and get him out of harm’s way. Then, I can contact intelligence and—”
A Diem-worthy growl of frustration left my throat. “No! Have you listened to anything I’ve said? That’s where we failed. That’s where we went wrong. We diverted from the primary objective. We did our own thing. We tried to find Ace instead of searching for Clarence. If we go after Diem, we put not only him at risk but his grandmother. I won’t do that.” I stamped a foot like a petulant child. “We need. To find. Clarence!”
“Are you finished with your tantrum?” Costa asked.
“I’m going to punch you in the face. I don’t care if you’re bigger and stronger.” As I balled my fists and stepped forward, Kitty wedged herself between us.
“Stop this nonsense. Clarence is in the wind. He knows there’s a target on his head. He cashed out his bank account and split. I did a trace on his vehicle and whispered in the ears of as many patrol officers as I could, but nothing has come up, and I highly doubt it will. Anyone with half a brain would have either changed the license plates or dumped the car by now. We aren’t going to find him before tomorrow night.”
“But…” I stabbed a finger at Costa. “Citywide video surveillance. Do that. Right now. Put Clarence’s face in the program and run it. We have that technology. Don’t tell me we don’t.”
Costa huffed a laugh. “Do you have any idea how many cameras are in this city? Even if I focused on a specific district, it would take more than five minutes to be granted access, and that’sifI could convince a judge togive meaccess. I can’t tell them I’m hunting down a civilian so we can turn him over to an underground syndicate who wants him dead, and I can’t use my credentials to access it illegally.”
“Don’t you see? Clarence is your key to accessing that syndicate. Intelligence wants to find them, right? They want to arrest these guys.”
“Fucking right they do, but if I use that reasoning, you wash your hands of everything. The department will take over, and it will be days or weeks before they construct a plan to move in on Ace and his crew.Ifthey move in at all. They may deem the information bogus.”
I spun, tearing fingers through my hair. “Fuck. Can’t you hack the system?”
Costa snorted. “Sure, and what are you going to tell my pregnant wife when the department not only fires my ass but prosecutes and imprisons me?”
“You suck. Diem would have torn this city apart for me regardless of the consequences, and I’m fucking useless, relying on a hacker who won’t hack and a witch who won’t witch. I’d have been better off on my own.”
“You’d have been dead on your own.” My cousin turned back to the computer.
Echo whined, and I guiltily glanced at her. She was still by the door, lying on the ground with her nose wedged in the crack. She felt the rising tension. She knew it was about Diem. She wanted her daddy.
Me too, girl. Me too.
I collapsed onto the edge of the bed, defeated and with fear clinging to me like an itchy wool sweater three sizes too small. What if I failed? What if I never saw Diem again?
When the shit-colored motel carpet blurred, I removed my glasses and swiped away tears. Great, now I was breaking down in front of my cousin, who already saw me as weak and incompetent.
