Page 100 of Wandering in Darkness
“We also have no idea who these people are or what they want; I would rather not engage them if possible,” I say, anxious at the idea of shooting someone who could be innocent.
“I hear you. And I know, I know, you’re all going to cry that I’m a sucker for risky shit or something,” Felix begins, “but I think that maybe we should think about saving Ned and his crew if you really think they are innocent and have simply fucked up by getting involved. If that’s what they did to Ned’s fiancée… I can’t imagine what they’re going to do to him.”
“Ned and his crew really aren’t bad people,” Grayson says. “I think they’ve allowed their grief to cause them to make some questionable choices. But no, I don’t think they’re bad people.”
“Irritating people to me,” I growl.
Grayson squats down next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders before pulling me in to squeeze me to him. “I know they don’t deserve a second chance, but I also know you’re such a good person you’re going to give them one.”
“No, I’m not.”
“If you weren’t, we’d be getting back in that vehicle right now.”
“Which I’m going to do the very second I’m done staring at Audrey and whispering curses.”
“Oh? You a witch now or something?”
“Something like that.”
“I taught him that,” Felix says. “That’s why I need all of these pets. They’re my familiars. Obviously,Lane.”
“Don’t make some bullshit excuse for why you keep stealing pets.”
“Grayson… if I had one wish for your relationship with Cal, it would be for you to not treat Cal with the brutality Lane treats me with every time I save a perfectly innocent pet from winding up in a horrible villain’s hands.”
“Have I ever made you return a pet? Do I let thatpigsleep in our bed? Do I just suffer as I trip over at least one pet a day?”
“You love them as much as I do.”
“Now that might be stretching it. I very much love Copper. I even love Clawdia. But the pig…” Lane thinks for a moment. “Anyway.”
“No! You were explaining how much you love Brigs!”
“I like him. Is that good enough?”
“We’ll work on that.” Felix is silent for a bit before going, “I kind of feel like I should have binoculars too.” He twirls his baseball bat, reminding me that it’s the only thing he seems to have brought that’s useful. “Like… we’re just chatting over here because we’re kind of bored. Did you guys bring anything for us to look through?”
“You mean you dressed up like kinky burglars and packed nothing for the actual job?” I ask.
“Kinky burglars… I wonder if we’d get more customers if we renamed our detective agency to that.”
“You’d definitely get more customers, but would they be the right kind of customers?” Antonio asks.
“Did I tell you my idea of having Lane naked and waving a sign over his genitals to get people to come in?”
“Like… airing them out?”
“No, like one of those sign twirlers. Antonio, gosh, you have such a dirty mind.”
I look away from my scope just so I can fully experience the expression of disbelief on Antonio’s face.
“Do I? Am I the one?” he asks.
“Have you seen anyone else during this riveting conversation?” I ask Grayson.
“You know, I got so caught up in the conversation, I forgot what we were here for,” Grayson decides.
“Funny, guys. I know we’re hilarious. I know you wish you were like us, but right now we need you two to do all the stuff we’re not good at,” Felix says.
