Page 4 of Licence To Howl
‘You’ve not asked any yet,’ Devereau growled.
Hitchins fixed him with a cold eyed stare. ‘Why’d you come into my pub?’
‘I wanted a drink.’
He lifted one arm and smacked Devereau around the face. It wasn’t a particularly hard knock but it was unpleasant all the same. ‘Try again.’
‘The warm inviting exterior drew me in.’
Hitchins hit him again, this time with slightly more force. Devereau felt his teeth rattle. He spat out a glob of blood onto the floor. Ick.
‘You might think you’re being clever but it won’t help your cause,’ Hitchens murmured. ‘For one final time, why did you come here?’
Devereau exhaled. ‘You are under the delusion that I’m friend-less and there’s no-one at my back but I can assure you that’s not actually the case. Clan or no clan, there are plenty of supes who owe me favours. Not just wolves either. There are several vampires who will do just about anything for me.’
Hitchens sighed. ‘I didn’t ask for idle threats. I asked for an explanation as to why you’re here.’
‘And,’ Devereau retorted, ‘I’m giving you one. You’re not patient enough to listen to all of it. A few days ago, one of the vampires who’s in my debt came to me with a proposition. She had come into some information regarding your little operation here. She knew that I was looking for a new group to work with and she suggested that the Wasps here might be a good bet. I’m no longer so sure about that.’
Ronnie Hitchens’ eyes narrowed at his mention of his gang’s name. ‘No blood fucker would ever know about us.’
Devereau snorted mildly. ‘Of course they know about you. They know a lot more about what goes on in this city than anyone else does. Anyone who underestimates the bloodsuckers,’ he continued, ‘is an idiot. The things that Lord Horvath knows would make your toes curl up. He’s got eyes and ears everywhere.’
A muscle ticked in Hitchins’ cheek. ‘So, if we say for argument’s sake that you’re telling the truth, why would you want to work with us?’
‘Because,’ Devereau said, ‘my own Flock left me, as you already know. The vamps and wolves I know are fine. They’re good people. But they’re under the government’s thumb. They can’t take a shit without the police landing on top of them.’ He met Hitchens’ gaze. ‘And I miss fucking with the police. Being a werewolf is fun but my soul is crying out for some real action.’ He managed a facsimile of a shrug. ‘Don’t worry though, I’ve got several other possibilities. I’m not throwing all my eggs into one basket. You’re not the only little gang on my list.’
‘Oh yeah? Who else are you looking at then?’
‘Smack me around all you want,’ Devereau told him, ‘but I’m not going to tell you who they are. Not if I want to end up working with any of them. And I wouldn’t tell any of them about you. There’s a code.’
‘Yeah,’ Hitchens said quietly. ‘There’s a code.’ He paused for a moment as if thinking. ‘What makes you thinkwe’d want to work withyou?’
Devereau’s eyes gleamed. He was finally getting somewhere. It was the first time he’d been interviewed for a job while tied up. Hell, it was the first time he’d been interviewed for a jobat all. ‘You need some muscle in your team.’
‘Muscle?’ Hitchens scoffed. ‘We took you down easily enough.’
Devereau grinned. ‘Did you?’
A tiny frown began to crease Hitchens’ forehead. Then Devereau sprang up and, still tied to the chair, kicked Hitchens in the chest with one foot. Hitchens toppled backwards, landing clumsily on the floor with his own chair on top of him. Devereau laughed coldly and tensed his muscles, yanking hard against the rope holding his arms in place. It wouldn’t take much to break free. A few attempts and he’d manage it. He kicked the fallen Hitchens in the ribs and strained against the rope again. Hmm. Then he ran backwards at the nearby wall, angling his collision so that the wooden chair at his back took the worst of the impact. It splintered into several pieces – and seconds later, Devereau was free of his bindings.
Still on the floor, Hitchins groaned. Devereau walked over and smiled down at him. ‘I won’t hold any of this against you,’ he said. ‘And I won’t hurt you any more. To be honest, I’m pleased that you were smart enough to knock me out to begin with. It proves that you’re able to think on your feet and adapt. That’s the sort of thing I’m looking for in my new gang.’ He circled round Hitchens. ‘It’s not your fault that you don’t know how strong I really am. I could teach you a thing or two about more effective restraints. I have a lot to offer you. But,’ he sucked in air through his teeth, ‘I’m not sure on reflection that you’ve got a lot to offer me.’ He bent down and slid Hitchens’ wallet out from his back pocket. There was no cash inside it. There was, however, a single piece of folded up paper. ‘What’s this?’ He smoothed it out and scanned the scrawled words. ‘A.C.’ He glanced down at Hitchins’ face. ‘What does that mean? And is this a phone number here?’
Hitchins groaned again. ‘No.’
Devereau’s smile grew. ‘Yes.’ He reached into Hitchins’ other pocket. Then he whistled. ‘Nice phone. It’s one of those ones with facial recognition, right?’ He grinned and held it up to Hitchins’ face. Almost instantaneously the phone unlocked. Devereau wasted no time in tapping in the phone number.
It was answered within three rings. ‘This is Alex Carruthers. I don’t know why you’re calling me again. I’ve already given you twenty grand. If you want more –’
Devereau hung up. ‘Who’s Alex Carruthers? And where’s the twenty grand he gave you?’
Hitchens didn’t immediately answer. Devereau grabbed him by the throat and hauled him up to his feet. ‘I don’t like repeating myself.’
‘He’s just some MP! We got some dirty pictures of him with a blonde woman who he paid for sex. That’s all.’
‘Blackmail?’ Devereau sighed. ‘That’s unimaginative.’ He shook Hitchens. ‘Where’s the cash you squeezed out of him?’
‘In a safe under the bar.’
