Page 9 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter
“It’s about territory, Grok. You can respect that, can’t you?” Malik kept his hand outstretched, palm up.
After a long moment, Grok reached inside his jacket and slapped a bulky envelope on Malik’s palm. “I didn’t think you’d insist that I pay up.”
“If I started messing around with your business, you’d be the first one standing here demanding shit from me. Am I right?”
“Meh. Maybe.” Grok chuckled, his cheeks reddening. “I’ll go on record and say I’ve never met a hard ass like you before. You know, if you ever wanted to join up, we’d more than be happy to have you.”
“I’d rather cut my own heart out and eat it in front of you,” Malik said. “I’m just a mechanic doing my business with my clients in peace and quiet. I really don’t appreciate having my sleep disturbed by your assholes, or anyone else for that matter. Understood?”
“Yeah, we’re all good, man.” Grott nodded and strode down the pavement toward his car. “Hey, I think my engine’s got a knock in it. Did you want to look at it?” he yelled, opening the driver’s door.
“It’s also got a computer in it,” Malik said. “Find yourself another mechanic.” Waiting until Grok had driven off, Malik went back into the workshop, shaking his head at Ian, who was still in the office, doing a really bad job of not listening.
“Therewasstuff that went on here last night.” Ian’s eyes were wide. “How did the glitter get involved?”
“You don’t need details,” Malik said. “I said I don’t want shit around my business, and I don’t. In the meantime…” He handed the cash-filled envelope to Ian. Malik had no idea how much was in it, but as he didn’t want it, it didn’t matter. “Give that to your mam. Tell her it’s a donation for the food pantry she works with. Hopefully, it might help a couple of families get some groceries this week, eh?”
Ian pulled out a wad of cash from the envelope, flicking over it with his thumb before hurriedly stuffing it back in and shoving the envelope in his front pocket. “Yeah, that’s going to help a lot. She’s going to be thrilled. But yeah, will you mind if I get a cab home tonight? I don’t want to be mugged by the same people who gave this to you.”
“You can knock off for the day now if you like. Call a cab, put it on my tab, and get yourself home. I’m sure your mam’s got chores you can do this afternoon.”
“I know she wants me digging over the back garden.” Ian was up out of his seat and cleaning up the empty take-out wrappers. “Are you sure you don’t need me this afternoon? We can put this in the till in the meantime.”
“No, I’ve got things handled. There’ll be plenty for you to do when you come in tomorrow.” Malik was happy for Ian to leave early. He had things Ian could be doing, but frankly, Malik wanted to be able to work in peace, daydreaming about his intriguing fae.
I’m gonna have to start tracking him down,he decided, as he arranged for a cab to get Ian home.I’ll boot up the computer when I’ve finished work for the day and see what I can find under listings for PIs in town.At least thinking that put his rhino in a better mood – something Malik was thankful for. It could get damn tiring fighting the urge to shift all day.
Chapter Six
“This place doesn’t look so bad in daylight.” It was just after three in the afternoon. Thanks to the glitter outbursts and his own ragged nerves, Tynan hadn’t been able to get a lick of work done. The only major thing on his to-do list was to update Mrs. Cooper on his investigation into her missing daughter, and as he really didn’t want to explain how futile his efforts had been so far, he was ready to get out of the office. His stomach was in knots, because he still wasn’t sure what on earth he was meant to say to Malik, if and when he saw him, but it was easy to find “Malik’s Motors” through an online search, so at least he had an address.
In daylight, there were still a lot of boarded-up buildings, but there were also signs of thriving businesses. There were cars using the road that had been bare the night before and people were popping in and out of clothing shops, a tattoo parlor, and some of those emporium-type places Tynan had been known to get lost in a time or two.
Tynan was better prepared this time. Malik seemed concerned about his ears, so Tynan was wearing a woolen beanie. The hat served two purposes, not only covering his pointed ears, but also most of his hair. He tucked the longer lengths of his hair under the beanie, and while he thought it made his head shape look weird, it would hopefully hide him from the attackers who might still be in the area.
With his hands shoved firmly in his coat pockets to prevent any glitter spillage, all Tynan could hope was that he looked as “normal” and “unassuming” as possible. That was what he was aiming for.
Sparky thought the whole thing was hilarious. “I fail to see anything ordinary about a grown man walking down the roadwith a raven on their shoulder. You show me one other person who does that.”
“You could’ve stayed home or at the office,” Tynan hissed. There were times when he wished his raven could be just a tad more supportive. “It was your idea that I come here in the first place.”
“You’re the one wearing the horn mark, not me.” Sparky ruffled his feathers and got comfortable again after Tynan had to quickly side-step someone laden down with bags coming out of a shop.
“The thing is, my magic is so damned erratic, I have no way of knowing if I’m getting a mating signal, or if being on Earth’s messed me up more than I was on the fae realm.” Tynan kept his voice low, although none of the pedestrians were paying him any attention. “It’s not like I can just ask him outright, is it? The man’s a stranger.”
“From what I hear, shifters prefer things direct. Provided you don’t ask when there’s someone else around.”
“Oh, my goodness.” Tynan stopped and then sidestepped again as he was clearly blocking someone’s way. “He’s a working man. What if he’s busy?” He glanced back the way he’d come. “Maybe I should find a coffee shop where I can wait and come back later?”
“When it’s dark? Not freaking likely. I’ll go see if you like.” Sparky ruffled his wings as if prepared to just fly off.
“Stay where you are.” Tynan didn’t trust Sparky not to make things more embarrassing for him than they already were and started walking again. “I’m still not sure the six cans of beer in my shoulder bag are a suitable gift for someone who saved me from being severely injured.”
“It’s the spirit of the thing.” How the heck Sparky knew about such matters, Tynan had no idea. “It indicates a desire to sit with someone socially and enjoy a drink together. I see people doing that in advertisements all the time. It’s what friendly people do.”
“From the media I’ve seen, it’s all people walking around with barely any clothes on, dancing as they hold bottles of soda.” Tynan pointed to a poster illustrating exactly that on a shop window as he walked past. “Honestly, I despair at us sometimes. You’re a bird, and my only impressions of life are from a very unrealistic fae realm. It beats me how we manage to get through this life at all.”
“I get through life just fine. It’s you who needs the help, and who knows, maybe your Malik will prove useful for that, among other things.” It was those “other things” Tynan was a little concerned about, not that Sparky would notice. “Oh, he’s open for business. Just go in there. I’m sure he’ll be really pleased to see you.”
