Page 3 of Pointy Ears and Purple Glitter
“You mean people like you, wandering around dark alleys looking for a man you met for all of two minutes.”
As far as Tynan was concerned, that didn’t need a response. He kept his eyes on the light - the only one on the street advertising a presence at night.
“I don’t know how people can live in this place,” he said with another shiver. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a shape moving in the shadows on the other side of the road. A human-sized shape. “I’m not sure that anyone does. In fact, this whole situation is getting more ridiculous by the second. I need my head examined.”
“I told you that last Tuesday when you tried to use magic to change a light bulb instead of climbing onto your desk,” Sparky said. “Honestly, if anything happens to you down here…”
“So, you’re feeling it too?” Tynan hesitated, but they were only one block away from the light. “I’m going to take one quick look, and then I’m going to immediately turn around and leave.” Feeling better with a decision made, he quickened his steps. “I mean, this… Whoever this informant was... How did we end up listening to him in the first place?”
“Why are you using ‘we’ in that statement? You were asking questions at the bar where this woman that you’re looking for was last seen. Some guy passes you a scrap of paper and tells you to be at a specific address the following night at eleven o’clock - just before witching hour. Can’t you see this is a horror flick setting up for the bad shit that’s just about to happen? If people were watching this on the big screens, they’d be screaming, ‘don’t go down that alley, don’t go down that alley.’”
“I’m not in an alley,” Tynan said firmly. “Believe it or not, despite there being no streetlights or other lights on, this is actually a road, a main road, where people drive up and down to get to places. I am walking on the pavement, cracked as it is, that runs alongside that road.”
Although Tynan hadn’t seen a car since the taxi dropped him off. “There must be people living here somewhere. Why else would the man tell us to meet him here?”
“He didn’t tell us,” Sparky said with another ruffle of his feathers. “He toldyou. And out of some misguided loyalty, now I’m stuck following you. I’m telling you, this is the worst opening for a horror movie I’ve ever seen.”
When Sparky went off on a tangent, he could stay there for days. In the meantime, they’d reached the light. Tynan’s heart sank. It was clearly a workshop of some kind. Perhaps one that fixed cars. But if that was the case, then the owner must’ve given up fixing them because there was no sign of life apart from the light.
Tynan even rested his hand on the glass of the one large window and peered into it. All he could see was an office desk, a counter, and then beyond that, some shapes in the murky shadows beyond, which could be cars, tanks, or elephants for all he knew.
“This is just the stupidest plan we’ve ever had.” He moved back from the window with a sigh.
“There you go with all that ‘we’ nonsense. Don’t rope me into your next madcap disaster. This was all on you. In fact, I’m sure you only keep me around so you can blame me for your stupid mistakes. Watch… Fuck!”
Sparky suddenly took off in a flutter of feathers and squawks as Tynan felt a huge thump on the back of his head. His knees buckled, and he fell to the pavement, trying to slap away rough hands that gripped his coat and started dragging him across the concrete in their efforts to get his coat off.
“Help! Someone help me, please,” he screamed as someone started kicking at his chest and legs.
Chapter Three
“Oh, my gods.” Malik’s laughter bounced off his walls as he slapped his knee before pointing at the television. “That is so funny.” The cute little minions marching across the screen, a different expression on each individual face, tickled his funny bone every time he saw it. Malik sighed happily as the credits started to roll across the screen, glancing down at his phone screen. “Eleven. Ian will be banging on the door before the sun’s had their first coffee.”
He clicked his remote in the direction of the screen, the lively tunes from the television being swallowed by the sudden silence. Malik was used to it. He’d lived alone for most of his life. Standing, he stretched his arms out as he yawned, before twisting his neck one way and then the other. The couch was comfortable, but it was also getting older and not supporting his weight as well as it used to. There was also the little fact that Malik had been lifting an engine only hours earlier.
Clapping his hands, Malik let his eyes adjust as the overhead lights went out. His rhino stirred unexpectedly as Malik made his way to his bedroom. He halted in the hallway, tilting his head.What the heck is that noise?He could hear persistent tapping, and it sounded like it was coming from the workshop.
I’m certain I didn’t leave anything on that shouldn’t be.But Malik still headed for the door leading through to his workshop. The tapping was ongoing. It wasn’t deliberate knocking – a person sort of knocking. No one living locally was silly enough to disturb Malik after dark. A few tough-guy wannabes had tried their shakedown tactics when Malik first bought the buildings and set up his business. They seemed to think Malik should pay protection money so that his business would stay safe. Malik soon showed them why he didn’t need anyone protecting himor his business. The result was a respect of sorts – both sides leaving each other alone.
The tapping Malik was hearing was more like a woodpecker intent on giving himself a headache which was a worry because he hadn’t seen a woodpecker in decades. Moving into the workshop, it was clear that the noise was coming from outside. Everything in the garage was switched off, the way it was meant to be, and the only light shining was the one he’d left on in the front office. Tilting his head again, the tapping was coming from the metal roller door at the front of the building, but now that he was closer, he could also pick out noises coming from the back. Noises Malik was familiar with.
Opening the front door would be too loud and take too long. Malik crept quietly to his back door. It was rarely used, but Malik kept the hinges and locks well-oiled. He had the door open before the two thugs, or their victim were aware that anything was happening.
“Look at those ears. They must be stuck on. Hey, freak. Did you forget to take your ear tips off after Halloween? I’ve got a knife. Let’s help you get them off.”
“Yeah, we’d be doing you a favor.”
Ears?Malik thought they were after the man’s coat, but as he quickly checked out the victim, he mentally groaned and his rhino started to stomp – severely agitated and wanting to break free.That is one clueless paranormal.
Moving quickly, Malik grabbed both men by the backs of their necks – the one with the knife and the other one with the big mouth, slamming them up against the wall. Malik had seen them both before although he didn’t know their names. The insignia on their jackets was recognizable, though. Scowling, he showed his teeth as he said, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing inmy alley? Didn’t your boss tell you anything about keeping your shit away from here?”
“M-M-M-M-Malik.” The one with the knife dropped it with a clatter, his face white. “It was him…him…” he tried pointing around Malik’s bulk. “He’s the one intruding. We’re just doing you a favor. That freak had no right to be walking around here.”
“That’s what he was doing? The sum total of his crimes? He waswalking?” Malik made a show of looking around then quickly let go of the man’s collar, slapped him around the ears, and then grabbed his shoulder again. “Did you buy this street? Is the local council selling off roads, pavements, and walkways now, and I didn’t hear about it? When did this happen? I paid my taxes last week, and I know for a fucking fact your name wasn’t on the letterhead of the bills I paid.”
“It’s the way things are done around here, right? Tell him, Arty. We own these streets, and anyone who walks around at night has to pay the toll, right? It’s the way things are.” The other man had found his voice. Malik was still waiting to be impressed.
“You run with Grok’s crew, right?” Malik flicked a finger at the men’s patches. Two hurried nods were the only response. “You’re going to go and see Grok. You’re going to tell him you met me. More specifically, you’re going to give him a message from me. You two disturbed my sleep. He now owes me restitution. What do you think he’s going to say about that?”
