Page 31 of Baratta's Darkness

Chapter 7

Baratta

Fi and Blood look like I just dropped a bomb on them. I guess I did. Between the assignment and the accident I haven’t had a chance to tell Fiona everything I found out. Now I have to share the information with her brother too. Meanwhile my head is pounding like someone is running a jackhammer against it.

“Fi, can I please have more painkillers? I was going to get them myself but I don't know where you keep them. I will tell you everything I found out. I just need to stop the pounding in my head.”

When Fi comes back with two tablets and a glass of water I chug them down. Blood hasn’t moved his eyes off of me since I entered the room. I decide to ignore him.

“This morning, I told you I stopped in New Orleans to pick up my bike. While I was there, one of my local contacts sent me a bunch of information.

So I checked it out. Included in that info was an address for an apartment in the French Quarter. When I got there, no one was around so I broke in.

The apartment had a dark room. I found pictures of you and me. The pictures of you had hearts and flowers doodled all over them. The pictures of me had targets drawn over my head. My eyes crossed out, there were even slash marks drawn across my throat.”

I leave them to digest the information, heading back to Fiona’s bed. A wave of dizziness washes through me but I take a moment to get my balance back. Fiona notices but I wave her away when she starts to follow.

“Stay, I got this. I’m going to lie down before I fall over again.”

“Who is he, Baratta? Who is after you?”

“You know him as Clint, but that isn’t his real name.” With those parting words, I exit the room.

Fiona

“No, no way Clint?” I can’t believe it. Sweet wannabe Clint. The guy who thinks he is a world class artist but can’t draw his way out of a paper bag. I am stunned into silence.

Blood doesn’t let the silence last long. He snaps me out of it by asking, “Who is Clint?”

“I met him at the expo in New Orleans, two years ago. He said he was a tattoo artist but I didn’t see any of his work, until recently. He has stayed in contact with me. When I put out the call for employees, I couldn’t say I wanted all women it would have been discrimination. I had to accept apps from anyone that wanted to apply. I even called a few men in for interviews. He was one of them.”

“I need another beer for this.” Blood interrupts me, getting up to get it himself. I think he wants to give me a minute, my brother knows me. While he’s gone my phone rings.

Looking at the screen, I see the call is from Hay’s Den. I almost hit the ignore button but then I remember I was supposed to have a class today, so I answer it. “I am sorry Austin but I can’t kick your ass today. Something has come up. I’ll call you later.”

When I hang up Blood, sits down. “Alright sis, I gave you a few minutes for everything to sink in. Now tell me the rest.”

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