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As we went inside, I was reminded of one of those cowboy films where a stranger walks into a busy saloon. Everyone would stop talking and look their way. The piano player would cease his playing, and the barman would duck behind the bar taking his best whisky with him.
That didn’t happen. People didn’t stop talking. But they did stiffen slightly as if they were fully aware that Luca and I were behind them. I saw eyes steadfastly not looking our way. There was an ominous, still feeling in the air as if someone was getting ready to pounce on us.
It was hard to make out if the figures in front of us were human or were of the supernatural variety as all of them were dressed in dark clothes. Many of them had hoods pulled up over their heads.
Luca marched over to the bar. I scuttled after him.
The barman stopped cleaning a glass and aimed a cheerful smile our way. “Hello there, strangers. Passing through or staying a while?”
The noise level in the pub stayed the same but I could sense people listening to our reply. Some hooded heads turned in our direction and I saw a grey tentacle wiggle out of one of the hoods.
Luca said to the barman, “I’m looking for Pam. Could you kindly tell me if she’s here today?”
“I certainly can, young man. May I ask what it concerns?” His smile was still cheerful, but there was no cheer in his eyes.
“I’d rather not say,” Luca said as he met the barman’s stare. “Is she here?”
“I’m not entirely sure. I think it would be wise if you told me what your business with her is, young man.”
I heard someone mutter darkly behind me, “Yes, that would be wise. Very wise indeed.”
Luca held his ground. “It’s not something I want to discuss in public. If Pam isn’t here, then we will leave.”
The barman looked Luca over. “Pam doesn’t like to be disturbed. If you tell me why you want to talk to her, then I’ll ask her if she wants to see you.”
A woman’s voice cried out, “Oh, for goodness’ sake! Neville, stop being so nosy and get back to your cleaning. Oi! You two. I’m over here.”
We looked to where the voice was coming from. I could vaguely make out a hooded figure sitting on a padded corner seat, a small table in front of them. The figure lowered their hood and I saw a woman’s face. She was pale and non-distinct. I couldn’t find the words to describe her. Normal? Plain? Forgettable? If that was Pam, she had the perfect look going for an assassin as she was easily blending into the background.
Luca took a step forwards. “Pam?”
“It is. Come closer and sit yourselves down. Do you want a drink of anything? My treat.”
“No, thank you, we won’t be staying long,” Luca said. He moved over to Pam’s table and took a seat opposite her. I went after him and sat at his side.
I blinked as I looked at Pam. I’d already forgotten what she looked like.
Luca said, “We’re from the town of Brimstone. I’m Luca, and this is – ”
I interrupted him. I hadn’t said a word since we entered and I needed to speak up for myself. “I’m Cassia Winter. I’m a justice witch, and I’m here about a murder.”
The talking around us ceased immediately. The door to the pub swung open and many hooded figures shuffled out. The remaining ones put their heads down and moved closer to the bar.
Pam said, “Ignore them. It’s good to meet you both. I’ve heard about the work you’ve been doing, Cassia. I know your gran. How’s Esther doing?”
“She’s fine, thank you.” Everyone I met seemed to know my gran. It was comforting.
Pam leant back on the sofa. “You’re here about Alan.”
“Alan?” I asked.
“Yes, he’s one of my best workers. He’s been missing for a few days. He’s a little fellow. He’s very swift and nimble. He can sneak up on a person and steal their breath before they know it. He gives them a quick and painless death.” She tilted her head. “Mainly painless. Most of his customers ask for a bit of pain to be included in the deal. If you intend to murder someone, you don’t have any fond feelings for them. A bit of suffering always goes down well with our clients.”
I shifted in my seat. I didn’t like how casually Pam was talking about murder.
Pam said, “Sorry, Cassia, I can see how strange this may sound to you. Things are different here compared to your town. Murders are commonplace. I run a thriving business. I’ll be able to retire in a year or two. Thought I might get a house on the beach. I could do with the peace and quiet after all this murder and mayhem.” She laughed. “Do you like the beach, Cassia? Would you recommend it as a place to settle down?”
I nodded. “I would. You could go for long walks on the sand.” I shook my head. I wasn’t here to talk about Pam’s retirement plans. “I’m investigating a murder. Do you think Alan might have something to do with it?”
“I do. He’s been acting suspiciously these last few weeks. I heard him talking to someone down a dark alley last week about setting up on his own. He’d been contacted by a wealthy customer in another town who had an urgent job for him. Alan said if it went well, there would be other jobs for him. He knew an amount of black magic had invaded the town where his customer lived, and that citizen’s minds were turning to murder.”
I asked, “Did you confront him about this other job?”
Pam examined her pale fingernails. “I did confront him. I reminded him who his boss was. I told him our work was limited to certain towns.” She looked up and gave us a smile that chilled me. “He learnt his lesson and said he’d forget about that wealthy customer of his. I knew he was lying but I decided not to take the issue further. Not at that point.”
I handed over the piece of fabric I’d found. “This was located at the crime scene where a centaur called Selo died. A doctor examined Selo and said he’d died from heart failure.”
Rage flickered in Pam’s eyes as she examined the fabric. She hissed, “The idiot! The absolute idiot! I told him to only work in this town!”
“Is it Alan’s?” I asked.
“It is. It’s part of his cloak. All my assassins have this cloak. It makes them blend into the background.” Pam lowered the fabric and I was surprised to see tears in her eyes. “I should have been tougher with him. I should have broken a few more of his bones. His customer must have offered a lot of money for Alan to go against my wishes. Why would he betray me like this? Why?”
“Do you know where Alan lives? I’d like to question him.” I held my hand out. “Could I have that back, please?”
Pam gave me the fabric. “Like I said, I haven’t seen Alan for a few days. I thought he was sulking after our little meeting and hiding himself away. I had no idea he’d gone to Brimstone.” She suddenly hollered out, “Hey! Anyone seen Alan recently?”
“Not me.”
“Nope.”
“Haven’t seen him all week.”
Pam shook her head. “That is strange. He could still be in Brimstone. He might have got more clients lined up, the sneaky rat.”
“I’ll try to find him,” I said. I stood up and added, “Thank you for your time.”
Pam gave me a studious look. “Cassia, you be careful when you look for Alan. He’s a wiry specimen and he could sneak up on you and steal your last breath before you’ve had chance to blink.”
I lifted my chin and tried to sound brave. “It’s okay. I can look after myself. I know defence spells.”
“Yes, I’m sure you do,” Pam said darkly. “But won’t you need your breath to perform those spells?”
With that cheerless thought in my mind, Luca and I left the Not Welcome Inn.
