Charlie Grinn was not accustomed to being stared at. When people did watch him too closely, bad things usually happened to them soon afterward. But for once, Grinn hung back, nervously stroking his moustache. Over in the race enclosure, in a particularly dark corner, someone he didn’t want to see again stood like a disembodied shadow. It was the boy named Adam.

Grinn turned to a big, flat-nosed man beside him.

“See that creepy kid, Tater?” Grinn said, indicating the dark figure with his head. “Get rid of him.”

The big man grunted and waddled off toward Adam, his arms swinging at his side like a wrestler’s. Relieved, Grinn turned away, his second minder following close behind. It’d be interesting to see how someone as unimaginative as Tater would be affected by Adam and his trick with the blue light. Grinn cursed himself for falling for it that morning and was just grateful that none of his men had been there to see it. It was a good trick, though, however it was done. Still, it would be better to just get rid of this Adam for good, and a taste of Tater’s fist should see to that. Grinn turned his thoughts back to the horses. He’d bet three times already, losing more money than he liked to think about each time, and he could really do with a change of luck. The name Angel Voice danced in his mind.

Grinn had checked on the horse Adam had mentioned as soon as he’d got to the race track, but it was hardly a dead cert. In fact, those in the know reckoned the animal was little more than dog food waiting to be canned. Anyone betting on Angel Voice would certainly make a small fortune if the wretched creature won, but no one would be stupid enough to put any real money on a nag like that.

Grinn watched the horses for the next race being paraded nearby, Angel Voice among them. If only there was some way of knowing in advance which of the animals would win, he thought, and he fingered the handle of the switchblade in his coat pocket. Could he get close enough to cut the favorite? No, too many people.

His minder tapped him on the shoulder. Tater had returned. And it was obvious he was badly shaken.

“What is it?” Grinn snapped. “Is he gone? Come on, what do I pay you for, you lugging great galoot?”

The man couldn’t speak for a moment. His teeth were chattering, and Grinn just knew it wasn’t from the cold.

“Looks like he’s seen a ghost, boss,” laughed the other minder, but his smile faded when Grinn didn’t return it.

“He just said two words, guv …” Tater muttered eventually. “Something about an Angel Voice.”

Grinn looked back into the enclosure. The boy named Adam was nowhere to be seen.

Charlie Grinn gave Tater a dark look, then made his way to place his bets. He put a hefty sum on the favorite, a horse named Bulgar. He really needed a win to improve his mood, and Bulgar should deliver. But, since Grinn was also a chancer at heart, he also put a few shillings on Angel Voice, just in case.

The race began. Bulgar burst from the starter’s hurdle like an unstoppable force, but then stumbled early on and couldn’t catch up. To Grinn’s mounting astonishment and against all expectation, Angel Voice steadily worked his way to the lead. With spectators shouting in frustration and fury around him, Grinn watched Angel Voice lope across the finishing line, winning the race by a nose. Bulgar came last, losing him a solid fiver. But at that moment, Grinn didn’t care. That “just in case” bet more than canceled out his loss.

Grinn stroked his neat whiskers. Perhaps it would be worth having another chat with this Adam after all, weird eyes and creepy tricks of the light notwithstanding.

As Tater went to collect his boss’s surprise winnings, Grinn shoved his way through the crowds to the enclosure, scanning the faces for the strange boy. He didn’t have to look for long.

“Congratulations, Mr. Grinn.”

Adam was where he’d been before, lurking in a gloomy corner. Grinn looked him over again, carefully avoiding his eyes. He took in the suit, the stylish hat, the long ivory-capped cane. There was money there, Grinn could see — lots of money. It was time Grinn took charge of this situation.

“Right, how did you know? About the horse. Or was it just luck?”

“Oh, I know all sorts of things, Mr. Grinn — many, many useful things.”

“Including race winners before the race? Do I look like a mug? Give it to me straight, now — what do you want, and what will you pay?”

“I told you. There’s a boy I want you to find. His name is Edmund Utherwise. He went missing last night, and now he’s hiding in the city somewhere. And when you find him and make him disappear, I’ll repay you with wealth more fabulous than you can even imagine.”

“Like I said, do I look like a mug?” Grinn was determined to stand his ground this time, even though his two bodyguards had slunk back behind him. “You’re going to have to do better than guess a race winner if you want to deal with me.”

“Ah, but Mr. Grinn …” Adam’s devilish grin danced across his face. “… if you find this boy, I’ll tell you the surefire winners of a hundred races like this. You’ll be a millionaire by summer.”

“Oh, I get it.” Grinn’s lip curled. “I pay for your bets and then give you half. Well, listen up, you little —”

Grinn felt sweat break out on his forehead as Adam relit his dark gaze to its fullest intensity. The boy threw out his arm so that his hand left the shade of the enclosure and entered the winter sunlight. Instantly it turned an eerie blue. Then, slowly, one long bony finger extended and pointed straight at Grinn’s face.

“I don’t have time for this! You have one last chance, Charlie Grinn. The next race will be won by Trojan Mate. Put all your money — and I mean everything in your pockets — on Trojan Mate! If the horse wins, you will find me at sunset, in front of Saint Paul’s Cathedral. If the horse loses, you can forget we ever met. Now go!”

Grinn stumbled back as if he’d been pushed. He could hear Tater gasping like a frightened child just behind him. Adam drew back his hand, which was once again enveloped in darkness.

“See you this evening, Grinn,” came Adam’s voice, though already Grinn had trouble seeing him in the shadows. “Come alone.”

Grinn found himself nodding, even as he realized that the corner of the enclosure he was nodding at was completely empty.