I wasn’t going to blurt out all of our problems with humans in the room so instead I took out the little notebook I kept on me, stole one of the three pens he had carefully displayed in a small fish-shaped vase, and wrote:
ghoul in town, monster hunter in town, god weapons stolen, mauve really brings out your complexion.
And oh, the look he gave me after reading that last bit. I just smiled with all my teeth.
“As you can see there’s a lot of police business we need to attend to. Ryder’s dealing with number two on that list, so I need you to help out with the other items.”
“This,” he said archly plucking the Hawaiian shirt away from his chest. “Is mauve and lime green.”
I wrinkled my nose. “I know. I didn’t want to point that out.”
Both eyebrows rose this time, but the mouth was a straight line. “Point out what, Reed Daughter?”
“Delaney,” I said. The bell over the door rang as the dad and kids left the shop. “Mauve is the worst color in the world.”
“And yet it brings out my complexion?”
“Did I say that?”
He turned the paper so it faced me.
“Huh,” I said, making a big deal out of leaning forward and reading the list. “Look at that.”
The girl in the corner came up to the counter and positioned herself behind me. “Oh, you can go ahead,” I said. “I’m not buying anything.”
“For that comment,” Than said, “yes, you are.”
I stepped to one side so the girl could put the wooden bobbins of string on the counter.
Than looked down at the two she had chosen. “These are a very fine choice,” he said. There was something so overwhelminglykindin his voice, I actually took a moment to really study him.
Than was thin, sallow, his hair combed very carefully into place. Yes, he wore a Hawaiian shirt that looked like sadness and abandoned dreams, but it was neatly pressed and starched within an inch of its life. Behind the counter I expected he was wearing wool trousers and shiny leather shoes because he was classy that way.
He punched the keys on the big clunky cash register and made it ding. “I see. There is a sale. Both of these for only the cost of one. Today only.”
“Awesome,” the girl breathed. “Can I get two more?”
“If you wish.”
She scampered off and he made a big show of drawing out a bright red paper bag, and wrapping thin white paper around each bobbin before placing them in the bag.
“Sale,” I said.
“Yes.”
“Just those bobbins?”
“Spools.”
“Just those spools of string?” I asked.
“Yes.” His gaze flicked up to me, and the look he gave me was not nearly as warm as it had been for the girl. “You doubt my ability to peddle my wares?”
“Nope,” I said, leaning one elbow on the counter and staring out the windows. “I just didn’t notice anysalesign by the spools.”
He hummed.
“Why do you suppose I didn’t see anysalesigns by the spools, Than?”
