“Liam.”
“Where are you?”
What kind of question was that?
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”
“As the client paying a lot of money for your undivided attention on this job, I suggest you answer the question.”
I sighed, looking up at the sky. There were too many clouds to see the stars tonight.
Patience. Just because you wanted to snap back didn’t mean you had to.
“Nowhere in my contract does it say I’m supposed to be at your beck and call,” I said, struggling to sound reasonable and businesslike.
“It also didn’t say you were going to make zero progress on our problem.”
“I just got this case a few hours ago. Like literally three hours ago.”
His sigh suggested he was speaking to a child. “We have very little time before the selection. That is why I wanted your full attention on this matter.”
“I don’t even understand why you’re doing this for him. It seems like an awful long way to go just to make sure he gets to be the grand poo bah of Columbus.”
“You don’t need to understand. You just need to get this done.”
I bit my tongue. Don’t antagonize the client. Especially don’t antagonize the big bad vampire who is capable of making your life hell and destroying everything you ever loved.
“Of course, Liam,” I said, injecting as much toadying as I could into the words. “I’ll make sure to give this my full attention as you requested.”
“I have no doubt.” His voice rumbled over the phone. “I need you at Asylum in the next twenty minutes. I have some leads I want you to run down, and I plan to personally supervise your progress.”
What? No. That wasn’t happening. I was not working closely with him.
“Sounds great. Be there as soon as I can,” I said.
The phone clicked. I looked at the screen. He hung up on me. Bastard. Guess we weren’t saying goodbyes.
* * *
The last time I visited Asylum, I didn’t know it was owned by vampires. I only found out when I was dealing with the draugr incident and Liam had tried to order me to turn myself in for my personal safety to Asylum. I hadn’t been back since. It was too bad. They had great drinks and the atmosphere wasn’t bad if you went when it wasn’t busting at the seams with people.
Even though it was well after midnight, there was a crowd waiting to get their dance and drink on. I slipped through while the bouncer was intent on checking the ID’s of a trio of college girls who definitely didn’t look old enough to be in here.
The bouncer didn’t look too concerned, finding himself more inclined to pay attention to the revealing cleavage than their obviously fake ID’s.
The club had many different sections, allowing a partier to drift through a maze of rooms and themes. The entrance was an outdoor oasis complete with tropical plants, a few fountains and a couple of high tops with no seats and a tiki bar. There was even a few hammocks and benches attached to the ceiling with long chains.
A cobblestone path led the way inside where there were two more bars on either side of a gaping maw of dark punctuated by flashing lights. Music spilled out of the room as a sea of bodies writhed under lights designed to highlight their frenzied movements.
I headed for the bar on the right. It seemed a little less crowded than the bar next to the dance floor, but it was still standing room only. I had to elbow my way to the counter and slide between two inebriated men. I rolled my eyes as they kept up a running commentary about all the ‘bangin’ bodies’ walking around.
I flagged down the bartender.
“What can I get you?” he shouted over the music.
I leaned over the bar. “I need to speak with Liam.”
“Who?” he tilted his head as if he hadn’t heard me the first time.
