Daniel stared at his friend coldly, almost willing him to disappear by virtue of his disappointment and disapproval. Still, he was met with silence. It made the sounds in the distance louder.
A cat yowled. Men laughed not too far away. With Theo standing firm, he had no choice but to go through with the plan with his friend.
He exhaled audibly.
“All right, then. Stay behind me,” he muttered. “Keep your mouth shut. I hope you know the quickest way to escape if things go south.”
“I do,” Theo said, nodding. “I will follow you like a shadow.”
“And shadows don’t talk.”
Daniel knew that he should keep his mouth shut from then on, too. Then, he turned to the door of the gambling den, The Iron Hand, and opened it.
Inside the Iron Hand was a world both men were unfamiliar with. The sights, sounds, and smells were like an assault on their senses. The odor was stale and acrid due to sweat, general unsanitary conditions, and cheap ale.
Several men huddled around wooden tables, their faces illuminated by tallow candles. Their expressions varied from raw desperation to grinning greed. The sounds were just as harsh, grumbles and roars of laughter blending with the rolling of the dice and the slapping of cards.
As soon as both men entered the room, the atmosphere changed. Daniel could sense it. Everything felt chillier. The sounds also became muted, with grunts becoming whispers and hand movements slowing down. Furtive glances cast their way made it very clear that no matter how stealthy they were, they stood out in the crowd.
“Fantastic,” Theo whispered, his shocked eyes scanning the den. They were drawn to the strange stains on the peeling, cracked wallpaper. “The decor here is quite lovely. I have no plans of my skull becoming part of it.”
“Hush,” Daniel hissed.
He walked purposely toward a table where four men huddled over cards. Their focus wavered as soon as they sensed the newarrivals. Meanwhile, Daniel focused on the dealer, a man with glassy eyes.
“I am looking for Moses Gordon,” he declared without preamble.
The dealer simply watched him with a blank expression. The rest of the men were just as tight-lipped.
Daniel tried not to show his frustration at the lack of reaction. He was hoping that one would at least be careless enough to blurt out something, but he thought of other ways to persuade them.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a heavy leather pouch. Then, he dropped it on the table, the gold coins clinking against each other. The sound felt like a gunshot in the room, which had gone almost completely quiet.
“I will give the gold to anyone who can give me information on Moses Gordon,” he said.
His voice remained controlled, but it asserted his authority.
The men’s eyes fluttered, revealing a clear interest in the money. The dealer studied Daniel, watching his white-knuckled fists.
“Gordon is a regular,” he finally admitted, “but he hasn’t shown up for days. He is a stealthy man who deals with a dangerous crowd. He is careful who he talks to, but they all look like they are hiding something from the authorities.”
“Do you know anyone he talks to? Who gives him orders?” Daniel prompted, feeling excitement building within him.
There was nothing tangible, but the man’s words confirmed the existence of the man Valentine St. Clair said could be responsible for the fire.
“One thing is fer sure,” another man added, his voice shaking even as his eyes kept darting to the leather pouch. “Gordon doesn’t take orders from the likes of us. If you want to find him, try the tavern nearby. It’s called The Midnight Ale.”
“The Midnight Ale,” Daniel echoed. “Do you know anything else about Moses Gordon?”
All the men at the table shook their heads.
The one who mentioned the tavern said, “That’s all we got on the man.”
Daniel tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. He regarded the men. They looked hungry and desperate, but seemed to be telling the truth.
“All right, then. Keep the money. There will be more if anyone can provide me with additional information, if I ever come here again. But do not tell anyone that I was here if you know what’s good for you,” he warned.
The men nodded quickly.
