Anyone doing business during the day would be a complete fool, but they were the dangerous ones, the ones you never wanted to turn your back on because they were fearlessly stupid.
Skaggs apparently had answered the phone and grumbled something under his breath. “Fucking chasing ghosts.”
“What now?”
“That was Prez, Greene said that he hasn’t heard any chatter but said he was checking some sources.”
I rolled my eyes. Sometimes Greene could be helpful, other times he was an annoyance. It didn’t help that I had mixed thoughts that he knew Amelia’s story and had been collecting enough evidence. He wasn’t stupid, he knew what was going on in the city, but was holding back information.
“Whatever, we don’t need him anyway. We’ve gotten along just fine until Hound Dog brought him along,” I muttered.
“Yes, but your ass would be currently in a prison for murder charges on more than one occasion,” Fender pointed out. Fucker was right. The amount of blood that was on my hands was enough for someone to decide I shouldn’t be on this earth. Jokes were on them, I was still walking and a trail still was behind me.
Skaggs pushed ahead, pulling us into a small business that we knew too well. A little “boutique” that benefitted from the Saints’ help. The owner was a middle-aged woman who wasn’t afraid to pull out the shotgun, but seemed like she belonged in the 70's era. Raven, the owner, was a quiet business partner, one that we appreciated. Her energy enchanted anyone who came near her.
Sometimes the quiet ones were the most helpful.
The little bell at the entrance alarmed her, pulling her attention from a customer she was showcasing a long necklace to. Her bright smile faded as our boots stepped heavily.
“I’ll be with you gentlemen in a moment. Have a look around.” she said in a brushed off cheery voice.
Fender smiled back with his boyish charm and shoved us through the door. The store was floor to ceiling of anything and everything. A section of random robes that scraped the floor, lamps of all shapes and sizes, cases of different pieces of gold and silver jewelry, and much more. She was the ideal person of “she had just what you needed” and nothing was free. I joked with her that she was a witch in another life and she just answered me back with a mischievous smile and a twinkle in her eyes.
As the customer left, she locked the door behind them, pulled the door shade down and released a heavy sigh. “Anytime you boys walk in my damn door, it’s like you bring the tornado of crazy.”
“Good to see you too, Ms. Raven.” Fender plastered on the charm. I stayed silent, quietly observing her behavior.
She turned her attention from Fender and furrowed her eyebrows. “I wouldn’t touch that Skaggs, unless you want a curse on your household.”
I turned to see Skaggs freeze like a kid caught with his hand in the candy jar, slowly moving his hand away from a strange orb. I didn’t believe in the “special nature” but I also was one to never take a chance.
She looked back at Fender. “I wish I could say it’s a pleasure seeing your faces, but you brought the guard dog with you. That’s never a good sign.” She folded her arms, leaning against drawers.
I smirked, remaining quiet as Fender hung his head knowing his charm wasn’t working. “It’s not always bad news. Sometimes a friendly face just wants to say hi.”
“There’s nothing friendly about you, especially roaming around my store. Not with that look in your eyes like you’re ready to hit something orsomeone.” Her eyes glared.
“When am I not ready to hit something?”
“What do you want?” she asked.
“We’re looking for information,” I directed.
She scoffed. “What makes you think that I have information you’re looking for? Have you seen what I do for a living?” She extended her arms, showcasing her store.
I started toying with a strange mannequin, something that resembles a toy. Funny how your mind can fixate on an object and then get drifted into a memory or two. Fender cleared his throat, pulling me out of my thoughts. “No, Ms. Raven, we just thought that you would have heard something from people who visit your shop.”
“So you think I attract people that have secrets?” she questioned.
We were wasting time, obviously she wasn’t going to help and the more that we danced around what we really wanted to know the more I was away from Amelia.
“Listen, Hound Dog just thought that you may have heard something about a new business in the city or someone spreading rumors with the intention of booting out the Saints. Something about people who don’t belong here.” I was direct, my voice was firm, I wasn’t dancing around this. Fender shot me a look as if I stepped out of line. He was about to get my foot in his ass.
“Now who would go and do such a thing?” She smirked. Her smile lines became more visible. But quickly that smile faded into concern. She sighed, a deep relief like she had been keeping something from us. “I thought it was a prank or a scam.” She turned and walked back behind her counter, bending down to search for an object.
“I truly wasn’t going to do anything with it, until I received it a second time.” Sounds of metal clanking, drawers opening until she produced envelopes that appeared to be open. Curiosity got the best of us as we threaded toward the counter. She pulledout the contents, exposing typed letters with no heading or indication of a business.
Dear Ms. Raven Amoure
