July, Thursday, 1961, 19:45. Springtrove, North Georgina Kingdom, United Countries of Faeldris.

Heratrude smiled at me with a warmth and openness that was not there when we began the night but there was something sad in those sparkling red orbs. I held her in my arms as we danced on the bar’s dance floor that I brought her to.

“I’m sorry John. I lied to you,” She tucked her face away and hid herself from my gaze as we swayed to the slow music.

I kept my hand strongly on her back and guided her through the steps. “What do you mean Hera?” I used a shortened version of her name that made her shiver at the attention and suave smoothness that I was exuding.

“I don’t know the person that does the books. I was told not to even care how many times people come into the mat to do their business. I was told that it is all tracked by magic and I just need to handle the deposit at the end of the night.” She shrunk in my arms. I could feel the guilt in her radiating through her body.

“I thought as much,” I said as we twirled even despite what she was saying she was accepting of my control through the dance. “I had hoped that there was an accountant between the businesses and Grizzlebats but I guess with the size of his businesses that he must do things on his own.”

“Why agree to a date?” She whispered into my chest.

“I thought you were a charming young woman. Maybe a little bold and naive. You’ll learn how to attract the man you want.” I pulled her away at the end of the dance and cupped her chin to look up at me. “You can still tell me, how do you track what you deposit at night?” I asked as I held her attention fully. I kept myself strong and confident as I held her still to look into my eyes.

Hers flitted back and forth as she bit her lip, “I’ll tell you. For a kiss.” It was a whisper, there was a desperation in her voice telling me how much she wanted affection in the worst ways.

I leaned down going most of the way to her hovering my lips over hers as her breath tickled my skin. Her eyes bore into mine as a sudden meekness took over her. Then after a heartbeat she leaned forward and our lips met gently. It was chaste and quick before she pulled back her neck and face turning orange in her blush.

She pushed herself into my chest, her arms curling in on herself. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and held her there. “Can we talk somewhere else?” She whispered to me. I could barely hear her over the music so I took her by the hand and guided her out into the cool night air. We stood in the light of a street lamp shining down from above.

I watched as Heratrude rested her fingers on her lips as she looked down at her feet. I took off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders like the gentleman I was. “It's ok,” I said to her. “I get that you might still be uncomfortable.”

She looked away from me before leaning her back into me. “We fill out a slip at the end of every week inside a deposit bag. We keep a copy of the slips for the lockbox in the mat. My cousins have told me that they do the same things. Once a month though all the copies of the slips are taken by Grizzlebats.”

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I placed my arms around her, wrapping her up protectively. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“I’m sorry I lied to you, forced you to take me on a date. Forced you to… kiss me.” She hunched herself trying to pull away for a moment before I squeezed her in my strong arms.

“Would you have told me if I said no to the kiss?” I asked, knowing the answer already.

She was silent as she accepted the embrace, “Yes. I would have.”

I kept no anger in my voice as I turned her to me and let her look into my eyes, “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I didn’t want to. I know this was just a night, but you deserved to know how a true man would treat you.” I rubbed the back of a hand across her cheek as she shuddered.

“You’ve set a high bar for other men John. But, thank you. I really enjoyed tonight.” Heratrude looked into my chest as she fidgeted. “I think I’m ready to go home.” She tightened the jacket around her shoulders subtly sniffing the light cologne that might have been in the fabric.

I looked around and could see a resting car with its driver idly reading a paper behind the wheel as he waited for the drunk to stumble out of the bar and need rides home. I walked her over and helped her in. I gave the man her address as she shyly took my hand with both of hers. She sighed leaning against my arm.

I grasped her hand in return as she looked up at the side of my face, “If you were going to stay, would you have brought me on another date?”

I turned and looked down into her blood red eyes with their wide dark pupils, “You’ve been a good date. I don’t think you would be ready for the type of relationship I’m really looking for right now. I wouldn’t be able to commit to you long. I don’t know when my work is going to whisk me across the kingdoms.”

She nodded and looked away, my jacket wrapping around her keeping her warmth focused in her body. “I understand John. You’re right, I’d really want you all to myself. I want someone that would be anchored down with me.”

The drive back was quiet after that. The smooth tones of jazz filled the air through the audio crystal in the front of the vehicle. The flashing lights of the streets highlighted us in waves. She stayed clung onto my side as her hands were warm and hot around my hand.

We stopped at her place and I told the driver to wait as I walked Heratrude to her door. She slowly, reluctantly took off my jacket and handed it back to me. “Goodbye John. I’m pretty sure I won’t see you around again.”

“Good night Hera, I’ll pray to the gods that you find a man that is worthy of taking care of you.” I slung my jacket over my back and made sure she was safely inside before I walked back to the cab.

It was too late into the night for a smoke so I pulled out one of my mints and popped it into my mouth savoring the cool sweetness that filled my mouth. I slipped into the back of the car and set my jacket aside. “Mosey On Inn please.” I leaned back, crossing my legs and resting a hand on them as I lost myself in thought.

I needed those slips, or photos of them before they were collected. I could try to see if this judge would issue a warrant for it but I only had a gut feeling about all this and probably didn’t have enough evidence on my own. Grinkle would be able to sneak into these businesses with ease, provided they weren’t warded by magic. I couldn’t manipulate Heratrude again. It would be leading the poor girl on. She was desperate for the attention of a good man and though I could provide it I would eventually take it away from her.

I swirled the mint in my mouth as I looked out the window focusing my mind. With the slips I could work with the mayor on records for the amount of sales tax he was paying the city and see the difference between what he said he was earning and what he really was. Before the slips were doctored by the wizard.

I could see the web he was using to launder the dirty gold. How difficult would it be now that I was the fly that had to go through the gaps without being caught? My gut had led to a few wins when I was interning, helping my superiors. It was telling me I was right. We stopped outside the Inn and I paid the man for his service. Making my way to the room I had been using I picked up the phone inside. I called Grindstones and left a message for him to get in contact with me so I could guide him into the next step.

I stepped into the hot shower and let my mind continue to whirl through all the thoughts flowing through me. There was so much I still needed to learn, so much I needed to gather without tipping off the wizard and giving him the window to escape his own web. I rinsed away the lather in my hair and stepped out of the shower. As I was brushing my teeth I thought of Tulip, I wondered if she would have gotten as weak in the knees as Heratrude with the treatment I had given her. Her allure filled my mind and I didn’t wonder for the first time if it was her fae heritage that made me so enchanted.

I slipped into the blankets and stared at the ceiling as my cooling body settled in for the night. Tonight had been an eye opener, I needed a woman that would travel all over the kingdoms with me as I sought justice for everyone. Tulip would not be that woman, I should shrug off thoughts of her.

I closed my eyes, time to wait for Grindlestone to get back to me.