Jeanne slowly opened her eyes as she awoke from her slumber, looking down at Puppy resting on her chest. “Have a good sleep?” she asked the pup.
The daemon canine turned his attention to her, licking her nose before going back to sleep.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” she said aloud.
Leonidas, now awake himself, gently picked the dog up and placed him at the end of the bed. “He loves doing that,” Leonidas said.
“I couldn’t tell,” she said, smiling.
“You’re in a better mood.”
“I think I needed some sleep, honestly.”
“Good, I wonder if the others are up yet?”
“We can head down and see, besides I’m hungry,” Jeanne said, getting dressed.
Leonidas threw on a tunic and finished fastening is trousers as he made his way to the doors. “I know I could a …” he stopped looking out at the other side of the doorway.
Jeanne grabbed her hammer and walked to the door. “Everything all right?” she asked.
Leonidas turned to her, “We have a visitor.” He moved back and revealed the same woman from the day before stand in front of their room. Her hands were clasped together and pressed against her chest, dark circles formed under her eyes and her shoulders drooped forward as she stood before them.
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“Can we help you?” Jeanne asked cautiously.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” the woman said in a timid voice, “but you wouldn’t happen to be one of the freelancers who ended the Mason Gang, would you?”
“Well, they were already handled before we got there,” said Leonidas. “But I guess we did relay the news to here.”
“Oh,” the woman said, leaning back. “Do you know who did?”
“We have some suspects,” Jeanne said, “But nothing solid yet.”
“I see,” the woman replied. “Well, would you be available for work then?”
Jeanne noted the trembling quality in the woman’s voice. She was nervous to speak, even scared. There was an odd feeling in Jeanne’s gut about the affair. Too many points not adding up.
“How did you hear about the gang’s demise?” Jeanne asked.
“Oh, just heard bits here and there from some of the gossip around town, you know,” the woman replied, now twirling her thin lock of her brown hair.
“I see,” said Leonidas, “and did you know anyone in the gang, at all?”
The woman stared at him for a moment, a long moment passed before she shook her head, “No, not really.”
“Then why were you asking if we knew who did them in?” Jeanne asked.
The woman began stepping back away from them. “I think I should…”
Jeanne grabbed her arm and pressed her against the wall. “You’re not going anywhere ‘til we get answers.”
“Please, let me go,” the woman pleaded.
“The last woman who played this song and dance had city guards chase us out, and I’m not in the mood to repeat that one,” Jeanne said, pressing the woman harder against the wall.
“What’s going on?” Silvius asked as he left his chamber.
“We got a spy,” Jeanne said to him.
“I’m not a spy, I swear!” the woman pleaded.
“Then why are you here?” Jeanne demanded.
“I’d start talking,” Leonidas said, his eyes beginning to turn black. “This game can get old and bloody very quick.”
“I’ll tell you everything, just don’t hurt me or my baby,” the woman said, tears now running down her face.
“Then why are you here?” Jeanne commanded.
“I know you’re looking for the two Kolvilles!” the woman blurted out.
“How!” Jeanne shouted.
“I’m one of their wives!” the woman cried out.