Page 20 of A Memory in the Flame

“Fuck off,” Tarian mutters. “I’m surprised you managed to get this girl to hang out with you. She must be desperate.”

This time I do laugh.

“We’re working together,” Noah says.

“Did Sylvia finally get tired of your ass?”

“Not a chance. She adores my ass—most women do.”

“Okay, can we get back on topic please?” I interject.

“Right,” Tarian says. “The weepers. So what brought your little investigation to this corner of paradise?”

“We’re looking for a human who goes by the name Leo. There’s reason to believe he has information that could help our investigation.”

Tarian shrugs. “Never heard of him. Does he go by anything else? A lot of the auction slaves tend to do that.”

Noah glances at me, a question in his eyes, and I shrug. “Not that I know of, but I’ve only spoken with him a few times. We just work together in the sewers…”

My voice trails off when I catch movement outside—someone is walking past Tarian’s at an easy pace, whistling under their breath. The sound is vaguely familiar. I lean forward enough to get a better look.Holy shit. For some reason, I really didn’t think we’d find him here.

“What is it?” Noah asks.

“It’s him.”

“Oh, that’s Eric. He lives a little far from the city to be working in the sewers,” Tarian comments, following my gaze. “I’ve seen him around here a few times. Keeps to himself—”

I’m on my feet before Tarian can finish his sentence. Noah is right behind me as I step outside and catch Leo walking up to a metal shack at the end of the row. The walls are rusted and the front window is covered with a garbage bag to keep the weather—and likely the sun—out of what appears to be Leo’s home.

“What the hell?” I muse aloud. My foot crunches on a small pile of broken glass. I freeze, but Leo swings around and spots us immediately. He drops the paper bag in his hand and bolts.

“Becausethatdoesn’t look suspicious as fuck,” Noah mutters, and we take off after Leo.

He has us at a disadvantage, because it’s instantly apparent that he knows this place. We chase him down row after row of makeshift houses. We lose him in a forest of medical waste. For a few seconds, Noah and I stand next to a puddle of blue water, breathing hard.

“We should double back and check out his place,” I say eventually. It’s windier now, and it plucks at my clothes as I search the area around us, as if Leo will reappear. “He won’t go back there tonight. Not after we’ve seen him there.”

Noah nods, and we head back toward Leo’s. “Tell me what you know about this human.”

“Like I said, not much,” I repeat. “We’re in the same sector, sure, but I’ve never worked with him directly.”

“Has he ever acted strangely? Said or done something that stood out to you?”

Shrugging, I say, “Not that I can think of.”

“Think harder.” His tone reminds me of the Noah from when we first met—condescending and rude.

“It’s not like we all sit around and sing camp songs before every shift. We’re there to do a job and that’s it,” I snap.

Noah’s eyes narrow. “Except when it comes to you and the puppy, right?”

Before the last word is out of his mouth, I launch myself at him. I use all my strength to push Noah back against one of the sturdier structures, and it dents from the force. My voice sounds like gravel, cold and hard. “I told you not to talk about him.”

“You want to be very careful right now, halfling.”

I growl at the threat, baring my fangs. “No,youdon’t want to underestimate me.”

Instead of fear, his eyes glow with something else. Something I don’t want to name. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it,” Noah whispers.

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