Page 55 of Box of Frogs
‘You said that the dead Redcap worked for Rubus,’ I said to Morgan. ‘Are you sure about that?’
He watched me, obviously not entirely sure what was going on but understanding that it was serious. ‘Positive.’
‘Would he ever work for himself or for someone else at the same time?’ I asked, wanting to avoid making another stupid mistake.
Morgan shrugged. ‘Anything’s possible.’
I nodded, although that information wasn’t really all that helpful. ‘And where,’ I asked through clenched teeth, ‘would I find Rubus right now?’
‘He has various hideouts,’ Morgan said. ‘He switches between them to avoid the likes of me repeatedly trying to shut him down.’
I kept my breathing even and steady, although my heart rate had ratcheted up several notches. ‘You must have an idea about where he is. If you were following me, you must have thought about following him too.’
Morgan barely moved. ‘He’s wise to my actions and he’s a slippery bastard.’
‘You wouldn’t hurt him because of the truce though.’
‘No,’ he answered. ‘But I could still make life difficult for him if I knew where he was. He’s secretive, Maddy.’ He ran his tongue over his teeth. ‘Do you think he’s abducted your new employer to piss you off? Because if that’s the case, attempting to rescue her has to be a trap. Rubus is certainly capable enough – and mean enough – to try something like that. And don’t forget that the Redcap’s presence means he’s been trying to kill you.’
‘Mmm.’ Except Morgan didn’t know what I did about Julie – and I couldn’t tell him. Her abduction might have nothing to do with me at all and everything to do with her vampiric ethnicity, especially given McNasty Number One’s reaction to my presence. Either way, I was going to raise hell to get her back. I folded my arms and met Morgan’s gaze with a hard-eyed stare.
He sighed. ‘Hang on. I’ll make a call or two and see if anyone’s seen him recently.’
I bit out a thanks and strode back across the field, ignoring the sheep that scattered in my wake. Morgan walked with me, muttering into his phone. By the time we reached the far gate again, he’d put the phone away.
‘You have an answer?’
‘A possible answer – but it’s dangerous. You should let me handle this. Humans are out of bounds and Rubus will pay dearly for involving them. This is something I should deal with.’
Except Julie wasn’t human. Not to mention that she was my responsibility. ‘Just drop me off at the place, Morgan. Then you’re free to go on your merry way. Thank you for your help so far.’ My words were stiff and angry.
Although the sentiment wasn’t directed at him, his eyes flashed at me through the darkness. ‘What Rubus does or doesn’t do is as much my business as it is yours,’ he sniped. ‘I’m not leaving you to deal with him on your own.’
‘This is my problem, not yours.’
Morgan laughed humourlessly. ‘Where you’re concerned, it’s always my problem. Besides, if Rubus has kidnapped a human, his time is up. Drug dealing and stealing you is one thing, but messing with the people on this demesne is entirely different.’
I stared at him. ‘Stealing me? I’m not an object, Morgan. And whether I can remember them or not, the choices and decisions that I’ve made in the past were mine.’
He put his hands in his pockets. ‘You were mine, too.’
Half an hour ago I might have been flattered. ‘I don’t have time for this caveman bullshit.’
‘Then,’ he bit out, ‘stop arguing with me and let’s get a move on.’
I gritted my teeth. Right now it wasn’t as if I had much choice.
***
The address that Morgan had managed to finagle out of whoever he’d spoken to was in a quiet corner of Salford Quay, a recently re-developed area of the city. The building wasn’t as highly stylised or well refurbished as the others, however. It was shadowed by a glittering high-rise residential structure and it was barely noticeable. It wasn’t rundownper sebut it paled into comparison with its neighbours. I bet plenty of passers-by wandered past without giving it a second glance. It was ideal for a hide out.
Morgan stopped the bike on the corner opposite and we gazed across at it the same assessing look in our eyes. The building was shrouded in darkness and there wasn’t a flicker of life visible from any of the grimy windows.
‘Tell me about him,’ I said quietly. ‘What do I need to know about Rubus that I can’t remember?’
For a long moment, Morgan was silent. I wasn’t even sure if he’d heard my question and I was about to repeat it when he finally spoke up. ‘He’s bullish,’ he said. ‘Likes to get his own way and is overly concerned with how others treat him. By which I mean that he expects to be venerated for who he is. If he doesn’t receive the respect that he thinks he deserves, his temper flares up quickly.’
‘He doesn’t sound as if he has much of a sense of humour,’ I commented.
