Page 46 of Fortune's Ashes
She shook her head. ‘Fred only said they were past the outskirts of the city. There were cows and sheep – he said it smelled like country and he didn’t like it.’
That didn’t exactly narrow it down. Shit.
Alfie looked from me to Buffy to Lukas. ‘If they used the car’s satnav, I can tell you where they went.’ He paused and licked his lips. ‘If you cross my palm with silver, that is.’
My mouth dropped open. ‘This is a police compound and you’re asking for a bribe?’
He snorted. ‘I ain’t no detective. Besides, not all the polis are exactly clean, are they?’
I clamped my mouth shut while Alfie held out his hand. ‘Come on then. Pony up.’
‘Do you take plastic?’ Buffy asked.
‘Don’t be fucking stupid, lass.’
‘I could always rip your throat out instead of bribing you,’ she said.
I glared at her. ‘You will not. Lukas, do you have any money?’
‘Not cash.’
Neither did I – a pound or two maybe, but not enough for Alfie. I didn’t often use cash any more. I guessed Lukas could use his vampiric persuasion skills on the man, but somehow that felt as sleazy as offering a bribe.
‘I’ll take bitcoin,’ Alfie suggested.
Lukas pursed his lips. ‘I’m a vampire,’ he said finally. ‘Instead of money, I promise not to bleed you dry. She’s a werewolf and she promises not to eat you. And this one here,’ he nudged me, ‘is a police detective who’s been suspended on suspicion of murder. She promises not to kill you.’
I reminded myself to strangle him later. Threats were not helpful. If I hadn’t been a corrupt cop before, I was now. Fuck.
‘Nobody is going to hurt you, Alfie.’ I splayed my hands. ‘Please, can you help us find out who tried to kill our friends by telling us where they were before the accident?’
‘Not friends,’ Buffy said distinctly. ‘Boyfriend.’
‘How do I know you weren’t the ones trying to kill them in the first place?’ Alfie asked suspiciously.
‘Because if we were, we wouldn’t be here now doing this,’ Lukas said patiently,
‘Hmm.’ Alfie wiped his cheek, smearing the oil that was already there so that it made his skin look even more bruised. He grunted. ‘Wait here.’
We watched him trot towards a portacabin. ‘Do you think that this is where he calls the real police?’ Buffy asked.
‘Iamthe real police,’ I protested.
‘Not now, you’re not. You’re suspended. And Supe Squad isn’t the real police anyway.’
‘You’re not helping in the slightest,’ I told her.
She sniffed. ‘I’m getting answers. Anyway, why did it takeyouso long to get here?’ There was a note of genuine anger in her voice as if she believed Lukas and I had been slacking.
A dozen irritated responses sprang to mind, none of them helpful. I bit every one of them back and looked at her. We were all on edge. ‘We’re going to find the bastard who did this, Buffy, I promise you that.’ I held her gaze.
She stared back at me and I knew she wanted the argument to escalate. She needed to lash out and she was wrestling with her emotions, her fists clenching and unclenching. Then something in her seemed to ease and her shoulders relaxed. The moment passed and I breathed out.
‘Me, you and him?’ Buffy asked. I nodded. So did Lukas. ‘Does that make us the three musketeers, then?’
Lukas barked a laugh. I gave her an exasperated look, but I was glad that the danger had passed.
The door to the portacabin opened and Alfie reappeared with a tablet in his hands. ‘I’ll have to be quick,’ he said. ‘The others will be arriving soon and they’re not as nice as I am. They won’t be very happy to see you here.’
