Page 13 of Fiendish Delights
‘You know you can trust me. I told you about this place, didn’t I?’ I said innocently.
‘Yes,’ Hugo said sarcastically. ‘Thanks for that, Daisy.’
I nudged him sharply to stay quiet and kept smiling. ‘It’s your call, Duchess.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘What?’ she snapped. ‘What do you want?’
I knew better than to assume that I had the situation under control; I had to play my cards close to my chest and as cleverly as possible. I tapped my mouth thoughtfully. ‘How about a lock of your hair?’ I said.
Hugo stared at me.
‘Fuck off, elf.’ Duchess glared. ‘No deal.’
‘It’d be a lovely keepsake to remember you by.’
She snarled, ‘No chance. My hair is staying on my head where it belongs.’
I did my best to look deflated. It was understandable: Duchess had very little hair. ‘That’s a shame.’ I pulled my phone out of my pocket. ‘I could call SDS now. I know exactly who to speak to.’
‘No hair!’
I allowed my shoulders to sag. ‘Alright.’ I returned my phone to my pocket.
‘No hair!’ she repeated. To give in would be to admit defeat and Duchess wasn’t like that, but when she hesitated I knew that she was preparing to compromise. ‘I’ll give you something else.’
‘Hmm. I’m not sure thereisanything else.’
‘What the hell are you doing?’ Hugo muttered in my ear. ‘Just let her leave!’
‘There must be something,’ Duchess said. ‘I want my parcel.’
I tilted my head and pretended to think. ‘How about a toenail then?’ Hugo recoiled. To be fair, so did Duchess. ‘Not a whole toenail,’ I added quickly. ‘Just a clipping.’
Duchess opened her mouth and, for a brief second, I was certain she’d agree. Then understanding flashed in her eyes. ‘Oh,’ she said. ‘I see. This is what you wanted all along.’
Damn it. I’d thought I was going to get away with it.
‘You thought you could manipulate me.’
Yep, I had thought that. Yet again, I’d been reminded that I wasn’t as clever as I thought I was.
‘Why?’ she asked. ‘Why would you want this of me? Are you trying to mock me?’
My eyes widened. ‘No!’
‘Then why?’
I sighed, then gave in and yielded to the truth – or at least apalatable version of it that my pathetic ego could allow Hugo to hear. ‘The reason I’m not working for SDS any more is because I’m a treasure hunter. I’m on the trail of some precious treasure, but in order to get it I need to hand over the toenail clipping from a troll.’
I raised my shoulders helplessly. ‘I don’t know why. I am asking for your help – and I really will call SDS and get them to make sure your parcel is delivered straightaway.’
Duchess gave me a long look then her mouth twisted. ‘No deal, girlie.’ With that, she spun around and stomped off. A moment later I heard the front door thump open as she stormed out. Shit. That was not supposed to happen.
Hugo eyed me. ‘It must be some serious treasure if it requires a troll’s toenail to retrieve it.’
He had no idea. ‘Very serious.’ Well, it was serious to Sophia.
‘Tell you what,’ he said, ‘I’ll help you get the toenail clipping if you let me join in.’
