Page 19 of Roses and Murder
There was no excuse in the Merchant District. It was pretty miserable in Guttertown because we had no books and thereweren’t many free ways to entertain yourself. Sometimes, people showed up at the tavern or brothel and we had to make them leave. The Merchant District had books and art. They could amuse themselves while they were forced to stay in their rooms.
So, great, now I had to deal with potentially getting Devil’s Pox.
“So, we know how he’s getting away with not being seen, but there has to be more to how he’s picking them,” Neco said. “If Devil’s Pox is going around the Merchants District, then it would be easy picking for him when he wanted to kill. There was no reason for him to move to Lower Cutwart.
“The Barons and the merchants mostly just pass through it when they come to Guttertown for the brothel or they’ve found out our tavern is better than theirs. A potential wife would be the only reason they were there, so that all leads back to Elsbeth, who her very horny neighbor was sure hadn’t picked yet.”
Trevils threw back his head and laughed. Probably because he didn’t know Neco hated being touched by strangers and he was one of the killers he was hunting.
“Getting some of my answers used to be a lot easier when I was younger and more attractive as long as my wife knew it didn’t mean anything and it was for the case. But you’re right. There was no reason to move to Lower Cutwart with Devil’s Pox making its way through the Merchant’s Districtunlesswe’re dealing with a smart psychopath.”
“What’s a smart psychopath?” I asked.
“Well, the finger paintings on the wall could mean something in his twisted mind or he might just be pure evil and is leaving them to taunt me. Lower Cutwart doesn’t make sense when he’s been mostly using Devil’s Pox in the Merchants District.
“Maybe it’s not supposed to. It could be he was one of Elsbeth’s suitors and that was how she was chosen. He could justbe playing with me by switching things up. This could also just be because he was bored and wanted a challenge.”
“Sorry, but wouldn’t we just need to look at which Baron or their relatives have Devil’s Pox?” I asked. “They rarely come to the Merchants District. They usually send one of their men or send for someone. If Devil’s Pox is going around, they wouldn’t do business with them until it dies down. If someone is sneaking out, they would have caught it by now.”
“Good point, kid. The Barons are particular about diseases their healers can’t cure. They’ve got this salve for the pustules, but it only brings everything down a slight bit. If one of them caught it after they gave the order to steer clear, they’d lock them in their dungeon until it was over because they also consider it embarrassing for one of them to be seen like that.”
“Unless it was a head of house,” Neco said. “Not all of them inherit the big title. They get lands and minor titles. But that would rule out being in Lower Cutwart for Elsbeth because they don’t get that until they are married. The Barons tend to only care about the first-born son, so they wouldn’t check in on the spares much.”
“That much is true,” Trevils said. “But also, ithasto be one of them or they would have fought back. At the same time, when word got out Devil’s Pox was going around, I haven’t seen any of them around.”
“Are you fancy enough to know all of them?” I asked.
Because seriously, most people weren’t. Leodos was the fanciest person I knew, and he didn’t know a lot of the younger ones that didn’t matter to their fathers. Leodos also hated those people, so he also didn’t bother.
“I’m Lower Cutwart, born and bred. There’s not a single thing fancy about me. I am, however, very observant and good at my job.”
Neco just nodded.
“He can’t arrest them, but it’s good to know who they are and keep an eye on them just in case.”
“That makes sense. And I’m sorry. That’s probably miserable.”
Trevils just shrugged.
“Most of the spares are less entitled than the heirs, but some are very ambitious. They’d do just about anything for their father’s attention and to get their brother disinherited.”
“‘Rich people’ drama is weird,” Neco grunted. “I’d die for my sister. If my momma or sister ever need anything from my father again, I’ll find a way to pay him back twice.”
‘Rich people’ dramawasweird, but I didn’t want Neco chained to his father any more than he already was, even though he seemed happy with the arrangement he was given.
“So, that’s all I have,” Trevils said. “You figured out a lot of it, but that’s where I’m stuck. I couldn’t tell you which Baron it is and I don’t know what I’m going to do when I figure it out. Someone is going to pay for his crimes with their life and it’s not going to be him.”
“You said I’m good at this, right?” Neco said. “I’m also not the law and I’m Guttertown born and bred. I’m going to come up with something and you might not want to be involved because they are going to be pissed. No need for you to lose your job.”
“If you kill him, even if you catch him in the act, they will pinallof it on you and hang you.”
Neco just grinned like a psychopath.
“I’m not going to lay a finger on him.”
Now that I knew a lot more of Neco Argent’s secrets, I had a feeling one ofthemwas going to pay for their crimes for the first time ever.
Iloved painting, and this was probably the biggest commission of my life. It was also the most enjoyable. Most people wanted me to do portraits, and I was getting bored with those. Everyone wanted to be posed the same, and they always wanted me to make them look better than they did in real life.
