Mad Honey

Chapter Eleven

Rain pelts my face like it's trying to drown me. Now at maybe three o'clock in the afternoon, I've been racking my brain for where Leo could have ran to. I couldn't begin right away, a girl in sailor's clothing would attract unnecessary attention, so I had to slip into the maids costume and throw on a plain grey cloak. Now, glaring up at the sobbing sky, it feels hopeless. Verisshon is a large city with an even larger port. If Leo had left right after I did, he could be miles out to sea by now and I'll likely never see him again. All I have left is hope now though, so I must continue to look for him. What would I do if I had escaped an interrogation from right about here and didn't leave the city?

I make my way through the largest parks, one at a time. Leo can't be feeling very well, dehydrated and tired without a wallet or a mirror to moon over his face in. I doubt he could have made it all the way across the city, but putting space in between us would be the smarter move. I check benches and behind lemonade stands and clusters of trees, but nothing, and to be honest Leo doesn't seem like a nature type, I would doubt he's ever ventured out of cities and well-populated towns. So where would he go? I smack myself in the face. I know everywhere he would go, I trailed him everywhere for thirteen days. The stress must be getting to me, I should have connected that long ago. No use kicking myself over it now, though of course I will, but I have to move fast before nightfall.

I have gone to sixteen brothels in the past two hours, more than I have been to (for missions of course) in my entire life. I've met dozens of courtesans and prostitutes and filles de joie and house mothers, none of which has seen Leo today. Today has also been a record for job offers, I believe eight, all have been politely declined. Though the women all swear Leo hadn't been here today, some recognized his description from before. I'm torn. I shouldn't intrude in a relative strangers private business, but Leo is under my jurisdiction and I need anything that might point me in his direction. It's also just a hunch, but I don't think one person could physically visit this many lovers over a short period of time. And if they could, if they were an addict, they wouldn't be so picky with their drug of choice. So maybe against my better judgement I call over Ruby Deschelle, a girl about my age who works at Madame Peggi's and remembers Leo. Madame Peggi's sits right on the docks overlooking the sea. It's themed like most of them are, this one being luxury. The girls wear jewel toned slips adorned with feathers, bright eye makeup and ribbon chokers. Ruby wears an emerald dress with deep green feathers. We could be sisters, me just a hair taller than her.

"So you remember him?" She frowns at me when I ask.

"Yeah. He's your regular? Don't get mad at me hon, work's work. He came to me, so if you're here to pick a fight, get lost." I shake my head.

"I didn't, I'm not a worker at one of these establishments. I'm just looking for him, for personal reasons." Her eyebrows raise at me.

"Ahh, he's your sweetheart."

"No! No, nothing like that! Nope! Not, that's not what's happening, never! I just need to know where he is. Please." The thought of Leo and I together disgusts me. It disgusts me so much that I'm blushing a little bit, but blushing out of disgust. This is very confusing. I know I don't like Leo, lazy student with an overbearing personality, but he does have such a nice face. The prostitute's watching this inner battle with a smile on her face.

"Alrighty girl, since you asked so nicely, I'll tell you exactly what happened, every last detail." Well shit.

"So this boy, Leo's his name right?" I nod.

"Well he didn't call himself that. Said his name was Jean-Jean De Jean, I didn't believe it of course but most of em don't give us a name at all, and I don't care as long as they give me money so I went along with it."

"If you wouldn't mind, what did he pay you with?"

"He threw me a little pouch heavy with coins. I counted after, more than I make in a usual week." By the way he dresses this isn't a surprise, I knew Leo was well off. I take a breath.

"Ok, what happened after that? And you don't have to give me details, I don't, I just." Breathe. "I only want to know if anything odd happened, if he said anything strange, if he went anywhere after, anything like that." She smirks. I gulp.

"Well, he was real cute, pretty eyes." I know. "He chatted for a little while, pretended he knew what he was doing, but I could tell he wasn't comfortable here. He had been inside houses like this before but I don't think he's a regular, if you know what I mean." I nod, beckoning her to continue. "He talked to a bunch of the girls who looked like me, looked like you too actually. Then he came over to by the bar where I was working, and flirted a bit. Kept glancing out the window behind me, looking up high." Huh.

"Madame-"

"Ruby."

"Ruby, would you mind showing me where that window is." She shrugs.

"Sure, it's right behind you, the one in the middle of the wall." The window is large and cut in the shape of a diamond, warped stained glass letting sunlight wobble through. I peer, squinting my eyes. If I stand where Leo was and look slightly up, yep. I can almost see the edge of a rooftop. A rooftop I was perched on an afternoon maybe a week ago, while Leo was in here. He knew I was trailing him, at least at the very end. I think I know what Ruby's gonna say, but I ask anyway.

"So after that, what happened."

"Well, he asked if we had an open room, if I was free. I said yeah, we walked upstairs. Then," She pauses for dramatics, to give my ears a chance to remain pure and innocent. I don't say no, but I know what she's going to say. "Then something odd happened." Knew it. "He asked if I could keep a secret, and information is practically money around here. He tossed me another bag of coins, and asked if he could use the back door in the kitchen, the one only we use, to leave. He said in maybe an hour or two he would knock and I needed to let him back in, then he would leave like customers normally do, out the patrons exit. I said sure, and he said I shouldn't tell anyone about this. But I like you, and as I said, information is money. This is quite a big story, so I expect a nice paycheck. You're treating me to dinner tonight." I am? She sucks in her cheeks and stares me down. Yes I am. "Of course, thank you for telling me. I don't have any on me, but would you take this watch. It's real gold, diamond inlays, old. I think it would go for quite a bit." She looks at me intrigued.

"This looks fancy, most people wouldn't part with it."

"Ah, but it's not mine." It's Leo's I slipped it off while he was sleeping, figured he wouldn't miss it. She nods in understanding, lets me drop it into her open palm and saunters off, always working. I respect these ladies, don't want to keep her more than I have to. Besides, I have a bastard to track down. Ruby told me exactly what I needed to know. Leo knew I was there, watching him the last couple of days before the party. And the fact that I look like the girls he bribed is no coincidence. He was trying to throw me off, to frighten me away. It didn't work of course, and now I've figured it out, so when I do find him, Leo's going to pay. All I have to do now is hunt him down.