third time's a charm

30

Thana and Jaylerr sat huddled together in the dimly lit corner of a bustling café, their laptops open before them as they awaited the arrival of their informant. The air was thick with expectancy, and Thana's fingers drummed nervously on the tabletop as she scanned the room for any sign of their contact.

"Relax," her boyfriend said. "You look like you're about to throw up."

"I feel like the closer we get to the truth, the more is at stake here," she admitted. "I just want this to be over, you know. If there's no curse and none of these are real, I just want my brother to be happy. Bright seems like a really good catch."

Jaylerr smiled and nodded. "Yeah...I believe he is."

Finally, a figure approached their table, a shadowy silhouette emerging from the crowded space. Thana's heart leaped with anticipation as she recognized the familiar face of their informant, a hooded figure cloaked in secrecy.

"Thana, Jaylerr," the informant greeted them in a hushed tone, their voice muffled by the scarf wrapped around their face. "Sorry for the delay. I have to ask help from my nephew, but I have the information you seek."

Thana leaned forward eagerly, her eyes alight with anticipation. "Tell us everything you know," she urged, her voice barely above a whisper.

The informant glanced around nervously before reaching into their coat pocket and producing a folded piece of paper. With trembling hands, they slid the paper across the table towards Thana and Jaylerr, their eyes darting furtively around the room.

"This is all I could find," the informant whispered, their voice tense with apprehension. "It's not much, but it's a start."

Thana unfolded the paper with trembling fingers, her eyes scanning the handwritten note inscribed upon it. Her breath caught in her throat as she read the words, her heart pounding with excitement and trepidation.

"Kara Flinn," Thana murmured, her voice barely audible as she read the name aloud. "The eldest daughter of Susannah Flinn, also known as Madame Sukie."

Jaylerr's eyes widened in surprise as he took in the information, his mind racing with possibilities. "Do you have any idea where we can find her? Also, what about her other children?" he asked a sense of urgency in his tone.

The informant shook their head, their expression grim. "I'm sorry, but that's all I could uncover," they admitted, their voice heavy with regret. "Kara Flinn is a recluse, and she keeps her whereabouts closely guarded. It won't be easy to track her down. But...compared to her siblings, the probability of finding her is higher."

Thana exchanged a disappointed glance with Jaylerr, her mind reeling with thoughts of their next move. "Thank you for your help," she said gratefully, nevertheless. "We'll take it from here."

As the informant slipped away into the crowd, they were left alone once more. Thana leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she sifted through the information on her laptop. "This is going to be like finding a needle in a haystack," she muttered, frustration evident in her voice.

Jaylerr nodded in agreement but his expression was resolute. "But we've come this far, Thana. We can't give up now," he replied with conviction.

Thana sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You're right," she admitted, her voice tinged with resignation. "We just need to figure out where to start."

As they brainstormed ideas, Jaylerr's eyes suddenly lit up with realization. "Wait a minute," he exclaimed, a spark of excitement igniting in his eyes. "What if we try hitting up Madame Sukie's old neighbors? Maybe one of them has got the lowdown on her daughter."