The Greatest Enigma

13. Paddy

It turned out that what she had seen in the distance had not been a building after all. They arrived at a small area which looked no different to the rest of the desert but for the numorus green tents set up in a circle. E directed them to one with an elderly man standing out side.

"Paddy"

E spoke to the man who didn't look very african. Wolfsbane liked the was he adressed people. He spoke their name, not as a question. She didn't know how to describe it. Sort of an acknowledgment.

"E? Is that you?" The man asked. He looked older than sixty but his voice was full of energy normally associated with youth.

"What are you doing showing your face around here?" his voice darkened "What if somebody recognises you?"

"I thought you never showed your face?" Jack asked remembering the laptop in his police cell.

"Not since I became a detective no, but before that I had nothing to hide" E replied.

"Well come on in!" Paddy exclaimed, "you must be roasting!" He ushered them into the largest tent, the one that he had been standing outside.

"What brings you to Africa?" Paddy asked as he directed them to an old matress. Wolfsbane didn't want invade Paddy's space. Although it ws the biggest tent it was still rather cramped. Besides, the matress was thin and caked in mud and some white bits here and there. She gasped as she realised that it was salt from Paddy's sweat. She couldn't really blame him though. In the sweltering heat nobody could. So she stayed standing up and it looked like everybody else had come to the same conclusion. Then Jack flopped on the matress with a sigh and closed his eyes. Everybody glared at him and, feeling their gaze, he opened one eye.

"What?" he asked innocently, "I'm tired!" He huffed and rolled over, facing the other side.

"We came in search of something", E answered Paddy's question, "Someone actually".

"Oh, is that right? Anyone I might know?" Paddy spun around, getting a faceful of the sheet of paper E held in his hand. It was same picture Wolfsbane had seen earlier but enlarged, presumably for the sake of Paddy's old eyes.

"Dagger Mc.Grin" Paddy spat, "What you doing looking for him for?"

"We want to talk to him. That's all" E assured him.

"But what if he comes back!?", Paddy cried, "what if he starts killin' again?!"

"Then we will stop him. Calm down please Paddy. Do you have any idea where we might find him?"

Paddy sighed. He sounded defeated.

"If you must find him then your best bet is about 50 miles west of here. He wanders the desert, staying out of the way. He's turn into quite a myth in our culture nowadays. Venture into the desert and you will be brutally murdered by Dagger Mc.Grin. Keeps the kids in check" he smiled.

"Children" E corrected

"I'm sorry?" Paddy asked, confused.

"No need to apologize, it's a common misconception"

Paddy still looked confused so E expanded his correction.

"You said it keeps the kids in check, I assume you meant young humans, children, as apposed to young goats, kids"

Paddy's lips streched from ear to ear, the grin lighting up his whole face.

"I'd forgotten how pedantic you are old friend. It's good to have you back" Paddy pulled E into a tight hug, patting him on the back as the released the grip.

"I can't stay I'm afraid. We must locate Dagger as soon as possible"

"Oh please stay! Sit down! Have some dirty water! Kidding! Thank Oxfam! Let's talk. How's Jarvis?"

Paddy rambled on as he went to fetch some water from the well. E smiled at his team.

"Looks like we're staying for water".