Desolation Row

The game is afoot

Ok I'm gonna get on with the plot now.
Song: "Sherlock theme" by the BBC orchestra.

Three weeks had passed and Gerard still had nothing on the LeATHERMOUTH gang. It was infuriating. He was probably going to get yelled at (again) by his boss. Hey it was his fault that they were so goddamn elusive! Honestly Gerard wasn't looking forward to work this week, after a bunch of perverted dreams about a certain gang leader...

But I told you about that in the last chapter. (Fuck the fourth wall.) Gerard was walking to work and he stopped by the small, locally-owned coffee shop that Mikey worked at before he disappeared. It was kind of sentimental with a dash of melancholy. He loved this place, with the comics, old and new books and the punk and alt rock music that was always playing. Gerard sighed and smiled and went in. A small bell chimed at the door as he came in.

One of Mikey's coworkers, Lola came over to him. They were looking as crazy as ever with their bright neon pink hair.
"Hi, Gee," they said, using their nickname for him, "what'll it be?"
"Just my usual please Lola,"
"Ok, one double shot latte coming up." Lola turned around and started making Gerard his drink. Gerard liked Lola, he had met them at a small party Mikey had for his twentieth birthday, at first Lola was a little strange, but everyone loved them. Gerard was confused at first when Lola told him that they were non binary, but Lola kindly and patiently explained what it all meant and then Gerard did a little research and now kept an eye out for Lola. Because a lot of people assume that they're female, because Lola is a more feminine name.

Anyway, Lola was chatting away to Gerard while they were steaming milk for his latte.
"So, do you... Have any led into where Mikey is?" Lola tentatively asked. Gerard guess they were hesitant because they knew Gerard was Mikey's brother and might not want to talk about it or bring it up in casual conversation.
"I thought I did, but it turned out to be a loose end..," Gerard trailed off. Lola knew they'd hit a sore spot.
"Um, we don't have to talk about that if you want, I just wanted to know if Mikey was safe,"
"It's ok Lola, you only asked,"
"Ok, here's your latte," Lola said, trying to put on a cheery face, but Gerard knew they were only doing it for his sake. Gerard took his latte, and walked out the shop, giving Lola the money, and a wave.

He walked up to the police station, and sighed, it was going to be a long day. He walked to his desk and noticed a small bit of paper with writing on it that he didn't recognise.
It said, "meet me at the local bar tonight."
Huh. Why would someone give such specific instructions if they wanted to keep their identity secret?
Although Gerard was kind of  nervous about going to a bar, ever since he got sober he had avoided them like the plague.

"Gerard, are you alright?" one of his coworkers, Linsey asked.
"Uh yeah, I'm fine," Gerard replied. Linsey looked unconvinced but took the answer. But Gerard had an inkling of who the anonymous writer might be and why they wanted him at a bar.

Ain't I a stinker for leaving it there?

I'm thinking of making this fic a full story and not just a short one. So it will probably include some chapters of life in the LeATHERMOUTH gang in Frank's POV but I'm not sure yet.
- Alex