The Four Chimes

Chapter 17 - LERA

"You sure the guards won't follow us to this bar?" I asked as I took a sip of my astalacha.

"No way," said Paile. "The bribes this place gives the guards to stay out are insane."

"So how did we get in?" I asked.

"The owner knew Kurie's dad, so she trusts us."

"I'm still going to take off this jacket," I said, folding it up and putting it into my messenger bag, the diamond necklace still hidden inside. "It's way too stuffy in here. Thanks for the drink, by the way."

"No problem," said Tanta. "It's the least we can do."

"So," said Paile. "Wanna talk business?"

I laughed. "Sorry, didn't you remember the deal we agreed upon? I did this for you, you got me a drink, and that's that."

"But we need you. Just look at how you helped us back in the palace."

"And for what? A hurt ankle and some insubstantial proof."

"This is just the start," said Tanta. "We'll find out who Janie Mara is. What Savonal Staffing Solutions is."

"And then? You think that this Janie guy is gonna just tell you that he hired a hitman? That the head of Savonal Staffing Solutions is going to say, 'Hey! Wanna get someone killed?' Hell, let's say this is true. That your suspicions are correct. If these guys got paid thousands of tali to kill someone, they must be experts at covering their tracks."

"We still have a shot at this. I don't know why you feel like this is all so hopeless."

"I'm just being realistic here. Think about it. We need proof. Solid proof. That's the only way we're going to get anyone other than radicals on our side."

"We're not radicals," said Paile.

"To the rest of the world, you are. Listen, I want to find out what's up as much as you do. This is the biggest puzzle I've ever had to solve, and to be completely honest I'm a bit curious. But until we can find out what the puzzle is, there's no way we can solve it. And I'm not risking my neck for a puzzle I can't even solve."

"We're going to find proof."

"If you think you can find proof, I'm not going to stop you. But unless you do, I'm not going to be a part of this."

Tanta took a sip of her astarhaes. "When we find proof—"

"If you find proof."

"—we're going to discuss it at Ari's on Friday, 8 at night. Just come, and we'll let you know what we found. Then you can see if this puzzle is solvable."

I downed the last few drops of my drink and put my mug on the table. "Sounds like a deal. But until then, I've got a shop to run," I said, taking my bag with me.

"Okay. Thank you," said Tanta.

"Thanks," said Paile. "Bye."

"Bye," I said, looking back as Paile and Tanta faded into the smoke of the tavern.

When I got to the shop, I immediately went upstairs and put down my bag. It was just a weekday, so there were only a few people in the shop. Tsano was fine on her own.

I took out one of our folding chairs and stopped to catch my breath. Today had been too long already. A part of me almost preferred getting shot at to dealing with customers. At least my ankle was starting to feel better, I thought as I slowly made my way downstairs.

I went up to Tsano, who was half-asleep at the cash register. "Hey. Tsano?"

"Yeah?" she mumbled. "Oh, hi!" She looked at me and stood up. "Sorry, I was too tired to recognize you."