Page 27 of For the Ghastly and Beautiful

Chapter8

Adelaide

DAY TWENTY-NINE

Calm.

That’s such a small word for such a colossal task.

And after seeing Rinya, it takes a considerable amount of effort to quiet my restless mind. Achieving any sort of tranquility is impossible, but I finally settle enough to drop my reckless ideas. Once I do, the pouring rain comes to an abrupt stop.

I’ve witnessed this before, though I can’t say for certain that the weather is tied to my emotions without asking. That feels presumptuous. But how many times does it have to go from sunny to a full-blown severe thunderstorm before I connect the dots?

I need to talk to Isolde or Spiran…

After I handle today’s issue.

Rinya is more important to me right now.

I don’t know the exact moment I began to view her as my friend; I just know that’s where we are. Rin is my friend, and I’ve desperately needed one since before I came to this world.

“Aside from the owners, there are four other employees,” Connak says, bringing me back to the present.

To the clinic waiting room.

“Tell me about them.”

It’s a command, because I’m done asking questions and not getting straightforward answers. Imryll and Connak haven’t been evasive with me, but I’m beyond being gentle.

“The general store is owned by an elderly couple.” He rubs the back of his neck as he thinks. “There’s another older woman who works there for a couple of hours in the mornings, and then some younger guys who stock shelves and occasionally work at the front.”

“I’ve seen one of them,” I admit, nodding as I file the information away. “Rin has mentioned a name before. I just can’t recall it.”

“I don’t know their—”

“Find out,” I cut Connak off. “We need to start watching them.”

Imryll glances at Talodus and Ecaeris as they join our discussion. “Take her to the catacombs, Tal. Show her the maps and routes. I have to stay here until Selmar comes in, but she has a task for you two.”

“Parading around on a pointless hunt?” Ecaeris offers.

I smile at him, though I feel like I’m baring my teeth. “Find the guys that work in the general store. Strike up a conversation with them or watch what they’re doing.”

“What are we looking for?” Connak inquires, his brows knitting low over his dark eyes.

“Busted knuckles. Scratches. Favoring one side of the body.” I shake my head. “Anything that leads you to believe one of them has been in a recent fight, because she fought back. Whoever it was will have some kind of evidence to show.”

“You’ll need to find him soon,” Imryll says. “Something minor, like scratches, will be completely healed in a few more hours. If it’s cracked ribs, that will take longer. But soon, the pain will begin to subside, so it will be easier to hide.”

Talodus guides me out of the clinic before Ecaeris can argue any more. His hand is tense against my back, though I know his tension isn’t because of me. He’s angry, too.

“Let Imy and Nook deal with him,” he advises. “We have our own tasks to fulfill.”

“Nook?” I ask, raising my brows curiously.

“That’s what we’ve called Connak since we were boys. We don’t use it much, but sometimes it slips—” He coughs. “The catacombs are where most of the information is that you asked for. We may need to move it to a more secure location after today.”

I pull my head back and blink wildly at him. “In the catacombs? Where the guards have access to it? And by guards, I mean at least one person who is suspected of leaking said information to Mongrel enemies?”