After an hour or so of browsing I find nothing on the two friends at all, not even on social networking sites which was highly unusual for teenagers, and the only information online about a Daniel Montego was for a Daniel ‘The Destroyer’ Montego, formerly ‘The Mountain’ Montego. He was an underground fighter at a club called The Pit. There wasn’t much information as most of the sites were encrypted and a password was needed for access.
“Red. Busy at work?” Aylesbury asks from the doorway making me jump slightly.
Without tearing my eyes from the screen I reply. “I wouldn’t need to be busy at work if your stakeout hadn’t taken up the best part of my free time.”
I look up and watch him move into the office shutting the door behind him. “Relax Red, we caught one bad guy, not the one we were after mind you but definitely a criminal.”
Well I couldn’t argue with that logic. “Did you find anything else out about your man?”
“No but the cagey way Harry said he was acting makes me wonder if this slave ring theory might not be too far from the truth, although The Don is only normally a petty thief at best. It doesn’t make sense. I’ll catch him though in the end and then we will have our answers. I actually came to ask if you fancied working with me on this one, I’m heading in now and thought if you were up for it I’d get Delaney’s approval.”
“Nope can do Aylesbury, I had a case hit my desk last night when I got back so until The Guild calls me in I’m on free time.”
“Anything interesting?” He asks sitting down on one of the sofas, propping his feet up.
“Yeah it’s called client confidentiality” I look back at my screen and think about The Pit. “Actually have you ever heard of a place called The Pit?”
“Wow that’s definitely a first, you never ask me for help.” He gets up off the sofa and saunters over to the desk. “The Pit is an underground fighting club, while it’s not illegal by Guild standards the Human authority’s and some of the more minor races forced it underground. It’s called The Pit because they usually have the fighting in a pit like hole in the ground with spectators watching from above. It’s a very dangerous place to be Scarlet. Why are you asking?”
“Why do you care?”
“I’m not even going to warrant that with an answer. The Pit’s fighters are usually from the Immortal races which is why the Humans wanted it banned, all manner of creatures compete against each other and The Lycan’s are a big part of the fighting scene at the moment, if this has anything to do with The Lycan’s you drop the case, You really don’t want to mess with The Beast Master.”
“Oh Please, like I’m scared of some dumb animal. Anyway this isn’t about The Lycan’s. I have some questions for one of its fighters.”
“I think your better off finding somewhere else to contact this fighter, that place is not the sort of place a woman goes to alone.”
“Fine, whatever you say.” I lie.
Aylesbury gets up and walks back over to the door. “Don’t forget when you’ve done with this you can help me out on my case.”
“Not by choice Aylesbury dear.” My reply comes out a little snarky.
“You’re forgetting Red, I’m a Senior Hunter and if I ask you to join me on a case you don’t get a choice.”
The door closes behind him before I can get out an uncivilised remark. I hate that he’s my superior officer, If he wasn’t I could have tried to avoid him all these years. Ass!
I go back to my work on the computer and after another few hours of searching I find an address for The Pit on a website advocating the banning of the highly unethical fighting practice’s of the inhuman races. I really hate that type of people. Religious and fanatical are never good in society.
I grab my car from the garage a few doors down from my building and head into the more industrial part of town, pulling my car up to the curb about half a block away from the entrance to the pit so I can walk down to it.
For an underground club it wasn’t very underground, I was expecting an unremarkable place in the middle of the industrial area. Instead in the middle of a street lined with factories was a warehouse lit up to the sky with bright fluorescent tubing proclaiming the building to be ‘The Pit’. There were a few people milling about but it was only early afternoon, so I slipped around the side of the building to find a car park and back entrance for staff only.
I try the door and as is usually the case it was locked, I sigh and decided to finish circling the building. There were no windows or any other entrances, and too many people milling about from the neighbouring factories for me to try and break into the place. Just as I near the front door I spot a poster, telling me that there was a fight night on for the next four nights and that The Destroyer was fighting on three of those nights.
I decide to come back later and see if I can’t sneak into his dressing room to question him on his relationship with Brook. In the meantime I wanted to talk to Bryn about his sister’s friends.
I get straight through to Bryn as soon as I make it back into the office and within the hour he was sat on one of the sofas in my office as I sat on the other one facing the fire.
“Bryn I need more information on the girls you said were Brook’s friends.”
“Here’s me thinking you just wanted to see me again. I was hoping you picked up on how much I like you.” He smiles at me and I’ve got to say he was good looking in an aristocratic kind of way; he looks and acts very refined.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I don’t mix business with pleasure, I would have thought your concern right now would be for your missing sister not chasing ass.” Not that I wouldn’t say no to a date, no actually I would he’s Fae. If it wasn’t for my own Fae blood I would be more accepted in this world.
“I am sorry, of course I’m concerned for the whereabouts of my sister, it’s just your so beautiful. It’s distracting me.” God he was so smooth. I was actually falling for it. I could feel my cheeks heat slightly.
“Anyway, you said when we first met that you contacted your sister’s friends. How did you do this?” I turn my attention away from his intent gaze to the note pad I hold in front of me.
“I called them on the cell phone my sister left behind. It only had their numbers programmed into it along with my number and the place where we are residing during our stay here.”
“I’m going to need to get those numbers from you I may need to trace her friends if my current lead doesn’t pan out?”
“Of course Scarlet, I will make sure someone gets them to you as soon as possible it may take a day or so to retrieve the numbers as I put the phone in one of those secure boxes in the vault at the bank. I didn’t want to lose the only link we have to our lost sister.” He gives me a small smile then eases himself off the sofa. “If that will be all, I really do need to attend some business.”
“Yes. Thank you for your help. If I’m not here you can leave a message for me behind the counter at the pizza place out front. I can assure you its quite safe and confidential.”
He bows and then walks out of the door, quite strange; the Fae must not be for goodbyes.
Chapter Five
I hardly got anything else done that day other than some filing and getting dressed up for my talk with Daniel Montego. That’s if you called a black skirt and top finished off with my sword and boots dressed up.
I head down stairs and into the pizzeria kitchen, salivating at the smells as I walk into the front of the shop.
“Hello Joan.” I say to the teen who works behind the counter. I like this girl, when we first met she tried to have me arrested for breaking into the back of the shop. She felt really bad when she found out that I lived above the shop and had Dave’s express permission to use the shop as my very own kitchen. I had done him a favour renting the office and upstairs apartment when they had been empty for so long so he said I could have as much pizza as I wanted whenever I wanted.
“Ooh you look nice Scarlet, you out on the town?” She asks while gr
abbing me a plate and two slices’s of onion and mushroom.
“If you think this is nice, you should see me dressed up for a real night out.” I say shoving the pizza down as quickly as I could.
Joan gets a spaced out look on her face. “I’m a little worried.” She reveals. “I keep seeing this guy hanging around the front of the shop, one minute he’s there the next gone. Do you think I’m losing it?”
“I don’t think you’re losing it, maybe you should make sure Dave or someone else walks you to your car when your shifts end and if you see him again call this number and someone from The Guild will come over and check it out for you.” I scribble the number down on her order pad, a quick glance at her and I see she is really scared. “Try not to worry though it’s probably just a coincidence, maybe you’re just spotting the same guy who works or lives in this area or he may be waiting for a friend.”
She relaxes a little after that but I can tell she was still concerned.
“Why don’t you tell me about that new guy you’re seeing while I finish of this last slice?”
The biggest grin spreads over her face as she begins telling me all about her new guy. I listen perched on the counter and relax a little. It was nice to have some normality in my life even if it was in the form of a teenage girl.
I drive to the car park at The Pit and find it almost full, the queue to get in wrapped halfway around the building. It looks like the clientele was pretty upscale, most of the women that were there were definitely either arm candy or licensed escorts, another look at them and I thought perhaps not entirely licensed.
I look at my get up and decide I look more like the back stage help than the sort of person to frequent this place. So my best option was to sneak in the back door. When I round the corner to the back door I see it’s open and people are coming and going with various different things. The only downfall to my plan were the two bouncers watching everyone go through the door. There are people milling about near the entrance so I join them to watch for an opportunity to get in. A van pulls up and about five people get out heading through the group of people near the door, as they reach me I shift into my Fae form and join them.
I stick with the group as they make their way through the door when one of the bouncers notices me. “Hey you with the red hair you’re not supposed to be in here, authorised personal only!”
The group I was hitching entrance with stops and are looking around as both the bouncers come crashing through the door after me, so I duck down and grab the nearest person’s backstage pass that was clipped stupidly to his back pocket and as I pop out of the commotion I shift back to my Human form. I quickly clip the tag to my top as one of the bouncers skid to a halt in front of me.
He eyes the backstage pass and then me and says. “Sorry petal, you didn’t see a red head just walk past?”
“Sorry no I was to busy wondering what all the shouting was about.” I smile at him innocently and carry on walking down the corridor. I’m pleased my shifting is actually good for something.
At the end of the corridor a sign read, left to The Pit and Audience Seating Area and to the right, Dressing Rooms. I head right and it doesn’t take me long to find the right dressing room door, they are all labelled.
The door is shut but I hear voices inside. I knock and walk straight in.
There are two men; both of them were too large and overly muscled to be anything other than Demon or Lycan. Judging by the tattoo’s they sported on their torsos they were more than likely Demon although what kind I had no idea. Each Demon kind had similar looks like Humans but generally they had an ability or certain markings that set them apart from other members of The Demon population, I wasn’t that up to date on Demonology, unfortunately.
Both were dressed in fighters shorts, one had a tattoo around his left eye which according to the pictures I’d seen meant he was not Daniel, the other had his back to me but was hopefully my target.
I clear my throat and they both turn their attention towards me, the other guy is defiantly Daniel Montego. When they see me they both smile and leer.
“Well Destroyer it looks like our pre fight entertainment has arrived a little early today. You’re not booked for another half hour and we ain’t paying for extra.”
They both move before I even have the chance to open my mouth, in seconds Montego is behind me and his friend in front of me, Montego is blocking the door although it remains open.
“I don’t know what you think this is, but whatever is going through your pea sized brains is not why I’m here.” I say, my hand itching to pull my sword.
“No precious, if you’re in here with us it means your here to make sure we are satisfied, I admit your not the usual type but no female would come here for any other reason.”
He moves and grabs my ass causing me to shout out. “Look assholes lay one more finger on me and you’re dust.”
Montego’s friend moves up in front of me. I side step them both and at the same time Montego grabs me, the chair I was near crashes to the floor as I reach out for it.
“Get off me now.” I shout at the top of my voice.
Montego is still behind me but now I was held very firmly to him.
“You are a feisty one aren’t you, we like them that way, gets us all pumped up for the fight doesn’t it Otis?” Montego reveals, his breath whispering against my neck.
I use Montego’s firm grip and lift both my legs up to deliver a powerful kick to Otis’s nether region, at that moment two guy’s come rushing through the door one of them was a hell of a lot bigger than Montego.
The Hulk spoke. “Are you okay Miss?”
I felt like saying “Does it look like it?” But instead I say. “I’m handling it.”
“It really looks that way.” The Hulk says giving me a look of disbelief. Neither of the newcomers move from the door way but their small interaction provides me with the opportunity I need to make my move.
Otis is rolling on the floor clutching his crotch and Montego has released his grip enough for me to spin around and push him. He looses his balance slightly as I withdraw my sword from my back holster. I point the blade at his throat and push him toward the wall. As I do so I also unsheathe the small dagger I have hidden in the waist band of my skirt.
“I am not here to satisfy your every need although I do have a few questions for you. You will answer them and I will leave your precious man parts intact, if you don’t the dagger that I now have aimed at your balls will be put to use.” I sounded like I could hurt this guy, but really he could turn this situation around on me any moment, I just needed to act like I had the upper hand, I am after all only five foot three inches to his six foot of muscle.
The guy stood with the Hulk moves to secure Otis while the Hulk stands looking like he’s waiting to pounce. Montego seems to be buying the fact that I could unman him any second.
“I am looking for a girl named Brook; her friends said that she was your girlfriend?”
“I don’t have a girlfriend let alone know anyone called Brook.” Montego answers.
“She’s a Fae teenager at five ten with blue black hair, does that ring any bells.” I ask pressing the point of my dagger more firmly into his crotch.
Montego looks over at Otis, who is now recovering on the chair. “Is this who I think it is?” He asks. Otis nods his reply unable to speak after his injury. Turning his attention back to me he says. “She was hanging around here a lot with some friends trying to catch our eyes, flirting outrageously with the fighters. I personally didn’t have the time of day for her. She was way too young for my tastes and that’s what Otis told her when she wanted entry into my room. She wasn’t that bothered though by the brush off, she left that same night with JT. I never actually spoke with her myself she was just an annoying kid, we get them sometimes, wanting to piss parents off by rebelling.”
“That wasn’t so hard now was it? Who’s JT?”
“I don’t know just some punk kid who hangs around, ask a
round someone will know him.” I get the feeling that the big scary fighter was trying to get rid of me.
“Okay then Montego, if your lying to me I’ll be back but not before I’ve filed a few charges against you with The Guild.” He pales at that and stays against the wall after I sheathe my sword.
I turn around and as I push past the Hulk I say. “I told you I could handle it.” In reality I was shaking like a leaf, really all four of the men in there could have ripped me to shreds in seconds. I carry on passed him and practically fly down the corridor to the exit. Just past the door, someone grabs me from behind and shoves me against the wall, I look up to find my self almost nose to nose with the Hulk.
“What are you, stupid?” He asks, shaking me slightly.
“Who the hell do you think you are asking me that, now get off me.” I shout back, I was more furious now than scared.
“It’s not safe in there for women unless they’re escorted by someone. Don’t bother coming back unless you have protection. Next time you’ll probably not be so lucky.” You could feel the anger vibrating off of this guy in waves, he had serious issues.
I push at him but he doesn’t budge. “Look Ass what I do is none of your business so back off and let me leave.”
“It’s my business when someone comes into The Pit to get themselves killed.” He lets go of me and stands there staring, he isn’t bad looking at all, he was definitely the biggest guy I’d ever seen, he looks like his muscle mass was natural rather than from hours spent weight training. I had a moment to appreciate his good looks until he ruined it by speaking again. “You were scared in there. If they had been Lycan they would have smelled the fear on you and you would be dead. Next time you might not be so lucky.”
Hunted (Scarlet Dawson Book 1) Page 3
