The Gadget: The Rondon Chronicles Book One by V. Timlin (speed reading book .TXT) 📕

small and cramped. Filing cabinets surrounded the walls, and Chief Constable Loka’s desk took half of the remaining floor space. Vari and Anouk sat in the two chairs opposite Loka without waiting for an invitation. Anouk was sure such wouldn’t have been offered anyway.

“Nat did not say where he was going or what his plans were.” Chief Constable Loka crossed his hands on the desk. “He only reported his progress and asked if there were any new developments in our investigations. I do not have the resources to send men searching for a missing bounty hunter.”

“And what kind of developments have you made these past days?”

The chief leaned back on his chair and eyed Vari with suspicion. “I thought you and Fitzwil were retired.”

“Yes, you thought right.” Vari half turned her head towards Anouk. “Let me introduce you to Nat’s business partner, Miss Anouk Herring.”

Chief Constable Loka looked quizzically at Anouk. “So you are the business partner?”

Vari looked at her, expecting.

“Yes, Chief Constable Loka.”

“I did not expect the business partner to be a woman,” he said with an amused tone.

The remark was insulting, and judging by the lifted eyebrow and the condescending expression on the chief constable’s face, it was meant to be. Anouk clenched her fists.

“I am sorry to disappoint you,” she said between her teeth. You rude, sexist asshole, she wanted to add, but thought better not to.

“So, would you tell us what progress you’ve made?” Vari asked, and added with a sweet tone, “If any?”

“How dare you question us?” Loka barked his response and half rose from his seat.

“What did you expect? You’ve been insulting us the whole time we’ve been here. Do I really need to remind you how many times we have quietly taken the reward money and let you get all the glory of arresting criminals? We wouldn’t have any reason to question your ability, or that of your men, if you did your job properly in the first place.”

Anouk tensed. Why was Vari insulting their host when he could so easily throw them out, or worse, inter them in a cell? He would surely not help them now. Anouk glanced at the chief constable, holding her breath.

Chief Constable Loka sank back into his chair, his face colouring a satisfying purple hue, the veins in his temples looking like they would burst at any minute.

“So, what did you tell Nat?” Vari asked.

Chief Constable Loka cleared his throat before answering. “That we have performed our own enquiries.”

“Of course.”

“I also advised this case has stirred huge interest among bounty hunters and he has stout competition.”

“That was expected.”

“In our investigations, we found that Stalo still has a few supporters. Royal Rondon Prison is a high-security prison and no one, not even Stalo, can escape from there without outside intervention.”

Anouk shifted in her chair. If Stalo had supporters, this mission was far more complicated than she, and perhaps Nat, had initially thought and would take more time than she had taken off from work. Nat was right—it would get more dangerous as the investigation continued.

“Two of his old lieutenants were sighted in the city just yesterday, but they disappeared before my men could arrest them,” Loka added. “Furthermore, two bounty hunters were found dead between The Pits and Flower Estate this morning. I know for a fact they were after Stalo.”

Chapter 10

The meeting with Chief Constable Loka had been ten minutes sharp, and when the time was up, he ushered them out, still lacking manners. Although his rudeness irritated Anouk, she was more alarmed at the news that two men loyal to Stalo had been seen in the city—he wasn’t alone. The pursuit was getting inconveniently more complicated and dangerous. Anouk questioned herself as to why she was even surprised some of his former men remained loyal. What terrified her most were the bodies of the two bounty hunters. Would that be her fate? Was there a way out of this mess other than being stuffed into a body bag?

“Do you think Nat’s being late has something do with Stalo’s soldiers?” Anouk asked as they walked down the stairs to collect their weapons.

Vari shook her head. “He knows better than to try to go after Stalo’s gang on his own.” She paused before shaking her head again. “I know my son, he wouldn’t do that. Let’s get back to the camp and see if he has returned. Maybe we are worrying for nothing.”

When they reached the information booth, Sergeant Rosmarus lifted their armaments onto the desk and growled, “Next time book an appointment.”

Vari smiled, but said nothing. Anouk decided not to reply to the sergeant’s grumble either.

The clamour of the constabulary changed into the cacophony of traffic when they walked out of the door. The angle of the sun had shifted and Anouk estimated it was late afternoon. By now, Nat should be back in the camp, whatever the delay had been.

“Let’s catch a carriage.” Vari started to run down the entrance steps looking at the stream of vehicles.

Anouk scanned the carriages driving around the square but couldn’t tell which might be taxis, much less which were available. She leaned against a lamppost and concentrated on people watching. Like the buildings, the people also looked better off than in the neighbourhoods Nat had taken her to—men in their top hats and dark business suits, women with their large dresses and small sunshades. She sighed in awe. How strange and yet strangely familiar it all seemed.

Her eyes stopped on the face of a man standing a short distance away. He was looking straight at her. He wore a gentleman’s black suit and top hat, his arm was in a sling. Anouk’s breath caught and her heart missed a beat… Stalo. A cold wave of terror washed over her. All she could do was stare back at him, paralysed. Blood drummed in her ears, blocking any other sound as a slow smile split Stalo’s hard face. He lifted his top hat and bowed before vanishing into the mass of