Chapter 4: Down Below

The door to my apartment slammed behind me as I charged in dropping the horn that Ollie gave me on the table and stomping over to my weapons cabinet. ‘Man, that guy was annoying’ I thought to myself as I rummaged through the cabinet. He was more than annoying. I looked around and huffed. I knew already that I didn’t have anything else that would help me subdue him. I was just angry that he had gotten away from me again. I kicked the bottom of the cabinet and then leaned against it looking out around my apartment.

I looked around my bare living room and looked to my plain white kitchen and sighed. I didn’t know what the hell I was going to do about this a*hole, but I always felt like I did much better thinking when I had a drink. I shook my head and leaned down, unzipping both of my boots, and kicking them across the room in frustration. I took my stakes, rope and chain and put them back before walking over to my kitchen cabinet and grabbing a clear bottle that had that amber liquid from the bar in it and I poured a hefty serving into a rocks glass before taking a big sip and pouring a little more.

My cell phone started to ring, and I walked over to the couch clutching the glass tight enough that my hand was hurting. I knew that it was Ollie, but I still didn’t feel like admitting defeat out loud.

“Val speaking sup bar Bounty hunting at your service.” I said dully staring into the glass and trying not to sound too pitiful.

I heard Ollie chuckle “That is an interesting way to answer the phone. You should use a code instead. It’s much better.”

“I would if I was as paranoid as you.” I said with a small smile and big gulp of my drink. The warmth spread through me, and I felt myself relax as I leaned against the couch cushions, finally feeling somewhat relaxed.

“I am going to guess that you did not catch him.” Ollie said, his tone more of a question than a statement.

I sighed, I felt like I was sighing all the time and this case had only just begun “Well technically I did catch him, I just didn’t have him for long.”

“You caught him in the rope and chain, and he got away?”

“No. I caught him in the Shakespeare Garden, he was just sitting, and he was wolf and then he was human, and he knew why I was there and then he was gone again.” It all came out in a rush and a sour taste was left in my mouth when I was done. I hated that he got away. Letting marks get away was not exactly a good way to build a client base.

“Do you want me to come over? Did my device work?” he asked quickly. If I said yes, he would come in a heartbeat.

“Obviously it worked. I don’t think I would have found him if not for you. Unfortunately, though I f*ked it up.” I downed the rest of my drink

“Oh, don’t be ridiculous!” he said in a shrill tone, I knew that tone, it was his trying to be sweet and yell at you at the same time tone “You have more time to get him. Besides, maybe I will be able to cook something up.”

I could hear his smile on the other end, and it made me smile as well. “Well, if you could perform an Ollie Miracle that would be great.” I looked down at my empty glass, that hadn’t come out as hopeful as I wanted it to.

“Hang in there Val, I will call you tomorrow.”

The phone clicked off before I could say anything else, and I threw it on the table and hung my head off the back of the couch. I closed my eyes and all I could see were Markham’s green eyes and stupid grin. I sat up quickly and then walked over to grab another drink. I gulp the whole thing down and feel the tingling in my toes I shake my head and body as I feel the drink course through me.

I needed to make another plan. I was sure that Ollie was going to come up with something that would be helpful but that wasn’t enough. How was I supposed to pin this guy down? I was beginning to see why Ronan had given me this assignment. It was impossible and I was expendable. If something happened to me, he wouldn’t have to worry about it and if I happened to be able to get him, he would be able to take the credit and just throw some money at me and call it a day.

I wanted the money, but I also wanted to prove them wrong. Ronan, Markham, anyone who thought that I couldn’t do this job simply because I was human. This job was my ticket to showing them all that I could do this.

I poured another drink and walked over to the balcony, I needed some fresh air, all the alcohol was starting to make me feel flushed. I pulled open the doors and felt the cool air wrap around my face and body, I took a deep breath pulling it into me, steadying me. I walked over to the edge of the stone balcony and just looked out into the sky. The breeze moved my hair and pushed it behind my ears before looking up at the full moon. Markham’s grinned flashed across my mind’s eye and I almost screamed and threw the glass. What the hell was happening?

I looked down onto the street and saw a couple walking hand in hand, grinning at each other as they walked. I smiled and looked down below me and saw Wade Markham, standing with his arms crossed, dressed this time and smiling right back at me.