The Fiddler's Dagger by W. H. Lock

Author:W. H. Lock [Lock, W. H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JDK Press
Published: 2019-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Allison looked at the man her husband Gary had brought home. She didn’t care Gary hadn’t called ahead, and the house was a mess. She hadn't had the strength to get out of bed today. She had slept while Gary had been at work. She tried to be awake and cheerful when he was home. She didn't want him to feel bad. She spent a few minutes coughing, each one causing her more pain that the drugs couldn't touch. Drugs they couldn’t afford.

"So, what you're telling me is that you have the power to make me better?"

"Yes. No. Maybe?" Quinn shrugged. "Magic is capable of truly amazing things. But there's a lot it can't do. It can't cure cancer. It can’t stop you from dying of old age but it can give you decades of extra life. It can't make someone fall in love with you, but it can get them to want to have sex with you. I can't turn lead into gold, but I can make fake hundred-dollar bills all night long."

Allison looked at Quinn for a long hard moment. She liked him. She didn't know why. Maybe it was his eyes. They reminded her of the skies of Montana during the spring when she was a little girl. A clear and perfect blue that seemed to go on forever. Maybe it was the way his hair resisted any attempt to be anything other than tousled. But for whatever reason, she liked him. Even though she was sure he was trying to rob her husband blind.

She looked at Gary and said, "Hon, can you leave us alone? I want to ask Mr. Quinn a few questions."

"Sweetheart, I think we should--"

"Hush, baby. I'm thirsty. Can you make me some tea?"

Gary hopped up off the stool he had taken over next to the bed. She knew he felt better when he could do little things for her. She waited until the door was closed.

"Now, stop bullshitting, Quinn. I grew up on a ranch. I've roped a fair amount of calves in my time. I know the smell of bullshit."

Quinn gave her an odd look she couldn't quite decide what it meant. It was somewhere between surprise and a specific question he didn't want to say out loud.

She continued, "What's your deal? We ain't rich. I spent the insurance money on treatments. All we got left is a deep hole of debt that's only getting deeper. What's the deal?"

"I need a book. A special book where your husband works."

"Why?"

"What?"

"Don't act like you're an idiot. Why the hell do you want my husband to risk his job by stealing a book?"

"Because I will use the book to fool a bunch of rich bastards. I'm going to get them to sell me the things they love, and I am going to skip out on the bill."

Allison coughed hard. She felt like an entire section of the lining of her lungs ripped free. She felt blood and puss hit the back of her throat as she coughed.

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