Read Book 02 - Bitter Gold Hearts for Free Online

was strong because Glory
Mooncalled’s successes in the Cantard had put several more
silver mines into Karentine hands, meaning all their production
came north.
    Willa Dount might want to climb my leg about Amiranda. For ten
marks I would take what she wanted to hand out. There is never
enough money around our place because of the endless fix-ups.
    “Leave word at the gate that I’m on my way.
I’ll be there as soon as I take care of a few details and
have lunch.”
    Slauce’s ruddy face got redder. The nerve of me! I was
supposed to frog when uptown said jump. He wanted to drag me off by
the heels. But his instructions held. “Very well. I’m
sure she would appreciate your taking as little time as possible.
She did seem distracted.” He counted five two-mark pieces
onto my desk.
    “I won’t be more than a half hour behind you. Dean?
Will you see Mr. Slauce to the door?” We like to know that
our guests are out when they head out. Some of them are so slow
they might not remember which side of the door they’re
supposed to be on when it shuts. Morley returned to the room.
    “Better bite those things to see if they’re real,
Garrett. Somebody’s running a game.”
    “How so?”
    “That’s the guy who was tailing your lady last
night.”
    “Yeah? He looked taller in the dark.”
    “Maybe he was wearing platforms. I think it’s time
you thought about getting out of this.”
    “I’m not in it.”
    “I know you, Garrett. You’re going to get into it up
to your ears if you don’t turn your back now.”
    Morley is usually not much shakes as a prophet. I paid him no
mind, thanking him and telling him the favor was a chunk off the
account he owed from the vampire business. I saw him out, then let
Dean serve me lunch. Then I ambled off to earn my ten gold
marks.
----

IX
    Willa Dount was piqued by my churlish failure to bounce when she
hollered but she hid it well. Everybody but the Dead Man was hiding
irritation with me. I decided I’d best keep my hands covering
my pockets.
    “Thank you for coming, Mr. Garrett.”
    “Your man said you’d heard from the
kidnappers.”
    “Yes. Another letter. Delivered much like the
first.” She passed it over.
    The same hand, with the same poor spelling, told her that
Junior’s market value was “200000 Marks gold.”
Instructions for delivery would follow.
    “Two hundred thou? The kid’s in trouble, isn’t
he? The Emperor himself might not go for that much.”
    “The sum can be raised, Mr. Garrett. It will be paid. That
isn’t the problem.”
    “What is?”
    “I face a twofold dilemma. Part is that I won’t be
able to conceal an outlay of that magnitude from the Stormwarden.
That’s my problem and I’ll deal with her displeasure
when the time comes. She won’t like the expense but she would
like to lose her son far less.”
    “I gather your own balance scale might not tilt the same
way.”
    “My opinions are of no moment, Mr. Garrett. This is the
Stormwarden’s household and here the Stormwarden’s will
and whimsy alike are law.”
    “What do you need me for?”
    “Advice on overcoming the mechanical difficulties of
delivering that much gold.”
    “You’ll need a big pocket to carry it.”
    “I’m paying handsomely for your time, Mr. Garrett.
Don’t waste it on witticisms. I have no sense of
humor.”
    “If you say so.”
    “Two hundred thousand marks in coined gold weighs four
thousand pounds. To move that much weight will require a heavy
wagon and at least a four-horse team. Can they possibly expect me
to get that someplace where the payoff can’t be
seen?”
    “With a payoff that big they’d set it somewhere way
out in the country, after running you along a route they could
watch to make sure you aren’t being followed.”
    “They will insist on coined gold, won’t they? Bar
would be easier for me to get together and handle but harder for
them to dispose of. Right?”
    “Probably.”
    “I thought so. I’ve already started exchanging