Hey again. :) In this chapter, we'll get a brief introduction to Quinn and some Dantana tension. (not sexual tension so don't worry.) To everyone staying with me through this story, H! You have no idea how much it makes me happy just by knowing you guys read and like (generally) my work! Anyway, let's stop the sappiness and get on with the chapter, yes?
"Want me to look at you face?" I ask
"She's pretty good at patching people up..." Puck laughed, "you know, when she's not killing them."
The detective grimaced but got to her feet, "Sure." she say, following me into a spare bathroom next to the kitchen.
We were back in my apartment now, after I had killed the Air elemental's men, Dani and I were able to get clothes and guns fast enough before the air elemental arrived.
"Sit." I tell her, pointing to the toilet with it's lid down, she does as she's told, "Wait here." I tell her while I fetched Rachel's healing ointment from my room. The events earlier in the day replaying in my mind.
"What are we waiting for?" Dani says from the back seat.
"You'll see." I tell her, "Duck. Here they come." we all bend low as the vehicle passed. A luxury SUV. It coasted to a stop right beside the one already parked outside of the detective's home.
"More of her men?" Puck asked from beside me
"No. If what the men inside were saying are true then the elemental herself should be in that car."
I took my night vision goggles and leaned my elbows on the dashboard, three men stepped out of the vehicle and talked just in front of the hood while a fourth figure stayed in the backseat of the car. Two of the men turned and I recognized them instantly, Hunter Clarington and the other man from tailing the detective earlier today.
I took note a mental note to look into Mr. Clarington before narrowing my eyes, focusing on the fourth figure in the car. A knot of rage tightening in my chest again. Get out. Get out and show yourself you sadistic little bitch.
"Is the Air elemental there?" Dani asked
"She's sitting in the back seat."
I hear Puck's hands grip the steering wheel harder, the leather creaking under his hands.
Hunter made his way towards the far end of the car and held his hand out to the woman. The woman took it as she stepped out of the car, like a Disney princess getting down from a fucking horse-drawn pumpkin carriage.
"Fuck." I mutter, "She's on the far side of the car with her back to me and she's wearing a fucking cloak. Who the fuck wears cloaks? I can't see anything. Not her face. Not her hair. Nothing." I tell them as I watch the elemental approach the first dead body- the guard by the door that I had stabbed through the heart.
Puck slams his hand against the steering wheel, "Santana, we can take her out. Right now. They won't be expecting us."
"No, I'm not strong enough to take on the elemental. Not yet. Not tonight."
"But she's right there!"
"Listen! Air elementals do more than use their fingers to sandblast people's skin off. You might think you know what they can do but you don't."
"But-"
Before Puck could finish whatever it was he wanted to say, a strong gust of wind exploded from Dani's home, whistling so loud it felt like a whip was passing through your ears non-stop. The blast of air blew out all the windows in the detectives home before flattening all the thin trees in her yard then rushing down the hill, like a tornado would.
Mailboxes got ripped off the ground. Cars shook in it's wake. Even a poor cat got blown airborne, knocking the feline a good thirty feet off the ground before hitting the wall of Party Central and landing on its head.
The car we were in also shook as the wind passed by, it was weaker here from afar but the silverstone in my palms still itched. Hungry to absorb the power.
"Let's go. Before she realizes we're still here." I tell Puck.
I was right. I'm not strong enough to beat her- not yet.
When I got back to the bathroom, Dani had her elbows propped on her knees and her head was hanging low, she looked exhausted. She was wearing black denim jeans and a loose shirt that exposed her bruised and battered neck and shoulders. I had already cleaned myself up earlier and I looked more human without all the blood and guts hanging from my clothes.
At the sound of my footsteps against the tiled floor, the detective look up at me; her swollen, battered and bruised face caused my heart to twist and my eyebrows to furrow.
What was I feeling?
"What took you so long?"
"Couldn't find what I needed." I replied, waving the container of ointment at her.
She sits up as I come closer, "Spread your legs."
"Excuse me?
I tapped her thighs, "Open your legs up so I can get between them. I can take a look at your face easier that way."
"Oh, right. Of course."
The detective spread her legs wide and I got down on my knees between them. The warmth of her body engulfed me immediately. Despite all the blood she was covered with, she still smelled squeaky clean. I'd never thought such a simple aroma could be so intoxicating.
I twisted the lid off the tub and dipped my fingers into the ointment. The white glob felt warm on my fingers, small prickling needles spread up into my hands and arms, making the silverstone rune itch but not as bad as when Rachel would use her undiluted powers on me.
I leaned forward and Dani jerked her head back. What did she think I was going to do? Turn glob into a knife and silt her throat? As if I'd make a mess like that in my own apartment. I was tired and it was late so I grabbed her chin and yanked her head down when she tries to pull away before rubbing the ointment on her cheek.
A few seconds passed and the Air magic slowly starts working, her bruises faded and the cuts on her skin slowly melded together. With her body being healed, Dani relaxed back into the toilet seat.
"Nice grip." Dani says, "Very firm."
"Is that a compliment, detective?"
She shrugged, "just an observation."
I spread the ointment on her face, including her lower lip which had been split. I swiped my thumb gently across her lips and she stiffened at the intimate contact, but she didn't jerk back or try to pull away. Instead, she studied me. Her eyes scorching a path from my hair, my eyes, down to my breasts.
"What's that on your hand? Body modification?"
The rune. I curled my fingers into a loose fist, "Just an old scar. I have lots of them."
"I bet you do."
Silence. I was too tired to argue with the detective, let her form her own opinions about me. I don't give a shit.
"Why did you save me back there? You could have let them kill me." she asks, her eyes filled with conflicting emotions
"I told you. I need you. I need to know what you know, I believe I heard something about a flash drive?" I ask, thankful for the conversation. Anything was better than the tense silence whenever she stares at me.
I rubbed the ointment on her neck and shoulders as she answered, "Yeah, they seem to think that I have it." She tells me, tilting her head slightly to one side to give me more access.
"But you don't?"
She didn't answer. She knew how to play her cards too so I pulled out a necklace that I had gotten from one of the men at her house, "have you seen this before?"
"No, is that a rune?"
"Yeah. One I've been seeing a lot lately."
She took the rune from me and examined it, her gaze taking in every bit of information from the pendant.
"Detective, you have to make a choice, are you in or out?" I ask, grabbing the necklace and breaking her concentration
"What happens if I'm out?"
"Tomorrow morning you get out of my home. When the elemental kills you, I'll have some of your cop friends fish you out of the river."
"That won't happen." She shook her head
"Oh really? I was watching the house before you got attacked, I noticed you were arguing with someone over the phone right before those men showed up." Her brows furrow again.
"I was talking to my captain, Sandy Ryerson. He wanted to talk about the case. That's all. It doesn't prove anything."
I placed the cap back on the tub and placed it on the sink beside the detective, "No, but it's one hell of a coincidence."
Silence again. I really hope the detective agrees to my offer. If only she could see how we could work together to solve this case. If only she could look past her hate towards me. I could save her life.
Dani takes the tub and dances her fingers along the Clouded Star rune printed on top, "I'm in." She shook her head, "But not without rules."
"Rules?" I ask, washing my hands in the sink
"I won't cover anything up for you. I won't kill for you. I won't let you hurt innocent people."
"Innocent? I don't think you'll meet very many innocent people on this case, Dani."
"Maybe. Maybe not. But those are my rules."
"Is that it, Detective?" I ask, I knew there was more.
Instead of answering, Dani stands up and walks straight up to me, she was smaller by a good 3-inches.
"The second this is over, I'm coming for you. Getting justice for Brody Weston's murder will be my top priority once this is done and I don't care if I have to kill you to get it, is that clear?"
"Crystal." I said, "Now take your shirt off and rub this on your bruises." I instruct before turning my back and heading for the door.
"Santana?" Dani calls after me, "I heard Puck call you that earlier, is that your name?"
I turn and look at her, "More or less."
"Santana." She says again, carefully, like testing how the name felt on her tongue. "It suits you."
"I'm glad you think so, get yourself together and meet us out there." I say, walking out of the bathroom.
"Wait." she calls out again.
"What?" I ask impatiently
"Thanks," Dani muttered, you'd think I was twisting her arm the way she forced the words out, "for everything. I wouldn't be sitting here if it wasn't for you.
"You're welcome."
She nodded, "But it doesn't change anything. I'm still going to bring you in for Brody Weston's murder- whatever it takes. Dead or alive."
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Detective."
When I walk back into the living room, the aroma of Caramel Macchiato invaded my senses and for a moment I thought Finn was going to walk out of the kitchen. I took a minute to just breathe in the aroma, memories of late-nights with Finn flashing in my mind.
"Hey Santana? I hope you don't mind but I found some in your pantry and made myself a cup." Puck's voice drifted from my kitchen, followed by the sound of steaming milk
I wasn't sure how long I've been standing out here but Puck must have been into his second mug judging from the sounds coming from the kitchen.
"I don't mind as long as you make me a cup too." I tell him.
"Me too." Dani's voice drifts from behind me. Puck peeks from around the corner and wolf-whistles at the detective. Curious, I turned and almost had to pick my jaw from the floor.
Dani was walking towards me in her bra and jeans, handing me the tub of cream.
Yellowish bruises dotted her stomach and sides. I noticed a tattoo on her right rib but I couldn't tell what it was because her bra strap was in the way.
"I figured, it was better to let the cream air dry. Seeing as it's Air magic. I don't know." She says and I almost giggle. For such a badass, she could be such a dork.
"I could help you. I'll blow dry it with my mouth. I don't mind. I'll be more than happy to have my any part of my face near that fine piece of feminine beauty. All. Night. Long." Puck offers
I unconsciously threw the cream at him, making him dart back into the kitchen, "Ignore him. He feels the need to bang anything with a vagina and nice pair of boobs."
"O-kay?"
"Late-night snack?" I ask her
"Sandwich. Turkey this time and less mayo, please." Puck calls from the kitchen, making me roll my eyes
"I'll have the same." She tells me and I get to work.
"Two sandwiches coming right up."
When we were all filled with coffee and sandwiches, I turn to the detective "I think it's time you told us why you were meeting with Ken Tanaka."
She takes a sip of coffee before starting her story, "Ken Tanaka contacted me about three months ago. Said he had information about a major embezzlement scandal at Nova Industries. Said he would give me all the information I needed to put several people away for a long time, if I could promise him protection."
"That doesn't make sense." Puck says "You're a homicide detective. Money laundering and embezzlement isn't your specialty. Why would he come to you?"
"He said that someone was using the money for some pretty nasty shit. Bribes, payoffs." Dani's gaze shot to me. "Contract killings."
Nobody spoke for a moment.
"Tanaka said he'd been collecting information for months. He was supposed to give me the information at the opera house but you and that other assassin arrive and he ran. You know what happened after that."
"I'm guessing all the information was stored in the flash drive?"
"I guess." Dani shrugged.
"Did you tell anyone about Tanaka?" I asked. "Did anyone in the police department know you were meeting with him?"
"I told my captain, of course. Ryerson brought in a few people that helped us set up the safe house or take care of the embezzling side of the case."
So Sandy Ryerson was the one pulling the strings on the cops' side. Getting people he knew involved. Keeping Dani quiet. Maybe the Air elemental bribed him to keep her informed. Maybe she had something on him that would ruin his career. Either way, Ryerson seemed to be involved in this. I looked at Puck and he had put it together too. He nodded, letting me know that he would do some more digging on Captain Sandy Ryerson.
"Anyway, that's all I know. Your turn." She says
Puck spreads out all the IDs we'd taken off the dead guards and showed them to the detective. Dani didn't recognize any of the men, but she agreed the IDs were fake and probably wouldn't lead us anywhere. So I fished out the gold chain with the triangular tooth rune. The polished jet soaked up the soft kitchen light like a black sponge.
"This could be something," Dani murmured, studying the rune. "You mentioned this was a rune but I've never seen this particular rune before, and I keep up with the symbols on all the gangs in town."
"I think our Air elemental has something bigger than a gang, detective." Puck pointed out.
"We also have this." I slid over the business card. "You had two guys tailing you at lunch. One of them passed his card to some college girls. Puck's digging for info on him right now."
"Hunter Clarington? I know him."
"Friend of yours?" I asked, curious as to the detectives choice of friends.
The detective's mouth tightened. "No. I just know who he is. He's a small-time criminal who likes to pretend he's bigger and badder than he actually is. Always on the lookout for easy money."
"Well, he's targeting bigger things now."
"He's not smart enough for anything bigger than street crime. All he's interested in is sex. The younger the better."
"Where does he like to hang out?"
"Sky Splits." The nightclub in Northtown. "That's where he gets his kicks." I frowned.
That's the second time Sky Splits has been mentioned, "Ken Tanaka also liked going to Sky Splits."
"So they worked and played together." Puck murmurs, Dani frowns, "worked together? What are you talking about?"
"We did a little digging on Mr. Hunter Clarington, turns out he's an executive vice president at Nova Industries." I told her, her laugh catches me off guard. An amused laugh.
"That has to be some kind of mistake. Hunter knows shit about running a business. He's a scammer, not a white-collar worker."
"Clarington's financials show a regular paycheck deposited into his account every week from the company." Puck says
"Then there's definitely something going on at Nova." She says, flipping the card between her fingers, "What's our next move?"
"Well, we don't know where the flash drive is but we know where Hunter like to go." I tell them, "I think we should go out tomorrow night."
Puck cleared his throat, "Uh... Santana? Sky Splits is Quinn's place. I think it's best if we get her OK first."
I snorted, "I don't need Quinn's permission to spy on a man at her club."
Dani looked back and forth between Puck and I, "Who's Quinn?"
"Quinn Fabray, the vampire who owns Sky Splits. She's also one of Puck's good-time girls."
"Good-time girls." Puck scoffs, "I'm hurt you'd think that way about us, Santana. Deeply. Quinn and I have a deeper relationship than that."
"Right. As deep as you can go, Puckerman?" I teased and he grinned back.
Dani shook her head, probably trying to rid her mind of images of Puck in different states of undress.
"So that's the plan?" The detective asks
"Yup." I tell her
"Hunt down Hunter. Squeeze him and see what comes out."
"Wanky." I say unconsciously
With nothing else today, we decided to get to rest. Finn stayed in the spare bedroom while I stayed to help Dani make a bed out of the couch.
"Knock yourself out." I tell her as I hand her the bedding
"Thanks."
I hovered for a moment, making my way to the door and tracing small tight curls on the stone beside the door. The runes shimmered silver before sinking into the wall and fading away. I sent a burst of magic through the rock to test my magical trip wire and a sharp note of alarm sounded back to me, rising to an ear-splitting shriek. If someone attempted to open the door and enter or exit the apartment, that same sound would wake me.
I look over at Dani and she was busy setting up her make-shift bed. She wasn't an elemental so she couldn't hear the loud shrieking that I could.
"Anything else you need?" I ask, walking towards the hallway leading to my room
"No thanks."
"Okay then. Goodnight, detective."
"Sleep well." her low, tired voice rumbled. "If you can." She added, making me stop mid-step. This is it. This is the moment when all the tension and hate and frustration explodes.
I glance over my shoulder at him, "Why wouldn't I sleep well?"
"I don't know about you but I'd probably have trouble sleeping if my conscience was as troubled as yours."
"My conscience hardly ever bothers me."
"It should."
"Why is that? Because of killing those men tonight? I did what I had to do to save you. You even thanked me for that."
"Not for tonight. For what you did to Weston."
The hate burned in her eyes. I knew she was counting down the moments until she could point a gun at my face and for a moment I thought of telling her why exactly Brody Weston had to die. To shatter all the good things she thought about her beloved partner.
But I didn't. That was an ace in my sleeve and I needed Dani to be focused on the job. Not wallowing about the reasons behind Brody Weston's murder. "If you must know, detective. I sleep like a rock. My conscience never bothers me. Never has. Never will." I tell her before shutting the door to my bedroom.
In the morning, we're all well rested and gathered around large stacks of pancakes. Puck and Dani had eaten about a dozen pancakes each while I had about eight.
"So Santana? What do you do when you're not- you know, assassinating people?"
"Why so curious, detective?" I ask, taking a sip from my coffee.
"Just making conversation. I thought it would be nice to talk about something other than the fact that we're going to be committing a felony today."
"Only one? My dear detective, the day is young!" I teased and Puck laughed
"What about you? Do you kill people too?"
"Oh no, detective. Puck is much, much worse. He's a banker." My snide comment caught Puck by surprise and he chocked on his coffee, spilling some on the hardwood table. Dani let our a guffaw of laughter. It was the first time I've heard her laugh without any undercurrent of bitterness or anger.
The detective smiled, the action reaching her eyes causing them to crinkle at the the corners and her nose to scrunch up.
"What are you staring at?" Dani asks and I force my gaze to break away from her face.
"Nothing." I say, "Eat up. We're all going to need the energy today. Puck, any updates?"
Puck gave me a curious look before answering, "Nothing so far on the IDs or the tooth rune."
"Any news about me?" Dani asks.
Puck shakes his head, "I guess the elemental cleans up after herself pretty well but according to my sources at the police department, your captain is looking for you."
"Speaking of Ryerson, any info on him?"
"I have a few but his financials all seem clean. He's not getting stupidly high amounts of money from anywhere, not dropping Gs on any strip clubs or vices. I'll keep digging though."
When we finished our breakfast, Dani was the first to stand up. She reached over and grabbed our plates, stacking them nicely. "Let me." she says, "I'm sleeping on your couch and eating your food. It's the least I can do."
"My, my, my. Beautiful and polite." I teased and I notice a slight blush creep up her cheeks at the word beautiful. She heads to the sink with the plates and I sat back and watched her.
"What about Hunter?" Puck asked, not sharing my fascination with Dani's ass. "We still going to stalk him at Sky Splits tonight?"
"Yeah." I turned my gaze to Puck. "So call Quinn and tell her we need to meet this afternoon."
"Last night you said you didn't need her permission to storm her club," Puck said. "Why the change?"
I took another swig of juice. "Because she might know something else about the bastard. You know how she likes to keep track of her guests' habits. And I want to know everything there is to know about the bastard before we confront him tonight."
Several minutes later, the three of us were walking around the nearby parking garage like women in a shopping mall.
"Puck, for fuck's sake, just pick a damn car." I called our from behind him.
"This should do." He says as he stops just in front of an late-model Audi. "Tools please, Santana."
"Didn't you bring your own?"
"Why bring my own when you make perfectly good, disposable, ones?"
"Good point." I tell him as I reach for my ice magic.
Dani looked at the silvery-blue glow in my hands and eyes, "You're an elemental?"
"I have a little magic in me, detective. That's all." I tell her, handing the rod to Puck who was looking at me like I had told the biggest lie of my life.
He took the cold, ice wand and jammed it into the car window. The lock popped open, the rod shattered, and Puck wiped the remaining chunks off his impeccable jacket. Then he opened the door, sank down into the driver's seat, reached under the dash, and tugged on a couple of wires. A few seconds later, the car roared to life and we were on our way.
"Where are we headed? The nightclub?" I ask Puck.
"Santana, it's the middle of the day; Sky Splits doesn't even open until eight. Quinn is at home."
Despite the money she makes at her club, Quinn didn't move to Northtown. Instead she built her home in one of the nicer suburbs just west of Southtown. As soon as I see the scarlet, gold, and cinnamon color of the fall leaves along the road, I rolled down my window and let the cool fresh air rush into the car.
Thirty minutes later, Puck turned into a driveway lined with crimson maples. He drove up a steep hill before the trees receded, revealing a modest, two-story home made of gray brick. Black shutters and white flowerbeds framed the square windows, while a variety of colorful toys littered the space on the green lawn.
Puck parked the stolen Audi, and the three of us got out of the car.
"Just let me do the talking, and everything will be fine." Puck smoothed down his suit jacket.
"That was my plan," I replied. "You're the mouthpiece. Use some of that charm you claim to have to pump Quinn for information." Beside me, Dani snorted, but her mouth curved into a small smile. "Wanky." She mutters under her breath
"Oh Santana, try to at least hide your jealousy." Puck dug a canister of breath spray out of his pants pocket and squirted some into his mouth.
"Hardly. Been there, done you," I replied. "You were okay. Nothing remarkable though." The detective's smile faded at the revelation. she frowned, and something shimmered in her hazel eyes.
Puck clutched a hand over his heart. "How you wound me."
"I'm going to wound you a lot more if you can't talk Quinn into smoothing things over for us tonight, Puckerman." I snapped.
"I'm sure Quinn will cooperate. Don't you remember taking care of her husband?"
A man's face flashed in front of my eyes. Narrow fox-like face, dreadlocks, nose piercing and black eyes even colder than mind. No, I haven't forgotten Joe Hart. My jaw twitched at the memory, the vampire had broken my jaw before I could bring him down.
Dani's face twisted in disgust, "You killed this woman's husband and you think she'll be happy about that?"
I was about to respond when Puck stepped between up.
"Yeah." he snapped, "The bastard made a hobby out of beating Quinn's daughter, Beth, and Beth's foster mother who were staying with her then. Last time, they were in the hospital for weeks for 'falling down the stairs'." Puck says in disgust, "The kid barely reached four, in case you were wondering."
The detective's eyes drifted to the different toys outside and the disgust drained out of her face, "Why didn't she call the police?"
"She did but Joe had a couple of fishing buddies in the police department and plenty of money to make everyone else look the other way. The bastards won't even file a domestic dispute report. Joe never beat Quinn because he couldn't have her out in the club with bruises and a broken face." Puck said, "So Quinn didn't have a choice. She had to find a solution before her daughter or the foster mother got dead."
Dani's gaze went to me again. Curiosity flared in her hazel eyes, along with a flash of doubt. The detective had to be thinking about her partner. Wondering if the other cop had done something like that. Wondering if that's why I'd killed him.
We reached the front door. A small plaque with a rune etched into it was embedded in the stone to the right of the door. A heart with devil horns and a devil's tail to match. Quinn's symbol for her nightclub. Puck rang the doorbell and after about twenty seconds, a shadow moved in front of the peephole. Somebody inside was studying us. Several locks clicked, and the door opened.
Quinn Fabray was a beautiful woman, with hazel eyes and fair skin. Her cropped, feathered pink hair just brushed the edge of her strong jaw. Cat-Eye shades perched on the end of her pointed nose,and her face was free of the heavy makeup I'd always seen her wear. She looked younger without it, softer, and more vulnerable than I knew her to be.
She had on black yoga pants that covered her toned milky legs, while a matching shirt stretched over her chest. The relatively normal outfit couldn't hide Quinn's perky breasts, lush hips, and toned thighs that had most men and women wiping the drool off their chins after a few seconds. She knew how to use her body to its full potential, she was one of those vampires that used her body and feminine charm to power herself up with sex and blood.
Quinn's lips drew back into a wide smile, revealing her fangs. They were as pale as bleach. "Noah Puckerman." Her voice was a low, husky whisper.
"Quinn." He greets, pressing a kiss on her smooth cheek, "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
"It's always a pleasure having you around, Noah." Quinn says silently. Her dark eyes drifted to the detective before resting on me. "And you've brought friends with you."
"This is Danielle Lovato." He introduces, waving his hand to the detective, "and of course you know Santana."
"Of course. Danielle. Santana." she nods at us but her knowing eyes stayed with mine.
I wasn't with Puck when she approached him but she saw me with him plenty of times. Knew how close I was with Finn. She didn't know that Finn and Puck dealt with those kinds of things but three weeks after she approached him, her husband was the unfortunate victim of an alley robbery gone wrong.
"Come in." She says, stepping to the side and opening the door wider, "Beth and I were just finishing up lunch."
She waved us in before closing and locking the door behind us. I didn't look but I heard three deadbolts lock in place. Quinn didn't take her safety for granted.
Smart girl.
We followed the vampire into the backyard garden. The stones around me alternated between cautious worry and carefree glee, given the occupants. We stepped onto a stone patio and I could see a little girl who bore a striking resemblance to Quinn. She was sat in a princess-themed, pink castle planted in the backyard and pushed a blue dump truck through the grass. Every once in a while, she'd quit making vroom-vroom sounds long enough to nibble on the tomato sandwich clutched in her tiny fist.
Quinn gestured at a table surrounded by wicker chairs.
A half-empty plate of spaghetti bolognese was on the table. Along with a glass of blood, a mug of chocolate milk and a pitcher of lemonade with several ice-filled glasses.
"Lemonade?" Quinn offered.
We all accepted and she poured us a glass each. I sipped a little from the glass, tart and sweet at the same time. Could use a little more lemon but all-in-all it was delicious.
I notice Quinn watching me from the corner of my eye, "Do what do I owe the pleasure, Noah?" she asked, turning her head towards Puck at the last word. "I thought we weren't supposed to meet until later this week at the benefit for the battered-women's shelter."
"Unfortunately, I'm probably not going to be able to make it to that," he said. "So I thought I'd see you today."
Quinn tilted her head down and looked over the tops of her glasses at him. "I don't think so. You want something. Just tell me what it is. You know how much I hate it when someone bullshits me."
He nodded. "All right. I'm interested in learning more about someone who frequents your nightclub and wanted to clear it with you first in case anything … unpleasant happens tonight when we have a little chat with him."
Quinn's eyes cut to me before snapping back to Puck. "Who?"
"Hunter Clarington."
"I know him."
There was a long pause and the only one making any sound was Beth who was vroom-vrooming away with her blue truck.
Dani leaned forward, "what can you tell us about him?"
Quinn took a small sip of her blood, "my clients love their privacy and I wouldn't be doing my business any favors if I squealed to everybody that came looking. Especially to a cop like you. I've seen you around Sky Splits, detective."
she was about to answer but I cut in, "She's with us. She's not going to bust you for anything. Puck takes good care of his friends. You know that."
Quinn took another sip, then pushed her glass aside. "Fine. I'll play along but only because it's Noah."
Puck smiled.
"What do you want to know?"
Quinn tells us everything she knew about Hunter Clarington while Puck and Dani would periodically ask her a question or two. He wasn't much. Arrogant. Likes to talk big despite of his small dick. Likes the younger looking girls. Putting together his own crew to take down Blaine Anderson. Used to party with Ken Tanaka.
Nothing we didn't already know. We already figured out that Blaine had nothing to do with this and that Hunter was probably part of another group.
"So what do you really need? You said you wanted to talk with him." Quinn asks.
"You said that he liked getting private rooms with the girls." Puck says, "is there any way we can see or hear what goes on while he's inside?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Like I told you earlier, my clients like their privacy. They trust me with their secrets- all their secrets. I wouldn't last very long if word got out that I breached their trust.
Puck flashed his most charming smile, "surely you can make an exception just this once. For me."
Quinn laughed
"You're a charmer, Noah and I enjoy your company. You make me laugh which is pretty hard to do. But I'm not going to risk my business, my livelihood, just so you can settle some score against Hunter."
Finn's ruined face flashed behind my eyes. A score? No this was more than that. I decided to remind her how good a friend Puck has been to her. I'm sure that will sway her.
"Beth's gotten so big since the last time I saw her," I said in a soft voice. "When you brought her home from the hospital after her surgery."
Quinn's hazel eyes drifter to the little girl playing in the castle, then snapped up to meet mine. Her gaze hardened, and her fangs poked out through her lips. A low hiss erupting from her throat, warning me to back the fuck off. Dani gave me a hard look, wondering what the hell I was doing. Puck just sighed; knowing this was the only way to get anything done.
"Looks like she's really enjoying that princess castle Puck gave her as a welcome home gift," I continued. "Tell me, how's the foster mother? I think her name was Shelby? I haven't seen her in a while."
Vroom-vroom . Vroom-vroom. Beth pushed her dump truck back and forth on the grass.
"She's fine," Quinn said in a low-tight voice. "I keep Beth during the day while Shelby teaches at the school. She's the coach for some glee club too."
I gave her a soft, easy smile, like we were just two friends shooting the breeze. "It's nice see them doing so well—now."
Quinn's mouth flattened into a thin line as she considered the meaning behind my casual words. Her fingers tapped on the table.
"Yeah, they're much better—now."
The vampire stared at me. "There's a passageway that runs through the back of the club. Has eyes and ears in all the private rooms. We use it to look out for the girls and make sure they're okay. You could watch Hunter from there."
"That's all we need." Puck says, reaching out and rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Hunter Clarington leaves the club in one piece—understand? I can't have people disappearing from the private rooms."
I nodded my acceptance to her terms and I could feel her relax the slightest bit.
"You're an angel, Quinn." Puck leaned over and kissed her cheek. "A real angel." Her face softened, and a genuine smile curved her lips. "You say that to all the girls."
"Maybe. Maybe not. But with you, I really mean it."
Quinn patted Puck's cheek. He caught her hand and pressed a kiss to the inside of her palm. I cleared my throat before they could move on to other things.
Puck sighed. "Sorry, babe. We gotta get moving. We'll be at the club tonight. Perhaps we can meet later in the week when I'm not dealing with so much?"
"Of course. Call me when you get free."
And so business was concluded. I got to my feet and the detective rose as well. Puck sighed again, then did the same.
"Come on, Noah. I'm sure Quinn wants to go see how Beth's doing." I smiled at the vampire again. "Give our best to Shelby."
Her eyes met mine. "I will,"
Quinn showed us out, then went back inside to put Beth down for a nap. As soon as the vampire locked the door behind us, Dani turned to me.
"What the hell was that about? Threatening her daughter like that?" Her eyes blazed with anger. "The little girl was sitting right there and-"
"And had no idea what the fuck we were talking about, detective." I replied. "It wasn't a threat. I was merely reminding Quinn how Puck had taken care of something for her and that she owed him. It was business, nothing else, and she knew it. That's why she agreed to let us spy on Hunter. Now she knows we're even again."
Dani kept her hard gaze on my face. "And if she still didn't agree after your little reminder? What would you have done then? Pulled out one of your knives on the little girl? You're a disgusting criminal."
Puck's head snapped to me and to my hands curled to tight fists.
"Oooh boy," Puck muttered before stepped back, away from the detective and I.
I tilted my head and approached the detective until I stood in front of her, towering over the detective.
Dani didn't move away. More balls than common sense.
"I might be an assassin, detective, but I'm not a monster. I don't hurt or kill kids—ever." I say in a tight voice, trying to contain the rage building in my gut, "But if you ever dare insult me like that again, I'll be more than happy to slit your throat." I told her.
I pulled out one of my knives, flashed it at her, pressed the handle of the knife against her throat, and tucked it back up my sleeve in one smooth, quick motion. Showing just how quickly I could take her life
Her face hardened with fury. "Just like you did Brody Weston?"
"Just like I did Brody Weston."
Let me know what you think! What do you guys think is gonna happen? If you have any ideas, feel free to leave a See you next chapter!