Chapter 28

Two completed PowerPoints and a wristwatch later, our work was over.

"Come with me on this delivery and I'll drop you off at your car afterwards."

I nodded as I grabbed my jacket and shoulder bag.

Along the way, I did a Google search of Hugues Nuages. He wasn't on iTunes. I hadn't really expected him to be when I'd mentioned it. Wikipedia gave a short bio. The poor guy had eleven fingers and one leg. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Perhaps an extra finger made him better on the Zither than most. I went back to Google to search for a record for sale. The results came up with zilch. I half-expected that, too. But I wasn't about to give up, yet.

We went to a small home with green siding out in Northeast Portland. The place seemed nicer than the houses surrounding it.

"Now just stay in the car. The guy's a Lausenschlange, and he's a bit, umm, touchy, if you know what I mean. It's better if you stay here."

I nodded and he exited the car with the wristwatch in his hand. He briskly walked up to the porch as a middle-aged man with a seamy grin opened the door. I was quite content staying in the car. I wasn't too fond of the few Lausenschlange I'd met before. Untrustworthy types in my experience.

They talked for a few moments as Monroe passed the wristwatch to Mr. Seamy. He appeared pleased, putting the watch on immediately and then paid Monroe with a wad of cash. Monroe gave him a brief smile and a nod before turning back toward the car. Mr. Seamy kept an eye on Monroe as he walked off the porch. His eyes shifted my way with a curiosity in his stare as he had a brief woge into a snake. I looked away quickly.

"Another satisfied customer," said Monroe as he settled into his seat. "And, dude, that one ain't easy to please."

"Is he a new client?" I asked as we drove down the road.

"Him? Nah. I've been working with him for a while now."

"Is that why he got a delivery instead of having to pick up the watch?"

"I like to deliver when I can. I think it adds a personal touch. Besides, with a Lausenschlange I'd rather go to his place than have him on my lawn, if you catch my drift."

I chuckled. "I had to pick mine up, and I wasn't a Lausenschlange."

"Now yours was different. I wanted you to try my coffee. I don't make coffee for just any client." He gave me a wink.

"Lucky me," I grinned back at him.

Monroe dropped me off at the trailer shortly after and I told him I'd come back over tonight. I had some errands to run and it was nice to have some free time. Monroe had a follow-up meeting at Helvetia Tavern later that evening since his last one was cut short due to my drunkenness. He also had another watch he wanted to get a leg up on, so it would work out well for both of us.

I got a call from Nick that afternoon.

"Hey, so how were you this morning?" he asked cautiously.

"Good, how about you?"

"I had one hell of a hangover. Work was interesting this morning. No more drinking on work nights."

"Probably best that we not drink like that again at all," I stiffly replied.

"Right, uh, about that. I was really, really drunk. I probably would've tried to kiss Monroe if he'd been here instead of you," he laughed awkwardly. "I hope you know that didn't mean anything, so I don't want it to be weird when you come back over again."

"It's fine, Nick. That was a lot of tequila. Nothing happened, so we're good."

"Good. I'm glad you're okay. I think I still have a hangover."

"I can't believe you got a hangover from that."

"I'm not as young as I used to be." He chuckled. "So, are you saying you were fine this morning?"

"Yeah. Fortunately I've never had a hangover. I thought being clear-headed the next day must be a Grimm thing."

"If it is, then I didn't get that family gene. I had to wear shades the first couple of hours at work. Hank, my partner, about laughed his ass off at me when I strolled in."

"What about cuts and bruises? Do you heal quickly?"

"Uhh… I guess I heal as regular as the next guy." His tone changed into detective mode. "Why, do you heal fast?"

"Yeah, I mean it's not instant or anything, but it's faster than most people." I cleared my throat. "Did Juliette get upset that you stayed out all night?"

"Well, she wasn't too happy, but she understands when it happens."

"Wow, she's pretty forgiving."

"She's the best, what can I say?"

"Even though I met her under unusual circumstances, I think I'd really like her."

"Yeah, I don't think you two getting together would be such a good idea," said Nick a bit harshly.

"No, you're probably right. That makes sense."

"Juliette doesn't need anyone else dodging the truth around her." Nick's voice softened. "I do that enough as it is."

Nick was probably right. While I was in need of human interaction, a friendship with the Grimm's girlfriend would be awkward. While I was good at avoiding the supernatural in my conversations, trying to keep stories straight would be more of a task than anything.

"Well, I need to head out. I have some errands to run."

"Yeah. I still have a thief at large with this Japanese exhibit and not even a speck of DNA."

"Any clues at all?"

Nick was silent, then finally said. "Renée, it's really not something I can discuss. Sorry."

"No, I understand." I shook my head even though he couldn't see it. "I hope your hangover wears off soon. We'll talk later."

I stared at the phone as I hung up. So Nick didn't have hangover-free, super healing abilities. Hmm… Maybe that was another trait from the Anderson side. I shrugged it off as my thoughts went back to Monroe's scratched up record. I dialed a good friend of mine in Kentucky.

"Donnie," I said as my friend the turtle answered the phone.

"Renée! What's up, dudette?" he replied with a smile in his voice. "How's the Portland music scene?"

"Oh, the same as ever. A little indie here, a bit of punk rock there. Portland has its diversity," I said. "How's the store going?"

"It's great. We're always jamming here." As he spoke I picked out Miles Davis faintly playing in the background.

Donnie owned Underground Sounds, which was one of best vintage music stores in the Highlands, or in most of Louisville for that matter. Chloe was my soul mate, but Donnie Marshelle was my musical soul mate. He knew everything and anything that could be plucked, beat, or tooted.

"I kind of need to call in a favor."

"Anything for you. You need a cover disc? Perhaps a little jazz or some Rockabilly?"

"No, this is a specialty item. It's an Austrian Zitherist… on vinyl."

"Zitherists? Wow, you're really getting out there with your eclecticism, man."

I chuckled. "It's for my boyfriend. He said it's hard to find, which means if I come to you, then you'll find it without any trouble."

"Oh, my little dudette, you know me so well."

"You got a pen? You're gonna want to write this down."

A/N: So Nick was just a little drunk, huh? LOL!

Underground Sounds is a real place in Louisville, it's just not actually owned by a turtle. (At least, I don't think so.)

Hope you're enjoying the story so far. Not seeing many comments, so I hope I'm not boring you. (: Readers, are you out there?

I'll have more chapters up in a few days... STAY TUNED!