"This one was unknown to me," Simon replied. He returned his attention to me and searched my face. "I swear I would not have-" I pressed my finger against his lips and shook my head.
"I trust you." Simon grasped my hand and kissed the finger. A faint blush flowed through my cheeks. I pulled myself free from his gentle hold and half-turned from him. "But don't go getting me into that much trouble again. It isn't fun being almost splattered onto pavement."
Simon chuckled. "Only our foe met such a fate. His companions, however, were less fortunate in their slow demise."
Swift stepped forward and clapped his hands together. "Well, if that's all done, how about my freedom?"
Simon turned to him and smiled. "You are free to leave whenever you wish."
Swift frowned. "What about my car's freedom?"
Simon bowed his head. "You have faithfully upheld your part of our bargain, thus I will uphold mine. You are both free to leave."
Swift stepped backwards towards Shadow and gave a wave. "Well, then I guess Shadow and I'll be seeing ya."
"Perhaps soon," Simon warned him.
Swift opened the door and saluted to him. "Any time, Fang Face." He glanced at Specter. "Stay transparent, Ghost Guy."
Specter smiled. "I'll try."
Swift slipped into the car and in a few moments his tail lights disappeared the way we came in. Specter turned to Simon. "I should be heading off, too. It's a little draining being around you guys."
Simon bowed his head. "The money will be deposited in the bank account within a few days."
Specter shrugged and floated towards the woods in the direction of the city. "No hurry. I've got all the time in the world. Later." His form faded into the shadows.
I looked around at my two remaining companions and the truck. "So what do we do now?"
Simon nodded at the armored vehicle. "We will empty the truck of its contents and give them to Cotio to distribute."
My shoulders slumped and my face fell. "I forgot all this trouble was for a bunch of dumb rocks. . ."
He chuckled. "We were well-rewarded with two entertaining evenings."
I tipped my head to one side and glared at him. "You're sadistic, you know that?"
He bowed at the waist to me. "I have been informed of that characteristic, but-" his sly eyes flickered up to me, "-you must admit the thrill of death was intoxicating."
I snorted. "Only for someone who can't die."
He grasped my hand and led me towards the rear of the truck. "Patience, my love. There will come a night where you will enter our ranks."
Little did I know how soon that night would arrive.
Fleece of Gold
CHAPTER 1
Another night, another adventure to be had. This one was going to be a little hairier than usual.
I shuffled from the room I shared with Simon. It was dark out. It was always dark out now whenever I got up. I just couldn't will myself to wake up any earlier than nightfall.
Speaking of the fangy demon, I found his dark princeliness seated on the couch. He finished up a phone call and put the phone down just as I rounded the arm of the furniture.
"Calling one of your blood donors?" I teased.
Simon chuckled and shook his head. "No. Cotio is too valuable an asset to risk overfeeding."
I slipped onto the opposite end of the couch and raised an eyebrow. "So it's about that last heist?"
He sat down beside me and smiled. "Yes, and the one before that. The deals have closed with all purchasers, and our companions are soon to be very wealthy. Perhaps this would be a time for celebration."
I glared at him. "I just got out of bed. I don't need to go back in there."
He chuckled and shook his head. "As tempting a thought that may be, I was suggesting a vacation of sorts."
A buzzer rang throughout the penthouse. Certus emerged from whatever shadow he lurked and strode to the doors that led to the lobby. He picked up a phone that hung on the wall and pressed the receiver to his ear.
"Yes?" I heard a few garbled words. "I see." Certus cupped his hand over the speaker and turned to Simon. "Mr. Fortis and another gentleman wish to speak with you."
Simon arched an eyebrow, but nodded. "Allow them."
Certus returned his attention to the phone. "They may come up."
I looked to Simon. "Does Dolf visit you often?"
Simon shook his head. "On the contrary, he has never been a visitor here. This should be an interesting conversation."
Our wait was short. Dolf the werewolf and the other guy showed up a few minutes later. The stranger was a spectacle. His bushy white hair stuck out in all directions, and many of the ends were blackened by fire. He wore a white lab coat with red and purple stains over the front, and he looked at the world through a pair of small spectacles. The open-toed sandals on his feet finished off his strange appearance.
Simon stood and bowed to his guests before he swept his hand over the chairs opposite us. "Good evening, gentlemen. Won't you have a seat?"
Dolf and the other man took their seats, and Dolf cleared his throat. "I'm not sure if you know-"
"Doctor Vincent Ficus," Simon finished for him.
A small smile curled onto Dolf's lips. "I should've known he wouldn't get past you."
Simon's eyes fell on the lab-coated man. "I must admit I am less familiar with your specific experiments than in your wizarding abilities."
Ficus frowned. "I'm a warlock, not a wizard. Any idiot thinks he's a wizard if he waves a want and spouts a lot of nonsense from a book."
Simon chuckled and bowed his head. "My apologies, Dr. Ficus. Warlock skills or not, what brings you both to me?"
Dolf pursed his lips. "It's about one of the Doc's things he picked up-"
"I do not 'pick up' things," Ficus objected. He settled into his chair and looked to Simon with narrowed eyes. "What Dolf is trying to tell you is I discovered an ancient relic, and now it has been stolen. I want for you to find it and return it to me."
Simon arched an eyebrow. He leaned back and his eyes flickered between the two men. "You appear to have my occupation confused with those of a policeman. I steal objects, I do not find them."
Ficus glared at Dolf. "You told me he'd help."
Dolf waved his hand at his friend, but kept his sight on Simon. He leaned forward so his elbows rested on his legs and looked Simon in the eyes. "I think this one's in your line of work, though. What was stolen was the Golden Fleece."
Simon whipped his head to the doctor and his eyes narrowed. "What were you doing with such an object?"
Ficus leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Research. That's what doctors do."
"Were you aware of what you 'researched?'" Simon questioned him.
"I didn't come here for an inquisition," Ficus snapped.
Dolf leaned to one side to catch Simon's attention. "We'll just say his curiosity got the better of him, but that's not really important. What's important is we get that back before somebody figures out what they have."
Simon returned his attention to Dolf. "Why do you suspect they are unaware of their treasure?"
Dolf leaned back in his chair and frowned. "It was a normal break-in. None of Ficus's rare books were stolen, but plenty of money is gone. That, and the Golden Fleece. Whoever robbed him was smart enough to realize what they had there."
"Wait, so it really is made of gold?" I spoke up.
Ficus nodded. "Yes, but its research value is incalculable."
"Along with its financial value should anyone learn its secret," Simon added.
Dolf nodded. "Yeah, we know. That's why we came to you. If anybody can catch a thief, it's the best thief in the city. So will you help?"
Simon clasped his fingers together and pursed his lips. "If I wish to retain my wealth than I have little choice. What is the good doctor's address?"
Ficus frowned. "Why do you want that?"
Simon's eyes fell on the short man. "I will need to examine the scene."
Dolf shook his head. "It's no good. I already followed the tire tracks of the thieves. They disappeared somewhere around the club district." He wrinkled his nose. "I never could get past the smell of all those the drugs around that place."
Simon stood. "I will still need the address, and the exact address where you lost their trail."
Dolf shrugged, but stood. He pulled out a pad of paper, scribbled a few words, and tore the top paper off. Dolf handed the slip to Simon. "There ya go. I don't think I need to tell you how fast you gotta find that fleece now that it's in that district."
Simon glanced over the paper and tucked it into his coat. "No."
Dolf turned to his doctor friend. "You're in the best hands you can be, Doc."
Ficus stood and eyed Simon with a narrowed gaze. "I suppose so."
Simon smiled and bowed. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Ficus."
Ficus pursed his lips, but bowed his head. The pair left us. Simon pursed his lips and his eyes flickered to Certus. "Prepare the car." Certus bowed and left.
I turned to Simon. "Mind catching me up on this trouble? Like why a fleece made of gold is so important to drag you into its theft?"
"Have you ever read the ancient tale of the Golden Fleece?" he asked me.
I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Some group of guys stole it, didn't they?"