Logan's Quest Page 3

  @@@

  When I walked into the pub’s kitchen, Wesley was alone.

  “Brandon is not here tonight?”

  “Brandon has been taking some time off. Something about home.”

  Brandon, being Fae, I briefly wondered what that meant.

  “What about your own time off? Have you asked Patrick?”

  “I’m going to wait a couple of weeks.”

  I frowned.

  “Because of Brandon?”

  “No.”

  “Are you reconsidering the trip to the West Coast?”

  “Oh, no. It’s just I need a bit more time. Think it will be a problem?”

  He meant would his father stay on the Canadian West Coast for a while. There was no way to know that, but I had a strong feeling He would.

  “Shouldn’t be a problem, Wesley. It’s your call. If you could let me know, a bit ahead, when you’re ready to make plans.”

  “I will, Clementine.”

  I didn’t linger in case Mona came in.

  When I walked out of the kitchen, she was at the bar getting an order together.

  “Haven’t talked to you much tonight.”

  “I’ll be back soon.” I said, then gave her a quick hug. “You know, one day we should go out. Just us girls.”

  “I’d like that!”

  Once outside, I called Ichiro’s cell.

  When he picked up, I asked.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Hello to you too, Clementine. I was just wondering what to do with my evening.”

  “Want to hang out?”

  He chuckled.

  “Sure, we can hang out. What would you like to do?”

  “Well, I thought we could go to Sweet Tastings. It’s been so long since we’ve been there.”

  “Sweet Tastings sounds good. You want me to pick you up?”

  “It’s okay. I’ll meet you there.”

  I tried reaching Gilbert, but it went to voicemail. I called for another cab.

  Since he’d opened his deejay venue, Vibes, Ichiro had been steadily busy.

  We have not been seeing as much of each other as we used to.

  I feel I am partly to “blame” for this. Just before opening the club, Ichiro asked me for a big favour. One I’m still pondering on.

  He has not been pressuring me for an answer, but his request is now always hovering between us.

  In the meantime, he still wants me to go on writing his chronicles, and not much of that has been happening either.

  Ichiro had taken me to Sweet Tastings soon after we’d met. For a while, it had been our favorite spot.

  Located in an old three-story Victorian “mansion”, Sweet Tastings is a coffeehouse that not only offers very tasty desserts but three different genres of music on three floors.

  We always sat on the third floor where Chill and Ambient music played in the background.

  We hadn’t been there in a long time.

  When I walked into the coffeehouse, I couldn’t sense Ichiro through our blood connection.

  He was not here yet.

  I forgot to ask where he was when I called.

  He still had the two houses on the South Shore.

  Ichiro was looking to sell one and move back closer to town, but so far, he hadn’t.

  I made my way upstairs and ordered a hot chocolate and a brownie.

  There were only a few patrons here tonight

  Ichiro came up holding a single red rose.

  My heart skipped a beat.

  Not only was Ichiro strikingly handsome with his mane of black and purple hair, his dramatic clothing and demeanor.

  Not only did I find Ichiro gorgeous, but I also had very deep, strong feelings for him.

  I still was not sure if it was love.

  He kissed me softly on the lips.

  “Why the smile?”

  “I’m really happy to see you.”

  “For you, mademoiselle.” He said, handing me the rose.

  He was wearing black cargo pants with a charcoal grey sweater underneath a deep purple sleeves jacket. I felt very ordinary in my old jeans and red hoodie.

  When the waiter came by, he brought a glass of water for the rose.

  Ichiro ordered what I was having.

  “You look good.” He said, as if sensing something.

  He probably had.

  “Thanks. So do you, Ichiro, I was just wondering earlier, what happened to your moving projects?”

  “Put on hold for now. I have too much going on. I’m spending a lot of time at the club.”

  Vibes was currently open four nights a week.

  I wondered if he spent more time there because of Patricia, the bartender he had lured away from the Pacifica Lounge and hired for his own club. Then, looking at the rose, I felt silly wondering about that.

  “Clementine, who is inspector Dupuis’ new colleague?”

  “Sergeant Frank Chartrand. Why?”

  “They both came to the club last week. Checked alcohol permits and other licences. Everything was in order, but I had the feeling the whole thing was to annoy me.”

  I gave him an abridged version of my own earlier encounter with both policemen.

  Instead of asking more questions about the agency, Ichiro said.

  “I wonder what this is really all about.”

  “I’m looking into it.” I blurted out.

  He grinned.

  “Good thing to know.”

  I must have made a face because he took my hand and brought up to his lips, grazing the flesh with his teeth.

  “Why don’t we go play outside for a while?” He whispered.

  “But we just got here.”

  “We can always come back.”

  I was missing his touch and my energy was craving his blood right now.

  In his car, he said.

  “We can go back to my old apartment. I’m sure Neal wouldn’t mind.”

  Our friend Neal was currently living there with his girlfriend, Fanny.

  “Hmm, wouldn’t feel right.”

  “Okay, then next best thing.”

  Which turned out to be his new club, which was closed tonight.

  He parked near a back door, fished out a key, and let us in.

  I followed Ichiro to his office.

  “We need some music.” He declared.

  He put in a CD in a small sound system.

  I found several napkins, soaking them with water from a bottle. I wrapped the stem of the rose.

  “How about some red wine?” He asked.

  I kissed him, pushing myself against him.

  “That would be nice, but I want more.”

  He grinned.

  “We’re just getting started.”

  @@@

  No one had visited my dreamlands during the night, but I had woken up with some impressions about the link between Logan and the one who called himself Tarren, who I believed was really Trovann.

  Dylan had left a note about “protecting the protector”. Every time I read that note in the files and the letter Trovann had sent Dylan, I sensed connections, and one of those was to Logan.

  I needed to talk to Clydan.

  What about Orvan? Would he be willing to talk to me about this? Did he know anything about this Trovann?

  And Morgan? I didn’t want to put her in the middle of this.

  Clydan was my best bet.

  I thought he might be not too far from Montreal.

  I sent him an email, then a strong impression through our arcane link.

  For now, I didn’t know what else to do.

  I stopped by the apartment where Troy and Sahenah were currently living.

  “How do you feel about working at Finders today? Just for a couple of hours.”

  “Of course.”

  We looked at Sahenah.

  “I could help him, if you wish?”

  “Troy?”

  “I will be fine.”

  Sahenah looked at me.


  “I would suggest you can sit with Troy downstairs, but it might be better for now if you’re not too... exposed.”

  I sensed she wanted to help, be useful.

  After all these weeks back in the world, she still looked frail, tired.

  “For the agency, I don’t have anything in the Dylan’s files about djinns. Could you write down things that can be shared about your people and their history? Please, don’t do this with magick? Except, I do wish it to be written in English.”

  Troy got her a notebook and pens.

  Magnus was already sitting at the reception when I walked into the agency.

  “Good morning, boss!”

  “Good morning, Magnus! Still want to do other work than reception?”

  “Whatever you need.”

  “Can we talk in my office? Troy, I’ll bring you up to date after.”

  “You don’t need to.” The djinn said with a smile.

  “But I want to.”

  When Magnus had closed the door and sat down, I said.

  “How do you feel about doing some snooping around about Dupuis’ new colleague?”

  Magnus grinned.

  “Let’s call it research.”

  “Yeah, let’s do that. Magnus, I don’t want to put you in an awkward position.”

  “You’re not.”

  I told him what I’d learned about Dupuis’ “benefactor”, not naming names.

  He knew who I was talking about.

  “Right now, I’m taking an indirect approach, letting Dupuis know that I can also be a thorn in his side, a small one.”

  “It’s prudent but should send the message.”

  “Still, be careful out there?”

  “I will.”

  @@@

  Clydan was in town. He showed up instead of calling back.

  He didn’t seem to mind Troy’s presence.

  I was wondering where to have the conversation I wanted to have with him, when he said.

  “I thought we could go for some tea and pastry at that little eatery. The one owned by that nice couple.”

  I knew the one he was talking about. It was a tearoom, and the couple were Fire Avians.

  “Hmm, maybe another time.” I suddenly had a quirky idea. “Instead of tea, how do you feel about beer this afternoon?”

  He looked amused.

  “You have a place in mind?”

  “Oh, yes!”

  We could have walked from where Finders is to the pub/tavern, but I wanted us to be sitting for that talk.

  Clydan had rented an SUV.

  “It’s veery practical.” He said about the vehicle.

  I gave him directions until we reached the pub-tavern Chez Gilles.

  I was hoping the owner and my favorite waiter would be there, and he was.

  The place was quiet, with only a few patrons.

  When Gilles saw me, he said.

  “So, you’re a regular again!”

  I smiled.

  “Looks like it.”

  He gave me a quick hug and stepped back, looking at Clydan.

  Gilles was stocky, had very short gray hair and silver-framed square glasses.

  “Gilles, this is my dad, Clyde. Clyde, this is Gilles, the owner of this fine establishment.”

  I knew that introducing Clydan like that was risky, but I thought he would appreciate that.

  “Sir, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Gilles said, then added. “I see the resemblance.”

  “The pleasure is all mine, good sir.” Clydan said.

  We picked a table further from the front door

  ‘What can I get you?”

  I ordered a pitcher of russet microbrewery beer for both of us.

  “I hope you’re not upset that I’ve introduced you as my father.”

  “Daughter, you have given my heart much warmth and joy today. I don’t think there are any threats here.”

  Now that I was about to ask Clydan some questions, I wondered if this was the right place.

  “Clementine, your lawyer told me about a recent visit from the authorities. Is this why we are meeting today?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Shall we practice our Welsh?” Sensing I’m hesitant, Clydan added. “I’m sure Gilles won’t be offended. After all, it makes sense for a father and daughter to practice the language of a country they might visit.”

  “You’re right. Welsh it is.”

  When the spell was in place, I told him about the one who had called himself Tarren.

  There was a quick succession of emotions on my father’s face, including surprise.

  He didn’t know.

  “There’s more.”

  I told him about the letter sent to the agency months ago and what I had found in Dylan’s files.

  I didn’t tell him I had met with Logan. I didn’t mean to deceive him. I just wanted to make sure where Clydan stood, and I needed to know more about this Tarren/Trovann.

  “Clementine, I can’t talk about this here, but we will once we’ve had our beer. Now, what about inspector Dupuis?”

  Briefly wondering if Morgan had talked to him, I told him about the inspector and sergeant Chartrand.

  “I’ve asked Magnus to discreetly inquire around about Chartrand. The thing is, I would like some of those inquiries to get back to Chartrand.”

  Clydan looked preoccupied. I didn’t remember seeing him like this. He still asked.

  “And Dupuis?”

  “Acting on behalf of another, a Reborn.”

  Our pitcher was empty.

  “Let’s find a more private place to talk.”

  Clydan lifted the spell and followed me outside.

  In the jeep, I said to Clydan.

  “We could go to the park on the Mountain.”

  “Good idea.”

  Once we got there, we found a less busy area.

  Outdoors, Clydan seemed more relaxed.

  “Clydan, what can you tell me about this Avian?”

  To anyone around us, we were still speaking Welsh.

  “He can’t know you are my daughter.”

  I was not hurt, nor surprised.

  “Why?”

  “Tarren, as he seems to call himself here, is part of an influential group in our world, a very traditional one. They frown upon unions and children born out of our world.”

  “Is this why he is looking for this other Avian? I’m assuming the person he asked to look for is a Fire Avian?”

  Clydan sighed.

  “He is. Clementine, there’s more, and I can’t tell you everything just yet, not because I’m trying to hide things from you, but to protect you... and myself. This man you’re looking for, and you must already have a good idea about his identity, has done something that my people find unacceptable.”

  He sighed again.

  “This Avian has taken steps to skip the end of his life chapter, and thus his rebirth.”

  I suddenly became aware of how Logan had done it.

  “And if those people knew about me and my connection to the deejay?”

  “They might want to end your existence too. Forever.”

  For a while, we walked in silence.

  “Clydan, what do you think I should do about this client?”

  “As your father, I would want you to drop this case and step away, but as an ally to the one he is looking for, I would ask you, what’s the expression? To send Tarren on a wild goose chase.”

  I almost burst out laughing at his choice of words.

  “I cannot ask you more than that.”

  “But Dylan did.”

  “And for you, that’s important.”

  I nodded.

  “It is. It’s part of what he asked the agency to do in his absence. I owe it to him and the one Tarren is looking for.”

  @@@

  CHAPTER 2

  Clydan and I had agreed not to be seen together for a while.

  “What about Zaryan?” I’d asked him. “Not only is she my half-sister, b
ut she’s seeing a...”

  “Yes, that could be an issue. I’ll find a way to talk to her.”

  Zaryan, my half-sister, and Clydan’s daughter, was currently dating Noruk, a young demon.

  When I came back to the agency> My mind was reeling.

  Tarren would be back the day after tomorrow unless he decided to drop by earlier.

  So far, I hadn’t felt anyone following me, but that didn’t mean anything with preternaturals. I still had to assume it was a possibility.

  I had stopped by the apartment upstairs from the agency, Troy was now back in his “abode”, and so was Sahenah.

  Magnus was filling me in on what he had learned so far.

  “Chartrand is a solitary werewolf, a reluctant one.”

  I frowned.

  “I didn’t sense the were side when he was here. Why didn’t I?”

  “Nor did I. Seems Dupuis found someone to teach his new colleague how to hide this. Thing is, although he runs alone, in his other form, a couple of times a month. He has been seen. Also, I guess he’s torn about being a lone wolf because one night he went to a bar that caters to Were patrons and drank a bit too much. He revealed some things to the bar owner, one who happens to talk a lot. Especially when he wants to be owed a favor or two.”

  “You don’t have to reveal your sources, you know.”

  “Oh, you might want to, hmm, nurture this one. He could be useful. He might come around one day, seeking help.”

  “And do I dare ask who that is?”

  “Johnny the Fox.”

  I already wanted to meet Johnny.

  “So, no one in your clan would know about solitary wolves?”

  “As long as they didn’t hunt in our territory, we don’t. I might still ask a couple of pack mates.”

  “Please do.”

  @@@

  I woke up very early, had a quick shower, a light breakfast, got dressed

  and went downstairs to Finders, opening up the office for the day.

  I had a lot to do before Tarren came back.

  There were several messages on the voicemail, mostly about curios and unusual objects.

  Someone had left a question about “portals to other worlds”.

  I kept that message for myself, leaving notes asking Magnus to return the other calls.

  I didn’t think I needed Troy’s assistance today, but Magnus might.

  It was still too early for Magnus to come in, but I didn’t linger.

  I turned on the desktop in my office. Using the pendant around my neck, one Clydan had given me, and connecting to my arcane energy, I searched some “hidden” files for specific items.