“Tea looked back at me, horrified. That one look made me want to kill anyone who would dare make her feel this way. Wait, I was the one who had done this. I was the one who had to die. Shaking my head violently, I steeled my thoughts on things that were constants. My bar. My town. My art. When I opened my eyes, I was staring not at her but at the ground. I’m getting better, and after this job is done, I’m getting away from her as soon as possible. For now, though, the makings of a plan came to mind.

  “Walking down the streets ahead of me, Tea seemed so comfortable in a way only a native could. Maybe it was the way she stepped around people, as if knowing where they were going to go beforehand. Or how her hair moved gently in the breeze around each corner. Regardless, it was mesmerizing. Thankfully, I wasn’t the only one who noticed. You see, what artists love more than free food and getting paid for their work is something beautiful to inspire them.

  “Everyone in the entire Iron Kitchen District, man, woman, or child, couldn’t keep their eyes off her. Now, though, was the tough part. I also had to take my eyes off her. It was a simple plan: she would be the distraction while I collected Bo and the information. However, that was easier said than done because what she did next just about stole my breath—no, all the oxygen out of my blood. Standing at a street corner, she inhaled dramatically and began to sing.

  “‘Hollow night!’ I cursed, turning sluggishly, trying to dart toward Boar’s meat-packing basement. Hobbling quickly, I was almost too late when I heard the first note of the saddest song this world or the next would ever hear. I felt tears well up in my eyes, and my heart broke at the realization that I couldn’t stay and witness it. That I couldn’t use my art and observe fully with all my senses. I gritted my teeth and bit my cheek until I tasted copper. I had to stay focused. I had to go forward and get that sheet music.

  “As I descended into the depths of Boar’s basement, the sorrowful notes of Tea's song still lingered in the air above me, a haunting reminder of what I was leaving behind. The basement was dimly lit, with the flickering light of old bulbs casting eerie shadows on the walls. The smell of raw meat and cold metal filled the space, making me come back to my senses.

  “I moved cautiously, my eyes scanning for any signs of Bo or, more likely, Boar. Each step echoed in the stillness, amplifying the sense of urgency. I knew time was running out; Tea's song would continue, and long exposures to that kind of art can’t be good for the mind. As I rounded a corner, I finally spotted Bo kneeling on the ground with his hands duct-taped to the desk where Boar and two of his goons stood, rubbing sore muscles. I slowed my pace and took a deep breath.

  “‘Boar, we got the flash mob to hike out of your streets. A deal’s a deal; let my stupid friend go,” I said, feeling my eyes grow hot again from the song's emotion. The effects of it were still lingering in my mind.

  “‘Not only did you do this, but you handled it the same day. I love it when my good news is same-day delivery,” Boar replied, oddly jovial. I grew steadily more comfortable as her song couldn’t reach me down here. I felt the pensiveness in the room grow into something more familiar.

  “‘I remember your talent, but I forgot how useful you were,’ Boar said, getting up from his desk, his fat fingers idly playing with a knife.

  “‘Tell you what, I’ll give you both a deal, but I’ll also lend you another favor. That only you can collect.’ He spoke the last words, flashing a glare at Bo as his men dragged him over to me.

  “Tossing him at my feet, I realized what that feeling was. The space between held a familiarity. Opportunity. I felt myself getting sucked in again, tangled back up in the world I wanted nothing to do with. I should’ve walked away. I should’ve stopped while I was ahead, taking the stupid favor and walking home, but that’s not what happened.

  “‘I need to cash in that favor immediately then,’ I spoke while dragging my friend up to his feet. ‘I wish I could be more tactful about this, but I’m running out of time. The Fruitless are on my tail, and I need to get ahead of this before they do.’ Boar’s eyes grew wide as I mentioned the Fruitless. Slowly, his face shifted from surprise to a serious disposition, nodding his head for me to continue.

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  “‘Look, word on the street is that one of Joy’s works has been found. Normally, information about the Nine Muses and their works being found is problematic and leads nowhere. However, we both know that if the Fruitless are involved, then this is a serious find.’

  “Staring directly into Boar’s eyes, I knew he could see the hunt I was on and how badly I wanted it. I knew he could see because his face was serious, but his eyes gave him away. He knew he was looking into the face of a predator. He knew if he got in my way or lied to me right now, I would add him to the hunt.

  “‘You’re crazy, Wolf, just like your father, you know that?’ He gulped down as he spoke. ‘But yeah, I’ve heard some rumors too and did some of my own investigating. Want to know what I found as your favor? Fine, your funeral.’

  “Breaking eye contact with me, he walked behind the desk, getting some distance between us. I could see that sweat was beginning to form on his brow. ‘The upper crust held a shadow auction for it, and suddenly, some crazy bastard actually stole it right before the whole event. Apparently, all that was left was a calling card with an etched-out owl. The infamous art thief, Owlet.’

  “My eyes widened. Owlet was the kind of thief that only targeted high-profile figures in the community and stole grandiose items, then had them nearly identically mass-produced and shipped to every street corner.

  “‘If this master thief really was the one who stole it, then we’re about to see this piece of artwork on every doorstep soon enough,’ I said, feeling my mouth grow dry.

  “‘Normally, you’d be right. However, the thief bit off more than they could chew and is lying low right now, with the Fruitless openly on the streets. That kind of work holds biblical weight in the city. To casually mass-produce it on the scale Owlet usually does could be pretty difficult, if not impossible, which buys more time for the Fruitless to track them down.’ I bit my lip, feeling the pressure of the situation finally settle in. I was up against the clock, and I knew it.

  “‘The thing is, the Fruitless don’t have the kind of information network that I do. My art is favors, and I may have already found a district where they might be hiding out,’ he said, taking a seat. I felt my pulse race and my eyes dilate.

  “‘It might be a dead lead, but understand there’s a reason why no one is going after this, Wolf, not even me. If I give you this information, you’re on your own on this deal.’ He looked away as he spoke.

  “‘If what you’re telling me is true, then we really don’t have a lot of time for you to send out warnings. I know what I signed up for, and I know the costs. My blood is in my own hands,’ I said, nodding my head toward him.

  “Boar just shook his head and sighed heavily. ‘Fine, the rumor is that Owlet is hiding in the Gunsmoke District. Hiding behind an older crew called ‘The Smoking Gun.’ They’re a bunch of halfhearted poets that deal in hit-and-runs. Be careful, Wolf. And remember, this conversation never happened.’ Without another word, I turned on my heels and dragged Bo out of that place as fast as I could.

  “Crashing out of the basement and rushing out of the alley to the back of the building, I scanned the streets, ready to shout out for Tea to stop before any more people could be swayed and dominated by her power. When I looked, all I saw was a crowd of people already dispersing, and a few stragglers shook her hands in appreciation. I felt my jaw slack, and I quickly composed myself. Bo was coming to himself, so I left him leaning against a wall. Walking over, I heard a few people finishing up their congratulations.

  “‘Well done, what a moving song,’ said an older man.

  “‘I was quite moved by the part with the father,’ said another older woman.

  “‘No, the best part was the revenge, which took the song to a whole new level!’ said a third, much younger in years.

  “In all the reading I’d done, she shouldn’t have been able to release them from her song. They should be fawning over her, licking the dirt off her boots. But they were fine. Not even a little crazed. Something bigger was at play here. There had to be, else why would I be so enraptured by her?

  “I buried those disturbing thoughts as deep as I could, focusing on the job at hand. I slipped through the crowd of onlookers, moving to her side and leaning in close.

  “‘I’ve got him. Let’s go,’ I whispered gently. I pulled Tea aside from another admirer, smiling at her, trying not to be too forceful. Thankfully, she seemed to understand my meaning, and we linked arms seamlessly.

  “After we dropped Bo off at my bar to recover, we moved through the city as I succinctly explained what had transpired and how we needed to head to the Gunsmoke District.

  “Tea was genuinely surprised by how things had played out with the Boar, how we didn’t have to fight our way out again, but beyond that, she had no other concerns. She just looked at me like I was the most competent, confident person to handle the situation. She had full faith in me. I just hoped it wasn’t misplaced.”

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