Read Online Dance in the Dark by Megan Derr - Free Book Online

"I would save your wife, now."
    Though he nodded in agreement, Micah made no move to do so. "Who are you?"
    "Johnnie Goodnight," Johnnie replied. "But he will trouble you no more, though I suspect the cane you hide is worth a great deal of trouble."
    Micah stared at him a moment, frowning pensively. He abruptly spun around, and strode toward the house, calling over his shoulder, "Wait one moment, if you please." Curious and amused, Johnnie obeyed. Three minutes later, Micah returned, holding a long, thin wooden box. Opening it, he presented the box to Johnnie. "This is what he wanted."
    Johnnie took the cane, unable to refuse the offer, utterly captivated. It was precisely as Micah had described—smooth wood, painted black. The top of it flared out slightly, a solid silver handle carved all over with ornate runes. The very tip was silver as well, and though it was clearly old, it obviously had been well cared for over the years.
    It also had a strange weight and heft to it. Studying the runes thoughtfully, Johnnie then pressed down on one of the runes and gave the top of the cane a sharp twist—then drew out the hidden blade, cutting the air sharply. "A cane sword. That does better explain why they so badly wanted it. A sword that can cross the planes is infinitely more valuable than a mere cane. Exquisite. Thank you for permitting me to see it."
    "Keep it."
    Johnnie paused, and looked at Micah, for once wholly and genuinely surprised. "It is a family heirloom. You have known me not more than an hour. Why would you tell me to keep it? I thought that you studied its secrets."
    "I know how to make such items; my family has always known," Micah said. "We lie, because the price of the making is too high. I am sick of the damned thing. It nearly cost me my wife. It suits you; no one else who ever saw it deduced its true nature, but you figured it out in a matter of seconds."
    "Then I thank you," Johnnie said. "I will keep it close, and promise that never will it fall into the wrong hands."
    Micah waved his words aside. "Thank you for finding my wife. Nothing I can give you can repay that."
    "We will call it even, then," Johnnie replied, and smiled. "I will leave you here, to restore your wife. I bid you good day."  Sketching a half-bow, he lifted his new cane in farewell, then turned and walked away, heading briskly back to the Bremen.
    Removing his coat and jacket, he kept the cane and returned to the stool in which he had first sat. Without a word, the bartender brought him a vodka rocks. "Micah gave that to you."
    "Yes," Johnnie said, sipping his drink. "He and his wife are fine now. The imp will not be returning." From his vest, he extracted his glasses and a pen. Taking another sip of his drink, he then began to write out all that had happened that day, recounting the ‘case' in detail.
    He did not stop until he was finished and fully satisfied with the results. When he finally closed the journal and looked up, he realized the hour was late and the bar deserted save for himself and the bartender.
    "You've been busy," the bartender said. "Did you want another drink?"
    "Just water," Johnnie said. "You have a very nice bar."
    "Thanks," the bartender said. "Name's Peyton Blue. It's taken me all night, but I finally remembered where I know your name. You're the adopted son."
    Johnnie sipped the glass of water Peyton gave him. "I prefer to be called Johnnie."
    Peyton nodded, and smiled. "Johnnie it is, then. Everyone who wanders into the Bremen is welcome."
    "Thank you," Johnnie said. "Can you recommend a decent room for the night?" He really did not want to go back to his part of the city until tomorrow morning.
    "You can have the rooms upstairs. Just threw out my last tenant, finished cleaning them up yesterday. They're good as new. Micah called while you were writing, told me all you did. For that, you can have the room free."
    Johnnie started to argue, then left it alone. "Thank you. I believe I will head that way now,