Read Online The Clockwork Fairy Kingdom by Leah Cutter - Free Book Online Page B

and looked pale and tired. “It’s a long story, this
misunderstanding between myself and the fairies. Sure, our peoples are natural
enemies, but that’s in the past. No reason why we can’t be friends now.” He
sighed again. “However, long stories are best heard over full bellies, seated
in comfortable chairs.”
    “We should be getting home. Mom’s going to wonder where we
are,” Dale told Nora.
    “Is it safe there?” Nora asked Kostya .
“Safe from the fairies?”
    Kostya smiled. “Aye. Old Eli put
up cold iron and magnets to repel the fairies.”
    “He knows about the fairies?” Dale asked. It had all started
to seem like a bad dream, but if a grown-up also knew...
    “I am not sure what he knows,” Kostya cautioned. “Humans also tell stories of our kind filled with nonsense. Like all
dwarfs have full beards,” he added, tugging on the scraggly hairs growing out
of his chin.
    “Where should we meet you?” Nora asked.
    Dale wanted to protest that there would be no we . He didn’t want to get any more
involved with this.
    Kostya opened his mouth, then
closed it. “The fairies destroyed my home,” he said mournfully.
    “Then you’re coming with us,” Nora said firmly.
    “Nor—where are we going to put him?” Dale asked. He
didn’t trust this Kostya . He was turning his sister
into someone Dale didn’t recognize.
    “He can hide in my room for tonight.”
    Dale shook his head. “Mom will kill you when she finds out
you let a strange guy spend the night with you in your bedroom.”
    “Young man,” Kostya said, holding
himself stiffly. “I am an honorable dwarf. Nothing untoward will happen between
your sister and me.”
    The dwarf’s formal insistence on honor didn’t do much to
reassure Dale. He looked at Nora, who looked back at him, with her arms crossed
stubbornly over her chest. Dale sighed. He knew he’d never be able to change
his sister’s mind, so, bowing to the inevitable, he said, “Okay. How do we
sneak him in?”
    ***
    Monday morning, Robert waited in Kitty’s Diner, on the
highway at the far northern edge of town. The black and white squares that made
up the floor weren’t real tile, but vinyl. Cheap red plastic covered the seats
in the booths. The counter gleamed too brightly, falsely new. Three kids
lounged behind it in perky uniforms.
    Still, Robert liked to eat there. The fries were good and
crispy, and no one looked at him funny when he asked for no lettuce, onion,
pickle, or tomato on his burger. They also left him in peace with his
newspapers and his numbers, working the stats for the regional races and games.
    Today, though, Robert had his bets already picked out. He
just needed the money that his client owed him. Instead of his papers, Robert
had a set of folders on the table, his primary evidence. The top folder
contained photos of Denise and the kids. One additional folder stayed out of
sight on the seat next to Robert. It contained their address. He knew that the
information he had about the kids and their school schedules was almost expired—tomorrow
was the last day of school. However, he didn’t plan to share that with Chris
unless forced.
    Robert remembered Chris when he came in: blond hair artfully
cut and carelessly styled, soulful blue eyes, and a generous mouth. He smiled
easily when he saw Robert.
    Robert examined Chris carefully as he walked over. No
telltale bulges of a gun. Probably didn’t have a knife in his boot—guys
like Chris would think that impolite. Still, it never hurt to be too cautious.
    “Hey there,” Chris said, holding out his hand. Robert shook
it without getting up, pleased that Chris had remembered the rule about no
first names in public.
    One of the desultory teens wandered their direction as Chris
sat down. Must have smelled money—Robert tipped adequately, but Chris, as
always, was well dressed, wearing designer jeans, a fancy blue shirt, and a
nicely fitting beige suit jacket.
    Chris took the menu from the boy, flipped