Read Online The Tale of the Wolf (The Kenino Wolf Series) by Cyrus Chainey - Free Book Online

I went back to the bar.
    ‘ How's tricks?’ I said addressing Geronimo.
    ‘ Not bad. How was Marisol?’
    ‘ What? How did you …?’
    ‘ Charlotte.’ He said, cutting me off.
    ‘ Oh yeah.’ Charlotte, Geronimo's girlfriend and Marisol's best friend; the gossip grapevine was in full force.
    ‘ I don't know what you said to Marisol, but Charlotte was very impressed. She said Marisol is up and about and running the shop.’
    ‘ What can I say? Wolfy magic. Any chance of a Leffe?’ I was clucking for a beer.
    ‘ Here ... on the house.’ Geronimo said placing a cold one on the bar.
    ‘ Wow .... To what do I owe the privilege?’
    ‘ Thank Charlotte.’
    ‘ I always said she was a good woman. Have one for yourself if you’re paying. ‘
    ‘ Most generous.’
    He put a second one on the table.
    ‘ This one's from me. You look like you need it.’
    ‘ Cheers, Mo. Most required.’

    I stayed drinking in The Hanging Man till far later than I intended. The idle small talk and large number of beers were a welcome respite from the present which I was reluctant to rejoin. I had found an answer. Now I had to know the question.

Friday 1:00 p.m.
    I had one more day before Patrice Laussant would reappear and, hopefully, explain the lunacy that Longy had left me in a box. My evening was already planned. Leon was hosting one of his infamous fancy-dress dos. I think being a drag queen he enjoyed seeing the rest of us dress up.
    Whatever his reasons, it was always worth attending, even more so on this occasion, as Tabatha still hadn’t explained her business proposition; a mystery that wouldn’t be revealed till nightfall. All I knew was she was keen. She phoned me bright and early to make sure I was definitely attending. My confirmation pleased her, but I still had the day free.
    With nothing to do but wait, I decided to carry on like nothing had happened. Like Marisol said, this town doesn’t wait. I had a few errands that had existed prior to Longy’s death. I was still meant to be helping out Puglia and his daughter’s wedding. I would have ditched him if he hadn’t already paid me. I was obligated and had no choice but to do the tasks.
    I flew round the city organising food and alcohol, and all the other little bits that needed doing, including dropping Puglia and Mama round to a tailor friend of mine called Nat the Needle; a truly wondrous master of the art of stitching, a Rembrandt of thread and silk … a man that, in better times, I’d visited often, but now was more friend than tailor.
    I only really mention Nat the Needle because of something he told me while I was standing in the shop passing the time, waiting on Puglia and Mama. Nat informed me that he’d seen my cousin Jeremiah; my Interpol-employed cousin Jeremiah. A man who I must admit, I am not on the most friendly of terms with, but that has more to do with career choices than any real animosity. He works for the police and I generally avoid the police. C ’est la vie.
    The only really curious thing was that my uncle usually informed me when Jeremiah was in town, and he hadn’t said anything about his return, but then Jeremiah always was secretive. I finished my remaining errands and then headed to Holland Park.

    Friday 7:00 p.m.
    I was picking up Muzzi and Boom-Boom, to go to Leon’s fancy dress party together. Muzzi was, oddly, considering my circle of friends, rather posh; private school, fancy upbringing. All the luxuries and refinements that a parent could give their child Muzzi had received. He’d turned his back on the whole lot to be a carpenter and hang out with the scummies; said it made him proud to have made his own way in the world, and not live off his parent’s legacy. He still had a fancy house in Holland Park though. He hadn’t gone completely native.
    But in essence what he said was true. He did do it his way and he was a carpenter, and an excellent one at that, he’d done all the work at Leon’s club, which was how we