Missing Piece

Chapter 32

"She's not here for us." Bepo's words cut through the crowd's gossip like a hot knife through butter. Law turned towards Bepo, a look of non-comprehension on his face. "She's here for a job."

They weren't her priority? The thought beguiled the tactician. He wanted to say that he was getting a handle on their wild card of a member, but that was exactly what she is. A wild card and at each turn, just when Law thought he figured her out, she'll behave in a way that was outside of his calculations.

She wasn't here for them? They were just a happy coincidence along the way. At the right place, at the right time.

"But she doesn't take jobs. What changed?"

"Doesn't she only take one job at a time?"

"Does that mean she gave up on Captain?"

Law flinched. She was so adamant about it before. Was all this just retaliation for not answering her question? The words she shot back at him when he denied answering echoing in his mind: "I'm not out here to play lottery with my life."

A brown sack slid quickly across the bar, stopping short of the edge but before its intended target. Hazel eyes narrowed and lips drew thin as the cross-dressing bar owner slid the sack back towards him. "If you're here to ask about where Charlotte Baako said easily, never looking up from polishing the already spotless glass.

"I could care less about that. I'm here to buy information on Charlotte." Cole shoved the sack back.

"...I have nothing of interest to share with you."

"Yet here I am. Consider me interested."

"Put that money to better us. Your ship was just raided." The wineglass Baako was cleaning shattered and Baako finally turned towards the uninvited guest in his bar. The barrel of Cole's makeshift gun smoking. "The glass is going to cost ya." H reached for the sack of gold.

Cole yanked it back. "This is for information." A sack of gold for a wineglass. Talk about overkill.

Baako grabbed a mini dustbin to clean up. "Some advice, on the house. Information on Charlotte is scarce to none. This alone won't come close to covering it." The sound of broken glass suddenly sharp. "Plus, whoever said it was on the market?"

A chill ran down Cole's back and he was suddenly aware of the differences in their sizes.

"Now get before I—"

"Madam Shyarly."

"What?"

"I'll trade you information on what she likes and dislikes for information on that Witch."

Baako whistled, lips curling. "What makes you think I need help?"

"You had that Crazy Witch take on the job to help your case. I'd say you need all the help you can get."

"I have a bar to run."

"Really? Because this empty place is all so very busy."

"... It's downtime right now."

"This late into the evening? I would have thought this would be prime time for bars."

"Information on Charlotte is scarce to none." Baako repeated and Cole knew he had won.

"This is information you for sure have." Cole acknowledged that he knew full well what little he was going to get. Damn the huntress for being such a secretive person. He paused. This was the best information broker in the underground market and Charlotte could barely hide the dishes she somehow still broke. Baako's words finally settled in his mind. There was no information on Charlotte.