The Chase for the White Mist - Chapter Three

Ray Reed

“This is actually what I expected, when you said let’s go to the Frozen Goat.” Mev snickered, when they entered the pub, the interior was modelled after what someone would assume the inside of an ice cave would look like. The walls were painted white, all lights were hidden behind light blue glass. Everything else looked exactly like any other pub in the area, dark, run down and a bit dirty. 

The barkeep saw them approach and nodded for them to take a seat at the bar. He was quite tall for a dwarf, his beard, large bushy and red, was well kept, and his eyes bright blue just above his red apple cheeks.

“I’ll be right with you all!” he said from across the bar with a friendly smile. 

“Take your time! We aren’t in a hurry!” Alex smiled back with a similar friendly smile. 

A short moment later, the barkeep stepped up to Alex and Mev who sat down at the bar. “What can I get the two of you?”

“Thank you, but we are here on official business today,” Alex replied before Mev could get out a single word. She looked up at him with a grimace akin to baring her teeth. Alex ignored her.

“We are looking for a gentleman called Reed, Ray Reed. We have heard he comes here often?” Alex requested while laying two silver coins on the bar and slighting them towards the barkeep. 

“No need for that, lad.” The barkeep stopped his hand and pushed back the coins. “Ray left a little while ago, a bit on the drunk side. Said something about how he had earned it and he’ll do what he wants. Didn’t clarify what he was talking about, he just left.”

“Thank you for sharing, do you happen to know where Mr. Reed lives?” Alex asked, not really hopeful that he would strike gold twice.

“Yeah actually, I have carried him home a couple of times over the years.” the barkeep answered to Alex’s big surprise. “When you leave here, take a right and at the next corner a left….” 

Alex and Mev stopped just outside the pub, looked back at the door and then at each other in confusion. 

“I can honestly say, I did not expect that.” Alex said with some confusion. They turned right and went down the busy walkway. 

They reached the address shortly after, a small three-story house divided up into apartments by the looks of it. Outside was an old lady sitting and smoking a pipe. The smell of smoke and saltwater was heavy in the air, as they stepped inside. 

“Second floor on the right.” Mev repeating the words of the barkeep. “The guy was too friendly, right?” 

“Yep.” Alex replied, distracted.

“Good god, so it wasn’t just me.” Mev said, obviously relieved. “Here you go, second floor.”

They turned their heads to look down the small cramped hallway, seeing two doors, an unlit lamp hanging on the wall and a short man sitting up against the door to the right. It smelled like alcohol, lamp fuel and bad decisions. The small room, Ray Reed called home, was not much more than a bed, closet, table and a chair. 

“Mr. Reed, we would like to talk to you about the latest job you did.” Alex said the drunken body now occupies the chair next to the table. “Mr. Reed, can you hear me? What can you tell me about the job?”

“they said it would be easy…” Mr. Reed mumbled, half way asleep, almost falling out of the chair. 

“No mr. Reed, I am talking about the delivery you did for mr. Basiri.” Alex sounded increasingly concerned as he holded up mr. Reed. “The diamond?”

“Break in…the crate...” more mumbles came from the sleeping form. “...word is Collection…and jewelry…”

“Mr. Reed, what are you talking about?” Alex requested. “I think he is completely out of it, Mev.”

“Let me see, Alex.” Mev demanded as she stepped over to him. Took her hand and slapped Mr. Reed across the face. No movement. “Yep, He’s out. Let’s swing by tomorrow.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re right. It’s getting late. Let’s call it for tonight” Alex replied as he got up. “Help me get him into bed, will you?”

“Alright.” Mev mumbled. They quickly got him into bed and were on their way out, when they heard mr. Reed stirring. 

“...but then I said I got your precious… from that half… Now give me my gold!” mr. Reed half mumbled and half shouted. 

“Mr. Reed, can you repeat that? Who were you speaking to? Mr. Reed!” Alex shouted. 

“Alex? Alex! He’s out. We are not getting more out of him now.” Mev said in a calm tone showing her experience and her age. “Come on, we’ll talk to him tomorrow afternoon. He needs to sleep this off.” 

Alex reluctantly agreed. “You’re right.”