Byron waited at the ferry. Supposedly the new cat that Mal and a few others had mentioned was going to come off the ferry and help him with beating up some Lost. Byron didn’t want the wolves to come with him. He didn’t want them to know why he was searching among the Lost.
So instead you trust a manipulative cat. Smart. But no one else was around.
He heard a rumble and looked behind him to see a man on a motorcycle come off the ferry. Byron had the description of Knight, and this guy fit it – long blond hair, big build, motorcycle. He had a shield with a roaring tiger’s head on it tucked between a saddlebag and the rear wheel.
And Byron’d be damned if he didn’t think the guy was hot.
“You Byron?” Knight asked.
“Yeah.” Byron had given him the discription of “the only guy in purple standing at the ferry in Port Oakes.”
“Hop on. Y’ c’n gimme directions as I go.”
Byron looked at the space between the shield and Knight’s body, and realized that there wasn’t very much of one. Forgive me, Gev, he thought to himself as he climbed on behind the big man.
“Hold on, ‘r y’ll fall off,” Knight said. Byron put his hands on the man’s hips. Knight grabbed Byron’s wrists, yanking him closer, and linked Byron’s hands at the front of his waist. “I mean it.”
The man was indeed broad shouldered, and smelled of leather and gasoline. Byron settled closer to Knight as he took off, and he wasn’t kidding – if he had held on by the man’s waistband, he would have flown right off.
Byron had to lean up a little and tell him directions after they went up the stairs, then out into Port Oakes proper. They followed the road along the coast, heading to an abandoned warehouse just north of the ferry.
Byron had never been on a bike before, and found the experience exciting. He decided that maybe in Rome he would get a bike and use it to tool around the village. Or Gev could get one and he could be in the same intimate position with Gev that he was with Knight.
They stopped, and Knight got off first. Byron felt tingly as he awkwardly dismounted, stumbling a bit. Knight steadied him with a strong arm. “First time, ‘eh?”
“Yeah,” Byron admitted.
“Think o’ dead puppies.”
“What?”
He pointed downward, and Byron looked down, then blushed. “Don’ worry, why d’ya think I ride?”
“For the cool factor,” Byron said, undoing his mace and telescoping it out.
Knight grabbed the shield and a sword from the saddlebags. “‘live ‘r dead?”
“Try to keep them alive. I need to talk to a few.”
He nodded. “When y’re done, want ’em dead?”
“Yeah, when I’m done.”
“Good. Don’ like leavin’ witnesses.”
“I understand,” Byron said, and proceeded to kick down the door.
They wandered through the darkened warehouse, Byron letting Knight go first with his cat’s eyes that could see better in the dark than he could. Knight moved gracefully…like a cat. Byron was hypnotized.
They stepped out into a large room, and there were some Lost milling about. Knight walked almost up to them and whacked one with the flat of his blade. The other, he rammed through. Byron slammed the mace up the jaw and out of the side of one man’s head. Knight hit another one with the side of his shield, knocking him down.
“Two outta four,” Knight said.
“It’s going to be harder not to kill them. Pick that one up.”
Knight gave him a look, but did as Byron said, picking up a stinking homeless guy and holding him up by the scruff of his jacket. Byron slapped the man. “Wake up sunshine.”
“Who – what – ”
“I have a couple of questions.”
Knight said, “Th’ other one’s movin’.”
Byron turned to the other one, gave him a smack upside the head and the man went down. “Shit, I think he’s dead.”
“Three outta four. You suck at this.”
Byron gave him a look, but the man only smiled – he was kidding. “Okay,” Byron turned to the man being held up by Knight. “I’m looking for someone you kidnapped 2 years ago.”
“You’re kidding, right?” the man said with a laugh.
“Not kidding.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Two women from an apartment.”
“Still no idea.”
“An apartment in PO, by the water.”
“Still doesn’t ring a bell.”
Knight shook the man.
“I swear, I have no idea!”
Byron waved his hand and walked away. “Kill him.”
“Wait!”
Byron turned. “I’m waiting.”
“Two years ago – Jason was in charge of that area. Talk to him.”
“Where is he?”
“Last I heard, he was heading to Paragon.”
“Got any more detail? Paragon’s a big place.”
“King’s Row?”
“We’ll start there. Okay, kill him.”
“Wait–” but it was literally cut off.
“Leave th’ bodies here?”
Byron turned to Knight. “I was thinking you might as well get your money’s worth.”
Knight nodded. “You c’n wait outside. I’ll be along.”
The man headed up the stairs, shield up; and Byron just watched, ignoring the pool of blood spreading just inches away from his foot.