Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"One," the pierced woman tells him, and waves him toward the door with the screwdriver in her hand. "Go play with Dopekh."
The guy—Salvotor—just hmphs. "He's mad at me right now." He turns his attention my way, eyeing me up and down. "Well, hello."
"Ew," I say in way of greeting.
Ruth-Ann shakes her head. "That's just Salvotor. He's a big horny flirt and doesn't understand why his boyfriend doesn't approve. Ignore him. How can we help you?"
"I'm looking for Kazex?" Is it always a madhouse around these people? No wonder it's taking them forever to open the cantina.
The pierced woman gets to her feet, frowning at me. "You are? Why?"
I'm surprised at her accusing tone. "I have business with him? He acquired something for me and I wanted to see if he could do me another favor."
Salvotor leans in toward me. "Ignore Ruthie. She gets jealous when Kazex pays attention to anyone other than her."
"Do you want a screwdriver in your eye?" Ruthie asks Salvotor. "Because if you keep talking shit, you're going to get a screwdriver in your eye."
"I just wanted to ask about a plant," I stammer, a little concerned at the casual violence. "And I'm supposed to tell Ruth-Ann that she's right."
"I'm right?" Ruth-Ann moves in front of me, all interest. "Who says?"
"Simone?"
A catlike, secretive smile curls Ruth-Ann's mouth. She doesn't say anything, but I can tell that she's pleased. She gives a little toss of her smooth hair and tilts her head, indicating I should follow her. "Come with me. I'll take you to Kaz."
I'm relieved to get out of the craziness, but I'm also a little worried to give the scowling Ruthie my back. "I just want a plant," I blurt out as Ruth-Ann leads me to the store room. "Nothing else."
Maybe I should have sent Simone this way instead of coming here myself. Or maybe I should have gone to Skritch. Too late now.
CHAPTER
EIGHTY
MAEVE
"So which item is selling the best at Simone's stand today?" Ruth-Ann asks as she leads me into the back room, past Salvotor.
Like I know? I get the same thing from her every day. I shrug and the other woman gives me a disappointed frown. "You should go ask her," I say, not wanting to be the go-between. "She starts to pack up around one in the afternoon and sells the remainders in big batches. You can go eyeball what's left and judge from there."
Her expression brightens. "Good idea. She won't tell me herself. Thinks I'm judging her."
These people are so weird. Outer space must fry everyone's brains (including mine). "Huh."
She moves ahead of me and opens a hatch in the floor. "Kaz?" Ruth-Ann calls down into the cellar. "Someone's here to see you."
"If it's about the permits, I already filed them," a deep voice yells up at us.
Ruth-Ann rolls her eyes and leans over the dark pit. "It's not permits. It's a job. A Zebah sort of job."
A face appears from the darkness, similar to the ones outside. His hair is a bit longer, falling over his brow, and he frowns up at us, his gaze going from Ruth-Ann to me. "I'm busy cross-checking inventory. Can this wait?"
I lean over and wave. "I'm Maeve." Because that should explain everything.
It doesn't. His blank stare doesn't change. His mouth draws into the hint of a frown as he watches me, clearly waiting for me to explain further.
"You gave me a 'cat'?" I use air quotes.
Kazex's eyes widen. "Ahhhhh. That Maeve." He grabs the ladder and hauls himself up with a few quick bounds. "Yes, we should talk privately."
"Okay, cool. I'm going to go back to helping Ruthie with the chairs." Ruth-Ann watches us closely, but when Kazex keeps smiling that blank smile of his, she shakes her head and returns to the other room.
The moment she's gone, Kazex pulls me aside and looks around to make sure we're alone. Now that he's standing next to me, I can tell that he looks similar to the other red aliens outside, but his eyes are more widely set and his hair is longer, pulled into a knot atop his head. His tattoos are different, too, but he could still be a twin to Dopekh outside. Kazex leans in to whisper to me. "How is our friend?"
"Well, he's not a fucking cat for starters," I hiss back at him. "What the hell?"
"I have an explanation."
Oh, I just bet he does. Even though this isn't what I'm here about, now's a good time to clear the air about this at least. I cross my arms over my chest and wait for his response.
"So, funny story. My contact, Zebah—I told her I needed a pet for a human to keep her company. She said she had something better in mind. You like?"
That's it? That's the whole explanation I get? Something tells me that Zebah probably paid him just as much as I did to change my order, and he's never going to admit it. You don't just swap out a cat with a cat-alien, especially not one that's an exiled prince from his homeworld...but I don't know if Kazex knows that part. "Do I like? He's still not a cat. You still owe me a pet."