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  She kissed him on the cheek, then put him down and pushed him toward the door where he toddled back out. Kendal closed the door before returning to the table where Aiden waited.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ she said. ‘He’s become a handful lately.’

  ‘He’s grown,’ Aiden said. ‘Last time I was here, he was still crawling around.’

  ‘Yeah, he’s a right little dervish,’ Kendal said with a proud smile. ‘Everyone calls him Magpie these days since he’s always hoarding anything shiny. Causes all sorts of mischief in the factory.’

  ‘So what do you think to the equipment?’ Aiden asked.

  Kendal walked back to the table and scanned over the gear again, her lips moving silently. ‘Well,’ she said, ‘two hundred tokens seems fair for the lot.’

  ‘For equipment in this condition? Come on Kendal, do we really need to go through this every time?’

  ‘All right, all right,’ she said. ‘Two fifty then.’

  ‘Three hundred.’

  ‘You’re kidding? I’m running a business here, Aiden.’

  ‘You’re welcome to go back to playing jigsaw with rusty parts. I’m sure there are lots of people in the market for a gun in fifty different pieces.’

  Kendal folded her arms. ‘If all my customers were like you, I’d be out of business within a week.’

  ‘Well, I’m not forcing you to take the offer. I can always offload this gear to one of your competitors. I hear the Crimson Wolves are always on the lookout for new equipment.’

  ‘No need to be hasty,’ Kendal said. ‘Those jackals already own most of this town, they don’t need the extra business. Three hundred it is then. But only because I like you, you sod.’

  Aiden left the equipment on the table and followed Kendal over to a large safe in the corner. She twisted the dial, and the heavy door swung open. She reached in and pulled out a stack of notes, counting them out into Aiden’s hand. Satisfied, Aiden folded the notes and zipped them into his jacket.

  ‘Anything else I can do for you then?’ Kendal asked, straightening her cap. ‘Sure there’s nothing I can sell you?’

  ‘I don’t think so, there’re no weapons on my shopping list today. Unless you have any fuses?’

  ‘Electronics aren’t really my area. I might have a few out in the sorting piles. You’re welcome to take a look.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Aiden said shouldering his pack and whistling to get Hitch’s attention. ‘I need to make a move. I’ll see what I can pick up in the city.’

  ‘Sure I can’t interest you in an assault rifle?’ Kendal asked as she closed the safe and spun the dial. ‘They’re getting rare these days. Nothing can match the fire-power of a fully automatic rifle.’

  ‘Not my style,’ Aiden said, nodding at her as he turned to leave. ‘A pleasure as always, Kendal.’

  ‘Stay safe out there,’ she called after him. ‘And look after that dog or I’ll string you up.’

  THE BAR WAS mostly empty as Aiden entered, just a few sullen drunks sat around staring gloomily into their drinks. A sour-faced barmaid weaved her way between the tables to light oil lamps as dusk approached outside. No one paid Aiden or Hitch any attention, most didn’t even bother to look up from their cloudy drinks in mismatched glass jars.

  Aiden approached the long bar with Hitch trailing at his heel. A few curled, brown-tinged posters of old world films hung on the wall behind the bar in an attempt to create atmosphere. The sickly smell of fermented fruit was overpowering here. The still where they brewed the drinks must be in the back somewhere. The barman’s gaze was unfocused as he polished a glass with a yellowed rag. Aiden dropped his pack on the bar and coughed to get his attention.

  The barman’s glazed eyes turned to Aiden, registering his presence. ‘What can I get you?’ he asked in a monotone.

  ‘Is your water clean?’ Aiden asked.

  ‘Cleaner than most.’

  Aiden placed his canteen on the bar, now empty after Leigh drained it earlier. ‘Fill this up with water,’ he said. He also pulled out a dented hip flask from his jacket. ‘And this with your strongest spirit.’

  ‘That’ll be two tokens for the water.’ The barman picked up the flask and examined it. ‘Ten for the flask if you want the good stuff.’ He held out his hand, his eyes staring somewhere past Aiden.

  Aiden handed over the money and took a seat on a stool to wait, turning to face the entrance as the barman set about filling his order. The large front facing window was layered with dust, filtering the view out to the market with a brown tinge. Aiden watched the people move back and forth as the day’s trading was winding down.

  A group of five or so young women walked past the window, escorted by two stocky men with red arm bands. Aiden sat up straight as he caught sight of Leigh among them, still wearing the oversized jacket he had given her the previous night. The two men were discussing something, then one of them entered the bar while the others waited outside. Aiden turned back to the barman who handed him his filled containers.

  ‘Oi, Charlie, you Echo-head,’ the Crimson Wolf said, striding towards the bar. ‘If there’s anyone home in there, gimme a bottle of that whisky you brewed up last week. The stuff that knocked Don on his arse.’

  ‘Twenty tokens,’ the barman said with a scowl as he returned to polishing the glass.

  The newcomer dropped a crumpled note on the bar. ‘We’re celebrating tonight,’ he said. ‘Found us a new haul of working girls.’ He turned to Aiden, flashing him a grin full of brown teeth. ‘The boss’ll be happy this time.’

  ‘Those girls outside, you mean?’ Aiden asked as he unscrewed the cap from his hip flask and took a sip of the burning liquid.

  ‘Not bad, eh? Picked up a few daughters from the backwards farmers out of town, then swung back around the usual haunts on the way back. Some pretty little birds in the bunch. You should come down and check them out when you get the chance.’

  ‘I may do that,’ Aiden said. ‘What’s the place called?’

  The man frowned. ‘You new in town or something?’

  ‘Just passing through.’

  ‘Well, The Rabbit Hole is the only brothel worth your time. Used to be Classy Lassies before the boss took over. You want to follow main street past the market and take the first left. Big neon sign hanging out front. Can’t miss it.’

  The man winked and grabbed his bottle of whisky from the bar before heading back outside. Glancing out the window, Aiden saw Leigh standing apart from the other girls as she waited, her arms folded defensively across her chest. Then the group was led away, disappearing through the crowded market.

  Aiden stowed his away now-filled canteen and hip flask, thanked the barman, and headed out of the run-down bar into the fading light. He took a deep breath of the chill air before noticing Hitch looking up at him and blinking slowly.

  ‘Don’t look at me like that, you know she’s not our responsibility,’ Aiden said. ‘I already did more than my share. Besides, she’ll figure out how to survive on her wits soon enough.’ Hitch continued to stare. ‘Come on,’ Aiden said, setting off along the road, ‘don’t sulk, we need to make a move before it gets too dark.’

  AIDEN FOLLOWED THE road out of town at a steady pace with Hitch padding alongside. The Rim was a few days journey south, and he wanted to make good time while the weather still held clear. There had been talk of a huge storm due in the coming days, and he didn’t want to risk spending too long exposed. He had seen remains of people who had been caught outside during a raging dust storm: their skin and flesh scoured away leaving little except a pile of bones.

  He tried not to think about Leigh as he passed through one of the poorer districts on the outskirts of town, but he couldn’t get the image of her infectious toothy grin out of his mind. At least at the orphanage she would have stood a chance. He could have left things there, and been able to sleep easy knowing he had done right by her. Why did the orphanage have to sell her out like that? The thought of her in a brothel made him sick,
but going back for her would only bring him more trouble. And even if he did pull her out of there, what would he do with her then? He couldn’t look after a kid. She’d get them both killed. Walking away was the only rational choice.

  A rhythmic squeak pulled him from his thoughts. He looked across the street to see a hunched woman muttering to herself as she pushed a shopping cart with a broken wheel. The cart was piled high with plastic bags and assorted junk. She stopped by everyone she came across, from the people lying in doorways under blankets to the ones leaning out of their ground floor windows. Aiden watched as she reached into her cart and handed them all a small chunk of what looked like hard bread. She came to a burning barrel where three people huddled to keep warm in the cold dusk. Seeing her, they shifted over to make room.

  As she warmed her hands over the fire, she noticed Aiden watching her and her eyes lingered on his for a moment. There were deep lines on her face, and an unsightly scar crept up the side of her neck. She turned away, leaving the heat of the fire and resumed her muttering as she pushed her cart onwards.

  Aiden stopped and took out his hip flask, taking another long drink of the throat-burning spirit. He looked down at Hitch who stared up at him, putting a paw on his boot.

  Aiden cursed under his breath.

  ‘All right fine, you win,’ he said. ‘But when this blows up in our faces, I’m blaming you!’

  He turned on his heel and strode back towards the centre of town.

  CHAPTER 6

  AIDEN HAD NO trouble finding The Rabbit Hole thanks to the pink neon sign glowing in the darkness above the entrance. There was a single bouncer outside leaning against the brick wall with folded arms and a bored expression. Aiden noted a rusted pistol holstered at the man’s waist and a red band tied around his arm.

  ‘I’m okay to head in?’ Aiden asked.

  The bouncer glanced at him and nodded. ‘Fine. Talk to Raalo,’ he said pointing a thumb at the door. ‘You’ll need to tie the mutt up inside.’

  The lobby of the brothel reeked of cheap perfume. Off to the side was a waiting area: an assortment of chairs around a battered-looking coffee table. Old pornographic magazines were scattered across it, something to pass the time for waiting customers. A vacant reception desk faced the entrance, just a bell and an open ledger resting on it. Aiden stepped up and tapped the bell before wiping his hand on his trousers.

  A slender man appeared from behind a curtain and sidled up to the desk. He looked Aiden up and down, then smoothed his slick red hair back over his head. ‘Good evening,’ he said. ‘What can I do for you?’

  ‘Isn’t this a brothel?’ Aiden asked. ‘Seems like a strange question to ask.’

  The man smiled crookedly, a gold tooth showing under his lip. ‘Of course, of course. Forgive me. My name is Raalo.’ The man eyed Hitch sitting at Aiden’s feet. ‘Is that your animal?’

  Aiden nodded. ‘It is. Is that going to be a problem?’

  Raalo spread his arms. ‘You understand I can’t let animals back there with the girls. Your dog is welcome to stay here in the lobby until your business is complete. As long as you tie it up, of course.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ Aiden said with a nod. ‘Come on, boy. You’re going to have to stay here for a while.’ Aiden led Hitch over to the waiting area and pulled out some cord from his pack. ‘Stay put, I won’t be long,’ he whispered as he secured Hitch’s collar to one of the chairs with a quick release knot.

  ‘Perfect,’ Raalo said, still eyeing the dog with distaste. ‘Now step through this way, and we can get started.’

  The man pulled aside the curtain and led Aiden into a small room beyond the lobby where the odour of sex and perfume became overpowering. Aiden found himself regretting his decision to come here more with every passing moment.

  ‘This is the parade room. If you’d take a seat here,’ Raalo said, gesturing to the armchair patched up with duct tape in the centre of the room, ‘then we can get started with matching you up.’

  Aiden took a seat, trying to touch as little of the chair as possible. ‘So how does this work?’ he asked.

  ‘First time? Well, no problem. You just give me an idea of what it is you’re looking for, then I’ll go collect a few attractions that match your criteria, bring them out here, and you can have your pick.’

  Aiden cleared his throat. ‘So I have to tell you what I want?’

  ‘That’s the general idea, yes,’ Raalo said, his lip curling up into a smirk. ‘Don’t worry about being shy, there’s no shame here. We cater to all manner of desires.’ The pimp slicked his hair back over his scalp again. ‘Of course, more exotic tastes come with a higher price.’

  ‘What sort of price are we talking about?’

  ‘Well, it all depends on your specifications. Some of our attractions are more expensive than others. I assume you have tokens with you?’

  Aiden pulled out the bundle of notes Kendal had paid him and held them up for Raalo to see. The man smiled broadly in response.

  ‘Say no more, say no more. I can see you’re a man that pays his way, unlike a lot of the bums around here. Now then, what is it you’re looking for?’

  ‘Young,’ Aiden croaked. He cleared his throat. ‘Young,’ he repeated, more firmly this time.

  ‘Young it is,’ Raalo said, clapping his hands together. ‘We can do young. Quite a popular choice. How young are we thinking?’

  ‘Er,’ Aiden said as he pictured Leigh. He wasn’t entirely sure how old she was. He had little to no experience with kids.

  ‘Having trouble?’ Raalo said. ‘Don’t worry, no judgements here. You wait here and I’ll go collect a few of the amusements. I’m sure we can find something to suit you.’

  Raalo disappeared through one of the rear doors leaving Aiden alone. He leaned forward in the chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. This was his first time inside a brothel, and he felt completely out of his depth. He still had no real idea how he was going to find Leigh in this place. He hung his head in his hands as he waited.

  A few moments later, Raalo returned leading three girls behind him. They lined up in front of Aiden, all wearing suggestive clothing and sedated smiles. Leigh was not one of them.

  ‘Any of these catch your eye?’ Raalo asked as he moved around behind the girls. ‘We have Christi here. She’s a feisty little blonde who knows how to show a man a good time.’

  The girl angled her hip and flashed Aiden a dull smile.

  ‘Next we have Linda,’ Raalo continued, pushing the second girl forward. ‘She’s a stubborn one, but she steps into line quickly with a firm hand. Isn’t that right, honey?’ The girl nodded meekly without raising her head, her gaze fixed on the floor.

  ‘And lastly we have the exotic and mysterious Mia. Eastern girl, hailing all the way from Shenai. She’s a very popular choice around here.’

  ‘Do you have any… younger?’ Aiden asked, noticing the girls all looked older than Leigh.

  ‘Ah, a man after my own taste I see.’ Raalo winked at Aiden. ‘Well, we only have one attraction currently available in that age bracket. She’s a little firecracker called Simone. Shall I go fetch her?’

  ‘I heard you just had some new girls arrive.’

  ‘Word does travel fast, doesn’t it? I’m afraid the new girls aren’t ready for work yet, they still need to be trained. So, will Simone suffice or shall we keep looking?’

  ‘Simone sounds fine,’ Aiden said, rising from his seat as the girls filed out of the room.

  ‘Now, Simone is one of our more expensive attractions due to her age, so we charge twenty an hour. Money up front. And the only house rule is no damaging the attractions. You break the rule, and not only will you not be welcome back, but you’ll be finding yourself on the wrong side of the owners of this establishment. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how bad for your health it would be to draw the unwanted attention of the Crimson Wolves.’

  ‘No problem,’ Aiden said handing Raalo twenty tokens and following him through the rear do
or into a long corridor. Muffled grunts and thumping noises drifted through the thin walls as they walked.

  Stopping at a door with 12 painted across the panel, Raalo took out a set of keys and unlocked the door. ‘Well, have fun,’ he said checking his watch. ‘You have one hour, I’ll return when your time’s up.’

  Aiden stepped inside and Raalo closed the door behind him. The room was practically bare, just a dresser with a small mirror and a double bed in the corner. A young brown-haired girl wearing a cotton nightie and a garish amount of purple eye shadow sat on the stained mattress hugging her legs as she watched Aiden enter.

  ‘Hello,’ she said, rubbing her eyes. ‘I’m Simone.’

  ‘You’re crying,’ Aiden said with a frown as he noticed her red-rimmed eyes.

  ‘Sorry, I’ll stop soon. My last job was just a little rough.’

  ‘Well don’t worry, I’m not going to touch you,’ Aiden said as he looked around the room. Assorted neon-coloured sex toys littered the dresser.

  The girl frowned. ‘You don’t want to touch me? What do you want me to do then?’

  ‘I just need some information. Do you know all the girls that work here?’

  ‘Most,’ Simone said wiping her cheeks with the fabric of her nightie. ‘Please though, we have to do something or I’ll get in trouble.’

  She rose from the bed and moved towards Aiden, reaching a hand towards his crotch. He grabbed her wrist and pushed her away.

  ‘I told you, I just want information. I won’t tell anyone. As far as they’ll know, you did your job just fine.’

  Simone shrugged and moved back to sit down on the edge of the bed. ‘So what do you want to know?’

  ‘Some new girls came in today, right?’

  ‘A few I think. I haven’t met them yet though.’

  ‘Do you know where they were taken?’

  ‘All the new girls stay downstairs in the basement. That’s where they kept me at first.’ Simone’s eyes glazed over. ‘You learn pretty quickly to do what you’re told if you want to get out though.’