Black Hollow

Chapter 6 - It's the Little Things

The admission grated Arden's nerves, but he knew he needed to tell Kerry everything that concerned her sister, no matter the risk to Black Hollow. By the glare Quinn shot him, his friend obviously didn't agree, but he would just have to deal with Arden's decision. The man had been acting like a maggot since the investigator vanished. Arden knew his being transparent made no sense right then, but there was something about Kerry that pulled him. Whether or not it was how vulnerable she appeared right then or how he felt responsible for Brandie's disappearance, he wasn't sure, but he simply couldn't bring himself to keep things from her.

Arden took a deep breath and then continued. “The leprechauns have a vault of gold underneath the bank. We have learned that someone is trying to steal it, but the thing is, no one should know about its existence."

“You have a secret pot of gold?" Kerry asked, her brows pinched and lips twisted in disbelief. She tilted her head and stared at him. “Leprechauns and gold. Isn't that a little too stereotypical?"

“Stereotypical? Why because it's seen by the world to be a myth?" Quinn snapped. “Myths begin as truths that have been passed down through the ages until people stop believing in them. The disbelief of the world doesn't make the supernatural world an unreality. Haven't you seen enough with your eyes to tell you that?"

Arden glared at his friend, but Quinn ignored him. “Sometimes, stereotypes hold a little bit of truth in them," Arden told Kerry. “In this case, it's all true. We have a pot of gold, several actually, and that gold is the base for Black Hollow's economy. We can't risk someone getting a hold of it. It would destroy our community."

“It's already destroyed my sister," Kerry snapped as she waved a hand by her ear trying to get the buzzing to stop. Perhaps bugs were a part of the motif of the bank, as well. Not really a good add-on for the tourist community in Kerry's opinion.

“We don't know that," Arden stressed. “All we know is she's missing. We'll find her. I promise. I just have to protect the reputation of the bank, as well."

Kerry turned her gaze out the big window of Arden's office, staring at the leprechauns standing on stools and taking care of customers. He hoped she understood the importance of the needed discretion in searching for her sister. Too much was at stake to make a lot of noise right now.

“And this gold is the base for the economy in Black Hollow?" Kerry asked, giving Arden a skeptical look when she turned back around to face him. “The Federal Reserve System isn't good enough for you? Do you or the people of Black Hollow not have dealings with the rest of the world? Is your bank not protected by the FDIC? Why involve my sister and not the FBI?"

Arden sighed as he settled back in his chair. “The economy of Black Hollow is unique. Our residents possess special needs with their supplies, which are mostly magical in nature. We keep to ourselves, because we do not wish for the outside world to interfere. While we do base some of our finances on the Federal Reserve Bank, the majority is based on the gold in our vaults. That is how Black Hollow can maintain its anonymity."

“Aye, we don't like busybodies," Quinn said, glaring at Kerry.

She ignored him, and focused on Arden, her expression determined. “Show me this vault. I need to see what my sister saw so I can try to determine what she discovered."

“Oh, you're a detective now," Quinn scoffed as he shifted in his seat, shaking his head. “Your sister didn't do such a good job before she wandered off. A waste of money if you ask me."

Arden wished his friend would stop talking. They didn't need to agitate Kerry, forcing her to go to the police.

Kerry turned to face Quinn, her whole demeanor stiff as she glared at him. “My sister would never walk off a job. Now, you can either help me find my sister my way, or I can go straight to whatever constitutes for the law in this freaky town and shout loud and long about your failure to protect your gold. Which would you prefer?"

Arden tried to hide the grin that crept across his face at her tenacity, but knew he failed. This was not a weak woman in front of him, and somehow, that stirred things inside of him that had laid dormant for centuries. She had spunk, and spunk grabbed his attention.

Quinn was about to snap back at her, but Arden cut him off. “We'll show you whatever you want to see," he assured her. “And if we get so far and still can't find your sister, I'll personally go to Chief Thayer and ask for his help."

Quinn shot him a look of disbelief, but Arden didn't even glance his way. Until he figured out why he was drawn to this woman, he would do whatever she needed to please her in this.

Kerry stared at him for a moment, the struggle of whether or not she believed him evident on her face. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she nodded. “Then I'll keep quiet for now, as well. Now, show me this vault."

Arden nodded as he stood. Quinn, however, just shook his head as he blew out a frustrated breath. “This is a bad idea," Quinn said, still not moving. “Too many people already know about the gold, putting it at greater risk."

Arden shot him a dark look. “We're doing this," he said. “You are more than welcome to stay here if you want, but this decision is mine to make."

Quinn ran a hand over his pinkish face and through his thick beard. “Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you." He shoved himself out of his chair. “Of course, I'm coming with you. How else will I be able to say I told you so when it comes out Brandie just left like I said?"

Arden ignored his friend as he stepped around the desk, opening the door for Kerry to pass through first. Once she was out the door, he followed her, Quinn bringing up the rear.

As they walked through the bank's interior, Arden noticed the tellers shooting them odd glances as they made their way to a thick, wooden door in the back corner of the bank. He knew the lady with him peaked his employees' curiosity. No one went into the back except Arden, Quinn, the leprechauns in the back office, or the Ogre Security Team. Even when they brought Brandie back there, it was after hours, and the place was empty, which was another troubling spot for Arden. How did anyone find out Brandie Underwood was investigating, since no one even knew he hired her? None of what happened made any sense to him.

Ignoring the looks from his tellers, Arden reached for the ring on the right side of the door and pulled—

—and had to catch Paddy before the cluricaun tumbled onto the floor. Arden stared at the man. “Shite in a bucket! What are you doing back here?" Arden asked. “You know this area is restricted."

Paddy ran a thick hand over his red beard as he nodded. “Aye, I did; I did indeed, but I needed to give Ruck the money I owed him from last night, and Nunk told me he was back in the security room." He shrugged. “Ya know how ogres are about people owing them money. Didn't want to get the big fella's ire up, you know."

“It still could have waited until after work," Arden told him. “Now, get to your booth. You've already screwed up enough today, don't you think?"

“Aye, my apologies," Paddy said with false remorse. “I'll be getting right to it, then." He dipped his head in a slight bow at Kerry. “Good day, miss." He then stumbled away, the reek of whiskey strong as he passed.

“I still don't think he should handle people's money with as drunk as he smells." Kerry said, her gaze following the man as he walked away.

“I still don't know why you hired him," Quinn said. “They're from the wrong side of the knolls, and you know it."

“The cluricaun are our cousins, which makes them family," Arden said, and not for the first time to his friend. “We don't turn our backs on family, no matter how sodden they are at times."

Quinn raised his eyebrows. “At times? Arden that man is almost always drunk. He reeks of booze so much people avoid going near him. How the ogres stand him is a mystery, but then again, they're a simple lot."

Arden sighed. “I know, and I've given him plenty of chances to redeem himself. He does just enough to keep me from firing him, and then he goes off the rails again. I'm not even sure why our cousins sent him here from Ireland."

“You know damn well why they did it," Quinn said, his tone full of disgust. “To get him out of their hair and into ours. He's a blight on my ass, that one."

Arden gave a soft laugh. “You're probably right. Still, be that as it may, we're stuck with him for now."

“Well, I'd check with Nunk and Ruck just to make sure his story lines up," Quinn suggested.

Arden glanced at him, one eyebrow c****d. “You don't think he owed Ruck money?"

Quinn gave a snort of derision. “Oh, I believe he owes Ruck money, and probably more people than that. I just don't believe he's the type to pay it back."

Arden laughed a little harder. “Yeah, I bet you're right." He then glanced over at Kerry, who patiently waited for the little scene to play out so they could proceed. He offered her a small smile. “Shall we continue?"

“Please," she said with an exasperated tone. “I've wasted enough time."

Arden just nodded as he stepped through the doorway and into a hall leading to the back of the bank. Not many had ever ventured this far into the End of the Rainbow Savings & Trust, magic barriers keeping most out. He was curious how a human such as Kerry Underwood would handle what she saw.

The walls of the hall were the same dark stone as the main body of the bank with a unique spell added for extra precaution against thievery.

“Um, am I wrong, or is this hallway getting smaller?" Kerry asked as she came to a stiff halt. “What the hell is going on? Where are you taking me?" Her eyes went wide with panic.