I loped up to her, nodding in greeting. She nodded and took another drag. Despite my lack of disguise, there was no flicker of recognition in her greeting. It helped that it was now dark; in this light I could pass for a blonde.

‘Hey,’ I said cheerfully, ‘I was hoping you could help me. I’m looking for a friend of mine. Chandra. She’s…’

The woman blanched slightly. ‘I’ve heard of Chandra. If you know her, then you’ll know where to find her.’

My mention of my ex-assassin buddy did the trick, placing me at an advantage. I kept my tone casual and continued. ‘Yeah. She’s not at her shop though, so I thought she might have gone out for the night.’

‘She wouldn’t be here. The Haven is off limits tonight.’

I nodded. ‘So I hear. You’re working inside?’

‘Yeah. What of it?’ She eyed me, the unspoken challenge obvious, but I wasn’t about to comment on her job. As long as being a stripper was her choice, it wasn’t my place to say anything.

‘Nothing. It’s a stag party, I take it?’

She shrugged. ‘So I’m told. My boss wouldn’t say who it’s for.’ She stubbed out her cigarette and tossed it into a bucket. ‘Like I care. Just another bunch of spoilt Sidhe wankers.’

I coughed slightly. She tilted her head and looked at me more closely. ‘Oh. You’re Sidhe too. Sorry, I didn’t mean any offence.’ She gave me a pretty smile but there was no denying that she was suddenly scared. She clenched her fists and there was a faint wobble to her voice. Personally I was thrilled. She wouldn’t have any qualms about abandoning her job for the night if she didn’t care that the Steward’s son was the party boy.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ I said. ‘I might be Sidhe but I’m still a nobody. I have a useless Gift and I’m from a useless Clan. I think the lot of us are wankers.’ I smiled slightly. ‘I’m on your side, not mine.’ The woman relaxed a little but she was still very wary. I had to make sure she stayed here until I got what I wanted.

Before she could vanish inside the club, I forced my eyes to well up with unshed tears. Unless she had a heart of lead, she’d feel compelled to stick around for at least a bit longer. I sniffed and bit my bottom lip. ‘Maybe it’s just as well that Chandra’s not around. I was going to ask her to…’ I shot the woman a look and faltered, as if I’d just realised I was talking to a complete stranger and was about to reveal that I wanted someone killed. ‘Never mind.’

She raised a knowing eyebrow. ‘Let me guess. Ex-boyfriend?’

‘Ex-fiancée.’

The woman winced. ‘Ouch.’

‘Yeah. Between you and me, he’s the one getting hitched.’ I laughed humourlessly. ‘I should just let bygones be bygones. It bloody hurts though.’ Unfortunately, I wasn’t lying.

‘I don’t think Chandra is the answer.’