Chapter 644 - Madam O’Germanova (1/2)
With the chill of autumn already set in, the Monarch pub is always bustling more than usual as the patrons in the background smoke, drink, and loudly chat. At the bar, the cool, collected bartender polishes the drinking glasses, before moving to fill an order. There is energetic gambling in the background, but the mood is still a bit stifled.
Periodically every single one of the eyes of those at the pub will stray towards the back, where an elderly wizard with silver hair, wolfish yellow eyes does a crossword puzzle. Word on the street had it that, Sanderson had not been able to find that which he sought and was most displeased. That and with the A.P.D. now in business, not just Sanderson, but all the Potentates of the Underworld had taken a severe hit to their trade especially after the Damocles debatable. None of the Potentates were in a pleasant mood, to say the least.
The sharp end of Sanderson's quill glints in the dim light as a drop of ink drips down splattering the edge of the crossword puzzle. Those watching hold their breaths waiting to see if this would at long last be the drop of water that spilled the brim filled glass. However, two sharp murderous glares from Sanderson's thugs cause the onlookers to hurriedly glance away and returning to nurse their drinks.
The two thuglike wizards exchange glances until at last the brawny wizard with a rather large forehead cleared his throat. ”Er, Sir, are you alright?” Hyde asked the boss.
Without glance up, Sanderson's quill stops tapping against the crossword puzzle. ”Do you know what kind of magical bird's feathers repel ink?”
”Er, no boss,” Hyde instantly replied.
The smarter one of the two thugs, the beady-eyed wizard, Floyd finally says, ”Er, I think it's an Augurey, sir.”
”Well done, Floyd,” Sanderson said as wrote in the last required answer, before glancing up at the burly wizard. ”I am actually amazed that you know that tidbit of trivia, Floyd.”
The beady-eyed wizard flushes at the praise and says, ”Oh, well, sir, I really enjoyed Professor Kettleburn's classes. He was one of the good ones back at Hogwarts.”
”Yes, so I've been told,” Sanderson said, before pushing away the crossword puzzle as if his mind had been finally made up. ”I'll be back later in the evening, mind the pub.”
”Yes, boss!” Hyde instantly replied, while his partner, Floyd slowly asks, ”Are you sure about that, sir?”
”I am certain,” Sanderson replied in a steely voice that left no room for an argument. Without another word or even an explanation to Bertram at the bar, he simply leaves through the front door without his usual guards.
At the bar, Bertram frowns slightly and motions with a jerk of his head for Hyde to come over to speak to him at the bar. The large thug-like figure of Hyde easily makes his way unperturbed through the bar. Those sitting at the barstools instantly rise and leave the two wizards alone.
Polishing a glass nonchalantly, Bertram in his usual cool voice says, ”What did Sanderson say?” Before pausing and with a faint frown adding, ”Floyd, and you, Hyde should know better than to allow him to stroll around alone with the A.P.D. officers sniffing about. The A.P.D. is not fooling around, but rather playing for keeps.”
”The boss just said he wanted to go out for a bit, and then that he'd be back,” Hyde truthfully replied to the second in command of the boss.
Bertram slowly nods his head, before saying, ”If that is indeed the case, then why didn't he take you or Floyd on patrol?”
”I don't think the boss went on patrol,” Hyde admitted as he scratched his head. ”He's been worried about them blasted wolves on patrol now. I think the boss jus' wanted a breath of fresh air, ya know.”
Bertram's figure slightly relaxes and says, ”In that case, mind the bar. And if anyone gets uppity the both of you know what to do.”