Splinter (Whisper Walker Series) by London Cole Page A

you?” I asked him after a moment, when his panting had slowed.
    He held up a finger for me to wait for a second. I waited, starting to get a little impatient. I hoped he didn’t plan on me tipping him well if he kept me waiting all damn night.
    “Sorry. Ran all over trying to find you,” he said, still sucking air. “The Magistrate’s wife wishes to see you. She says it’s urgent.”
    I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “Um. Okay. Thanks. Here you go.” I handed him one of the small carved stones that served us as currency that I had just been paid for the rabbit.
    He grabbed the money and walked off.
    “Kids. Where are their manners nowadays?” I asked the empty street in front of me and headed over to the Magistrate’s house.

    When I arrived I found the Magistrate’s wife waiting for me and looking weary. She was older, what served as older in our society anyway. Early forties. Her face was stressed, and her eyes a little bloodshot. Hell, being married to that pompous hot-air bag, I couldn’t blame her.
    “Drake, so good of you to come so quick. I’m sure you must be busy, being the best Hunter we have. My husband says wonderful things about you.”
    Now that’s a load of bunk. But whatever. I simply feigned humble acknowledgement. I did have to fight a cringe at the “Hunter” part. She just probably didn’t know that it was offensive.
    “I hear you can find anything? Is that true?” she asked. “Well, of course it’s true. Just last season you found that silver spoon with the crosses on it for Jessica.”
    Great, here it goes. Just like everyone else, she’s going to ask me to find some rare item for her and I’ll have to do it because she’s the wife of the Magistrate.
    I gave her a plastic smile. “Yeah, that one was a challenge.” In fact, “challenge” was a severe understatement. I’d almost returned from that three-week trip empty handed. “For the most part I’m good at finding stuff.”
    She offered a weak smile. “Good. I have a favor to ask of you.”
    Uh-oh.
    “Can you follow my husband?”
    Okay. Didn’t see that one coming. I expected her to ask me for some rare herb or material or a serving platter like she saw in some ancient cook book. This was unexpected. “Pardon?” I said, probably looking confused.
    She hastened to explain, throwing a look over her shoulder to ensure no one was near. “My husband. The Magistrate. I’m worried about him. He hasn’t been himself lately. He’s moody and angry.”
    I gave her an empathetic look. The gears in my head started to kick into overdrive. This fit with what I had thought earlier, that he wasn’t himself.
    She continued. “Can I trust that you’ll keep this absolutely between you and me?”
    I nodded.
    “He leaves twice a week, for the last three weeks. Same days, same time.”
    I frowned. “Leaves? Where does he go?” As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I felt stupid. If she knew where he went, she wouldn’t need me, duh.
    She sighed, her face taking on years. “I don’t know. I don’t think it’s for another woman, though. That’s what I need you for.”
    That thought had never even crossed my mind.
    “He heads out the back Gate. On the north side of the island.”
    I looked up, interrupting her. “There’s nothing out that way. Just the water.”
    “Yes, I’m aware of that. I want you to follow him. I worry.” Her eyes started pleading with me. “Please. I’ll pay you whatever you want. I know this isn’t your normal duty and you’re busy getting ready for Ash season. Please.”
    I went over my schedule for the next few days in my head. I didn’t really have anything important to do, aside from usual Ash season stuff. The worry on her face was wearing me down. “Okay. I’ll check into it.”
    Her face shone with relief.
    “You said he leaves the same days and same times, right? When’s the next one?”
    “In an hour. He leaves in an hour.”
    I set up my rate with her. I was tempted to