Chapter 36: Conversation with a Lad

“What I just can’t understand why your intense interest on who the man was? What was in it for you? Why the obsession? It’s a big mystery to me.” I was contemplating whether to divulge my reason, but afraid that he might think I was a loony prevented me. It was not worth exposing my eccentricities just to satisfy my suspicion about the Shadow. I had to have patience not recklessness.

“You owe me,” I said. I was almost pleading when I said that, but the trick didn’t work.

“I will not break my word to the man just to satisfy your curiosity,” Dordo said, with a sound of finality.

We stayed silent for a while with my mind travelling back to the Embarcadero. The teen helper at the billiard hall might know something, and that was a big if. It was an idea that suddenly flashed out from my head. I could get the information from him, but it must be out of the knowledge of the short man.

“Even without your help I can find out who your contract man is,” I said, breaking the silence.