Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Hardcastle surprised me by exiting the saloon less than an hour later, alone this time. He paused to light what appeared to be a thin cigar with a Lucifer stick before stalking south on Main. I followed, staying in the shadows on the other side of the street. Once we passed from the gas-lit area, shadowing him became easier. A hanwi pay-chah, a new moon, failed to appreciably cut the darkness.

We had no sooner left the commercial area than Hardcastle angled across the street, the same side I was on. The buildings—now residences—were farther apart and provided less cover. I advantaged bushes and shrubbery whenever possible.