Luca Stormwind's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

The next morning, Luca walked from the pink house with a short list in his pocket. His friend had agreed to help, and one neighbor had too. But two pairs of eyes could not cover a town this wide. He needed more watchers, and he needed to know who would actually show up. He climbed the steps of the big hall in the center of town. Inside, the stone floor echoed under his boots. He pinned a notice to the wide door and waited. People came in slowly. Some he barely knew. He realized he could not tell, just by looking, who would stand a night watch and who would slip away. Then a pink-haired woman pushed through the crowd, sunglasses pushed up on her head. "Hun, you're going about this all wrong," Juliet said. She tapped his list. "I know every single person in this town. Who gossips, who shows up, who bails." Behind her, his friend stepped in with flour still on her apron. "She's right," she said quietly. "Let her help you pick." By dusk, they had six names Juliet trusted and three she'd crossed out hard. Luca posted the watch schedule on the hall door. He had his team. But as he locked up, Juliet frowned at one crossed-out name. "That one," she said. "He took it personal that I said no."