Mayor Frazier had a problem on her hands, for sure. Humans who lived daily with the fear that they would shift to the second phase of the disease and turn into something not human and an official non-person tended to sink into depression or hit out in anger. Old ones newly emerged had morale problems of their own, as well as the challenge of surviving without an income.
A town-wide depression would be the least of Akicita’s challenges. Petty theft, most of it food, clothing and stuff that would keep homeless people sheltered and warm, and other associated crimes would be off the charts. The bigger the population of old ones grew, the more the issues would compound.
“Just what is it you think I can do?” Harley asked her. “You can’t hire me.”
“I can do what the hell I want. I’m the mayor of the town,” Akicita replied. She sat and crossed her legs.
Harley felt a tiny dollop of admiration for the woman’s whiplash determination. “You can’t pay me. I don’t have a bank account.”
“I can pay cash. I pay cash for the doctor who is helping everyone through their phase shift.” She paused. “He’s an orc.”
Harley took in Akicita’s square, stubborn chin and the steel in her jawline. Dawning hope trickled through her. She struggled to sit up, and flipped her wings back behind her, a movement that was now completely unconscious. “Cash,” she repeated wonderingly.
Akicita nodded. “Most of the town runs on cash or trade. Mostly trade, really, but I figure that if we can get everyone working at something, the economy will shift to cash bit by bit.”
“By paying salaries out of your own pocket?”
“Can you think of a better reason to spend one’s money than this?” Akicita said softly.
Harley stared at her. The trickle of hope shifted to a hot flaring in her chest.
Then Akicita smiled. The smile was wicked. “Besides, I’m taking taxes from those who’ve got the money, so they’re underwriting the town, too. And I can’t pay you much—not even close to what you were earning before. But you’ll have a roof over your head and food to eat that you paid for yourself. And if this works, then you’ll get pay raises as the town gets up on its feet.”
It had taken Harley a while to think it over and decide to make the leap. Inertia had mired her. And the cold, for the first snow of the year had fallen early this year. But the dullness of her thoughts and her reluctance to stir off the sleeping bag had decided for her.
A week ago, Harley had used the crisp yellow and brown one hundred dollar note that Akicita had left her to buy a bus ticket to Sundre. She had walked to Falconer from there, for no drivers who saw her wings would stop to give her a lift.
Akicita had found her a room in a house on the main street of the town. “Two orcs and a human mother who lives by the orcs’ nocturnal timetable,” Akicita explained, as she swiftly made the bed with clean sheets, while Harley stood in the middle of the room and absorbed that this entire room and a whole, actual bed was for her alone. “You shouldn’t be disturbed, and you can come and go without bothering them, either. I’ll introduce you to the Ulicks when they wake up. They use the basement, now, so you get to use their old room.”
That probably meant they had drilled out the concrete floor, so they could walk around on real earth.
Yesterday, Akicita had visited again and told her she’d found two constables and a police station, too, and that Harley would officially start her new job today.
Harley looked at Akicita now, and said, “If the body is one of the old ones, then does your doctor...”
“Pranee,” Akicita inserted.
“Does Dr. Pranee have a morgue?”
“We’ll make one,” Akicita said, her chin coming up. “I’ll warn him that you’re on your way.”
Bohdan rubbed the back of his head. “Is it a smart idea for you to go see Campbell, chief?” he asked Harley.
“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t?”
Bohdan shrugged. “Well, he’s a dragon. Doesn’t that make him your boss? He can give you orders and you have to obey them, right? Dragons are the fire elementals, aren’t they? You’re subordinate?”
Harley wanted to be shocked again at Bohdan’s frankness.
“Where did you hear that, Bohdan?” Akicita demanded.
Bohdan gave another self-conscious shrug. “I live in a town full of soon-to-be old ones. I could end up one myself. So could you. Makes sense to learn as much as I can. There’s a shit—’scuse me. There’s a ton of stuff online, but a lot of it is guessing, so maybe I got it wrong.” He glanced at Harley, his voice lifting. “Again,” he added, with a grimace.
“In this case, you’re correct,” Harley said reluctantly. She raised her brow and looked at Akicita. “You’re my real boss, Akicita. Are you okay with me talking to Campbell?”
Akicita didn’t even hesitate. “We all have two masters these days. I have a tribal chief and the Alberta government to answer to, but I find a way around it. I’m sure you can, too.” Her eyes twinkled, and Harley remembered what she was doing for her town and nodded.
“But do be careful with Campbell,” Akicita added. “Not because he’s a dragon, but because he’s…well, you’ll understand.” She reached into her coat, withdrew a keyring and wound off a key. “Use my car as the official
