Chapter Text
A hand passed in front of his phone. In it was a orange soda bottle. He took it and looked up. Nodded at the plastic coated bench next to him.
“Dammit Hardison” he took a second to remove the screw cap and downed a glug of the drink.
“Well bless my heart! Anthony Crowley!” Hardison took the bottle and drank a sip.
They sat for a moment. A bus stopped, door opened. Crowley waved a quick “no thanks”, the door closed and it phhsht off on its route.
“I've a need of a favour” Crowley sighed, this was going to cost him.
“Business or pleasure?” Hardison asked.
“You are both Sweetness. But business today.”
“Good, my girlfriend is the jealous stabby type”
“How is Parker? Still refusing to believe in me?” Crowley pinched himself, just to check.
“Don't take it personally, God, Devil, Angel, Demon. All in the No column”
“Easter bunny?” Crowley asked.
“Full on really real” Hardison confirmed.
“Hmm? Chocolate delivering Leporidae?” Crowley nodded “Yeah, I'll take that one over the things that are in my world”
Another bus, this one didn't open the door, just slowed slightly looking for any passenger getting on signs or waved bus pass.
“Where's the car?” Hardison asked
“MOT” Crowley didn't think he would believe that one. “Ok, you got me, Ecological conscience.”
“Nah. You want to be on buses today” the man looked at the demon.
“All right. Part of my plan. Yes.”
“What's the Job?”
The next bus didn't even slow. The “not in service” sign was half broken and they were lost for a few seconds in engine fumes.
They coughed and spluttered. When they were able to breath easier, Crowley told him “I'm looking for a hacker. Someone good, but that no one would miss, say if they got caught by the Bus Overlords, while moving a bus stop?”
Hardison thought for a few seconds. Mulling over the few options.
“Got two names. First one is in jail, second, has a good skill set, but personality of nettle toilet paper.”
“How do I get hold of him?”
“You don't” they silently planned Alec doing the leg work.
“Thanks Alec” Crowley shook his hand and pulled him in close. “But that, was far too easy. What's on the other, non dropped shoe?”
“He is one of Lamb's horses. Roddy Ho”
“Lamb? His name not on the The Last Dead Letter Drop yet?”
“Not yet. Smells like he has been on it for a while though.”
The bus slowed. Crowley stood. Card in hand.
“Places to do, people to be.” Crowley waved, as the door opened. He stepped on
“Morning Chief? You going to Whickber Street?” Crowley asked “Soho?”
“Soho yes, Whickber Street, no”
“Close enough. Perfect.” He beeped his card.
The driver looked carefully at the customer. “You look like that guy”
“Which guy?”
“The one on the web”
“That's me.”
“Your eyes are different”
“Contacts”
“Ok”
The door closed, Crowley sat in the backseat and let himself relax. He liked buses.