23: Chapter 23 Preparing to Take Action

Madison's demands still had to be met.

Shaun Black sighed, found a hot dog stand on a street corner, and bought two hot dogs and a cup of coffee.

Twenty minutes later, Shaun Black parked the car in front of that townhouse from last night.

Madison Montgomery was already waiting there.

She had changed her outfit.

Instead of the white sweater from the manor this morning, she wore a loose grey hoodie.

It had a rock band logo printed on it, paired with black leggings and a pair of fuzzy slippers on her feet.

Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, with a few stray strands framing her face.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the hot dogs in Shaun Black's hand.

"You actually brought them?" She snatched them away. "Not bad, not bad. You have a future."

She took a large bite and said indistinctly, "Come in."

Shaun Black followed her upstairs.

It was the same apartment.

It looked even messier during the day than it did at night...

A few pieces of clothing were tossed on the sofa, a half-finished cup of cola sat on the coffee table, and the TV was still on, playing some boring reality show.

Madison Montgomery plopped down on the sofa, crossed her legs, and looked at Shaun Black while munching on her hot dog.

"Spill it," she said with her mouth full, "what old man?"

Shaun Black sat down across from her.

"Frank Gallagher. In his fifties, brown hair, white male, smooth-talker—clearly a seasoned old rogue."

"Missing for three days... though I actually saw him two days ago. It's just that the last place he was reportedly seen is connected to your manor."

Madison Montgomery chewed her hot dog and frowned in thought.

"Brown hair? Never seen him."

As she spoke, Madison Montgomery swallowed what was in her mouth, but then deliberately pulled the sausage out between her lips and gave it a suck.

This action made Shaun Black twitch his mouth helplessly; Madison Montgomery was certainly very practiced at that movement.

Madison Montgomery didn't seem to notice Shaun Black's expression, continuing, "Hardly anyone ever comes to our place unless they're lost tourists, and even the lost ones don't wander into the manor."

Shaun Black thought for a moment and said, "What if he didn't go inside, but was just nearby?"

Madison Montgomery shrugged. "There's nothing nearby, you know that."

That was true.

But if that were the case, where could Frank Gallagher have gone?

Shaun Black remained silent, lost in thought.

Madison Montgomery stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

"Oh... I get it." She stuffed the last bite of hot dog into her mouth and clapped her hands. "You don't want to go to the manor because you're afraid of that Old Hag Fiona, so you came to me for info."

Shaun Black didn't deny it.

Madison Montgomery laughed with pure delight.

"Officer Sean, you're making this very difficult for me."

She stood up, walked over to Shaun Black, and looked down at him. "Helping you dig for info... if Fiona finds out, I'll be in deep trouble."

"Do you know how that old woman treats traitors?"

Shaun Black looked at her and said firmly, "You don't have to help."

Our Shaun Black knew how to play the game of push and pull.

"No," Madison Montgomery squatted down to eye level with Shaun Black and said softly, "I want to help."

A cunning light flickered in those blue eyes as she drawled, "But... you have to promise me one thing."

An ominous premonition rose in Shaun Black's heart.

"What requirement?"

Madison Montgomery tilted her head and thought for a while before saying, "Haven't decided yet. You'll just owe me one for now."

Shaun Black was silent for a second.

"Madison, this isn't..."

"Oh, don't worry," Madison Montgomery interrupted with a wave of her hand before Shaun Black could finish.

"I won't make you kill anyone, and I won't make you run around naked."

"It's just... in the future, whenever I want you to keep me company, you have to. How about it?"

That sounded okay, but Shaun Black always felt like there was a trap hidden somewhere.

So... Shaun Black didn't agree immediately, just staring at Madison Montgomery.

Madison Montgomery squatted in front of Shaun Black, hands resting on her knees, with an expression that said 'you have to agree whether you want to or not'.

Feeling helpless under her gaze, Shaun Black could only ask for confirmation: "Just that?"

"Just that."

Hearing Shaun Black seemingly relenting, Madison Montgomery nodded immediately and coaxed, "Fair, right? I help you look for the old man, you help me kill time."

"With a beauty like me keeping you company, you're the one winning here, okay?"

To be fair, when Madison Montgomery wasn't being sharp-tongued, she was indeed a classic blonde beauty.

Besides, looking at the current situation, it seemed things would be troublesome if he didn't agree.

So, he nodded.

Madison Montgomery was taken aback for a moment.

"You're agreeing just like that? No haggling?"

"I agree."

Madison Montgomery stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed triumphantly.

But she said nothing, stood up, and clapped her hands.

She walked to the door and picked up her coat. "Deal! I'll go back and ask for you now. Wait for my word."

Shaun Black stood up. "You're going back now?"

Madison Montgomery slipped on her coat and looked back at him. "Otherwise? Aren't you in a hurry? I'm helping you be in a hurry."

With that, she winked again, glanced down at Shaun Black's crotch, and said, "Unless... you wanted to treat me to another 'hot dog'?"

Madison Montgomery could shift into high gear at a moment's notice; it wasn't easy for Shaun Black to keep up with her speed.

Seeing that Shaun Black didn't speak, Madison Montgomery opened the door but stopped again.

"By the way, Shaun. That girl you brought... it's time we solved her problem. Cordelia decided to call me and Queenie to go handle it together."

Leaving him with that, Madison Montgomery closed the door and left.

Shaun Black stood in the empty apartment, listening to her footsteps disappear down the stairs.

In his mind, the golden book gently flipped a page.

【Madison Montgomery Favorability: 80 → 84】

【Note: You agreed to her request and thought of asking her for help first. She is very happy, though she won't tell you how happy she is.】

Shaun Black gave a bitter smile.

This witch... she was certainly a tsundere. Her favorability was clearly rising, yet she still played a game of push and pull on the surface.

As for what Madison Montgomery said at the end, Shaun Black took it to heart.

He wondered if his skills would strengthen once Nell's problem was resolved.

If he could strengthen his magic power and stop being a 'three-second man,' maybe he could have a proper 'chat' with Joseph White.

...

After some consideration, Shaun Black walked out of the apartment and got into his car.

Before starting the engine, he checked his phone.

Fiona Gallagher's number was saved in it.

He thought for a moment and sent a message: "There's progress. Wait for my word, don't go running around on your own."

A few seconds later, a reply came: "Understood, thanks."

Shaun Black put down his phone and stepped on the gas.

He had nothing else to do for now. The police station hadn't given him a specific task since his reassignment, Renee Ballard had nothing for him yet, and the matter of Hill Manor and Frank Gallagher had to wait for the witches' notification.

So Shaun Black decided... to go back and catch his breath first...