Chapter One, Part One [Early Draft]
Atticus had one hand calmly in his pocket while the other gripped a wand held against another man’s throat. “I’m not gonna ask again: do you know Shirley Miller?”
The man he was holding at wandpoint wetted his lips behind a large mustache, back pressed against the wall of his living room. He held his hands up, one holding a glass of liquor. His wife from the nearby kitchen clutched her necklace and looked between the two men. “Johnny, what is he talking about?”
“I don’t know, darling. I’ve never known anyone by that name in my entire life,” Johnny replied, running his hand through his black hair to smooth it out. He didn’t look Atticus in the eye. Instead he looked at the large burn scar that covered the left side of his face, and the empty socket where his other eye should have been.
“Oh really?” Atticus tilted his head. “Because Shirley knows you. She says you keep bothering her when she tries to go home. She even said you stole a necklace of hers after you beat her in an alleyway for not accepting your advances. Shame really. Told me it belonged to her grandmother.”
“Johnny would never!” The wife protested. “He comes straight home every day after work, he doesn’t go chasing around after flappers and broads. Do you, honey?”
Johnny shook his head vigorously. “Of course not. I love my wife, and only my wife.”
Atticus wasn’t really paying attention to the man anymore, instead turning his attention to the wife. “When did you get that necklace?”
“My-My necklace?” The woman looked down at the necklace hidden by her fist. “Just this Monday, Johnny brought it home as a gift for our anniversary. Why do you ask?”
“That’s funny. That’s the same day Shirley said her necklace was stolen. Tell me, is it a gold locket with a phoenix painted on it?”
The wife glanced between the necklace she was holding and Atticus a few times, her brow furrowing in confusion. “How did you know?”
“Well, that’s the description Shirley gave me. I’ll be taking it back to her now, thank you very much,” Atticus took his hand out of his pocket and held it out.
The wife hesitated before taking it off and slowly walking towards Atticus, putting the locket in his hand before quickly backing away.
Atticus felt Johnny squirm under his wand and pressed it closer to his neck. “Ah ah ah, I’m not done with you yet. Listen to me carefully. If you ever bother Shirley again, I’ll kill you.” He leaned closer to the man’s face until they were only inches apart. He could feel the other man’s breath on his face. “Understood?” He asked coldly.
“Yes,” Johnny finally whimpered out.
“Good,” Atticus stepped away, lowering his wand. “See, wasn’t that easy? Now I’d better be off, because I think you and your wife need to have a conversation, and I want no part of that.” He turned and walked towards the door.
From behind him he heard the wife cry out “Johnny no!”, and whirled around to see Johnny aiming his own wand at Atticus.
Before Johnny could fire a spell at him, Atticus pointed his wand at him and calmly said “Exarmare.” He felt his energy rush through his wand and out the tip in an invisible blast. Johnny’s wand was knocked out of his hand onto the floor. He looked from his empty hand to Atticus just in time to see him cast another spell. “Subdomo.” Another invisible blast of energy shot out, this time knocking Johnny against the wall. He slammed against it hard and slumped down, unconscious. His wife gasp and covered her mouth with her hands.
Atticus sighed and tucked his wand away. “He’ll be alright. You might want to take him to a hospital once he wakes up though.” With that he grabbed the glass of liquor Johnny had set down on a table and knocked it back. He set it back down and walked out of the apartment.
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Atticus walked through the dimly-lit city streets of New York alone. At some point he glanced over his shoulder and ducked into an alleyway. He walked halfway then stopped at a flight of stairs and made his way down them, where he was met with a brick wall. He took out his wand and tapped the middle brick, which was brown instead of red like the rest.
The bricks parted, revealing a drab speakeasy. The Blind Tiger. Heads turned to look at Atticus as he walked inside before looking back to their own tables. He was a regular here, so no one ever minded him. The wall returned behind him, each brick returning to their original spot.
He scanned the room and stopped on a younger woman wish short, curly brown hair and a black eye. She was sitting at a table with a few other ladies, laughing about something Atticus couldn’t quite here. He made his way over to the table, winding around other people as he passed them. The Blind Tiger was surprisingly full tonight.
“Shirley!” Atticus called to the woman.
She perked up at her name, her eyes widening a little as she saw Atticus. “Did you do it?”
Atticus held up the necklace, setting it in front of Shirley. “Yes. Our little friend Johnny shouldn’t be bothering you anymore. But if he does, you know where to find me.”
Shirley beamed and leaped up, hugging Atticus. “Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!” Atticus stiffened and patted her on the back. Her friends- at least, Atticus assumed they were her friends- exchanged glances of relief and amusement.
“Anytime, ma’am. Now, about payment,” Atticus said.
Shirley pulled away from the hug, her smile faltering. “Oh, right…” She glanced away before she perked up again. “Wait, how about this? Why don’t you take my locket as payment? I’m a little tight on money right now, and the locket would probably get you more money then I could offer.”
Atticus glanced behind her at the locket and paused for a moment before grabbing it, stuffing it in his pocket. “Okay. Deal.”
Shirley smiled and sat back down in her chair. “Thank you again Mr…”
“Torrence. Atticus Torrence,” he said with a nod before turning around and making his way towards the bar. He sat down in one of the stools, setting his coat in his lap and rubbing his temples.
