Hex listened thoughtfully as Wraith told him about his debt, about how being an occult detective was like being a comic book artist. You always seemed to be chasing the money.
For a while there was silence then Hex began to chuckle. "You forgot I'm a hellhound didn't you Wraith?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Wraith was getting angry, confused.
"We hellhounds, if you have even bothered to look us up on Wikipedia, are supernatural beings and are always linked to death an' all things spooky."
Again, he chuckled and said:
"Ok, you know how I have this totally amazing ability to smell things don't you?"
"Yes." Wraith said slowly.
"Well, I can also smell buried treasure." And with that he rushed off across the park.
Wraith waited 5 minutes then 10 then 15 until he saw Hex running back. There was something in his mouth.
Hex stopped at Wraith's feet and spat out one by one a collection of coins. "A couple taste of gold," he said. "A few are silver and one is cheap iron."
Wraith picked them up, studied them for a moment and said. "You dug these up?"
"No, they fell from the sky," Hex replied sarcastically. "Of course I did. They are all over this park, I smell them all the time. Have you forgotten we're in London it's got like 2 thousand years of history. I don't know how much they're worth but you can't tell me boss a gold coin is worth nothing."
Wraith rolled the coins through his fingers and said:
"Lucky coin."
Hex gave him a puzzled look.
"The whole thing is worth I guess about £1,500. I know a contact who deals in these in the West End."
"Well," Hex said. "It looks like you're going to be taking me walkies a lot more often now."
Wraith smiled and said "Come on let's head home." For the first time in weeks he relaxed. Felt like he was turning a corner on it all. Then he stopped in his tracks.
He forgot about the devil and for a second he felt like throwing the coins away, felt like running away until he couldn't run anymore.
But it was only for a second.