Evie looked down at the card, then handed it to Siobhan. It was a plain white card, with a map drawn on it that was of Goblindown District.

"I have to be at work by 6:30," Evie said, frowning. "Maybe if I talk to my manager, I can go in an hour late and come with you."

"No," Siobhan said, tucking the card into her pocket. "You just started that job last week. You can't afford to start messing with your schedule now."

"Vhan, you are not going on your own. Take Thomas, if no one else. He's not bright, but he's a good bodyguard."

"I'm not going on my own, and I'm not taking Thomas. No sense in getting him or Rachel involved. I'll ask Ray to go with me."

"Raymond?" Evie snorted, gathering up the skewers and napkins to return to the stall. "He's a wimp, for all the height he takes up."

Siobhan rolled her eyes. "The idea is to give this guy the impression that I have multiple friends outside the Dwarven clans. People who will care if I go missing, so he'd better watch his step. If I take Thomas, he'll think it's you in a fake beard."

Evie narrowed her eyes. "If you weren't my best friend, I would be really offended by that insult. Thomas and I are twins, but we don't look that alike."

"Says you."

Siobhan climbed the stairs to her third floor apartment and unlocked the door. She saw the two sets of wooden clogs on the mat just inside and called, "Hey, who's here today?"

"Hi, Siobhan! It's just me." A Goblin woman stuck her head around the corner. Gray skinned, her short jet black hair stuck out in spikes and wisps. She was just over four feet tall, and often gave the impression that she would move slowly, as she was layered heavily in a sweater, vest and jacket, with chunky jewelry of every kind.

"Hey, Savannah," Siobhan said, sliding off her clogs. "Good timing. What do you know about this area?"

Savannah took the card and squinted, before pulling out a pair of horn rim glasses. "Lessee, that's South Canal Street. So that's pretty close to the heart of Goblindown. Why are you asking?"

"Supposed to meet someone there in a couple hours."

"There? Siobhan, honey, you should not go there on your own. That's pretty close to the junk trade shops. Those guys are like piranhas to any non-Goblin."

"I know. I was gonna ask Ray to go with me, but maybe you can come too? You know all the shortcuts."

Savannah tapped the card against her purple-dyed nails. "What's in it for me?"

"You get whatever meal you want when I get the money."

Her eyes lit up. "Can you make the kimchi pizza?"

Siobhan considered it briefly, then nodded. "I think I can handle that."

"Did someone say kimchi pizza?" Ray yelled from the common room. "I'm starved."

"Ray, I just brought you cheesy pasta, AND fried chicken," Savannah turned towards the common room to yell back. "How can you still be hungry?"

"I'm loading up."

Siobhan leaned around the door frame to see her roommate sprawled out on the couch, four or five takeout containers on the floor next to him. His shaggy brown hair was greasy and unkempt, and his long limbs caused him to drape over the couch arms. He scratched his head with claw-like nails, and wouldn't meet Siobhan's gaze. "You know how I get on the full moon."

"By which I take it you finished off the leftovers in the fridge?" Siobhan asked.

"Sorry."

"S'okay. I had lunch with Evie."

"That's your old family friend, yeah?" Savannah asked. "Ray told me she didn't like him. Can't imagine why."

"She said I had the personality of a turnip and the spine of a pea."

"Stop whining," Siobhan said. "It doesn't normally bother you, so don't let it bother you today."

Ray snorted and licked his lips. "So what was this about kimchi pizza? I could use something else to eat."

"That was me promising some to Savannah when I get the money. I can make some for you too, if you both go with me to the Goblindown District tonight."

"What?" Raymond yelped, sitting up and almost falling off the couch. "Why in blue moons are you going there?"

"Cuz I met a guy who may have information on my sister. He said to meet him there at 6."

"Uh, hold up, Siobhan." Savannah waved her hand to gain attention. "Sweetie, any guy who asks to meet you, in this type of area, is not gonna have good intentions. You'll be lucky if you avoid getting drugged and sold off on the black market."

Siobhan sighed. "I am aware of that. I'm not a complete idiot. But I need to know if he has any information I can use."

"But-" Ray started towards her. 

"Sinead has been missing for 3 years. I want to know if she's alive or dead or something else." Siobhan set her violin case down on the rickety table, keeping her tone even. "Now take a shower and get on some decent clothes, Ray. You owe me for the leftovers, if nothing else."

Raymond sighed and slouched towards the bathroom.

Savannah started picking up trash. "And they say that women get emotional during our periods."

Siobhan shrugged and smiled. She piled the dirty dishes into the sink and surveyed the muddy floor. "I should probably wait a couple days to mop. He'll just track in more mud tonight."

"Your friend, Evie, right? Does she know about Ray?"

"Nah. If she knew, she'll tell her family and they'd insist on dragging me back to Dwarventown 'to be safe'. Werewolves don't have a good public image."

"Yeah, well, neither do Goblins, and you hang out with me fairly often."

"So?" Siobhan knocked on the bathroom door. "Ray, I don't hear water running! Do I need to come in there?"

"You're not my mom, Siobhan!"

Siobhan shrugged again and moved back to the kitchen. "It's a good thing he's only like this one day a month. I couldn't stand him otherwise. Want some tea while we wait, Savannah? I've got earl grey and some cookies stashed in my room."