Not being able to go to work and have the normal channels is frustrating, but that won’t stop me. I can pull a few other resources out of my pocket. Talon left me with a few sources he felt would talk to me when he couldn’t be around.

Little did I know he’d abandon me with that list, because he was going to desert me and head half-way across the country. Over a cup of tea, I make a plan of action to get answers from these sources and possibly a trip to visit Momma.

My eyes are drawn to Talon’s black town car, and I pause for a moment before heading downstairs.

The weather is gray and misty, and though the temperature might be cool, the humidity clings to my skin.

The sound of Lila, my goddaughter, chatting with her mother's about their plans for the day, I interrupt them with a knock on the front door.

As I stand at the door, I sense not only curious gazes upon me but also a tingling presence of magic emanating from inside. I doubt it’s Lila’s magic and suspect one of her mother's is responsible.

The door swings open. Lila bounces on the balls of her dainty feet clad in running shoes. An ache of my need to apologize for not being able to go on a morning run with Celia and me form in my chest.

Her mother looks up and smiles at me before they take in my face. Destiny comes forward, her hair full of late summer leaves and the wooden smell of her wafts towards me. She hugs Lila and moves her out of the doorway as she invites me inside.

I apologize to Lila for missing our morning running date. She’s alright but asks me about the detectives who came by and asked questions.

Hazel, her other mother, suggests we sit down and ask if I need a cup of coffee. I take a seat with Lila and Destiny, who’s on her other side, running her hands through Lila’s curls, fluffing them around her horns.

“Why couldn’t you handle the problem, you’re a detective, right?” Her shoulders hunched.

“For a couple of reasons.” Shifting on the couch next to her to give me time to think through what I’m going to say. “I’m on forced leave. I can’t do anything connected to my job for a while.”

Her voice becomes shrill and animated as she asks, “You’re fired?”

“I’m not fired,” I reassure her.

“You remember that Rafe and I were working on a case?”

As I mention that, memories of him lying on the grass, his blood everywhere, flash through my mind. I swallow past the lump in my throat. She nods, she remembers and her eyes are sad too. We all miss my late partner even though he was with me for such a short time.

“Well, the Federal Government picked that case up and so I am a witness to a big trial. They want me available if they need me or need to move me.”

“They won’t move you, will they? I heard they take us away and we never come back.” Her eyes plead with me to tell her that won’t happen to me.

She hasn’t fully come to terms with the fact that, unlike her and her adopted parents, I’m a mortal.

“They shouldn’t need to hide me.”

Now, however, I worry that the package might be a warning. It could be from someone involved in the Sub Rosa, the favor trafficking ring I’m witnessing for the feds.

“What’s the other reasons?” She asks after she’s reassured that the Feds won’t take me away.

“A detective can’t investigate something that is happening to them. I’m the “victim” so I have to call someone to make the report.”

The irony of this statement isn’t lost on me, especially considering my plan for today.

“That makes sense.” She says.

I promise her a rain check on the run and Destiny sees me out handing me a bag of fresh-made muffins. A warning in Destiny’s eyes, telling me to take care of myself. That warning follows me out of their apartment and to the car.

It’s essential for me to be cautious since I have a goddaughter relying on me to stay safe.

It’s shocking to realize that I’ve never had someone to live for until now. Someone that relies on me more than to be a good detective and have their back. I’ve always gone in with nothing to lose. I’m not sure how I feel about having something to lose now, or someone that will mourn the loss of me.