Sitting there quietly, time passed for a while. Delilah’s mother, Grace, was fidgeting—a clear state of nervousness. It didn’t take a genius to figure out why.

“So, do you mind telling me how you got my contact?”

She spoke briefly of it, but I needed to hear her say it again. People tend to lie with a bit of truth sprinkled in. That’s what separates the good from the bad ones. The best, however, is that they might very well tell the whole truth, with one key detail missing. That’s why I prefer people to repeat themselves, my attention to their eyes.

Apparently, Grace received my contact details after reporting Delilah’s disappearance to the authorities. Sadly, she doesn’t come from a middle-class neighborhood. Law enforcement right now isn’t even prioritizing them. There is an order to things, meaning she was at the bottom.  

However, it didn’t stop one individual from providing some assistance in the form of my business card.

“He, He was a-about this this tall…”

I got the gist from the description she provided.

“…th-that her name is Sirius Hush Grimes. She will help you. B-best in the city. If anyone c-can find your daughter, it’s going to be her.”

“Is that right?”

Not to toot my own horn, but I am pretty damn good. Best in the city, though? Well, why the hell not. If you’re going to shoot for something, shoot for the top. How did I become so skilled? It all comes down to attention to detail and understanding people. Plus, having heightened senses as a vampire doesn’t hurt, either.

“Payment. How do you suppose you can compensate me for my services. My rate is quite high? Did this person who recommended you mention that?”

“I-I uhhh… Umm…”

She nervously flashed her neck towards me. Naturally, my presence kept her anxious, beads of sweat glistening off her skin. That was all she could offer, as I knew funds were tight. Going back and forth on it in my head, I couldn’t very well do it for free, either. She might feel obligated to do something that she shouldn’t in order to scrounge up funds so as not to feel like she owes me. 

“Tell you what. I know a guy. I am sure the city will cover it. While I work out the details and head over and search your place, you can sit tight right here. We can discuss things after that. Okay?”

“Y-you sure? I-I will do anything. My daughter is all I have left and—”

“Please, don’t fret over it. Everything will be fine. Make yourself at home. As I said, we can talk more when I return.”

Leaving her with some instructions, I went to her residence to look for clues. It was pretty shoddy, of course. In a neighborhood called Jester’s Circle, a real sick joke given how the city systematically overlooks it when it comes to reasonable care. There was little to no safety. Dirty streets, with storefronts that may have never seen better days, were a cry from the fancy elite neighborhoods. It was just another place where desperation paid the rent, and survival was the only currency that mattered.

The front was barely noticeable with a deli occupying the first floor, and an entrance tucked between two adjacent buildings. At first sight, it looked no different than a path leading to an alley, but a closer look revealed a cubby leading a few feet to a set of stairs.

Each step creaked and echoed as I climbed. The metal main door was marked by several dents, a sign that some rowdy individuals had struggled with the passcode at some point in time.

I stood patiently, slipping in just as someone exited. The interior was just as bad, with random items strewn across the hallway and severe water damage visible on the walls. If I’m not mistaken, Grace and Delilah’s apartment was on the top floor, at the far end.

Grace had given me a key to enter, but upon reaching the door, I found it already ajar. Laying there on the sofa was a man, half asleep, scratching his ass with a few bottles lying about.

“Hello.”

My words went to wake him with a startle.

“Who are you?!”

“I could be asking you the same thing. Do you mind telling me what you’re doing here?”

I flashed him my ID before depositing it back inside my coat and taking a proper look around. He didn’t seem to care before telling me to leave his place. It’s interesting, given that what I know is that this is Grace and Delilah’s apartment.

“Hey! I won’t tell you again! Get out of here before I call the cops!”

“The cops? I’m sure they would love to know what you’re doing in someone else’s home. Call them.”

“EXCUSE ME?!? Watch who yer talking to. I own this place. Last I checked, you were on my property. Don’t tell me you’re friends with that whore?”

Okay, so now we are getting somewhere. I take it he is the landlord, a rather intrusive one.

“Sure, you can say that. Grace wanted me to come collect her things, as she was nervous that she had some stalker. That wouldn’t be you, would it?”

“STALK—Youse tell that bitch, she owes me money, ya here!”

“How much,” I asked out of curiosity. His curt reply was four months’ worth. How he let a tenant stay that long with so much debt left me with a few unsavory ideas.

I paid him cash right there on the spot, putting him in a better mood, albeit slightly, given he was here to collect on more than just rent. Eyeing me from head to toe, he huffed before turning to his own business. Not to confess too much, but if I was a betting gal, chances are he is probably going to harass whomever else lived within these walls of his.

With me, myself, and I alone again, I scoured the apartment for any clues, only to find hardly anything worth much. The place had minimal furniture and personal belongings to scour through. Photos, clothes, and some notebooks. There was one thing that stood out to me. A stuffed animal—a purple cat-like doll, hand-stitched and sewn together.

Delilah had mentioned something about a cat. This single item wasn’t much to work with, but it was a start. Tucking it under my arm, I pried open a window to let in some fresh air, as the room felt a bit stuffy.

While the landlord might have allowed me some privacy to do my job, he seemed eager to snoop about. His footsteps grew louder as he peeked back in. 

“Oi, by the way…”

He stopped in his tracks, his gaze going wide.

“Y-you’re one of them!”

His stammering words made me realize my sharp ears were sticking out from my hair. I usually try to hide them and avoid direct eye contact when I’m trying to be covert. While this usually works, it seems that my hair had shifted at some point from the way I had combed it earlier.

“You’re a—I have gotta call them—”

Before he could turn on his heels to run, I gave one solid jab to knock him down. I dragged him in to lay him back on the sofa just as I had found him. He might wake up and think it was all a dream, but the weight of my money in his pocket might not make it all that convincing.

Retrieving it back, I left to head across town to meet an old contact.

The Cross Brass Tavern. A cozy pub famous for its distinctive maple-style drinks. While I’m not much of a drinker, I can manage when necessary. 

“Seriously?!” 

The word came out sharp enough to cut through the tavern’s perpetual haze of cigarette smoke and lingering regrets. “Funny, I could say the same about you, Lieutenant. Of course, I’d find you here, holding court with Jack Daniels instead of working a case.”

“I only stopped in for one—”

“Give me a break. If you aren’t answering my calls, then there is only one reason. And, of course, it would be at the bottom of a mug.”

Lieutenant Woods leaned forward, embarrassed that I had caught him red-handed.

“So what do you want?”

“You sending people to my doorstep now?”

“Heh? Well, if you aren’t going to go out and find cases, then at the very least, I will send some your way. You’re a detective after all.”

“Private detective,” I clarified. “Let’s not forget the cops and their duties. But they are too busy right now, aren’t they? To care about a woman and her missing child who aren’t from a fancy place with a fancy name.”

“Oh, give me a break. Did you take the job or not? Because if you didn’t, then you are no better than the bastards that you’re trying to criticize. I’ve got guys working around the clock. The boys upstairs have to take certain incentives for certain individuals. As for you—what are you doing?”

“She’s not in the best of situations…”

“And? Take the case for free.”

“I can’t do that.”

“Okay, so what are you getting at?” The Lieutenant’s breath was full of ale. “What do you want from me? You only ever want to talk when you need something. So get on with it…”

A cold draft dragged between us as sucked my teeth. 

“The department will handle the paperwork for my fees,” I answered. “Looks more legitimate that way in order for the city to sign off on a check. Are you picking up what I am saying?”

“For the love of—we will see what happens, yeah? And if you’re going to find one kid, might as well find the rest of them and help out the department.”

“No. My case is to find a missing child of a mother who came to me for help. The cops are to locate the perpetrator and stop their actions. And given the details thus far, it might very likely be the Piper.”

“It’s impossible, and you know it!”

“At the very least, it’s a copycat fanatic. Regardless, will the department sign off on this yes or no?”

“Hmph. Like I said. We will see what happens,” the Lieutenant said in an irritated, wise, cracked tone. “I am sure the D.A. will be okay with it. Was that all?”

“Yeah.”

“What about the second thing?”

“Take some time and sober up! You’re a mess, and your phone has been ringing.”

“It has?”

The stumbling oaf swayed as he retrieved his phone from his coat pocket. The conversation was brief before it ended.

“What do you know? Looks like there is a potential lead uptown. One of my guys—”

“You’ve got guys?” I questioned dubiously. “One’s that listen to you?”

“Aye, is that so hard to believe?!”

“Whatever…”

“Yeah, whatever, I suppose,” he shot before finishing his swig before getting up. He didn’t bother saying much else before heading out, leaving me alone to sit to pay for his tab.

“Unbelievable he is…” I mumbled to myself, tossing the cash before finding myself in the accompaniment of another.

“You Sirius Hush Grimes?”

“…Yeahhhh… Whose asking?” I said skeptically. 

“The Boss sends his regards.”

“Who—?”

A bang went off. Screams loomed out ever so barely through one ear and out the other. Everything felt heavy and still. My vision fogging over until all I saw was black.

[Local time: 12:17am]

“Hello. This is 9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”

“Hi, hi—oh my god! Oh my god!”

“H-Hello—”

“She was—“

“Sir, please calm down; what happened?”

“Someone’s been shot. She was just sitting at the bar and—oh god! I don’t know. They were wearing a hoodie. I couldn’t—oh god. They just, just came in and shot her in the head and walked right out!”

“Where are you now, sir?”

“Cross Brass Tavern. M-Midtown. Oh my—it’s everywhere! There’s blood everywhere!” 

“Sir, dispatch is on the way. First responders have been contacted. They will all arrive shortly.”

“Oh my god! I think she’s dead! Th-there’s no pulse!”