Page 22 of Goblins Don't Count
“Why? Wasn’t the judge’s death suicide?” he said, giving me a frown that made me hesitate.
“We have to be thorough when investigating the death of a public figure.”
“You can examine them at the house if you have the proper authority.” He continued his hurried way out, ignoring the cops who had tried to keep him out in the first place. I exchanged looks with Lewell, who shrugged.
“Politicians. What do you do?”
“Find their killer.” Also, maybe find a way into that event.
I was wrapping up my interviews when Gabby found me.
“Hey! Look at you, all official business. So, I asked around about Judge Stevens, and the chatter was that he may have been taking bribes. I don’t know if that’s true, but considering the fact that Representative Phil ran his platform on ending corruption, but then quietly eased into taking kick-backs, I think there’s a good chance it is. Not that it would explain a murder, or a suicide, unless he had a sudden guilty conscience, but it’s something.” She linked her arm in mine and then her expression fell. “You aren’t impressed with my sleuthing.”
“I am. You’re very impressive. I just…” I turned to face her, grabbing her shoulders. “I think I’m turning into a goblin. I need to convince the Goblin King to help me, but there is no Goblin King, only the Goblin Authority, and I don’t know if the whole thing isn’t a scam, but it feels like I could concentrate on this case better if I wasn’t constantly distracted by cataloguing everyone’s body odor. A keen sense of smell has its pros and cons.”
She gasped. “That’s why you were talking about goblins? You’re becoming a goblin? How does that work, exactly?”
I shrugged. “Exactly? I have no idea. I just know that I have a lot of power, and better senses. I can’t see in the dark, and my skin’s still…” We both stared at my wrist.
“Do you have some time? My mom would love to check you out, and she’s also capable of great, terrifying things. If she doesn’t know what you should do, Libby will. She’s the best researcher in the world. At least when it comes to books and monsters. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me last night. We’re besties. If I was turning into a gargoyle…” She trailed off and then squinched up her face. “Anyway, I’m glad you told me. Can you come now?”
I hesitated, then nodded and texted Brannigan.
I won’t need a ride back.
He texted back.
Good because I left hours ago.
Under that was a golf emoji. Yep. Good thing he checked in with me before taking off. We needed to completely overhaul the police department to match the resources with the area’s needs. We needed to hire on more supernaturals who could combat the bad guys as well as do really fast paperwork. We needed a larger garage, a larger police department, but that would require more funding. I was just happy that funding the department wasn’t one of my jobs.
“Are you good?” she asked, tugging on my arm.
“I’m good,” I said, smiling and slipping my arm in hers.
Five minutes later, we were getting out at the Library of Antiquities, which was half a block away from the Cat’s Pause. I self-consciously took off my jacket and hat, wrapping them under my arm as I eyed the restaurant nervously.
“You still haven’t told her? She’s going to find out some time, and the longer you wait, the worse it will be.”
I shrugged and hurried up the steps, Gabby close beside me, two enormous ogre bodyguards behind her.
Gabby’s mom was in the lobby, leaning on the marble counter in the center and chatting with the guy who looked confused, intimidated, and very polite. He didn’t flinch from her scars or her gold necklaces.
“Mom, I brought Rynne. You were right about her energy being off. She’s turning into a goblin. Cool, right?”
Anna, the Grand Sorcerer, turned to study me, frowning, so the scars on her face pulled. “Interesting. I only know one way a human can turn into a goblin. Witches can’t, but maybe your witch blood is watery.”
“Rude,” Gabby said, nudging her mom.
She blinked at her and then at me. “Was it? Oh. I guess it was. I’m sorry, Rynne, sweetie. Sometimes I get caught up in the intellectual question and forget about the real feeling people behind them. Can I take some blood and tissue samples?”
I hesitated and then shrugged, glancing at the clerk, who was trying not to notice us or hear our conversation. “Okay.”
Anna pulled out one of my hairs, jabbed my arm with a pin, and then ran a finger over the side of my neck, shook said fingers out and then sneezed. “Sorry. I should probably do this in a lab, but if you’re turning into a goblin, the results will be fairly clear.” She waved her hand and dark marks of shifting evil coalesced around my floating hair, a drop of floating blood, and some specks of sweat or skin, nothing very visible.
She gestured and my samples landed on a sheet of paper, sealed down like they’d been air zipped. She licked her fingers, which were dripping dark energy that got on her chin and made her look more than slightly macabre. Her eyes were unfocused as she wove dark magics in the middle of the library lobby until finally she wiggled her fingers and sighed heavily.
“Yes, you’re definitely turning into a goblin. But the process should be complete by now. Somehow, it’s been interrupted by a very interesting force. Part curse, part spell, all stronger than anything I could unravel. Gabby, do you see it?”
