“Fine, fine, I’ll talk then already.” Gribkik said before letting out a resigned sigh. “All I know about that stuff, is where a group of those spikeheads like to congregate at. I swear though, that’s all that I know, so please, please refrain from smashing any more of the many, many valuable items in my store.”

“Hmm.” Gunderson mused, while slowly weighing Gribkik’s words in his mind. “I’m not sure that I’m convinced that’s really all that you know, my little friend. Why not give it another second to think about it, and see if any more nuggets of information fall loose in that brain of yours up there.”

“I said already, I don’t know much.” Gribkik protested with an angry scowl on his face. “Dealing with drugs like that is just bad business. I make way more by focusing on selling off the myriad collection of magical trinkets and doodads you see around you. All of which is perfectly legal, I can assure you.”

“Ah-ah, but you also sell information to people, don't you, Gribkik?” Gunderson knowingly teased. “I know this because I happen to be one of your very best customers for that particular service.”

“Pftaa, a customer, he says.” Gribkik grumbled loudly. “A customer pays for things, doesn’t he. What would you instead call someone who takes things without giving anything in exchange for them, huh.”

“Oh, now that insinuation right there is just unfair, my friend.” Gunderson said to him with a knowing smile. “I offer you many different things in exchange for the plentiful and credible information you regularly provide me with. Like not confiscating your extensive collection of illegal and untaxed goods for instance.”

“T-taxed. What on the great green earth are you talking about?” Gribkik practically screamed. “I’ve never had to be taxed for a single thing in my entire life, and calling my safe, high-quality products illegal is just slanderous unless you’ve brought some kind of proof with you.”

“I’m feeling like you’re forgetting who I am and what particular organization I represent, Gribkik.” Gunderson said with a more sinister smile now. “I get to determine whether you are breaking a particular regulation with what you are selling, agent discretion and all. Also, as far as taxes, well, all I have to say to that is, you’re welcome. If you’d like that courtesy to continue, I’d hope you would be amenable to continuing to provide the services that the IDPA has come to rely on you for.”

“For Gaia's sake, man, I’ve told you literally all I know.” Gribkik said to him desperately. “I swear to you there is nothing else I know about spike, those who use it, those who make it, nothing.”

Gunderson gave him another long hard stare before finally saying. “What’s the address then, for the hangout you think you know about.”

“It’s off of Eureka Way, in a condemned apartment complex along Green Orchard Road. It’s overgrown with dead, dried-out weeds and bushes all around it, so it shouldn’t be all that hard to find.” Gribkik rapidly explained in a desperate hurry.

“This lead better check out Gribkik.” Gunderson warned. “You’ve been straight with me so far when it comes to leads, but don’t think I’ll just take whatever you tell me at face value. It only takes one time for you to send me off with some bad info that leads me straight into an ambush.”

“I’m not that stupid. Come on, give me some credit here, Agent Gunderson.” Grubkik said defensively while putting his hands up.

“Uh-huh, we’ll see.” Gunderson said dismissively before turning around to look back at me.

I’d just been standing there silent, watching the spectacle unfold in front of me. This was clearly Gunderson’s thing, and he obviously knew what he was doing, so it didn’t seem to make much sense to me to interrupt him throughout all that.

Honestly, I felt enthralled just watching them go back and forth with each other, trying to soak in what each of them was saying, but also how they were saying it as well.

Now that he was looking back at me, though, I wasn’t sure if he had expected me to say something earlier or if he was only now inviting me to say something?

“Uh, yes?” I asked Gunderson as he continued staring back in my direction.

“Did you have any questions?” He asked me patiently. “This is your chance to get some experience with investigations. Although to be fair, I don’t think Gribkik here has much else to tell us about our particular investigation. Still, you can just ask him about other things as well. He is a fairly good source of information, after all.”

At the conclusion of his words, Gunderson gave Gribkik a large, almost predatory smile.

“Okay, that’s enough of the intimidation. You’ve already made your point today, haven’t you?” Gribkik desperately protested. “Now, why don’t you introduce me to your colleague here, proper like then.”

“For sure.” Gunderson replied congenially. “This young lady right here is Northern California’s newest supernatural, and while I may be biased, I’d say one day soon, she'll become its greatest as well.”

“S-supernatural, you say.” Gribkik muttered apprehensively before turning his eyes toward me to really take me in for the first time. “Well now, why didn’t you tell me you’d brought a VIP into my fine establishment today. I would have prepared some welcoming snacks and treats for her when she arrived.”

“Ah no, you don’t need to do anything like that.” I told him while finally stepping forward to stand beside Gunderson at the large wooden counter Gribkik was standing behind. “I’m no one special. You don’t have to treat me any differently or offer me gifts or whatever.”

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

“Hah, looks like you’ve got a modest one with this girl here, haven’t you. Let’s see how long that lasts.” Gribkik chuckled good-naturedly. “I’m not sure if that makes you incredibly lucky or unlucky, Herbert.”

“Neither, and like I said when I introduced her, she is a special one.” Gunderson said sternly. “And also someone you should show respect to as well.”

“Ah, of course, of course.” Gribkik replied apologetically while making placating gestures toward Gunderson in the hopes of calming him down. “Now then, how can I best help you today, young lady. I already informed your wise and patient mentor here that I know nothing more about this spike drug you seem to be looking into today, but if you want anything else from me, please feel free to ask.”

“Umm…” I mumbled, openly conveying my uncertainty to the two watching adults in the room.

Should I try and ask more about the drug Gunderson was looking into? Should I just assume that Gunderson really did get all the information he possibly could out of this guy already. Would my pressing Gribkik more be just a waste of time?

No, I need to step up here, Gunderson is depending on me to do well with this. Lives are on the line in this, I need to give it my best effort.

“Well….” I began, as my thoughts raced through what was said already, hoping to find a thread of information I could follow that would lead me to a question I could ask him. “Can you tell us about how you came across the information you shared with us? Who gave you that information, and what can you tell us about them?”

I did a quick look in Gunderson’s direction to see if he approved, and he gave me a slight nod while maintaining the polite reassuring smile he had on his face.

“Hah, now I won’t insult you because I’m told you’re new at this, but I absolutely cannot reveal my sources to other people.” Gribkik said with an uncomfortable smile on his green face that seemed to have become slightly sweaty in the time we had been questioning him. “I’m sure your friend Gunderson here will corroborate that.”

As I turned to look at him, all he said was, “You’ve got this, Jenni, keep going. You already got him on the ropes.”

“W-wha, ropes, what do you mean?” Gribkik protested while looking between us. “I’ve already told you, as a merchant with integrity and honor, I simply cannot reveal who my sources may be. It would ruin me.”

“Are we supposed to care about that?” I asked him in a cold tone of voice.

This prompted Gunderson to let out a small laugh that he quickly covered up and returned to having a calm and relaxed expression.

“W-why wouldn’t you care? I’m running a business here, and letting information like that out, would, at best, ruin my reputation and business and, at worst, put a target on my back and risk my life.” Gribkik said to me with an expression of worry written plainly on his face. “Come now, why not ask me about something else. You’ve no doubt have many, many other questions to which I have a ready answer, and if it’s not a different question you want an answer to, why not take a look around at the many treasure’s you’ll find around my shop here. I have no doubt in my mind one of them will appeal to you.”

“You’re deflecting and trying to change topics.” I told him simply.

“Come now, why not take a look at this little globe over here.” He said with a toothy grin, indicating at a small shining orb on a nearby pedestal. “A genuine orb of true sight, guaranteed to break any illusions, physical or mental, that you may come across.”

“Not interested.” I lied. I was actually super interested, an orb of true sight sounded awesome.

“Hmm, you’re truly not interested? Well then, how about choosing from one of the many rare and invaluable arcane tomes I have arranged on this bookshelf here.” Gribkik said while walking over to a bookshelf lined with row after row of leather bound books in an vast array of different colors. “No doubt, you could find something that would peak your interest within them, no?”

“N-no thank you.” I desperately choked out, my curiosity threatening to overwhelm me. “You already know what I want, just tell me what you want in exchange.”

“What I want in exchange….” Gribkik said quietly, his eyes going ever so slightly wider in surprise. “Well, you are a bit different than the ordinary suits that walk into my store, aren’t you?”

“I’m not sure what that means.” I admitted. “But stop trying to stall and just make me an offer already.”

Gunderson had stayed quite so far, watching me with a thoughtful expression now on his face.

“Hah.” Gribkik laughed almost good-naturedly, his demeanor seeming to shift somewhat as he stood back up a little bit straighter behind the counter. “Well, what do I want from a newly created supernatural? Hmm, I doubt you have much money on you, do you?”

“If you mean like ordinary American dollars, then no.” I confessed. “I’m just a…well, I’m afraid large amounts of cash is not something I can offer in trade.”

I gave a look toward Gunderson while I considered asking him for some money or to see if he had a problem with the direction I was taking things. I even went so far as to raise my eyebrow in question while he just continued looking at me calmly.

Gunderson finally just shrugged at me before crossing his arms in front of him. I took that to mean he wouldn’t be paying for me, but that he also wasn’t going to interfere either.

I considered complaining or pressing him for some cash here, but that seemed like a weak move, especially with Gribkik watching us both.

I’d have to continue on my own for now. Later though, I really needed to ask Gunderson about getting some kinda salary or something because, honestly, only an idiot works for free when they don’t have to. Plus, it makes my job easier, as evidenced by the present circumstances.

“Well, I expected as much.” Gribkik mused, also with a shrug. Seeing him shrug was slightly funnier to me though, given his small and slight frame.

I hadn’t been able to tell clearly from where I’d been standing a few feet away before, but Gribkik had a reasonably small body. Judging by his proportions, he must be standing on a stool or on a very high floor behind that counter of his. I was still reasonably curious about what he was exactly. Still, I was also afraid asking him that question would be considered offensive and rude.

“Hmm, well, there is only really one thing people want from your kind anyways.” Gribkik announced with an amused smirk on his sizeable green face.

“And what is that exactly?” I prompted him, knowing he was waiting for me to ask.

“Careful, Jenni.” Gunderson finally said, causing me to turn and look in his direction. “Do what you want here, but consider things a bit before you give your final answer.”

Gunderson’s words caused me to become immediately more on guard about Gribkik. What could he say that would prompt Gunderson to be concerned for me?

“How about a favor?” Gribkik said with a wide toothy smile on his face. “Nothing more, nothing less.”