Absolute silence.

“Wha?”

“Look at you two slobs.” The Detective suddenly slams a fist onto the table. “You sealed the gate so you would have a day off didn’t you? You said it yourself, right here in front of me…”

“We did not!” The half-orc screams back.

“What evidence do you have huh?” The Detective yells back. “Tell me you would’ve killed to have a day off!”

“WE DIN’T DO IT I SWEAR!” The human begs aloud.

“Oh yeah, look at that.” The Detective points out towards the debris field of scattered grain. “You want to know what’ll happen if Colota-Jamis hears about this?! You’ll be skinned alive, piece by piece before the Magistrate’s done with you…”

Officer Cassie turns over to Detective Tan, maw open as she watches the insanity unfold.

A small, awkward smile given towards her, the elf slowly strolling over towards the halfling shopkeeper.

Slightly plump from stationary work, an apron dirtied from the stocking of produce and the cleaning of grime. The short, near three foot tall woman was reaching the apex of a halfling’s middle age, at the crossroads of decreprity and youthful hope. Green eyes wide in the proximity of Detective Ryce’s “investigation,” the arrival of his partner is barely noticed until he speaks up.

Respectful words, the tall elven man standing straight as he pulls his hands behind his back. “Hello ma’am, I am Detective Third Class Tanithil Balquinal of the Southern City Guard Arcane Crimes Unit, Special Investigations Division. If you do not mind, may I ask you a few questions?”

“H-hello…” The woman nods reluctantly. “Y-yes you c-can ask.”

“Thank you.” The Detective pulls a calm smile. “What is your name ma’am?”

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“J-joanna Marin.” She answers.

“Thank you Joanna.” Detective Tanithil continues smoothly. “How long have you owned this location?”

“A-ar…”

From about ten feet away Detective Ryce slams the table again, an unusually loud voice carrying with it obviously forged rage.

Tanithil smiles with an attempt at reassurance. “You are not in any trouble, so please do not be concerned. How long have you owned this establishment?”

“Around twelve years.”

“That’s quite a long time. So has the gate, by any chance in the time you’ve owned this location, ever done anything similar to what has occurred today?”

The middle aged women thinks before answering. “No, nothing of the sort no.”

Detective Tanithil nods. “Have you observed any suspicious activity before the seal went up?”

“No, I was just working on the second lunch when it happened…” Joanna trails off. “No, I didn’t notice anything really.”

“That is alright. Final question, but did you see the seal activate?”

“Oh I only came out when it was mostly done.” The woman answers quickly.

“Can you tell me what it looked like, or at least how it was activated?”

Joanna recalls the information, an aging mind providing a small window into the actualized event. “Like when you pour eggs in a pan. Spread out from one side to the next.”

The information is internalized, processed, and executed.

“Thank you for your time Ma’am.”

Turning around to his partner, Detective Tan strolls over mid-interrogation.

Ryce points directly at the half-orc, accusation left as poison in the midst of terrifying legal consequences. “THEY WILL BURY YOU UNDER RIKER ISLAND. I SWEAR TO…”

A small tap on his shoulder, the fellow detective silencing him as he steps forward. “Forgive my colleague, I have a few questions, if you could answer?”

Detective Ryce follows it up, faked emotion immediately subsiding. “You listen to my partner, or I’ll end you.”

Unabated, the elf asks his question calmly. “When your cart was destroyed, which side did the wall come from?”

The half-orc and human driver glance at each other, an answer lost to memories. The half-orc speaks up first. “You mean which side the wall came from?”

“Right side.” The human immediately answers.

“Right side.” The half-orc corroborates.

In an instant Detective Ryce moves, a light jog towards the relative right side of the arcane seal.

Detective Tan attempts a small smile to his own suspect. “Thank you for your cooperation.”