Michaela looked across the old palace armory to where Matt moved around an empty armor stand with exaggerated care. Even after so long, it still surprised her that such a big man could move so delicately. He pulled a sample tube from his inner jacket pocket. It looked tiny in his big paws. When he bent down to lift something from the glass shards covering the floor, the object his tweezer picked up was a tassel that looked like it belonged on a medieval tapestry. It slipped cleanly into the 'tiny' sample vial without a problem.

"Excuse me, miss, but we must insist that no artifacts leave the premises."

The prim little man's English was precise, impeccable, but that only made his prissy attitude come through all the clearer. Michaela knew she ought to be more politic with the gentleman beside her, but she couldn't help needling him just a little. She took a deep breath to be sure she had a firm grip on her temper, forced herself to ignore the slight musty smell of steel, sulfur, and old weapon oil that permeated the room.

"Hey Frank! Takahashi here says we're not allowed to take souvenirs!" Her shout echoed through the room, despite the ornate wall hangings that adorned the walls and the thick rugs that covered the floor. To Matt's credit, he didn't even twitch at her yell; he just kept moving carefully through the wreckage of the display.

Taking pity on the poor functionary beside her, Michaela turned and looked up at him. He seemed unsettled by the fact that despite being smaller than him, she met his eyes squarely. It was her nature, and she'd never seen fit to change it for anyone, man, beast, or demon. She certainly wasn't going to change it for the clerk who had interrupted their vacation to have Matt examine the scene of a robbery.

She surprised him again by speaking in accented but perfectly serviceable Japanese, "Apologies, Takahashi-san. My husband is meticulous in his searches, and he is careful of antiquities. His parents are curators at a museum, so he is knowledgeable regarding the techniques required for safe handling of objects of art and objects of history. Be at peace."

With those last words, she reached into the deep well of Power within her and, with the slightest brush of her hand against Takahashi's soothed his worries. She saw his brow unfurrow, watched as he became as fascinated as she by Matt's slow dance across the armory floor.

When he moved out of their direct field of vision, Michaela turned to the functionary. It was time for her to do the part of the job that she did better than Matt. "Tell me, Takahashi-san, what was taken?"

The young man turned to her; surprise evident on his face. "Your Japanese is excellent for a foreigner. I was given to understand that you have never visited Japan before?"

"That is correct. I have a gift for languages." That was an understatement. The Lord of Hosts had gifted the Captains of his Host with the ability to communicate with any of his Children, and Michaela inherited that when she was created from a shard of one of those Captains. Her ability to sense when someone tried to change the subject was far more mundane; working as a cop for nearly ten decades gave her a good sense for human foibles.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"Thank you for your compliment, but it would help immeasurably if we knew what was taken."

Michaela always got annoyed when using her gift for languages. It made her sound like she had a stainless-steel rod shoved up her ass. She was far less formal in English and Italian, the two languages she'd spoken while walking the Earth before meeting Matthew. Some of that must have shown on her face because Takahashi swallowed and stepped back half a pace before replying.

"A number of artifacts were taken, Mrs. Franklin. Many weapons, one suit of armor, some jewelry, and a variety of other works of art."

She smiled up at him, "I prefer Officer Miles when I am working, Takahashi-san."

"Apologies if I have offended."

"No offense was given. It is a common mistake. It is as much a reminder to myself as to others. Now, we will need a list of all items that were taken, including all the information available on each item."

That earned her a frown from the clerk assigned to liaise with them. "It was my understanding your husband was requested by the NPA. As he is a private investigator and freelance forensic scientist, it was simply a matter of paying his fee..."

"Which, I remind you, he waived for the opportunity to see the collection."

"That was most kind of him, and I appreciate that you also have donated your leisure time to assisting us, but I believe if you are called on to assist us, the NPA will be forced to go through Interpol and your own Federal and State enforcement bureaus to acquire permission for you to investigate that matter."

She smiled at him again. It was amazing; before she met Matt, she had no idea how many people would change their minds for nothing more than a smile. Since she met Matt, of course, she had a lot more reason and opportunity to smile, but that didn't prevent her from using whatever weapons were at her disposal.

"Takahashi-san, I admire your dedication to following even the minutest iota of protocol, but I have a simple solution for you, that I think will make everyone happy and require far less paperwork."

"I will certainly listen to your suggestion, Officer Miles."

"Ah, therein lies the problem, so..." Carefully, so there would be no misunderstanding, Michaela mimed taking off a badge, tucking it away in her pocket, then taking off a hat and putting it in the shoulder bag she carried while on vacation. "Officer Miles is, as you know, on vacation with her husband, Mr. George Matthew Franklin. You've hired Mr. Franklin, and his wife is just tagging along and supporting her husband, like any good wife would. So... If Mrs. Franklin suggests that Mr. Franklin will need to see a list of all items that were taken, as well as all the information available for each item, could you have it compiled as quickly as possible, so that Mrs. Franklin can get back to the sushi bar that is calling her name?" She finished up with another thousand-watt smile, this one supercharged with thoughts of the other things she'd like to get back to when Matt was done working.

It seemed to work. Takahashi blushed just a little, then pulled out his handheld. "Of course, Mrs. Franklin. I will have the list compiled and ready as soon as possible."

It amazed her. If she'd known how effective smiling could be, she might have avoided all that paperwork for excessive use of force.

Nah, roughing up scumbags that desperately need it is just way too much fun.