July, Wednesday 9th, 1961, 16:15. Springtrove, North Georgina Kingdom, United Countries of Faeldris.
The rest of my week yielded many of the same results. It seemed that every business was nearly empty, with rude employees. The only remotely friendly person I dealt with today was the flirty Heratrude at the laundromat. I was walking with a cigarette in my mouth rubbing my cheeks at the five o’clock shadow. I sent a phone call to meet up with Grinkle to meet and go over what he found tomorrow.
Thankfully I had been able to figure out where city hall was where I was slated to spend some time with the Mayor once more. Thoughts of her perfect beauty and playful nature excited me. I stubbed out my cigarette and threw it away properly as I approached the door to the hall. I popped a mint into my mouth just in case I was going to be lucky enough to get a kiss out of the day.
The climb up the three stairs felt like eternity as my feet complained from all the walking I had done today. I had a hunger growing inside my stomach. Plans to stretch this into a dinner date filled my mind as I approached the receptionist.
“Welcome to Springtrove City Hall, what can I do for you sir?” She was a tiny chipper halfling. Her chuberic face was soft and full of a rosy smile. Her eyes glimmered with laughter and joy with the browns of a clay pot.
“I believe the Mayor is expecting me at 4:30. I’m here just a few minutes early. Where should I wait?” I smiled down at her, she was a drop of sunshine on a dreary afternoon.
“You must be Mr. Smith. What a strange name, was your father a blacksmith? That is such an ancient profession thanks to the new machines that build everything. Sorry I don’t mean to be rude, I’m Pendelworth Wartsbane at your service. I’ll be your main point of contact when you are trying to reach the Mayor. She is a very busy woman.” Her tone was fast and hard to follow as she rattled her words out.
I nodded as I took a deep breath of the enchanted cool air and pulled my jacket back on. I noticed she was as comfortable as a bug in a rug despite the somewhat cold room. “That’s me, but please I go by John.” I held out a hand and grasped her diminutive fingers like a gentleman and even pulled her hand up to my lips for a small kiss much to her giggling delight.
“What a charmer,” She blushed and shuffled down her raised chair and came around the desk. The top of her head barely at my waist as she motioned for me to follow her. “You’ll be waiting in her office, she will be with you as soon as her meeting wraps up. I’d be happy to bring you a glass of water. Also I can smell the smoke on you but there is no smoking in the Mayor’s office.”
I was shocked as she floated off the ground at the stairs and effortlessly glided up the steep incline. I walked behind her, keeping pace with her tiny legs easily. Such a display of magic being performed so easily spoke about how old this halfling might be. You could never tell how old they were by appearance. I had a college classmate that was nearly one hundred years old and looked younger than me.
The halls were labyrinthian as she guided us effortlessly through it all. Soon I was lost before she finally stopped at a third floor room. The ornate oak door was expertly carved and beautiful to behold.
Pendelworth turned to me and fixed me with a wonderful grin. “You know, the mayor is a little smitten with you. She wouldn’t stop talking about the handsome man that bought her breakfast on the train. You’re pretty good looking for a human. Are you sure you don’t have other blood in you?”
I kept the frown from my face at the insinuation that humans were less attractive than the other races of the world. “One hundred percent human. Just blessed I guess,” I waited for her to usher me into the room as I also tried not to think about Tulip talking about me so kindly.
Pendelworth straightened up with a wide smile as she nodded, she made a calling card appear out of seemingly thin air and handed it to me. “That has my work and personal phone number on there. Don’t abuse it,” She gave me a playful wink as she walked away leaving me at the door.
I didn’t wait outside the room so I pushed inside and looked around the office. The desk was living wood, the legs buried in dirt as the desk was expertly guided into growing into the perfect work space befitting such an elegant woman. The chair behind the desk was also living wood and was flowering bright yellow petals. The scent of nature filled the room as I approached the one normal looking chair in the room. It was plush and soft as I pushed on it with my hand but I wanted to explore the room even more.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
There were scry stills of a much younger version of the Mayor. Her hair free and flowing behind her as braces adorned her mouth and head. Her dorky little smile was wide as she ran towards whoever took the still. She was wearing a white shift that hung down to her knees and flowed ephemerally in the wind. The moving picture was a wonderful thing to behold. A small dog ran alongside her, its big floppy ears going up and down as they trotted together in the photo.
A diploma hung on the wall from Yggdrasil University. It was in elvish though so I couldn’t tell what it might have been earned doing. There were a few trophies around the room as well as a stained mug that said, “Realm’s Best Boss” on it. There were knick knacks all over the desk from various kingdoms around the United Countries of Faeldris.
The air was a perfect temperature and I couldn’t help but snoop some more. I looked at the shelf near her desk and could see a massive rolodex filled with all sorts of cards for different places around the Realm. Fountain pens seemed unused and there were several nubs of pencils left over from near full use.
Finally I heard footsteps coming through the hallway so I made my way to the chair and relaxed, doing my best not to look like I had been looking around the room. I straightened my tie and shirt. Made sure my suspenders were in place, finally I smoothed my hair back as well. Taking a lungful of air I tested my breath and made sure it was minty and clear of smoke.
The door opened and the absolutely lovely mayor stepped inside. Tulip Everpetal was even more breathtaking than before. Her hair was messy and falling loose from the high bun it was in. The spare hairs framing her soft features that somehow made her pointed ears stand out even more.
She had on a pair of small reader’s glasses with their black frames and crescent moon lenses. Her lipstick was faded from the day but her smile was worth waiting for. It was like sitting under the full moon with the stars blanketing the sky above. I stood up and walked over to her, almost enchanted by her beauty.
“Mr. Smith, you are just what I need after a day like today.” She stepped close to me and clasped hands with me. Her skin was warm and soft like a sun kissed flower petal. “I hope you’ve had a productive day.”
“Well, it wasn’t nearly as interesting as seeing you.” It took a great amount of willpower for me to let go of her hand and waited for her to go and sit down in her chair. Once she was settled I had a seat myself and smiled at her.
“I hope you don’t mind me slipping out of my shoes,” Tulip slipped off her shoes revealing dainty feet with perfectly pedicured nails. Her skin was pale as milk as my eyes drifted up her legs. “Nothing like getting out of heels at the end of the day.” She crossed her legs and looked at me with an arched eyebrow as I did my best not to stare at her lovely figure.
“Well, I think we have a case brewing here. But not for what I initially thought. I don’t see how any of the businesses could be turning a profit. Not only are the prices almost criminally low but the service was abysmal.” I leaned back and stroked my growing stubble in thought. “Most of them were devoid of other customers which I was extremely surprised by. I figured that a few miserly people would have looked past everything to get the best price in town. I need to see his taxes and figure how much money he is claiming to make.”
Tulip smiled and egged me on, “Do go on Mr. Smith.”
Returning the smile I leaned forward to tap the desk, emphasizing each word, “I think he is laundering money. I just can’t think of where it is coming from.”
Tulip’s eyes went wide as she looked at me, “That is a very serious accusation.” She laid her cheek in one palm as she nibbled on her bottom lip in thought. “I’m not familiar enough with wizards to guess where he is getting gold though.”
“That is what has me stumped. I need a closer look at everything before I can be sure. I’m meeting with my PI and getting all the info he has gathered so far. Maybe that will clue me in on how he is making his money.” I stroked my stubble as I got lost in thought.
“What if Grizzlebats catches on?” Tulip had all her attention on me as if measuring me for what I was going to do.
“Well, I’m not sure what else I can do. Until I figure out all the details I won’t be able to build a case.” I was itching to light up another cigarette while I was thinking but I didn’t want to offend my company.
“I don’t like this, John. That is going to put you in his sights for sure. He is a very smart man. How did you find a PI that is brave enough to look into a wizard.” Her emerald eyes were somber and full of worry.
“When a fae owes you a favor they’d do anything to be free of it. I told him to stay safe though so I’m not too worried.” I touched and rubbed my lips in thought. “I can’t ignore my gut. Something is going on with Grizzlebats and he needs to be responsible for it.”
Tulip frowned at me though, “It is a shame my city is going to lose all those businesses if you do.”
“Well, if all the money he used to buy those places was dirty, then we could make a case of returning them to their original owners. They would have to agree to it and join in on the case. That would make them a target for Grizzlebats though. So we can’t fail if we do that.” I steepled my fingers and took a deep breath as I thought of the Tinglepots.
“You surprise me, John. I almost think you care about this all.” She looked at me with something like hunger in her eyes.
“Well, I do care. I’m here because someone pulled at my heartstrings. Grizzlebats is going to be able to afford the best lawyer out there. If this isn’t a solid case that can’t be broken. Then we might not win.” I chewed on a nail with sudden worry.
Tulip stood with supreme grace and walked around the desk and stood before it looking at me. “There is something special about you John,” She slipped closer to me and bent down getting closer to my lips as I hoped this was going where I thought it was. Her eyes flicked from my lips to my eyes as she took a deep breath. And frowned. She waved a hand under her nose and stood up, ending the coming kiss before it could start. “Another time John. You better go get some sleep. Maybe don’t smoke before you see me next time.”