The AMERICAN DETECTIVE: JAKE LONG
This is my city.
And it was my job as the American Dragon, the Senior Dragon Detective in the New York District, to protect it. Have many things changes since the days I spent rustling up trolls in the back alleys, preventing an ogre from massacring a band of animal guardians and simply assisting an elderly merperson with their plumbing, it was my job to ensure the safety and security of the city.
Not anymore, not since the incident with the Human Detective, who thought that since he was one of the few pure-blooded mortals, that he was entitled to more rights than the rest of us magical folks. I was now a civilian, more or less; sometimes I preferred to think less.
With a sigh I climbed out of my small two door car, it could have done with an extra coat of paint, but in my line of work pay wasn't the best thing to come by. At twenty-seven years of age I had seen much in my time, and yet with all the time I had spent with the Magical Police Force, it had never occurred to me to put aside saving for my future. It was one of the things that she couldn't stand about me, one of the things that led to that fateful departure of hers, the one that left the gaping hole in my heart almost a year prior. With a shudder I blocked out the thoughts, it made no sense to dwell on the past, all that mattered was the present.
At present I had to find shelter fast, or at least a new hat. I chuckled to myself, stretching into the almost full-sized backseat and pulled out my small black hat. It reminded me of a human program, something called Kodak or Kojack or something. The rain came down in torrents, it was almost as if it was simply waiting for me to put on my hat. Pulling the collar of my tan trench coat up to my ears I made why way to the dark alley. When the weather was this bleak it made no difference what time of day it was, it always felt as if it were late afternoon. It was actually quite early in the morning however, and as such, few if any were out.
I paused to allow a young Goblin couple to pass, huddled under a Leprechaun made umbrella. As I approached the alley I could feel my heart bounding even more than usual, it had been exactly three weeks since the young human had entered my Private Investigation office, seeking answers to questions that I couldn't help but wonder at myself.
The young woman's older brother, a pure blooded human such as herself had gone missing. When she reported it to the Police she was given the standard mortal response, "They'll turn back up, and maybe he was looking for some red Pixie dust,"
Turn back up he did indeed.
The magical barrier that prevented entrance to the alley proved it to be a crime-scene. Humans used to use some sort of yellowish tape to protect their crime-scenes, not so within the magical community. The magical barrier which identified itself as a police barrier, provided an almost impenetrable shield of invisibility, giving officers the utmost privacy with which to conduct their investigations.
My name is Jake by the way, Jake Long, just in case you were wondering. For some reason I sometimes forget to mention that. It's a force of habit I guess.
Passing my hand through the barrier I could feel the spell connecting with my dragon chi, allowing me full access to it. Dragons of the world were the official policing force of the Joint Dragon and Wizard World Council, while Wizards remained as the judicial system, made up of their own lawyers, judges, prosecution and other sometimes meaningless jobs. Few wizards if any chose to become part of the police force.
From the outside, it simply seemed as if the space was distorted beyond your vision, within the barrier though, was a completely different story. The rain itself did not touch beyond the magical boundary.
Two dragon detectives were hunched over a body, and a small medical examiner sat beside them, his short tail thumping on the ground vigorously.
"Hey, hey, hey!" muttered the Medical Examiner with annoyance, "you should know better than to be around here kid, if the old man were to find out,"
I shook my head, "He won't Fu, just give me the report,"
Fu Dog, the Medical Examiner and Weapons Manager of the Central New York Police Force frowned, "You know you shouldn't be back here,"
Don't get me wrong, Fu Dog was a coward, he wasn't afraid for himself, hell, I've heard him take on my grandfather head on. What he was fearful of, however, was the charge that was against me, one that would lead to me being arrested for impeding the police investigation.
The two dragon detectives rose from their positions and regarded me coolly, I glanced back with impassiveness, "I don't think you two are going to rat me out, are you?"
The younger of the two, a short thick female with spectacles shook her head. I had never met her in my time with the force, but I could tell from her facial expression that she had met me, or at least heard of me. Few dragons in the city had not heard of me, I was practically a legend, even if I weren't a good legend.
The older, more experienced dragon was a friend.
"Good to see you too Jake," said Sun Park, Senior Dragon Detective.
I nodded lightly; I wasn't there to chit-chat, "Status of the victim Fu?" I rummaged through my pockets for the little box of vices that I kept on my person.
Fu sighed, "I don't like this but-," he paused, "the victim's name is Jeremiah Monroe, male, thirty-two years of age, dark brown hair, medium build," he paused again, "your current client's brother,"
I exhaled nervously, this was the solution to my problem, but not in the way I had expected or wanted. Elizabeth would be completely and utterly crushed. Finding my small box of vice I pulled out a single cigarette and stuffed it between my stiff lips, breathing a thin stream of fire through the filter I ignited it from the inside out, preventing the pouring rain from outing it.
Sun scowled, "You really should quit that you know,"
I shot her a nonchalant look, "Yea, I missed your self-righteousness too,"
I exhaled through my nostrils; the warmth from the cigarette warmed my body. Ever since my departure from the police force it seemed as if not even my internal dragon's flame could keep my body warm.
"Cause of death is blunt force trauma," continued Fu, ignoring both Sun and myself. It was his small way of saying shut up and pay attention.
The cause of death itself made no sense, "Blunt force trauma?" I said out loud, with a whistle I stepped closer to the body, it was covered in a thin sheet of almost transparent white cloth, "can I see it?"
Fu shrugged and pulled back the sheeting.
The body before me was a mangled piece of flesh, the person's face had been completely smashed in, the fractured skull was actually littered around it, as if someone had bludgeoned the man to death as he lay helpless.
"He's missing a shoe," I muttered to no one in particular. In fact, his entire dress was completely unnatural for one of his standard, a business suit, few pure blood humans could actually work in high class businesses, and his sister had stated that he was a simple delivery boy. I could see trace amount of blood from where the missing shoe was.
I glanced around the alley and spotted the missing article a few meters down, "He was attacked from over there," I motioned to the spot.
Fu chuckled, "No kidding kid," he said with almost mock enthusiasm, but with the Animal Guardian it was hard to tell sometimes. Fu Dog was my friend, but ever since that idiot human had messed up our last case together, I couldn't help but get the feeling that Fu was avoiding me.
"There is also this," motioned the younger detective, I could sense her hesitancy of engaging me in conversation. The scar over my right eye did that to people, it unnerved them, maybe that was one of the reasons she left as well.
I glanced at the point to which she had guided my attention, around the man's wrist was a very distinct mark, as if someone had wrenched something from him.
"Eye of the dragon," I said out loud, I could feel the magic from my dragon's flame rush through my blood to both of my eyes, I could literally feel the dilation of my pupils as my body adapted itself to seeing beyond the first layer of flesh and muscle, down into the bone itself, all of this happened in a single instinct, as fast as the speed of thought.
The wrist itself was broken, the ligaments twisted, it was as if someone had shattered the bone structure of his hand in order to get something from around his wrist.
"Handcuffs," said Sun with a scowl.
"Human Handcuffs obviously," muttered Fu Dog, "so inhumane,"
I raised an inquisitive eyebrow, and took a pull on my cigarette, it was almost spent, holding it between my teeth I ignited it with a breath of fire.
"Come on kid, cut that out," muttered Fu.
I ignored him, "I want the full report when you're finished Fu,"
Fu shrugged, "I'll think about it,"
I waved a hand in salutation to Sun and the young detective as I turned to leave. There was a loud crack of noise from in front of me, it signaled when a non-magical being without authorization was entering the boundary with permission. I bit my tongue as I recognized him almost instantly, it was my former partner.
"Brad," I said unnaturally cold, I had for so long attempted to act like I didn't care; it was time to stop playing.
He nodded with a sarcastic smile and motioned behind himself, "Found your trash outside," he muttered. The reason for the crack in the barrier stood behind him.
I swallowed hard, "Elizabeth?"
It was my client, Elizabeth Monroe, completely drenched in rain, a small umbrella held over her head, of no use in the torrent that she had just stepped out of.
She was dressed in simple clothes, blue jeans and blue blouse, her long light brown hair was tied into a pony-tail that rested in front of her shoulder. Her face was etched with worry, and her eyes were filled with tears, she was struggling to speak, "Is that…is that Jeremiah?" she managed.
I couldn't open my mouth, my tongue stuck to the roof of it. Brad walked past me, brushing my shoulder roughly as he did, the pompous jerk. I stepped forward, "Ellie,"
She ran forward, attempting to reach the body, "No, no, no, no, no-,"
I cut her off as she reached me, wrapping my arms around her protectively and dragging her out of the barrier with me. She was fighting against me to get out of my grip, she wanted to see his body for herself. But I knew I could never let her see it, it would break her heart. She slowly stopped fighting; we were in the rain now, and her hair stuck plastered to her face. Streaks of red lined her face from the crying.
"I can't say it's going to be okay," I said softly, my arms wrapped around her.
She nodded, I could feel it against my chest, "I know," she mumbled, slowly coming to her senses, she hugged onto me tightly, it was as if she were refusing to let go, afraid that she would lose me as well. She looked up at me with her tearful, almost bloodshot eyes, "Just say that you'll find who did this,"
I swallowed hard, realizing what she was now committing me to, "I'll find who did this," I promised, regretting my words almost instantly, "I promise,"
She continued sobbing against my chest, her heart a little less pained than before, "thank you," she mumbled numbly.
It looked as if I had a new assignment, even if it were the same client. Sigh. I have no choice though, even though I no longer have a right or a real penchant for it, I still fight for these people. Why you may ask? I can't help it.
This is my city, and I'm Jake Long, the American Dragon, American Detective…
AMERICAN DETECTIVE JAKE LONG
The Paradise Snare
Possible New Story, question, should I continue this? It can remain a oneshot, unless I get sufficient feedback on it. Please give me your honest opinion on if this should be continued or not my friends. I have the entire idea in my head, and it will be updated every two weeks, or every month (due to my commitment to The Thousand Year Curse and The Blood That Binds Us). But the chapters will be longer, at least 1500 words each (most likely) to make up for the late updates. ^_^
I'd like to also formally acknowledge ada69 for her assistance in my development of this manuscript, even though she will insist that she didn't do much except be my idea bouncing board. lol. Still, Thank You.
JakeRoss2
p.s-if not enough interest is shown I may leave it as a oneshot.
NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, all stories of mine are within their own separate universe and timeline. This story is in no way connected to my Wizard War Trilogy, or my Blood That Binds Us Duology, etc. Just giving you a heads up. lol
