Witnesses
By Skye Silverwing
A Misty Rain fell on the park as I made my way to the tree next to the scene where the crime had taken place. The water ran off my leather Duster in little Rivulets.
Normally, I would simply use a spell to find the thief, but all the water would foul up my best tracking spells. Because of this, I needed to rely on something a little different. "Lash, are you sure that there were witnesses around here?" I said, "I think I would have seen them earlier, and even if they were here, wouldn't they have left by now?"
Suddenly there was a beautiful woman standing beside me. She wore a white tunic, and was completely untouched by the rain. "They might have, Harry," she said simply, "if they did not live here."
Lash was the shadow of the Fallen Angel, Lasciel. She had been inside my mind ever since I picked up Lasciel's Cursed Coin to keep it out of the hands of a friend's child. Since then, she has occasionally aided me in my work as a Wizard while all the while trying to convince me to take up the coin and gain Lasciel's true power. She was very useful for catching all the things I miss during an investigation though.
I gave the projection of Lash a withering look. "Alright, then, Lash, if they are here, where are they?" I asked.
Lash smiled and nodded to the tree. It took me a single step to come under the shelter of the tree's branches, but as I did, I felt an all too familiar pressure. I looked at Lash. "There is a threshold." Is said simply, looking to her for explanation.
Lash smiled. "Of course there is threshold." She said, "Look closer."
I looked up into the branches of the tree and was treated to a view of a tiny tree house, set into the tree. On its porch stood two Chipmunks and a pair of mice. If I had not known better, I would have said that they were talking among themselves, glancing at me as they did.
Lash stepped forward again. "I suggest you introduce yourself." she said, "Do not worry, my host, I will translate."
I sighed. I normally would not indulge Lash like this, but my client had offered me three weeks pay on what could be a single day's task, and even with my Warden's pay, I could not afford not to do the job, and get it done quickly, so I stood outside the threshold and addressed the rodents. "Hello." I said, "My name is Harry Dresden, and I am investigating a theft of a Fish-shaped golden statuette that was in the Park earlier, and I was wondering if any of you saw anything."
The rodents looked at me in shock for a long moment, but then one of the chipmunks, wearing a jacket and hat reminiscent of Indiana Jones, scampered forward. "Do... Do you understand me?" it asked in a high-pitched voice. At my nod, he continues. "I saw that statuette you mentioned earlier today, but one of Fat Cat's goons took it. Come on! We can lead you right to it and help you get it back. Right guys?"
The others nodded and then the four of them, plus a fly, ran over to what appeared to be a home-made mini zeppelin with wings that, as they took off, flapped to help keep the thing aloft. As they took off, they all cheered, "RESCUE RANGERS AWAY!" and I sighed again.
It was going to be one of those nights.
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A. N. Just a random plot bunny I had to deal with. Enjoy.
I love constructive criticism.