"The Secret Service?" Nathan snorted, even though the Agents were practically shoving their badges up his nose "What's the Secret Service doing in Haven?"
"No time," the woman said briskly, walking past him to Audrey's door "we need to see your partner."
"Why?" Nathan said suspiciously "She's just ill – we went to the doctor's, they said she's fine." Nathan had a sudden flashback of Audrey sighing and saying I'm fiiiiine "Ok, maybe she's not fine." Nathan opened the door and let the Agents in.
"Where is she?" the woman asked, standing patiently in the living room, while her partner seemed focused on poking and prodding everything in the room that looked even mildly interesting.
"In her bedroom, sleeping. Agent Bering, what is this about?" she didn't answer, just walked into the bedroom. Nathan caught sight of her pulling something out of the big black bag she was carrying.
"Has your partner been acting odd recently?" the man, Agent Lattimer "Maybe distracted, light-headed. . . a bit silly?"
"Yeah, she has actually," Nathan muttered. Agent Bering reappeared, putting some sort of thermometer back in the bag "What did you do?" Nathan asked her.
"Medical check-up with a twist," she said with a brisk smile "trust me, it didn't hurt a bit – in fact, she didn't even wake up, but she was muttering about someone called Duke?" she looked inquiringly at Nathan.
"One of her friends," Nathan grunted "asshole, if you ask me."
"Ohhhh!" Agent Lattimer sang "Sounds like someone's jealous." Nathan turned dark eyes on the dancing man.
"Ignore him," Myka said quietly "he's an idiot. I understand why you would be protective of your partner," she glanced at Pete "especially if she's anything like mine." Nathan let out a bark of laughter – no, Audrey was way more like Myka than Pete.
"She's been acting strange ever since lunch," Nathan continued.
"Can you tell us any details about lunch or Audrey's behaviour?" Myka asked. Pete had stopped dancing, but still looked like he was only half paying attention.
"OK," Nathan sat down "we went in the shop and ordered sandwiches, then talked until the waitress came over and asked if we wanted dessert. Audrey wasn't talking to Duke because he'd kissed her under the mistletoe in our office,"
"Hang on," Pete interrupted "she was mad because he kissed her? That's a bit touchy. . ."
"He'd kissed her properly," Nathan clarified "not just like a peck on the cheek or something, and Audrey's snappy about her personal space. Anyway, Audrey was in a mood. She ordered some cherry pie, and Duke weighed in on the order – anything to get the girl – and she glared him down. Then we left and Audrey started to act funny."
"Did you have any of the pie?" Myka asked, looking Nathan right in the eye.
"No – I don't like pie."
"Hang on, dude," Pete waved his hands and screwed his eyebrows together in confusion "you don't like pie? Who doesn't like pie?"
"Pete," Myka spoke over him "shut up. I think I've got it."
"You know what the Artefact is?" Pete, shocking Nathan, was suddenly serious.
"Both Audrey and Duke ate the pie, and Audrey's suddenly not herself. I'd bet anything that Duke is feeling the same way."
"Are you suggesting the pie is the Artefact?" spluttered Pete.
"No, but a pie pan can be an Artefact." Cried Myka triumphantly.
"Yes!" Pete pumped his fist in the air "Whoever said that food was the path to a man's heart was more right that they thought."
"Sorry to rain on your parade," interrupted Nathan, sick of being left in the dark "but you still haven't told me what's going on, and if your gunna get this investigation completed successfully, you're gunna need my knowledge of Haven. Explain." Myka and Pete shared a glance .
"Ok," Myka started, leaning forwards "there are these things that are hidden all around the world, magical objects if you will; we call them Artefacts. . ."