Chapter One
Jade Goodman hopped out of the limo, running toward Central Park.
"Last one there's a rotten egg," she yelled to her best friend, Mikey Fletcher.
"Jade, careful of the stitches," her father, Owen Burnett called after her.
Jade had been severely beaten and stabbed. Being half-fey, most of the wounds healed remarkably well. However, she had been stabbed with iron, which all fey were vulnerable to. The stab would take a long time to heal. The event had happened about two and a half weeks ago. Jade would bee getting the stitches out tomorrow after school.
Jade didn't even bother answering her father as the two children were already out of earshot. Owen followed them. He sat on a bench to watch them play. Owen and Jade hadn't even known they were related until three weeks ago. Owen loved to watch his newly found daughter play. Jade's aunt, Fox, and her husband, David Xanatos took their own son Alex out to play.
Jade and Mikey went to play on the swirly-slide. There were about three kids in line in front of them. The kid in front of them, an African American girl around Jade and Mikey's age looked at Jade carefully.
"Do I know you?" the girl asked.
"I don't think so," Jade frowned. "I'm Jade Goodman. This is Mikey Fletcher. We're in fourth grade at Sterling Elementary School."
"Piper Hanson," the raven-haired girl grinned. "I'm in fifth grade at Sterling. Say, aren't you the girl who got suspended on her first day?"
"One in the same," Jade affirmed. "I assure you, I don't usually go around beating people up."
"I heard that you were standing up for a kid who was being bullied," Piper said. "Is that true?"
"Yep," Mikey grinned, gazing at Jade proudly.
"That was a really good thing you did," Piper looked up at the slide. "Oh, it's my turn."
She climbed up to the top of the slide and waited for the kid in front of her to slide down. Once Piper, Jade, and Mikey had taken their turns, the three children went on the swings together.
"Where did you live before here?" Piper's amber eyes glanced at Jade.
"Delaware," Jade hated talking about her past.
Piper didn't seem to notice. "I've lived in Manhattan my entire life. In fact, the apartment I live in now, I was born in."
"That must be weird," Mikey smirked.
"You're telling me," Piper grinned. "I was born Mother's Day. Mom's always reminiscing my birth every Mother's Day."
Jade made a mental note to ask her father what Mother's Day was.
"I was born November third," Mikey added. "I was supposed to be born on Halloween, but I was a few days late."
Jade knew what Halloween was. According to Uncle David, you dressed up and went door to door, dressed in a costume and people gave you candy. Jade wasn't sure what the significance of the event, so she asked her father.
"Halloween comes from All Hallows Eve," Jade was eager for something to say. "The only night the dead were able to walk the Earth. Mexicans would leave treats in a bag outside to appease them. You know, so they wouldn't come in and bother them. That's where trick-or-treated originated from.
Mikey looked at his friend curiously. "Where did you learn that?"
"From Dad," Jade replied honestly. "I'm going to be a ghost tomorrow night. What about you guys?"
"I'm gonna be Spiderman," Mikey replied happily.
"A princess," Piper replied.
"Unless you've already got plans maybe you could come with us tomorrow night," Jade invited.
"Nah," Piper said as she swung back and forth. "I'm going with my little brother and sister. Thanks anyway."
Elisa Maza hummed happily as she drove to the police precinct. Yesterday was her day off, so she and Goliath had gone on a date. She and Goliath had been dating for about a month now, but no one else had known about, with the possible exception of Goliath's daughter, Angela and Jade. Goliath and Elisa had finally told the clan last night that they were an item. They all seemed to accept it without any problems.
Her police partner, Matt Bluestone had taken the week off. Elisa hoped that Captain Chavez would let her be partner-less for the week. It was easier, as the Gargoyles tended to follow her sometimes when she was on duty.
Elisa pulled into the parking lot and almost skipped into the building.
"Elisa," Officer Morgan called to her as she walked past. "The Captain wants a word with you."
Elisa sighed and made her way into her boss' office.
Captain Maria Chavez was seated behind her desk. A tall, dark-haired man with the most soulful eyes Elisa had ever seen was seated in a chair facing the Captain. Elisa sat in the other one.
"Maza," Chavez said as soon as she was seated. "This is Detective Jarod Walker. He transferred from the LAPD a couple days ago. Detective Walker, this is Detective Elisa Maza."
Detective Walker stood up and shook Elisa's hand. "It's a pleasure to meat you."
"Likewise, Detective Walker," Elisa smirked.
"Please call me Jarod," the man smiled. "Detective Walker sounds so formal."
"Maza," Chavez looked at the policewoman. "Jarod will be your partner until Bluestone gets back."
Elisa groaned inwardly.
The two detectives walked out to Elisa's car together.
"Nice car," Jarod commented appreciatively.
"Thanks," Elisa smiled wryly. "I drive."
Jarod laughed as he got in the passenger door. "So, do you prefer being called by your surname of your first name?"
"Elisa will do fine," Elisa buckled in and began to drive.
"So what was Los Angeles like?" Elisa asked curiously.
"Very hot," Jarod grinned. "Lots of earthquakes."
"Was there anything nice about it?" Elisa turned left.
"Of course," Jarod nodded. "Starlets. Stars. California's a great place to visit, but living there is another story entirely. Don't get me wrong. It's nice, but it's always been more of a vacation spot. You know?"
"Yeah," Elisa replied. "We went there when I was a kid. I was seven at the time. What I remember most is how much I wanted to live in Disney Land."
Jarod chuckled. "The first time I ever saw Disney World, I considered changing my occupation so I could live there. And that was only two years ago."
"What kind of vacations did you take as a kid with your family?" Elisa asked.
Jarod's face darkened suddenly. "I didn't. I had a very secluded childhood. I . . . didn't get vacations very often."
"I'm sorry," Elisa didn't know what else to say.
Jarod grinned again. "Ah, that's all in the past. While it's important that we remember our past, what's really vital is the present and future. Don't you agree?"
Elisa was about to reply when images of all the times Fox and Xanatos had used the gargoyles.
"Some things are hard to forget," Elisa said instead. "And forgive."
"Some people never change," Jarod agreed. "Some do. All they need is a chance to prove themselves."
Elisa gave her temporary partner an odd look. "You sound like someone who's been down that road before."
"I have," was Jarod's simple reply.
The two rode the rest of the way in silence.
All and all, it wasn't a bad shift. Together, Jarod and Elisa picked up three criminals, one who they had caught on Jarod's instinct alone.
"He'll be here," Jarod insisted.
"How do you know?" Elisa asked suspiciously.
"I read his profile," Jarod replied. "You know the old saying, 'to catch a thief, you need to think like a thief."
"And you know he's going to be there based on his profile?" Elisa asked sarcastically.
"One thing my . . . mentor taught me was putting myself in the mindset of the criminal. Call it a simulation."
True to Jarod's word, they did catch the criminal there. She rode back to the precinct with her partner in confusion.
"That was incredible," Elisa admitted as as they walked in.
The officers were laughing at some joke.
"Hey, Maza," one called. "Our little mascot is here."
"Mascot?" Jarod asked, confused.
"A friend of mine," Elisa grinned. "I don't think she wants to be a cop when she grows up, but she likes waiting for me here just the same."
"How old is she?" Jarod asked, smiling.
"Where is she?" Elis called to the officer.
"Where else, Maza," the officer laughed. "In your office. I think she's doing homework."
"She's ten," Elisa turned back to Jarod. "She's really adorable. Everyone in the precinct took to her right away. They started calling her our mascot after a while. Would you like to meet her?"
"Love to," Jarod smiled.
Elisa led the way to her office. Jade was seated at her desk, working furiously on something.
"Hey, Elisa," the girl smiled, not looking up. "How was work?"
"Fine," Elisa grinned back. "We caught five bad guys. I'd like you to meet someone. Jarod, this is Jade Goodman. Jade, this is -"
"Jarod?" Jade was staring at the man with a strange mixture of confusion, sadness, happiness and shock.
"Jade?" Jarod stared back with an identical expression.
A/N Jade, Mikey and Piper belong to me. All Gargoyles related characters are property of whoever owns them. Jarod is from a show called The Pretender, which is owned by TNT.