A/N: Much love to all readers and reviewers! I make no profit except for your kind words and adds.

Disclaimer: Labyrinth is not mine.

Chapter 6: The Interrogation

Sarah was on edge. It was almost nine-thirty, and since the Goblin King—Jareth, she reminded herself—had whispered her name like a promise, she'd been unable to keep still. Nerves about the meeting aside, something about his asks troubled her. It wasn't as if he'd harmed her; in fact, he'd offered to assist her several times. But, that he'd seemed pleased—almost victorious—with every move she'd made was enough to spur thoughts that she was falling into an elaborate trap.

She stopped pacing and sat down on the end of her bed, groaning. From her research in some very obscure books, the Fae were a race known for mischief and games. Deception and seduction. Pretty words and even prettier physiques that could spell mortal minds with minimal effort. She wasn't positive that's what he was, but the definition fit Jareth to a T. She had known this when she'd called him and still, she found herself pulled down the rabbit hole. Taking the crystal, allowing him into the investigation, letting him spell the minds of government authorities...she rubbed at her temples. Why couldn't she think of any alternatives? She had always been able to outwit him before.

The knock on her open door was startling, and she looked over to find the Goblin King watching her expectantly. But he was decidedly less…Goblin-y. There was a sheen around him that caused her eyes to water, but she saw his strange, up-swept markings had faded into skin and his brows flared naturally, albeit sharply. His hair was shorter, the wild halo tamed into neat waves that fell across his brow. Sarah's fingers itched as one strand came untucked from his ear to shade mismatched eyes, but she dug her nails into her palms. A pressed, three-piece dark blue suit replaced his tight breeches and billowy shirts. No tie. Instead, he'd undone the top few buttons of his white shirt to mimic his typical look, the thin chain of his pendant the only visible sign of his otherworldly self. Sarah finally had to blink when it burned to keep looking, wiping at tears.

"What is that?" She demanded, wiping at her eyes again as the sheen around him blinked.

"A glamour," he answered, tilting his head slightly. "It will keep your authorities from asking questions."

"How do you figure that? I can't even look at you for a few seconds without my eyes watering."

"Yes, I can see that," he drawled, and she scowled. "Your time in the Underground would have sharpened your senses to some magics. You remember, of course, you shattered one such glamour. Your authorities will not have the same gifts."

Damn peach-dream. She stood, wiping at her eyes again. "This is not going to work if I can't keep my eyes open."

"As difficult as it may be to not look at me, Sarah," he said easily, and Sarah's teeth clenched, "you need only focus on your authorities. I still suspect this not to take long."

It better not, she thought vehemently. She was worried about how to briefly distract the cops with words; feigning allergies in the middle of November on top of that would be impossible. She turned her head away slightly, testing. It still itched when she only saw him out of the corner of her eye, but she might be able to manage it if he sat beside her and not across. "Fine," she said, grimacing. "Let's just go."

The drive to the station was uneventful. Sarah had driven Toby there on a handful of occasions when he'd applied for the job, and remembered the route well. She was grateful her sense of direction had improved somewhat from her time in the Labyrinth. She side-eyed the king in the passenger seat, then snapped her eyes back to the road when the glint hurt. She supposed it had been decent then if she'd been able to best the Goblin King. The one thing about him that had always been clear was that he detested losing.

Toby was waiting outside with man-goblin Grog when Sarah pulled into the lot. She snorted as she slammed her door closed. As she expected, her brother looked like he'd attempted to cram for midterms and finals in the impossible span of one night, and hadn't found time to look in a mirror. Grog looked positively jubilant. "Rough night?"

Toby ticked his head at Grog. "My roommates offered him a beer," he explained, looking behind Sarah tiredly. "You weren't lying about that."

"Assuredly not," the Goblin King drawled.

Sarah tensed as the Goblin King sidled up beside her, but kept her focus on Toby. He was looking at the disguised king pensively, but it wasn't clear he was squinting because of the glamour. After a moment, his expression eased and he nodded, clear-eyed. He turned and waved them inside, pulling Grog up the steps beside him.

Sarah was unnerved. "Toby was Underground. Why didn't he flinch at your glamour?" She hissed from the side of her mouth. She heard him snort gracefully but say nothing, and she stopped walking up the steps, spinning to face him. "I'm serious, Jareth. Why?"

The Goblin King's eyes flickered at the sound of his name and he leaned down to whisper back in her ear. "Do you recall him falling under, or shattering, any enchantments?"

"You know I have no idea what you did to him while I ran your Labyrinth."

The Goblin King pulled up slightly, grinning, and moved to catch the station door. "I assure you; he was not harmed. He is unlikely to notice the glamour."

Sarah was not at all satisfied by his answer, but her eyes were starting to water and she realized several employees just inside the station door were watching them speculatively, so she bit her tongue and followed him inside. The station was bustling, the constant ringing of phones and shouted orders nearly drowning out the rush of bodies across the entrance hall. She wiped her eyes quickly and looked for Toby. Fortunately, the back of his blonde head was easy to spot against the dark uniforms, even in the chaos. He was talking with a tall, gray-haired officer who appeared to be nodding along to whatever Toby was explaining. Two sharp suits at his side eyed her with interest.

"Sarah!" Toby called back, waving her over again.

Sarah took a deep breath, steadying herself for the questioning, but yelped when Jareth's warm arm came around her hip, pulling her tight against his side. Before she could twist away, his grip tightened and he leaned down to whisper urgently in her ear.

"There is magic here. Beyond my own." He pulled back slightly; nostrils flared, but the rest of his face deceptively calm despite his warning. He kept his grip tight as Sarah stopped pulling and her eyes widened.

"What? Where?" She whispered back, but he only shook his head tersely. He either didn't know or didn't want to tell her, but he was obviously unsettled. His grip tense. Which boded terribly for a plan that depended on carefully luring authorities into a spell. A cold sweat began to bead at the back of her neck as the implications set in. If he didn't know the source…

Would Jareth's spell even work on someone with magic?

Toby and the three men were watching her expectantly, and Sarah realized she and Jareth hadn't moved forward at all, despite Toby waving her over. They'd seen them. There was no way to sneak out unnoticed.

Another whisper in her ear, this one insistent. "Follow along." Sarah felt him nudge against her back, directing her towards Toby and the three men at the end of the entrance hall. She didn't fight him. He had some sort of plan; she prayed he knew what he was doing.

When they stopped a foot from the four men, Sarah was certain Toby would say something about her practically hanging on the Goblin King when her brother had only known her to snap at him. But Toby's brow furrowed only briefly before he gestured to Sarah, jumping into introductions.

"This is my sister, Sarah, and…uhh…" Toby paused, suddenly realizing he hadn't coordinated with Sarah on an identity for the king. He took another look at Sarah, still tucked under the Goblin King's arm, and spat out the first thing that came to his head. "Her..uhh..boyfriend…uhh.."

"Jay," the king's measured voice cut in, nodding towards the men. "And its fiancé, actually."

Sarah choked on air, but the Goblin King squeezed her waist again and she stilled. "It's quite recent. My Sarah is still a bit surprised by my offer."

Jesus. Christ. The absolute nerve of him.

The three unnamed men offered polite congratulation, apparently unfazed by Sarah's brief slip. Toby mouthed an apology at Sarah. She bit her tongue.

"We just have a few questions for you, Ms. Williams. If you would?" One of the suited men jerked his head back.

Sarah risked a glance at Jareth to look for a signal. The plan had been for Jareth to be her friend. Emotional support during brief, voluntary, questioning. If the authorities wanted to talk with her that badly, she'd thought they'd tolerate her friend sitting in. He'd clearly changed that facet. 'Jay the fiancé' was hardly what they'd prepared for—he'd specifically told her to call him Jareth. For all she knew, he'd tossed the entire plan out the window. At her look, however, his hand on her hip clenched tighter.

Signal received; he wasn't letting her go alone. It had been the plan, she reasoned, but Sarah couldn't decide if his iron grip was more reassuring or concerning. She needed him in there. He still hadn't loosened his arm.

Sarah blinked twice, clearing tears, and turned back to the agent. "I don't think I'll be much help, but that's fine. Which way?" She pulled Jareth into the hallway behind them, cutting off a chance to reject her unspoken request. It seemed to work.

"Third door on the right," one offered, catching up to her and pointing. "We'll be right in."

Toby was about to follow after them when he felt a hand grab his shoulder.

"Williams—with me," Chief Danon barked, turning left towards his office. "We've got another meeting. The Olsons are here."

Toby took one last glance at Sarah and the king as they retreated down the hall, but jumped to follow his boss. He pulled Grog along. "The Olsons, sir? What for?"

"Olson's wife is getting impatient. She keeps jamming my phone line, asking about updates. It's becoming obnoxious." He nodded over at man-goblin Grog. "If we can show them we're making progress on that cult, I'm hoping they'll leave me in peace for a bit."

"You want to show them Grog? He hasn't done anything yet." Toby wasn't even certain Grog would be able to infiltrate the cult without raising suspicion. Gathering actual intel was a hope above that. A quick glance at the would-be spy, currently smacked up against the reflective glass lining the hallway—oohing—didn't inspire confidence.

They reached Danon's office at the hall's end and the chief stopped outside, spinning back to Toby before he entered. "It's all we've got right now, Williams." Toby just nodded.

Chief Danon took a noticeable breath and pulled open his door. "Mr. Olson. Mrs. Olson. Apologies for the delay. I just learned of new developments."

Toby kept a blank face as the Representative and his wife twisted around in their seats; handsome dark-haired figures that oozed of privilege and appeared to have been plucked from a J. Crew catalogue. Pleats. Cable-knit sweaters. Pastels and pearls. Was that a jeweled broach? Grog shrieked and Toby had to grab him by the collar to stop him from leaping at the coifed woman, hands splayed. "Hey! No." Grog didn't stop pulling.

Mrs. Olson stood, face pulled tight in what was either disgust or fury. Probably both. "Where is my son? It's been two weeks with nothing. What have your men been doing?"

Chief Danon walked right past and fell into his chair. His sigh was pronounced. "I assure you, ma'am, we've got our best men on the case." He nodded over at Toby. "This is officer Williams. He's found us a way into the suspect's crew. We'll know more very shortly. Williams—show them."

Toby wanted to obey the command, but Grog was still straining against his hold. There was no way to grab the crystal in his pack without him taking off like a bullet. "What is it?" Toby whispered.

"Shiny!"

"What?" Mrs. Olson reached for her nose, stepping back at Grog's outburst. The gems on her broach glinted sharply at the motion.

The jewelry. Toby sighed. This whole op was turning into a master class of bribery. "I'll get you more if you leave hers alone."

Grog's efforts slowed, and Toby took advantage of the moment. In seconds, the man-goblin shifted and Toby watched as both Olsons straightened, eying Grog with a mix of surprise and relief.

"Give us just a little more time. We'll find your son."

Once Sarah opened the door to the empty interrogation room, Jareth released his hold on her. After glancing back briefly to see that the two suits hadn't moved, and were instead whispering something together in the middle of the hall, the king closed it behind them.

Sarah didn't waste any time in confronting him. "What sort of plan is 'Jay the fiancé'? I thought we agreed on Jareth the friend," she emphasized through clenched teeth. Tears blinked.

"The plan changed," he said flatly, pulling out one of the chairs and jutting his head at it. "Until I know what it is I'm sensing, it is not prudent to refer to me by my true name."

She frowned, but sat in the proffered chair. It seemed odd that he'd be concerned about his name, but his admission confirmed one of her fears: he didn't know the source of the magic. It was possible that was why he was cautious. The second change still seemed needless. "Fiancé?" She hissed when he sat down in the chair next to hers.

His expression finally eased, and he gave her a lopsided grin. "It is also now prudent that you don't leave my side in this place. It is the most logical relationship."

Logical, my ass. Sarah was about to protest that she had plenty of friends that stood close at her side but the opening of the door cut her off. Both suits entered quickly. The agent who'd invited her inside slid into the chair across from her and placed several large accordion folders on the table between them. His double stayed back, leaning against the closed door as if to prevent anyone from interrupting. He trained his gaze on Jareth, unblinking.

The seated agent took control. "Thank you for coming, Ms. Williams. I assume your brother told you why you are here?"

"He did."

The agent nodded. "Then you understand that if anyone asks, this conversation never happened. We'll know if you say otherwise." His hands hovered over the edge of the top folder, but he didn't open it, watching Jareth closely.

Sarah picked up his pointed glance alongside the warning, and shifted in her seat. "That won't be a problem. We won't mention anything." If all went as planned, for them, it would be as if the conversation had never happened anyway.

Even with her promise, the agent kept his focus on Jareth. "Is your fiancé aware of your situation, Ms. Williams?"

Sarah jerked at the odd question. "Excuse me? My situation?"

The seated agent drummed his fingers along the edge of the larger folder, nodding tightly. "Yes. I would rather not discuss such…intimate information around your fiancé if he is not already aware."

The pause before intimate was pronounced, but Sarah found it meaningless. Toby had told her they wanted to ask about the goblin. She could think of nothing 'intimate' about that inquiry. Could Toby have misunderstood?

"Sarah's secrets are my own," Jareth answered in her stead, and Sarah side-eyed him again, startled. 'Fiancé' or not, the claim was unbelievable. He was supposed to be drawing them away with his spell, not instigating more questions. But, as Sarah turned away from the glint, she saw the agent unwind the clasp on his folder and reach for something inside, apparently satisfied with Jareth's answer. He didn't pull it out immediately.

"Very well," the agent focused on her, nodding again. "After you brother mentioned that you assisted with acquiring the goblin, and that he borrowed him from a man, my colleague and I were presented with an interesting lead." The folder crunched as the agent pulled out something bound from inside and placed it on the table before Sarah's quickly blanching face. The agent tapped twice on the red cover. "So you will tell me, Ms. Williams, how long you have had a relationship with, and where to find, this Goblin King."

Oh. Fuck.

Jareth's hand moved to clench her thigh, and she jumped, momentarily distracted. But, the agent kept tapping the book, awaiting her answer.

"Where, Ms. Williams."

Some of the color returned to her face as the request sunk in. If the agent was asking her where the Goblin King was, he at least didn't know he was sitting across from him. It was possible the rest was a wild guess. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know any kings."

The agent leaned forward in his chair, unconvinced. "We have reason to believe you are well acquainted. And from a young age."

Jareth's hand clenched again. Sarah eyed him quickly, praying he was about to cast his spell. But his hand stayed on her leg and the twist of wrists failed to appear. The slight shake of his head re-knotted her stomach. He wouldn't do it. Couldn't do it? Sarah grit her teeth and narrowed her eyes at the agent. She had no idea how he knew about her time in the Labyrinth, but her lies would have to be enough. "You're mistaken."

"Hmm."

"Where did you locate this book?" Jareth's voice interrupted, calm but curious, and Sarah couldn't help but glance at him again. He was eying the book with a surprising amount of distaste.

The agent ceased his tapping. "Why the interest?"

"I'm a collector."

"Of books?"

"Rare books. That book is exceedingly so."

The agent frowned and pulled back the book to return it to his folder. "It's not for sale." He returned his focus to Sarah. "If you don't know this Goblin King, where did you find the goblin?"

There it was. The expected question for which she had no answer. Well, she had an answer. But she had no intention of telling a truth that equated to a guilty plea. She, on a single wish, could summon otherworldly kings and creatures? And mythical creatures had snatched a child mere miles away from her home? She still didn't fully believe it and said king was squeezing her thigh like a tourniquet. Out of nowhere, however, the pressure loosened.

"Sarah obtained the goblin through me."

Sarah stilled but the seated agent, to his credit, didn't even flinch at Jareth's unexpected admission. "Really. And just where did you obtain it?"

"As I mentioned: I'm a collector. Rarities call to me. The goblin has been under my purview for some time. I do not know his origins."

The agent pursed his lips, contemplative. "Just what do you do with this goblin? Kidnap children?"

Sarah felt the glamour spark. "I am a collector; not a kidnapper," Jareth hissed, and any remaining calm in the room went out with the denial. "Neither I nor my goblin were involved in this kidnapping."

Even the seated agent looked unsettled now, gripping the tie on his accordion folder as if it was a shield. The man at the door shifted noticeably.

"Is there anything else you wish to falsely accuse us of?" Jareth hissed again, not waiting for an answer before he pulled up Sarah roughly.

"I am only doing my job, sir," the agent at the table said crisply, also standing. "We want the child returned, and the perpetrator identified and arrested. We were rightly told Ms. Williams had valuable information." His justification just raised a growl from the king, and the agent recognized the threat. And there was no point in continuing without first briefing the top. Frowning, he reached for his wallet. "Here's my card, Ms. Williams. If you think of anything that might help," he started, giving Jareth a pointed glance, "call me."

Sarah took the card wordlessly, nodding without reading its contents, and Jareth pulled her quickly around the table. But the man at the door didn't budge.

"Don't leave the state," he ordered. The gruffness in his voice made the consequences clear. Only after Sarah nodded again did he step aside.

Jareth pulled Sarah tight once they exited, moving briskly down the hall and towards the exit. The faint scent of magic still present, but unidentifiable. They needed to leave.

As before, Sarah didn't fight him. But she would be getting answers when they were alone.

Immediately.