Keeping his wings tucked close and tail still as he maneuvered through the corridors of the castle. While a couple of the younglings raced past. While he balanced two things of food in his claws hoping they won't fall.

"you hatchlings slow down!" Brooklyn barked as they raced into the entertainment room with Goliath close behind them. The TV that covered one whole wall baring with sound for the game we were getting ready to watch.

Around them the kids raced with David and Alex leading the pack some circling Hudson as she sat in his favorite recliner. While one of the younger ones was astride Bronx trying to ride him like a horse as he lightly snoozed.

While on the sofa Broadway and Angela sat his arm over her shoulder as she held a youngling in the crook of one arm. As he laid the food down on the low table he turned as the sound of Fox's and Elisa's voice. In time to see them come through the door each with more food.

"and that's why you're the stay at home mom and I'm the cop," Elisa was saying as they walked forward.

"so, tell me again," Xanatos said as he came in with the platter of burgers and dogs. "why are we the ones bringing in the food?" he asked as he laid them down on the table next to the others. "we do have employees for that…" but was silenced by Fox wrapping her arms around him.

"David this supposed to be a family night…" she said into his ear. "isn't it nice to just be us here not have to call for anyone to intrude."

After a second, he turned to face her smiling. "okay I admit its nice…," but turned as they all stared. At Broadway as he started scarfing down burgers and dogs. "but it is useful at times…" he said as Broadway paused looking at all of them.

"good thing I brought more food," a voice said, and we turned to see Torus walk in.

"indeed," I agreed as he walked in adding more food on the table. "I juts hope its enough for Brooklyn alone," I said, and a series of laughs fill the air.

"and I have something for you two," and turned to face Alex and David as they come close. Reaching into a pouch on his hip pulling out a couple slips of paper. "one for you…" he said handing one to Alex who began to scream with excitement. "and one for you…" and he handed the other to David who also screamed in excitement.

"DAD! DAD!" he screamed as he dashed over. "look what Uncle Torus gave me!" and he brandished the paper at me.

After shooting him a look before looking at the slip of paper. "what…!" I barked in surprise. "game four tickets!" and he laughed as I mocked shoved him as he laughed. "who do you think you are Santa Claus?" I demanded as I hoisted David onto one shoulder. "now are you going to say thank you or something?" I asked him.

"thank you, uncle Torus," David said and Torus came close so David could give him a hug.

"hey everyone, the game is about to start!" Brooklyn barked and we all started to take our seats and after putting David down he darted for Elisa who sat down between her legs and she wrapped her arms around him as I sat next to her.

Picking up a camera on the table Lexington moved near the TV. "Everyone one say Hockey!" he called out.

"HOCKEY!" we call called as he took the picture.

20 years later…

His sunglasses in place David climbed out of the car his badge and gun in place on his hip climbed out of the car. Despite their covering his eyes still felt slightly weird for less than a second at the sunlight while he still felt invigorated to be in the sun. breathing deeply at the energetic feeling it always gave him he turned to look at Torus who was his partner.

Eyeing the area David scanned the half torn down mom and pop store. While near it was a small crane with a wrecking ball. While around the area various sized construction workers milled about watching. With patrol making sure they didn't get to close to the scene.

With a deep huff of air through his large nostrils Torus looked around before locking eyes on the crime scene people working at a roped off area where a hole had been dug. "you need to get your head out of your ass and let go of your pride David," Torus said as David walked around the front of the car for them to walk over side by side. "you're not going to find another like Sara, she's literally one in a million," he continued as they neared the scene.

"she already made up her mind," David answered taking in the neighboring buildings were some watched from either their stoop or the shifting curtains. "you know how stubborn elves are Torus," and he hoped the painful subject was now dropped. "Detective Sargent Maza and Torus what have we got?" he asked changing it himself as he looked down into the hole.

"construction crew found a body," the man in charge answered looking up before back down. "actually, a skeleton," he clarified as they eyed the perfectly formed bones that was still mostly covered in the dirt that the technicians were gently uncovering.

"anything else down there with it?" Torus asked shifting to bossiness.

"not much so far," the technician answered as David glanced around again pausing when he saw a couple watching from their brownstone step. "but were collecting and bagging everything we find," the man reassured them.

"I'm going to talk to the neighbors," David said walking over feeling Torus watch him go before moving to interview a couple other people that had been watching.

Inside the brownstone David eyes still covered shifted a curtain to eye the scene through the window. "here you go detective," and he turned to give the woman offering him a glass of water.

"thank you, Mrs. Savell," he said taking it.

"it's a darn shame," Mr. Savell said coming in supported by a cane before sitting down in a well-worn chair. "them was good people," and he nodded to where the building could be seen through the window. "we used to get our groceries there all the time… but then less than a month after it was passed to their son, he sells… going to turn it into some big store."

David nodded taking a sip before eyeing the photos on the mantel. "your son on the job?" he asked when he eyed a photo of a man in uniform as well as a framed medal.

Smiling with pride the pair eyed the photo. "he died a while back in a shootout," Mr. Savell explained. While his wife placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "our bled blue."

Later when David left the brownstone, he met Torus on the sidewalk as he stepped away from the scene. "this isn't going to be much more than a history lesson," he put in. "lets get back and we'll fill each other in on the way," and turning waved David to follow and nodding moved to his partners side.

"Torus! Detective Maza!" one of the techs suddenly called out and they froze looking over to see them waving them closer. "you gotta see this!"

Frowning the pair moved back to the hole. "what is…" Torus started then froze.

When he saw that the skeletons wrists were bound behind its back with a rosary.

"I hoped to never see one of those again…," Torus muttered rubbing his jaw.

"Looks like we dug up a Nightstalker Murder," David muttered.

PLEASE REVIEW

SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG WAS BUSY WITH GETTING MY BOOKS OUT DRAGON KNIGHT CHRONICLES AND WILD HEARTS

Amazon/gp/product/1519715927

Amazon/gp/product/B07F43CY3F