A/N: Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who's been reading all of these! I appreciate the kind words and encouragement.

Part 22

Vicki turned to Amar and said, "If he asks you any questions, just pretend like you don't hear or speak. It'll save us both a lot of grief."

"As you say, Henryvicki." Putting the asp back in her purse so she wouldn't be tempted to use it on Mike, Vicki and Amar walked into her office to find him grilling Coreen. She was just sitting there, glaring at him in spite of the fact he was using his best killer smile and "the policeman is our friend" voice.

"I know she and Fitzroy are up to something Coreen, and I just want to help. Stop them from doing something they'll regret later."

"Like what, Mike? Find evidence that Grimm's guiltier that sin. That's he's responsible for the murder to two children? That kind of help?" The word help was air quoted.

"No, Coreen, the kind that keeps them out of jail for breaking and entering and theft of property."

"Where did they break and enter?"

"Coreen!"

"Mike, leave the girl alone." Vicki would have laughed out loud when he jumped at the sound of her voice, but she was pretty sure that wouldn't help diffuse the situation.

"She doesn't know anything because there's nothing to know."

"Right. And you're a natural blonde."

"Ooh, bitchy much? You must be on your third cup of coffee already." She threw her bag down on the desk. "I, on the other hand, haven't had any, and you know what that means."

"You're a bigger bitch than usual?" She stopped and turned to look at him with eyes that were getting colder by the minute.

"You want to stop right there, Celluci."

"No, Nelson, I wanted to stop back around the time I found out you're hanging out with a bloodsucking bastard prince of the undead.

"Wow, you must have been up all night thinking up that one." This was getting them nowhere. She sighed, "Mike, we've got to stop this and work together. It's the only way we're going to get Grimm into a prison anytime soon."

"Vicki."

"Michael." That was when Mike finally noticed that Vicki wasn't alone. That there was an extremely tall man wearing very nice clothes standing behind her, glowering at him. Like, one more wrong word from you and you'll be missing your arms glowering.

"Vicki," pointing at Amar, "who's this?"

"This is a friend of Henry's. His name is Amar. He'll be spending the day with me while Henry's ….asleep."

"Well obviously he's no blood sucker, otherwise he'd be laid out on the floor. Or on fire. He turned to look at the djinn, trying not be intimidated, "So, what do you do, Amar?"

The djinn looked at Vicki, Vicki looked at Mike and said, "He's deaf mute Celluci, he can't answer your questions."

"Right. Are you forgetting I know you're the worst liar in the world?"

"Are you forgetting our little talk yesterday afternoon? Why are you really here?"

Mike took a breath, "I couldn't sleep so I got up early and headed to the precinct. When I got there, one Anthony Grimm, who, by the way, doesn't look any better in a tuxedo, was screeching at the desk sergeant that someone had tried to break into his house last night and where the hell was his police force when he needed it."

"Whoa, somebody tried to break into Grimm's house? Bummer."

"Where were you and Fitzroy last night, Vic?"

"We went to dinner, then a movie. Then we picked up Amar and went back to Henry's place. Must have been around 1."

"You have receipts?"

"For dinner and a movie? You know I never keep receipts. But if you're planning on going to see Die Hard 4, take earplugs, it's really loud." She had practically had to drag Henry kicking and screaming down the sidewalk the other night. He had wanted to go to the Bogart retrospective, but she had finally gotten her way.

"Action movies are moronic, Vicki. They cater to the lowest common denominator."
"And comi-I mean graphic novels are, what? Modern day Jane Austen?"

Mike's shoulders drooped. He was so bone tired, and wresting the truth out of Vicki was going to be harder than he anticipated. When did it reach the point that she couldn't tell me everything? Even when we fought, at least we were honest about it. Does she tell Fitzroy everything? He just stood there for a minute. When he spoke, she could feel the hurt.

"Fine. Vicki. You and Fitzroy do whatever you have to do. But if I find out the two of you are behind this, I won't protect you, you'll go to jail." The threat in his voice was real, and Amar heard it. Up until then, he had stood silently behind Vicki. But the tone of Mike's voice said "threat", and Amar could not let anything happen to this Henryvicki.
He had promised the other. Although he didn't move, his eyes looked at Celluci over the top of Vicki's head. And his eyes said, hurt her and your pain will be never ending.

"Mike, I swear, I'll let you know if, and I mean if, we find anything. Otherwise, you won't hear from me."

"Okay, Vicki. It's your way. For now." He picked up his coat, watching Amar watching him. The scowl didn't change, and the relief Mike felt when he left was palpable. The guy must be seven feet tall. Jeez, I've never felt short before.

When the door closed, Vicki heaved a sigh of relief. "Well, we dodged a bullet that time. But I know Mike, and he won't give up until he's figured it out." She turned to Coreen. "How long has he been here?"

"I'm not sure. I fell asleep on the sofa, and when I woke up there he was. All scowly faced, and he didn't even offer me a coffee, just started the inquisition!"

"I know, he can be insensitive like that." She realized Coreen really wasn't listening, was staring at the djinn standing behind her. "Coreen, I'd like you to meet Amar the djinn. Amar this is my associate, Coreen. She's a friend, you can talk to her."

Amar bowed, "I am honored to meet a compatriot of Henryvicki. Are you assisting in the destruction of Anthony Grimm?"

She answered him, then looked at Vicki, "Yes, I am. Henryvicki?

Vicki shrugged, "Long, strange story. Just go with it for now, 'kay?"

Coreen had been exposed to so much of this stuff, it didn't even really phase her that there was a seven foot tall djinn standing in front of her.
"Please, once you've seen a demon rise up out of a floor, everything else is pretty pedestrian."

Vicki went behind her desk and into her rolodex, "I need you get Constance McCoy on the phone for me. Tell her I need to see her ASAP. I need her to look at some ledgers we found. According to Amar, they're cooked books and might be the wedge we need to open an investigation against Grimm."

"Done. What else?"

"Coffee?

"Almost done. In about 30 seconds it'll be on the way. Hey Vicki?"

"Yeah?"

"How did you find clothes to fit him?"

"I didn't. He conjured up the clothes all by himself."

"That is so Cool."

"I know. Just promise me you won't ask him any questions, or say anything that could remotely be considered a question or a request."

"It wouldn't matter if I did. You opened the bottle, you freed him. He can only do as you say now."

"That's what Henry said. But still. Let's just stay on the safe side. I'm going to get a box for our books to deliver to Mike. When I come back, I need to run to Henry's, get the books packed up to get to Constance. Oh, and check the news, see if there's anything about Grimm's house being broken into."

"Uh, Vicki?" Coreen was staring at the television.

"What?"

"You're gonna want to see this before you leave."

"What?"

"This."

Vicki came around to take a look, and when she saw, she sat down with a thud. There on the early morning news was video of Grimm's house. Of two figures scurrying past security cameras mounted on light poles.

Coreen turned up the volume…

'…… supplied this station with this exclusive video footage obtained from security cameras. He says that although nothing appeared to be missing, he would like an investigation brought to identify the two individuals seen here.' The picture cut to one Anthony Grimm, "Although right now nothing appears to be missing, it is imperative that we, as law abiding citizens, let it be known that such behavior will not be tolerated in the city of Toronto." His little round face with the bad comb over looked into the camera lens.

"Whoever you are, rest assured that you will be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, even if the only charges brought are trespassing." The picture returned to the news anchor, "So far, no leads have been reported and police continue to investigate."

"Oh, crap." Vicki just sat there, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Did you tivo this?"

"You bet."

"Okay, let's take a look."

They backed up the video, looking, trying to zoom in.

"We need to get this to somebody who can figure out if the resolution can be jacked up. If it can, and they can get a good look at our faces, we are so screwed." She rubbed her forehead in anticipation of the migraine she knew was coming.

"Mike will know it's you. Even if he can't see your faces, he'll know."

"I know." She sighed. "We need to destroy that footage and any copies of the videotape. We've got to figure a way to finesse the tv station, and since the cops probably have a copy, them too." It was just way too early to think. "We're going to need Henry's charisma."

"I can assist you, Henryvicki." Vicki jumped, she'd almost forgotten Amar was in the room. Almost.

"How?"

"I can remove the evidence from where ever it is, as long as either you or the other is next to it."

"What kind of consequences would come with that?"

"None that I am aware of, other than the vid-e-otape would be away from where it could harm you."

"No one near the tapes would get hurt, or vanished or anything else?"

"No."

"Okay, let me think about this." She turned to Coreen. "I need you to get everything you can about djinns. I mean everything." She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, Amar right behind her. "Amar, I think you ought to stay here."

"I cannot. The other said not to leave your side. I am to protect you."

All of a sudden, Vicki wasn't quite so tired anymore. "You're supposed to protect me?! I don't need protection. And Henry and I are going to have a serious talk when he wakes up. Protect me! God! That undead, arrogant as-"

"Vicki!" Coreen's sharp voice, broke through, her eyes pointing at Amar, "You're upsetting the djinn."

"What?" She turned to look at him and could actually feel the anxiety. "Sorry, Amar. I appreciate the gesture, but I don't need protection."

"I meant no disservice, Henryvicki. I would protect you regardless of instructions from the other. It is my duty as your djinn."

"Okay, fine. We're going to have a nice chat about the whole "my djinn" thing later, but for now, we've got to focus on saving our collective butts from going to prison. I am not taking a shower with anybody named Bertha."

tbc