Still on vacation, but i wrote this peice...Thought i'd update asap since I haven't updated this story in over a month. Read and Review PLEASE! ^_^

V: Investigative Issues

Nigel and I easily dispatched the remaining goblins who had challenged us. The formerly cigar chewing goblin was now quietly hunched into a ball, his face was ashen.

Nigel made a clicking noise with his tongue, in utter annoyance at being pulled away from the oracle twins. I made a mental note to have them relocated to another planet, one in which Nigel's lusts couldn't touch them. Perhaps I'm being too harsh on him, he isn't that bad a guy. He isn't even that much of a Casanova…okay, maybe that's pushing it.

"Enriik I presume?" I said, the annoyance on my face was beyond blatant, I reverted to human form, a form in which the Goblin would be less intimidated and more readily able to talk, I pulled a cigarette from my pocket and stuck it between my now cold lips. I really didn't know what the hell was going on with my internal flame. Shit.

Nigel whispered something beneath his breath, an incantation filled the air, bringing the goblin to our eyelevel and completely at our mercy. The now trembling goblin glanced at my belt, where a specialized spelled pair of handcuffs lay. He assumed I was a Dragon Detective, which was quite natural seeing as I was a dragon wearing a long trench coat and sporting a pair of handcuffs. He was clearly a target, information I could use to my advantage.

"You can speak you know," I said softly, bringing my voice to a lower decibel, time to make him fear me more, "English is the national language of the Magical Society,"

"You bastard impure half-breeds can't do this to me," muttered Enriik through his chattering teeth.

Nigel's eyes lit with fire at being called a half-breed, "Smiten!"

The back of the goblin's head was smacked into the cold wall behind him, I could hear it crack and imagine the ringing in our target's ears.

"Easy Thrall," I whispered softly, to Enriik I glared, "I may be a half-breed, but I am still of more noble blood than you pitiful creature," I said sternly. Realizing that his racial slurs would not go unpunished he whimpered apologetically.

"I hope you're sorry, bloody mongrel," muttered Nigel.

In the society of the world, there were a few magical creatures that had proven unable to procreate with humans, among them were the goblins. Those from these classes, as well as from the higher pure-bred Dragon and Wizard classes held themselves as pure-bred creatures of magic, while all others were viewed as fodder.

Nigel Thrall, being not only a member of the 25 Upper Noble Families of Wizards, but his family also being one of the Ten Families that made up the Govern—which served as the supreme authority of the British Empire, was rather proud of his family and his heritage. But he was still a mellow and down to earth person once you didn't insult his class.

"Do you know a human named Jeremiah Monroe?" I said softly.

The goblin shrugged, "What? A human? I know lots of human, don't know any specific by name,"

I had to bite my tongue to prevent me from swearing, I shoved my hand in my inner coat pocket and produced a small magical seal, it produced an image of Jeremiah—before his rapid-face-reconstruction, aka face smashing by weird object—one that he should have no problem recognizing.

"Oh that human," muttered Enriik, "Who worked for that Leprechaun shithead Godfree?"

Nigel didn't whisper a word but I felt a shift in the wind at my neck, knowing that he was holding his temper in check against the goblin's clear prejudice. I thanked him mentally for his self-control, knowing that he would have ripped the pitiful piece of trash before us to ribbons for his disrespect. Another one of Thrall's great qualities, he was always respectful and expected that respect in return.

"Yea, I saw him around a couple of times, always upsetting my business," he muttered.

"Upsetting it in what way?" I said.

He shrugged, now regaining his composure, "You know, stealing my work from my boys, we are a delivery service you know,"

"Uh-huh," said Nigel, his eyebrows appraising the clearly gang-oriented goblins who lay strewn at our feet, "delivering what exactly?"

The goblin entrepreneur and possibly criminally inclined being shook his head, "Trade secrets my friend, protected under the British Imperial Convention,"

Nigel's eyes widened in irritation, "Mutha-,"

"I understand," I said quickly, cutting my partner off before he finished the profanity, If I was stuck playing nicely with my words, so would he. Enrrik knew the murder victim—or at least knew of him—and he seemed to have clear motive, but he struck me as someone who would go after Godfree, rather than his errand boys. I mulled over what was said so far. It didn't make sense.

"Oh and by the way, Monroe is dead," I said matter-of-factly, attempting to gauge his reaction.

His eyes widened in possibly genuine disbelief, "When? How?"

I sighed inwardly, "A bludgeoning, sometime early this morning,"

"I've been busying all morning, at the pub, I have witnesses!" he said, quickly defending himself.

I sighed again, he was probably not directly responsible for the murder, if he had one of his boys do it he would obviously have an alibi at the ready. This conversation was going nowhere now.

With my enhanced dragon hearing I heard footsteps coming from the alleyway.

"Holy Shit Sherlock," muttered a quite familiar and disgusting voice, "if it isn't the mischievous duo,"

I ignored Brad's arrival on scene and glanced at Nigel for an appraisal, he shifted his fingers ever slightly, signaling that our time for the interview was at an end and it would be best to leave this to the legally authorized professionals.

"Hello again Brad," I said without a hint of warmth, his partner for the evening was the same spectacled dragon who was with Sun, she gave me a sheepish smile then hid it quickly when her partner scowled in her direction.

Brad motioned to the heap of fallen goblins, "What happened here?"

Nigel flashed him a sideways glance, "They tripped?"

"Yea," said Brad, tapping his fingers against his chin, "all of these guys tripped over each other. One, Big, Trip?"

"Pretty much," I said, flashing Enriik with a look.

The Human Detective stretched his neck a bit to see the goblin standing behind us, "Who's the victim there?"

"Just one of the guys who tripped," said Nigel quickly, setting him down.

Brad raising an eyebrow, "And let me guess, you were just using a spell to help him to his feet?"

My partner grinned like a hyena at my former partner, prepared to shatter every single bone in his body at my word for what he did to me, all he did though was say, "Exactly,"

"We'll be seeing you around then, if there's nothing further," I said, walking past him briskly, Nigel was at my heels, "see you around gobby," I waved at him over back. Brad's hand shot out, holding me back by my chest.

Nigel's eyes blazed with righteous indignation, a quick glance from me, however, prevented him from acting rashly. These things did not go unnoticed by Brad, he tilted his head at a slight angle in an almost childish manner, "What are you going to do wizardboy? Assault an officer? You've already been suspended from your duties, don't make it an expulsion or you'd be disbarred,"

"Your issues are with me Brad," I said sternly, removing his hand from blocking my path, "and we were just leaving,"

He waited until I was a few steps away to clear his throat, I stopped, "You have something to add to it?" I said without turning to face him.

"Yea, just one," he said full of sarcasm, "stop interfering with my damn investigation,"

I swore within my head, his investigation? They gave Jeremiah's homicide to him?

"Yea, I'll keep that in mind," I muttered, walking away into the cold evening air.