The next morning, we went to the local police station. It looked similar to ours like they had similar funding and maybe shared a decorator. Even with my hat and glasses, I got more hostile looks than I got in Sandlake. “Feel the love,” I muttered. “They want our help. They don’t have to like us, only tolerate us, just like back home,” Roy reminded me. “They like you back home.” Roy frowned at me. “Do you think because I’m Asian rather than black, I’ve never had to deal with racism? And then there’s Marcus and Ruben. They hate everyone. We’ll be fine, or we go home.” “Jiu, Reilly, I’m Chief Smith. I appreciate you coming. Ignore the looks. It’s nothing personal. They don’t like that I asked for help so quickly. But I knew it was the same guys who hit those other towns. And we had another theft last night at a rent-to-own place called Me to You’s.” Smith was about as average as his name, neither tall nor short. But I could see his eyes taking in everything. He may look unassuming but he was calculating. I nodded. “I know the place.” Smith raised an eyebrow. “I used to live here,” I explained. “I had an elf living in my town and didn’t know it?” I couldn’t tell if he was impressed that I’d kept hidden from him or bothered by it. “You and a lot of people. I was trying to keep what I was hidden. That encouraged me to stay out of trouble.” “Good. And now you have James Thompson keeping an eye on you. Old Hardass’ll keep you in line.” Hardass? That didn’t seem like Thompson. He was thorough in making sure all the spells I cast were within the law. But I’d assumed that was so they’d hold up in court. Maybe it was just the impression he gave the other police chiefs. Or maybe it was because I still worked to stay out of trouble. Smith handed Roy the file and Roy winced as he took it. He’d been favoring his arm all morning. “Are you okay?” I asked. “I slept wrong on that cheap mattress,” he grumbled. The mattresses weren’t the best, but they weren’t that bad. I didn’t press it. He’d been shot a few years back and had nerve damage from it. It bothered him sometimes. It was possible sleeping on a strange bed irritated it. He didn’t like to draw attention to it so I let the matter pass. “What about the first theft?” I asked. “Where was that?” Smith consulted the notes. “A pawn shop called Lucky Apple.” Roy glanced up from the file at me. “Another of your hangouts?” I shook my head. “I’ve never heard of it.” “It’s new,” Smith said. “It used to be Joy’s Diner.” “Joy’s closed? I used to eat there often.” I had actually hoped we could stop there one evening for dinner. Roy chuckled. “Maybe we should check the locations they’ve hit in the other towns. Maybe we can find a pattern, Sean’s hangouts.” “I haven’t lived anywhere else in this state for over 50 years, probably closer to a hundred. I’ve been to the places here because I lived here for twenty years.” “You know your way around. Meet us there after you’ve gone through the file. I’m going to head over with forensics.” “Actually, if you want me to cast the recreation spell, it would be better if they waited. The less change to an area, the clearer the image will be.” Smith nodded and made a call. “We’ll wait, but don’t take long to get there.” *** Me to You’s owner was outside talking with Stoll, Adler, and Smith, listing off what was missing based on what she could see through the window. She frowned when she saw me. That was nothing new. It was the usual response when I went to crime scenes. At least she didn’t protest. I led them in. I hadn’t frequented the place when I lived here. I might have been in it once or twice. I can’t say anything seemed familiar as I cast the spell. Those who hadn’t seen it before gaped. It was clearer than at Freddy’s. I could hear the owner using the spell to note what was missing. I’d done similar when I’d investigated crimes before my people had disappeared. We watched the theft run in reverse. The spell couldn’t be photographed so I drew images of what happened. We were able to see they entered through the back door again. I moved to see what I could as they entered. A hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Sean, that’s enough,” Roy warned. I ended the spell. He was right. I didn’t need to make myself sick. I pulled out a bottle of Powerade. “It’s the same three,” Adler decided. He motioned for the forensics team to start their work. By the way they jumped to it, I guessed they weren’t thrilled with the delay starting. “Did you guys check the local motels?” I asked. “I know it’s obvious, but sometimes we get so focused on the complicated, we forget about the simple.” I popped a candy bar into my mouth. “Once we learned the number, we did,” Stoll assured me. “No groups of three have checked in at either place. We need warrants to find out more. Those should come today.” “Check for four also,” Roy suggested. “They might have a driver.” “Or they might include an imaginary person to hide their numbers,” I added. “I’ve done that a few times.” I continued my sketches. I wondered how many abandoned buildings were in town they might squat in. Stoll raised an eyebrow. “And where were you the night in question?” I stopped drawing and sighed. “Last night I was with Roy at the Stone Pines. The night before that, I was at home with a friend. She stayed late. I couldn’t have driven here in the time frame that Butch gave us. The night the pawnshop was hit, I’d been at the Blue Rose with neighbors.” Every time I worked with someone new, they always asked for my alibis. I don’t know if they’ve ever checked them. “And he probably picked up a woman while he was there,” Roy added. “Sean doesn’t like to sleep alone.” “Not this time. I spent the night alone.” Roy raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. I went back to my drawing. “What I was talking about using an imaginary person was back when my people were still around,” I explained. “None of those figures could be you anyhow,” Adler reasoned. “You’re too tall and pale.” “What about if they were using a glamour?” Stoll asked. “Would that show up in the spell?” “Not this spell. That’s why I use it rather than one that’s easier on me. And glamours wouldn’t work on Butch.” “Glamours? That’s more magic, right?” Smith asked. I nodded. “It’s a spell that tricks your mind into seeing something different than what’s in front of you.” I cast a glamour to make myself look human. “But magic means more elves and you’re the only one, aren’t you?” Smith pressed. “Human magic is rare, but it does exist. There are a few humans who can cast glamours.” A few people knew there was a second elf, but I wasn’t going to spread it around. She didn’t need to go through what I did. “Is there a way to tell if they were using magic?” Stoll asked. “Not here. Since I already cast here, the spell would detect my magic. It’s not something that can distinguish between one mage and another. Talk to the grocery store. See if there’s been a run on sports drinks, electrolyte water, candy, bread products, or energy drinks.” “You can use all that?” Roy asked. I knew he thought the candy and sports drinks were no good for me. They weren’t as bad for me as they were for humans. The toll that casting took on me was worse. “Bread products don’t work as well for me as candy. And energy drinks don’t help me at all. Even for humans, they only delay the side effects of the spells.” “If they were smart, they’d get some of each,” Smith reasoned. “But we’ll check the stores.” “Where did you pick up your stuff so we know it’s not you that we’re looking at?” Stoll asked. He led the way back outside. “I brought mine from Sandlake. If I need to get more while we’re here, I’ll let you know.” “What about you checking for magic at the pawnshop?” Roy asked. “You haven’t been there in a few years.” I nodded. “That might work. Casting the recreation spell there would be too blurry to be of any use. But I can see if there’s magic involved.” “We know they came in the backdoors, but there was no sign of jimmying the locks. We could see if that’s how they got in,” Stoll agreed. “You four head over to The Lucky Apple now,” Smith suggested. “I’ll stay with the forensics team and catch a ride with them. But, Sean, don’t overdo it.” “That’s what I’m here for,” Roy assured him. “And I’ve learned how to force him to end a spell.” “Do not do that,” I insisted. To my knowledge, he didn’t know any human mages so he probably talked to Kat. She likely would have told him the worst possible way. I’d have to talk to him later and tell him a better way.