Roy was waiting for me in the hotel room. “They don’t need us?” I asked as I closed the passage. “I wish. No, there was another last night. They sent me to get you.” “Why didn’t you call me?” I asked. “We wanted to make sure you’d eaten,” Roy explained as he led me to the car. “I’ve had a big breakfast,” I assured them. “Who was hit?” Roy didn’t have that answer. We found out at the station. “TV Ted’s, it’s an electronics shop.” “Ted’s? Mike lives there, or at least he used to. Is he okay?” “Another of your hangouts?” Roy asked. “I used to live on Third, a few blocks from there. I’d go running past his place,” I explained. Mike’s dad, Ted, had opened the place years ago. Mike had been a bit of a screwup, drifting from job to job, living wherever he could but Ted had left him the business when he died. Mike ran the shop well and could compete with the big stores. “I don’t know if he still lives there, but he hadn’t left. He was drugged. We’re waiting to hear from the hospital when we can question him,” Smith explained. “Drugged how?” I asked. “Mike was clean, always had been, and since he got Ted’s, he was particular about what he ate,” I said. Stoll raised an eyebrow. “You know him well?” “Up until two years ago, I did. I let him stay at my place for a few weeks one time. That was shortly before Ted died. His dad’s death hit him hard. Ted was young when he died. Mike wanted to live healthy and try to live longer than his folks.” “What happened to his mom?” Roy asked. I shrugged. “He never talked about her.” “She overdosed when he was little,” Smith said. “I think some of Mike’s problems might stem from the drugs she’d done while pregnant.” “Let’s join Adler at Ted’s,” Stoll suggested. ”I don’t know if we need to see them rob the place again, but maybe we can see how they drugged the owner.” “If we find any of the drug, I might be able to help narrow down what kind it was,” I offered. “Are you keeping track of your wine?” Roy asked. I frowned at the reminder. Duncan had stolen one of my bottles of Elven wine while I was being studied. He’d used it to drug the women he’d killed. “Yes.” Since that time, I’d moved most of the wine back underhill and only kept a partial bottle in my apartment. That was kept locked up. At TV Ted’s, I cast the spell. We watched the thieves do their work, the same as the other times. A few times one or another would check on Mike. “Could it be magic that put him to sleep?” Adler asked. I shook my head and tipped my flat hand side to side. “It’s unlikely,” Roy interpreted. “Sean will explain later.” I nodded in agreement. I continued the spell long after the thieves were gone. There was still no indication of how Mike was poisoned. Finally, Roy clamped a hand on my arm. “Sean, that’s enough.” Reluctantly, I ended the spell. I couldn’t make myself sick. I needed to be able to check on Mike. Casting this after opening the two passages to get here from Sandlake was pushing my ability to do that. “Here.” Roy held out something small. I took it and examined it. It was one of the vitamins I took to help counter the effects of casting. “How did you get that?” I demanded. “They were in your bag.” “I didn’t know I needed to lock my suitcase in the motel.” “I also grabbed more of these.” He handed me a Powerade. I glared at him while I took the pill. “I don’t need a babysitter.” “I’m surprised you can even say that.” I knew he was referring to my inability to lie. “As Roy said, it’s unlikely magic. That should have worn off by now,” I explained. “You said Mike lives here. Maybe they put something in his food during the day,” Stoll reasoned. “We can check the security camera for anyone that might move like one of the thieves,” Roy suggested “They took the cameras. They always do.” Adler pointed out. “Not from across the street. There’s an ATM.” Adler shrugged. “It’s a long shot.” “And a match won’t be admissible,” Stoll pointed out. “At Freddy’s, they drugged Butch’s food. Was there any food in the trash or dirty dishes?” I asked. Adler nodded. “We can take samples back to the lab.” “Can you give me a small sample?” I requested. “How much?” “A swab on my finger.” Stoll frowned but honored the request. I licked my finger to everyone’s disgust. “Are you crazy ?” Roy asked. “You don’t know what they put in it.” “Nothing. The food wasn’t drugged. And there are very few drugs that affect humans that will also affect an elf. And thanks to the army I have a tolerance for most that do. Can I see the swab?” I requested. “You’re not planning on licking that too, are you?” Stoll asked. “No, just holding it.” Stoll gave me the swab and I cast another spell using it as a reference. It took a moment for me to pinpoint what I was looking for. “Look under that desk,” I said and pointed. “What for?” Adler asked as he started to get to his knees. “Something with Mike’s DNA.” Adler paused. “What? His DNA has to be all over this place.” “Of course it is. But, there’s not much under there except in one spot. And it doesn’t make any sense for it to be concentrated there.” Adler sighed but looked. “There’s something under there,” he confirmed. He pulled out a small dart. “I can help narrow down the type of drug,” I offered. “By tasting it? No,” Stoll insisted. “This goes to the lab.” “It will help speed up identifying the drug,” I pointed out. “No. If the defense attorney found out, he’d get it thrown out along with everything it led to,” Stoll insisted. “We’ll be lucky if you tasting the food doesn’t cause trouble.” “Sean, you know you wouldn’t get away with that back home,” Roy pointed out. I sighed. I knew he was right. They both were. “How about we go to the hospital and see if Mike’s awake yet,” Roy suggested. I nodded.