Captain Morris brought us in early for a special briefing. I picked up takeout for Leo and me at the diner. We sat in Morris’s office and munched on our sandwiches while watching him shuffle papers. Daley, the Newbie tapped impatient fingers on a chair arm. The captain’s hesitation was a bad omen. It meant we were being delegated to an assignment away from our usual duties, the orders coming from someone higher up.

  I passed on a job offer from a larger city and chose to work in the small town of Balfour. The downside was that politicians had more say in our duties.

  When Leon and Amy moved here, both were starting new jobs. Robert L Gansley a prestigious art aficionado hired Amy as a researcher for his art museum. His collection, located in the family mansion, was famous. Amy’s examination of the museum’s inventory uncovered some buried priceless items, and several frauds purchased by a previous ancestor. Mr. Gansley, delighted with his new employee, immediately gave her a raise. Leon relocated along with her and applied for the position of detective. Shorthanded on the police force, the city eagerly hired him. They both settled into their new positions without any difficulties.

  I asked him once, “Why the night shift?”

  “A lot of her research involves computer contacts and calls from around the world, most of which are at least seven to twelve hours ahead of us. This way we work on a compatible but quirky schedule.”

  The first time I met Amy, she wore cutoff jeans, a tee shirt, and flip-flops. Her hair was pinned up with a couple of clamps. The next time was for an official visit. At a party hosted by her boss, she looked like a fashion model. Blond hair, now freed, flowed in curls down her back. An expensive necklace and matching earrings glistened in the light. Greeting the guests with grace and ease, her smile and laughter flowed around the room.

  “How’d you ever catch her?” I whispered to Leon.

  “Long story. One day I’ll tell you.”

  Captain assigned us to go undercover for the event due to street rumors about a planned society robbery. Disguised as waitstaff, we mingled among the guests. At a, “ahem,” I turned and gave a glass of sparkling champagne to a thirsty guest.

  Four men dressed as commandos with their faces hidden by masks burst through the doors. They pushed a bloodied guard before them.

  As the wounded man fell to the floor, the men’s leader fired a gun at the ceiling. He yelled above the screams, “Ladies, take off your jewelry. Men, I want your watches and wallets.”

  At his signal, a second man stepped forward with an open grocery bag. He shoved it at Amy who stripped off her necklace and earrings and dropped them in the bag.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  My silver knife alerted me concerning the leader, a Lost Soul. He caught my scent and turned to me. His eyes became red and protruding as he stared at me through the slits of his face mask. Knowing this would not end well. I nodded at Leon and sat the serving tray down. The knife slid into my hand. I pointed it at the man. With only a thin streak of silver visible, the weapon zoomed across the room and struck him with such force, that he flew backward. Though dead when he hit the ground, his hand jerked and fired off a round of bullets. Glass rained down from the overhead chandelier. People started screaming and shoved each other, trying to exit the room.

  The robbers stared at their leader lying dead on the floor. Leon taking advantage of the men’s confusion slammed his tray full of drinks in the face of the thief next to him. When he lifted his gun hand to clear his eyes, Leon grabbed the exposed wrist and twisted his hand down with such force the bones cracked. The gun dropped with a thud to the floor. A third and fourth thief were subdued by Robert Gansley’s personal security guards.

  In the confusion, people failed to notice how I killed the first man. Many thought he tripped backward over the dead guard and hit his head while falling. Only Mr. Gansley, her boss, noticed. Tall, dressed immaculately in a black tux, his brown eyes locked with mine. I experienced a strange jolt of recognition, but from where I could not remember. He began to walk toward me but stopped when a policeman tapped him on the arm.

  Captain quit fiddling with the folders and leaned back in his chair. He growled, “Beth, pay attention, this assignment is important.”

  I sat up and focused on him. The last time he used that phrase; our mayor lost his pet dog. We had to do a door-to-door search through the night for his Foofoo. We found the animal behind a row of trashcans gnawing on a barbeque rib. Darn thing bit Leon when he picked it up. The mayor’s wife was more concerned because her baby ate a discarded bone than Leon’s bloody hand.

  “This assignment is coming directly from the Chief.”

  Informed what the day officers had spent their time on, under his breath, Leon gave a “meow.”

  Morris gave a half-grin and said, “Not that. Day shift found the Chief’s cat a couple of hours ago and arrested the man who took it. He wanted ten thousand in ransom. Idiot went to the pet store and asked what kind of food the Chief’s cat ate.” He shook his head.

  “How could they be sure it was him? Daley asked.

  “By the scratches all over his hands. Marcia at the pet store noticed them and called it in. But, back to your assignment, it's more complicated. The City Council is throwing a party at the Civic Pavilion for a contingent of Japanese dignitaries. They want you to secure the carnival next to it in case some of the visitors stray. There have been reports of muggings, pickpockets, and one disappearance. So, stay alert.”

  “Do we tell the criminals and murderers to take a night off?” I asked.

  “You were picked because your shift is at night, and the city will not have to pay overtime. When everything settles, and all visitors are snug in their beds, you can finish your usual duties.”

  “Some chance of that. They will party until the wee hours, and we will spend our time making sure no one gets arrested,” Leon commented.

  Daley decided to join our conversation and gave his opinion, “My understanding of Japanese culture is that the people are conservative and not likely to attend rowdy parties.”

  Morris cleared his throat and nodded, “Well, yes, we can hope. Regardless, stay vigilant, and remember to be polite.”