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“No, I just happened to be in the area when the radio call went out, so I thought I’d pop over—I don’t know what’s going on either.” Captain Reese slipped out of her car. She smiled briefly at Tetiana and Brody, but the wrinkles on her forehead and around her eyes were more prominent as she glanced up and down the street.

When her eyes landed on me, I bowed my head to her. “Captain.”

Captain Reese was wearing her electronic prosthetic today—the fancy one that made her look like a superhero as it had electronic elements to mimic a knee socket and it could glow if she switched the lights on. The electronics made it so that when she kicked back the prosthetic bent and popped up so she could step up onto the curb. “Hey, Blood. I hope you haven’t seen Ruin lately?” she asked.

I took a deep breath to stabilize myself—my general nervousness of speaking was starting to stir. “I have.”

Captain Reese stiffened. “What?”

“Captain.” Sarge joined our cluster on the sidewalk and bowed to the captain and then swiveled to frown at me, his silvery hair glowing in the darkness of the night. “She saw Ruin. Tonight.”

“Yes,” I said. “There was no physical altercation.”

“At least not against us,” Tetiana said.

Captain Reese cocked her head. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Sarge—and Captain!” April called from farther down the sidewalk where her team—comprised of Clarence, Juggernaut, and Medium-Sized Robert—were located, methodically searching the area. She said something to Clarence that I couldn’t hear, then started jogging towards us.

Sarge eyed her, then turned back to me. “I want a summary of your interaction before you go off shift tonight.” He glanced at Tetiana and Brody. “From each of you.”

“Understood, Sarge,” Tetiana and Brody chorused.

I just nodded.

April didn’t slow to a walk until she was a few steps away—I always admired her dedication—then she bowed.

“What was the problem, April?” Captain Reese asked, once again scanning the street.

“We—Juggernaut and myself—both sensed fae magic as we approached Goldstein Street,” April said. “We did a limited search of the area while waiting for backup, but we didn’t see anyone.”

“I’m not sure if that’s encouraging or discouraging,” Captain Reese grumbled.

“Brody, Binx, see if you can catch a scent—go ask for directions.” Sarge pointed up the street to April’s team.

“Yessir!” Brody saluted, then jogged off, Binx padding silently at his side.

Captain Reese narrowed her eyes. “Did you walk into the sensation because the magic was already active or did it start during your approach?”

“It started during our approach,” April said. “We believe our presence disrupted their plans because once our presence was announced, the magic stopped.”

Sarge raised his eyebrows. “Your presence was announced?”

April hesitated. “Juggernaut yelled.”

“Ah,” Sarge said. “Were you on Goldstein Street at the time?”

April shook her head. “No. By the time we reached the street, it was empty.”

“Grove, see if you can find any trace of the magic,” Sarge called to the potion master. “I’d like to pinpoint the caster’s location. We need to figure out why they keep returning to Goldstein Street.”

“M’kay.” Grove saluted Sarge, then trudged across the street.

“Tetiana, go with him,” Sarge said.

“Okay, Sarge!” Tetiana winked and sauntered off after the fae.

I stood with my hands behind my back waiting for him to order me off to help.