Page 14 of Grave Beginnings

Every spot in the small, concrete, private parking garage had a number, and as I drove by the one for my car, a red motorcycle took my spot. I went up to the top and back down. No unnumbered spots opened.

Fuck.

What a way to start a new job. I drove up and down the entire garage three times, until I decided to take the last numbered empty spot. I dug in my glove box to find a piece of paper and write a note explaining the situation and leaving my contact info. I really hoped no one would tow me.

When I stepped into the precinct, expecting a similar layout to my old one with a gated entry then the bullpen leading to offices, I was surprised to find it closed off. The lobby was encased in a barrier of bulletproof glass and a buzzer to get inside beside an ID scanning panel. I didn’t have an ID to scan, nor could I see anyone, so I hit the button.

“Hello?” The box asked.

“This is Jude Holt, reporting for duty. I’m here to see Sergeant Hanna?”

“Check in at the main desk, please,” the voice said. The door buzzed, and I grabbed it.

I ducked inside. The door weighed a ton and closed with a final snap behind me. The lobby area, devoid of life, led down one narrow hall to a second solid door, which buzzed as I approached. The cameras overhead meant someone was watching. The entire area felt like entering a prison ward. I glanced up as I tugged the door open and finally found the main desk the disembodied voice spoke of.

The front desk broke off into two halls, elevators on both sides. From the outside, the place had been four stories, which hadn’t looked that big. Maybe there was more underground. I walked up to the desk.

The person behind the desk pushed their long, white hair away from their face, shoving it behind one ear, which was pointed. Was this a fae? I blinked, dumbfounded, and trying not to be stupid—or more stupid than usual on my first day.

“Jude Holt, right? I’ll need your ID. Security is on the way up to set up your scans and keycard.”

Their nameplate said Robin, but I couldn’t tell if they were male or female. “Thanks,” I said, eyeing the clock. “My packet didn’t tell me what time to be in?”

“Most roll in by nine unless there was a late-night callout,” Robin said, taking my ID and scanning it.

“Does that happen a lot? Late night stuff?”

Robin gave me a faint smile. “Sadly, yes. Are you a morning person?”

“No.” I held up my giant travel mug of coffee. “This is the third one already.”

“And you’re not jittery yet?” Robin glanced at my arm and the mark. “Most of your kind aren’t really alive until after dark anyway.”

The elevator dinged and a large Lurch-looking man stepped off, dressed in a security uniform. He had to bend to exit the car, and as he turned my way, I took an unconscious step backward. Was he made of stone? The gray pallor of his face, carved with ornate symbols and glossy black eyes, made me gulp.

“Agent Holt, this is our Chief Security Officer, Galen.” Robin handed back my ID. “He’ll take you down to the security office and get your card set up.”

I racked my brain for what he was. The book I’d been given by my old boss was too big to memorize in a handful of days. Was it rude to ask? Holy shit I was out of my comfort zone in this new job. Dead people, I was used to. Criminals, sure. But a stone security guard?

“He’s a golem,” Robin offered helpfully. “Some of them arepowered by death magic. Galen here is Sergeant Hanna’s creation.”

“The sergeant created a golem?” Talk about stepping from reality into a fantasy novel. “With death magic? I’m not sure the manual covered that.”

“Manual?” Robin inquired. Galen stared at me, not breathing, more looming like the stone terror he was, waiting with an unnatural stillness. I couldn’t imagine anyone fucking with him.

I took off my backpack and dug out the manual, holding it up.

“Oh,” Robin said. “Let me get you the updated one.” They disappeared into a back room behind the desk and returned with a giant tome which they plopped on the counter.

“I think my grandpa has phone books with less pages,” I grumbled, taking the book and stuffing it in my bag. “Do you want this one?”

Robin waved it away. “No need. I’d just file it.” They pointed to the trash.

“Is it top secret or anything?”

“It’s standard issue. You could probably check out a copy at the library if you really wanted.”

Good to know.