“It’s in there,” Nix whispered, pointing.
“Let’s go and have a look, then,” I directed. “Are you ready, team?”
“I suppose,” Thorn said, reluctantly. “I still find this very difficult, you know.”
“I understand,” I said, putting a sympathetic hand on her arm. “You’re an honest and honorable individual, Thorn, and I know this isn’t easy for you, but it’s essential to find out what’s going on. Believe me, if there was any other way to do it, I would.” She looked at me, with her large and expressive eyes full of doubt.
“Do you swear?” she asked.
“I swear,” I answered sincerely. “I can’t see any other way to do it.”
“Very well,” she decided, squaring her shoulders. “I trust you, Stephen.”
“And I value that trust,” I murmured, giving her arm a comforting squeeze. “I really do. Now, let’s see about getting inside.” We scouted around the building and came across a partially opened door at the very back.
“This looks like it,” I whispered to my two co-conspirators. I eased myself inside and stood, listening for extraneous sounds but nothing untoward greeted my aural survey. Luckily, the place appeared to be deserted. We seemed to have entered outside of working hours.
“What are we looking for?” asked Nix, in an undertone.
“I’m not sure yet,” I answered. “Some sort of paperwork, I suppose, telling us where the shipments are going. It’d have to be in an office somewhere.”
“Let’s try up here,” Nix suggested, pointing to a small room overlooking the general floor area.
“Good idea,” I praised. “In my experience, most bosses like to elevate themselves physically to survey their minions.”
We clambered up the set of steps to the office, and opened the door. It wasn’t locked and we immediately commenced searching. After about five minutes, Thorn waved a piece of paper at us.
“What about this?” she asked, handing it to me. I surveyed the page of figures intently.
“Interesting,” I commented. “It’s saying here that one hundred units of the medicine were received last week and another hundred units the month before and so on. They appear to be receiving a hundred per month. Okay, that gives us something to go on for starters. Now, all we need to discover is many units were actually dispatched. We have to find where they do the packing and shipping. Logically, it should be at the front of the building, facing the street.”
We carefully rearranged everything we had disturbed, and made our way to the front door. There was a large room off to one side, full of packing tape, paper and string – a promising area to investigate. Once again, we began searching for itemised information. I was the one to find what we wanted this time. On an official looking piece of paper, inside a large ledger, I came across the shipping figures. They showed that one hundred item had been sent out per month. I felt somewhat disappointed to find that the tallies matched. I had been hoping …….. well, I wasn’t quite sure what I had hoped to discover.
“It looks like we were wrong,” Nix said, looking over my shoulder at the figures. “A hundred in and a hundred out. No discrepancies there.”
“That’s certainly what it says,” I admitted, “but I’m still not satisfied. We humans see sneakiness everywhere, even if you and Thorn are too honest to imagine such a thing. Keep looking, especially in hidden places. I want to be absolutely sure that there’s no hanky-panky going on.”
We kept searching, looking under desks and behind things, and this time it became Nix’s turn to find what we wanted. In an obscure corner, concealed from casual view, he found a small, battered notebook. Eagerly, I flipped the pages and found it to be a shipping record. A second ledger. Here, the shipping figures showed a remarkable diversity to the official ones. On the same days as the delivery into the warehouse, the figures out of the warehouse provided a marked decrease in items dispatched. A ten percent reduction, in fact. Only ninety units were being sent out every month, so what was happening to the other ten? I could easily hazard a guess at that.
“I believe we’ve isolated one strand of the web,” I told Nix, grimly.
“I wonder how many other strands there are,” Nix sorrowfully replied, fingering the damning notebook.
“There are still a number of unanswered questions,” Thorn announced. “For instance, why did Mirnaxillum kill that girl, and what’s happened to his sister? And what was the dwarf medallion doing next to the Crystal Cavern? Also, who murdered Dugfingbux? We have to tie all these things together.”
“Okay, Mister Knot Master, what’s our next move?” Nix asked me, smiling slightly.
“Our next step is to remove ourselves from this building before we’re arrested,” I commanded. “After that, we’ll have to see. But, before we go, there’s still one more search have to undertake.”
“Another search?” Thorn groaned. “What for this time?”
I smiled at her reaction. “I think we have someone here who doesn’t like to rely on his memory. He wants everything to hand so he can track what’s going where. Someone this careless might conceivably have a record of his clients stashed away somewhere within easy reach. Let’s face it you two, neither of your races is all that sophisticated in the realms of crime and this person probably won’t be devious enough to hide things properly.”
“Now, that’s a mixed compliment if ever I’ve heard one,” Thorn grunted. “Actually, I’m pleased that the One aren’t sophisticated crime enthusiasts.”
“Me too,” Nix added. “I don’t like the idea of my people taking to crime either.”
“Let’s hope it never comes to that,” I said, fervently. “I prefer you to be honest. There are some human traits not worth copying.”
“Only some?” Thorn remarked, slyly.
“Yes, Missy,” I sternly objected. “Only some. Feel free to emulate our good qualities.”
“For instance?” Nix questioned, grinning.
“It should be obvious,” I lectured, poker-faced. “Humans are strikingly handsome, generous to a fault, intellectually brilliant, breathtakingly tolerant and universally respected for our serenity. We also have boundless sexual magnetism. Take your pick.”
“You didn’t mention your unmitigated genius at telling untruths,” Thorn giggled.
“Oh yes,” I admitted, flippantly. “We major in that one. It’s what makes us who we are.”
Chapter 17
After that tension-reducing piece of tomfoolery, we began searching once again. It took another ten minutes of intense scrutiny until we found the clandestine item. Hiding in an obscure area behind the desk, a small notebook came to light. In it were inscribed around twenty names, with numbers of small strokes beside each one, presumably indicating the amount of items bought. One name caught Nix’s eye.
“That’s Dugfingbux!” he gasped. “He’s the one who was killed!”
“So, here’s another part of the puzzle,” I said, rubbing my chin. “He was sold the drug, but did he use it just for himself, or was he selling it to others?”
“He was selling it?” Nix exclaimed, horrified. “I can’t believe anyone would stoop that low! Why would he do it?”
“Money, Nix,” I answered grimly. “Money. It’s a motive as old as the hills. But we shouldn’t be hasty. We have no proof that’s what he did, but it certainly would provide a motive for the murder. Someone else wanted to rob him, or perhaps they were as outraged as you are about his activities, and decided that he shouldn’t be allowed to keep on living.”
“That’s even worse!” Nix shuddered. “To kill someone? It simply inconceivable!”
“I love your innocence,” I told him. “Don’t ever change, Nix. You restore my faith that there’s still good in the world.”
“What now?” Thorn asked, her face mirroring Nix’s repulsion.
“I’ll leave it to you two to memorise the names in the book,” I commanded, “because I can’t make heads or tails of them. Then I think we’ll p
ay each of them a little visit and see if we can shake some information loose.”
We restored everything to its proper place and then we started with the six goblin names, seeing as how we were already in the general area. We followed Nix around as he went from house to house, following the memorised names in the book we’d found. I decided to adopt the tried and true method of ‘good cop/bad cop’, although I had to explain the concept to a confused Thorn and Nix. Naturally enough, I played the bad cop because I felt that Nix didn’t have it in him to be even a ‘slightly naughty’ cop. The process, well known where I lived, was apparently a totally new concept here, because it worked like a charm. Information, facts and dates tumbled from the mouths of the six until we had a comprehensive, if somewhat incomplete, picture of the distribution network.
“So Dugfingbux was a seller,” Nix exclaimed in disgust. “But we still don’t know who killed him.”
“Not yet, anyhow,” I remarked. “But we know that he sold the drugs to the young Ones as well as to the locals here. Now, we still have the rest of the names in that book, so let’s go to the settlement and try our luck there.”
We comprised a sombre party who made our way to where Thorn lived. I knew that both Nix and Thorn were traumatised by the revelations we’d recently encountered, and they still hadn’t come to grips with the perfidy of certain members of their own race. I didn’t know what to say to them to ease their distress, so I simply allowed them to brood, hoping that time would heal their bruised spirits.
Deciding to waste no time, we began same routine of interrogation except that now, of course, Thorn took the role of the ‘good’ cop. Once again, our technique worked brilliantly and we unfolded the rest of the drug supply network. It seemed fairly basic. Dugfingbux was the supplier, taking delivery from the goblin distribution warehouse, courtesy of the foreman there. So far, so good.
“Where do we go from here?” Thorn asked.
“I think we should do something about Max,” I replied, thoughtfully. “His name was on the list but I’m positive he didn’t kill that girl. And we still have to find his sister.”
“Max?” Nix asked, scratching his head.
“He means Mirnaxillum,” Thorn informed him.
“I prefer Max,” Nix stated. “Fairy names are ridiculous.”
“Like you can talk,” Thorn retaliated, heatedly. “Borgulessa parents must cut up a book into tiny pieces and randomly glue bits together to name their children. What kind of a name is ‘Forscewnix’ anyway?”
“Well, at least it’s better than ‘Arugohumna’,” Nix calmly retorted. “Your name sounds like something you’d be screaming if you fell down a hole.”
Thorn, torn between fury and laughter, speared Nix with her eyes. “It’s lucky for you that it’s ‘Be Kind to Misguided Ratbags Week’,” she growled, breathing heavily. “Otherwise, there’d be trouble.”
“The day hasn’t dawned when a mere fairy could beat me in a fair fight,” Nix grinned.
“Is that so?” Thorn declared, also grinning. “And just how long have you been this delusional?”
I decided to step in at this point before they started to put their words into action. “Okay, you two, leave it for later,” I commanded. “We have to find out about Max. I have this notion that he’s the next link in the chain.”
“Why don’t we try your good-bad routine again?” Nix said, turning away from Thorn who poked out her tongue at him behind his back. “It’s worked so far.”
“I think it’s going to take something more than that this time,” I declared, gloomily. “He seems determined to be blamed for the killing.”
“Have you considered that he might be guilty?” Thorn contributed. “After all, he keeps confessing to it.”
“But he can’t give a reason,” I argued. “He seems so desperate to convince everyone that I question his sincerity. He’s too overeager, and it simply doesn’t ring true.”
“But why would he be doing it, then?” Thorn demanded in a frustrated voice. “I don’t understand his motive. I’d never admit to a murder I hadn’t committed.”
“Remember my earlier theory of someone threatening his sister?” I asked, slowly and deliberately.
“Yes, well, but it’s so wildly implausible that I can’t bring myself to believe it,” she replied.
“I’m afraid that it’s a more valid theory for me,” I told her. “And that may be because of my upbringing in a less innocent environment than yours. Anyway, I guess I should explain my reasoning to Nix.”
“I’m all agog,” he murmured.
“And here I thought you were a goblin,” I smirked. “Now I find out that you’re a gog. I wish you’d get your facts straight.” Nix laughed but Thorn looked puzzled.
“I don’t get it,” she complained. “What’s so funny?”
“It’s simply a pitiful attempt at humor on Stephen’s part,” Nix explained. “It wasn’t actually funny at all.”
“Then why were you laughing?” Thorn wanted to know.
“She’s got you there,” I pointed out, gleefully. “Score one for her side.”
We decided to visit Max again, although I still hadn’t come up with an idea to break down his defences. My theory about why Max had confessed had been lost in the general horseplay and hadn’t been re-aired, but I still believed it to be viable. The simplest solution is often the truest. Max’s sister goes missing and Max incoherently confesses to a crime ….. therefore his sister may be being held captive to ensure Max’s co-operation. After all, Thorn had already told me repeatedly how important family was to the One, so Max would probably do anything to ensure his sister’s safety. My theory fitted all the known facts, but were there other unknown facts lurking in the background that would throw my theory into chaos? We’d have to see. I felt positive that Max could clear up a few major details if I could only persuade him to talk to us.
Chapter 18
On the way to where Max was being held, we detoured to Phil’s workplace. I wanted to ask him something. We entered his laboratory, finding the place as chaotic and noisy as ever. I spotted Phil over in a corner by himself, busily working on some random piece of equipment. I tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to his office where I knew the noise levels would be more bearable. He nodded and we followed him as he wended his way through the scurrying crowds of technicians to his office. Once inside, he closed the door with a certain amount of relief.
“Ah, that’s better,” he announced. “Now, you bunch of miscreants, what are you up to? How are you getting along with the investigation?”
“We have hopes,” I said, carefully. “We’ve discovered how the drugs get distributed and where they’re going, but there are a few loose ends to tie up yet, and that’s why we’re here. I’d like something from you, if you have any.”
“What do you want?” Phil asked, his demeanor a little shaken by the thought of an established narcotic network.
“The drug we’re chasing speeds up the system,” I began, “but what I want is something that slows it down. A mild sedative, in other words.”
“Am I allowed to ask why?” Phil said, looking at me keenly.
“I want to give a small amount to Max,” I informed him. “I need him as relaxed as possible for what I have in mind. I believe he possesses the key to the whole tangled mess and I want him to give it to me.”
“And Max is?” Phil enquired, questioningly.
“Mirnaxillum!” Thorn and Nix chorused simultaneously, then grinned at each other.
“I see,” Phil announced, stroking his chin. “As it so happens, I do have a little of what you want, and I think I’m beginning to see what your plan is. Clever. I’ll go and fetch it.” He bustled off and returned seconds later with a small, sealed bottle.
“Six drops should be enough,” he informed me, pressing the bottle into my hand. “No more.”
“Six drops,” I repeated. “Excellent. Thank you.”
“If you can find out who’s behind all of
this,” Phil stated solemnly, “then no thanks are necessary.” He shook his head incredulously. “I’m still having a hard time believing what’s going on. What’s happening to us?”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” I declared, shaking my head. “Either it’s something home grown, or the One have been observing humans for too long and have copied too many of our bad habits.”
Phil gave me a tight little smile and remarked, “Well, either way, we need to stop it. Good luck, my friend, and I hope your endeavors are successful.”
“So do I,” I murmured. “So do I.”
Our little group made its way back onto the street and headed for where Max was imprisoned. On the way, I persuaded Thorn to buy a small jar of wine to which, under the mystified eyes of my two companions, I carefully added the requisite six drops of the liquid that Phil had given me.
“Dare I ask what you’re doing?” Nix wanted to know.
“As I told Phil,” I replied, swishing the liquid around to dissolve the drops, “I want Max to be as relaxed as possible.”
“You’re up to something, aren’t you?” Thorn accused, her eyes bright.
“It’s just something I want to try,” I stated, sniffing the wine to see if I could detect any difference in smell from the added ingredient. “I think that Max is being coerced into confessing and if we can find out who’s doing that, then I think we’d have the ringleaders.”
“You’re assuming an awful lot,” Thorn said, doubtfully.
“Maybe,” I acceded, “but it’s a line worth investigating. When we’re with Max, don’t be surprised at anything I do or say.”
“Oh, we’re past that stage,” Nix remarked, sniggering. “Nothing you do surprises me anymore, except perhaps you telling Thorn what you really think of her.”
“And what do you mean by that?” Thorn demanded, hands on hip, before I could think of a non-incriminating answer.
“Nothing,” Nix declared, innocently. “Nothing at all.”
“You meant something,” Thorn contradicted, staring daggers at Nix. “Come on, out with it, ratbag! Or do I have to beat it out of you?”
Dangerous Desires (2) (The Underground Kingdom) Page 6
