Hardwick groaned. The impact on the floor had done more damage then he'd expected, and his chest burned and contracted with pain.

A woman's slender hand reached down gently to help him. He grabbed it and with assistance slowly got back up on his feet. [color=0072bc][i]'Thanks ma'am. The name's Hardwick, Private Investigator. I'm sorry for the intrusion, I'll be on my way shortly...'[/i][/color] He trailed off as he looked up at the woman's face - it was too delicate and slender to be quite human. Two unnaturally large, pointy ears stuck up from the sides of her head.