It took fifteen minutes to make sure everyone was in the main ballroom. The only people not inside the ballroom were the guards who watched the exits. No one would be allowed in or out until all this got sorted.
There seemed to be only two moods in the room, hysteria or confusion. Just like the romantic lighting that had given way to the bright house lights, so too did the joy and festivities disappear into a distant memory.
“This is stupid.” One dignitary said to another. He wasn’t loud, but he wasn’t trying to hide his displeasure either.
“I know.” Agreed the woman he was speaking to. “But what can we do?” She looked at Mrs. Warren’s back as she said this. It was clear that Elizabeth Warren was respected, but that didn’t necessarily translate to being well liked.
Mrs. Warren cleared her throat and spoke with authority. “So where should we start detective?” While she was clearly speaking to Zazriel, her gaze was scanning the room. There was no hiding it. She was enjoying the position of power she created for herself. She looked nothing like the crying woman from only a short few minutes ago.
"With the people closest to you I'd assume," he said, looking over at her. "It's not the best method, but given the lack of proper evidence…"
He trailed off with a shrug.
“Works for me!” The woman agreed, then turned to face Zazriel. “You’re the closest at the moment, and I would rest better knowing that the investigator himself isn’t a suspect.” She held out one hand, palm to the sky. “You mind?”
“Not at all,” he said, holding out his hand. All the while wondering if it were logic or paranoia that motivated such an act.
Their hands met and sent a light shock between them, that they could both feel. The sensation only lasted a moment for Zazriel, but seemed to resonate within Mrs. Warren. Her eyes closed as she savored his angelic aura.
When her eyes opened, she couldn’t help but smile. “Well, I don’t think you could have done anything like this, now could you?” She shot him a knowing wink and turned to the person nearest to them. “Next!”
A rather short man, round in shape and exquisite in dress, strode up to the woman and held out his hand, an expression of uncertainty on his glistening face. Zazriel watched the scene with passing interest, more concerned with the other guests than the psychic readings. Mainly because he was unsure if the thief was still here or not. As illogical as that was.
“Never hurts to be careful,” he mused, letting his studious gaze sweep across the crowd.
After being cleared by the psychic woman, the portly man strode over to Zazriel. His face was red with annoyance, but he spoke calmly. “So, am I cleared to leave, investigator? I really wasn’t planning on being here this late.”
"Yes of course," Zazriel said with a slight nod as he waved to one of the guards, a sign that the man was to be allowed out of the area. "Before you go though…"
He pulled out a small card from his coat pocket.
"Here's my business card. Call the number on the back if you hear anything, and it'll put you through to me."
The man took the white square of paper and tucked it away with a slight nod. Straightening his suit, he strode over to the nearest exit and stepped out into the night.
"You know you're going to run out of cards if you keep doing that right?" Liel said, her eyebrow raised.
Zazriel shrugged.
"If we can figure out who did this, I'd say those are cards well spent," he replied, shifting his gaze back to Mrs. Warren, who was already reading another guest. A woman this time, with an almost fae-like face and porcelain skin, who was clad in a flowing emerald dress slit from the knees down to allow for greater freedom of movement.
“You’re all set, Madam Teril.” Mrs. Warren said to the woman, dismissing her to move on to the next person, the woman’s date, a man in a deep green suit. His face was also a thing of exotic beauty, framed by light brown hair, half as long as the woman’s flowing locks. His hair on the other hand, was pulled back into a ponytail, revealing the pointed ears characteristic of the woodland elves.
When the couple were both finished, they approached Zazriel. The man spoke for them both, “May we also take our leave, Mr…?” The elf held out his hand for a cordial shake.
“Zazriel,” the angel replied, taking the man's hand and giving it a brief, yet firm, shake. “Zaz for short. And yes, you may, but before you do…”
He fishes another card out of his pocket.
“Please take one of these. Just in case you hear or see anything out of the ordinary.”
The next hour passed in this same vein. One after another, each guest would visit the psychic woman, then collect a business card from Zazriel. On the way out, one of the detectives from the police department would record the guest’s full name and contact information, just in case.
“Zaz,” Leil — Zazriel’s tan partner — called out to him in a hushed voice. Beside her, stood another woman, a petite brunette with porcelain skin, contrasted by a black dress. The woman’s face was obscured by a black hat with a wide brim. If the dress didn’t fit so well and show as much skin, or if the hat had a veil, she could have passed for a morning widow. Leil had stepped aside with the woman, while Zazriel was speaking with guests.
Whatever this woman had to say must have been important, because otherwise, Leil would never interrupt. The news also seemed to be of a sensitive nature, because she didn’t say anything else. She simply waved again for him to come closer.
“What is it Leil?” he asked, moving over to the pair, casting a glance over at the pale woman as he drew near.
“This woman thinks she knows our thief.” She then nodded, signaling the woman to talk.
The woman spoke with a foriegn accent popular on the other side of the world. “This is the work of a famous thief from my country, unless it's a very good copycat. There is a fingerprint in the lobby, on the welcoming slideshow. That is their calling card. They-”
“Hun,” Leil inserted. “He knows about the thief too. Tell him the rest.”
Unfazed, the woman continued, “Well, I was just telling your partner that this whole psychic business is completely useless. The person or people behind this are already gone. They’ve only ever been caught in the act, never after the fact. And most importantly, they are expert magic users. Even if they are still here, they could fool that woman’s psychic readings easily.”
“So,” he began, crossing his arms, his head tilted to the side slightly. “Do you have a name for this thief of ours?”
“There is no name for whoever is behind this. Nobody can even agree to what he, she, or they look like. I just wanted you to know, you’re wasting your time with this looney.” The woman said, nodding at Mrs. Warren. “Now, can I go? Or do I have to get back in that line?”
Mrs. Warren was only halfway done reading the party guests. There were just too many to go any faster. The woman in black shifted her weight back and forth from foot to foot as she waited for a response.
“Of course.”
Zazriel moved to the side and gestured toward the doors.
“Before you do though,” he said, pulling out another card. “Take this. If you see anything suspicious, please do not hesitate to contact me. We need all the leads we can get.”
Val moved towards the officers and bowed. He didn’t like the fact that the officer was allowing a suspect to escape without having Mrs. Warren at least try. However, it wasn’t his place, so he announced himself.
“Greetings officers.” Calmly he smiled at them, and then he stared at the female who wanted to escape.
“I have information as to who did this.” He stated at a volume that only allowed the three of them to hear him.
“Detective,” Zazriel corrected, turning his gaze on Val. “Freelance. While me and my associate Leil are working with law enforcement on this case, we are not on their payroll. But if you have information, then I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say we’ll be glad to hear it,” he said pausing briefly, his head cocked to the side in thought. “Though I fail to see how your testimony will shed any new light on the current situation, what with the lack of substantial evidence and all.”
Val’s smile broadened as the Detective informed him of who he was. Slowly he rose from his bow and looked at the guests who looked at him for an answer.
“I see.” He paused.
“Well, according to my contract with my employer I don’t have to answer that. I was under the impression you were connected to this fine city and its people. As a Freelance Detective you don’t have the pull required to loosen my lips.” Val calmly stated as he moved to exit.
“However, that doesn’t mean that I will not work with the fine police force of this great city, in order to reveal those responsible. Remember everything needs to be done correctly and by law. If not then people would gun or magic one another down in the streets.” He explained to everyone at the party as he spun around.
“This fine detective was about to allow someone to walk out of these doors without being checked by the fabulous, Mrs. Warren.” He paused while the room took in the information he provided and flagged down security to hold the exit.
“That I did,” Zazriel said with a shrug. “But I would counter by asking you what thief worth their salt would remain at the scene of the crime long after its fulfillment.”
He glanced around the room, but his expression remained unchanged. Impassive. If the angel was displeased, he certainly wasn’t showing it.
“As for your… predicament, do what you must.”
Zazriel gestured to an older man stationed on the opposite side of the room. “The captain is right over there after all. If you are unable to speak to me on the issue, then perhaps he can be of service.”
The police force captain had been watching over the proceedings without saying much. His officers and detectives were handling the footwork. He wasn’t even supposed to be on duty today. He was supposed to be enjoying the party like everyone else, as a guest, hence the tuxedo instead of normal work attire.
He was prepared however, not having consumed anything from the party’s open bar. The likelihood of something happening at this party should have been low, what with all the security. But anytime this many high profile people were in one place, especially on such a special occasion, the possibility of a terrorist threat would always loom.
To be honest, he was glad that they were only dealing with a robbery. As far as anyone could tell, nobody had been harmed, not unless hurt pride counted.
Captain Mullins took notice when Zazriel motioned in his direction, and when he caught both him and Val looking directly at him, he decided to approach. He knew and respected Zazriel from past cases. The man always worked well with his officers and had his way with uncovering things they couldn’t.
“Are you gentlemen alright?” The tall, gray haired man said as he approached. His eye line landed somewhere in between Zazriel’s and the abnormally tall Val’s.
Val’s toothy grin faded away as the captain approached and addressed them. For the first time during the party, his face became twisted, into an unhappy frown. It was like removing color from the world.
“My apologies dear captain.” Val apologized and bowed. His facial features returned to a neutral aspect. “I’m glad you accepted my…” He paused for a moment and looked at his masters family, leaving enough pause for someone to assume it was actually he who sent out the invitations. “My Lord’s invitation.”
“The only thing I want is for everyone to be scanned by Mrs. Warren. Mainly, because it is unfair to those who have already been processed.” He continued, coming out of the bow.
“I honestly just wanted everyone to enjoy the evening.” He admitted with a sorrowful smile. “Furthermore,” Val paused and faced Zazriel. He bowed deeply once again, eyes to the floor. “I humbly apologize as my words may have been uncouth and untrue.”
The guards and staff took note of his apology and almost seemed ashamed or saddened by the action. He mentally kicked himself for using an archaic word like Lord to describe his employer. However, it didn’t show on the outside.
Zazriel processed and dismissed the man’s words with a perfunctory nod.
“If we are allowing everyone to be scanned by Mrs. Warren, then we’d best get to it,” he said, sliding his hands into his coat pockets. “There are still quite a great deal of guests here to process after all.”
“Indeed,” answered the captain, as he cast his gaze over the remaining party guests still standing in line. The portly psychic was more than halfway done, but at this rate, it would still be another twenty minutes or so. “When this line clears, assuming Mrs. Warren’s scan doesn’t reveal our thief, I would like both of you to join me and my detectives for a debriefing.”
“Until then captain, detective, and ladies.” Val bowed slightly as he looked at the others. “If you will excuse me, I have to take care of the guests.” He then excused himself and moved over to the line.
“Sure thing.” The captain responded, as Val walked away. His next words were for Zazriel, spoken out the side of his mouth. “There’s something… off about that guy…”
Val addressed those that were left in the room, head high. “Please bear with this inconvenience everyone. Our host has assured me that he will pay for any damages of lost goods. This was one of the reasons we took inventory when each of you checked in.” He tried to calm those waiting in line. Val then made his way over to a few of the guards and had them tighten security on the exits. Afterwards, he moved over to his lord’s family and made sure they were alright.
Zazriel, meanwhile, watched the proceedings impassively, his mind still preoccupied, figuring out how such an evidence free job could have been carried out.
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