Page 40 of Forget Me Not

“High crime in and around the village right now. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen there before. Ugh.” Penn poured the rest of her coffee out in the sink.

“Except during the ‘80s,” Cal interrupted, “when the city was starting to be hit with AIDs cases, and the respectable humans blamed the beings and anyone Spanish-speaking or darker skinned and all the queer humans who lived in the village and Old Town. There was lots of crime then, usually aimed at those people or the businesses that served them. They wanted them gone.” Ray gave in and looked directly at Cal. “What?” Cal demanded. “My dad mentioned it. That was when he worked there. The PD didn’t give a shit about the village until then, except for vice raids that were an excuse to… well, take advantage, and they still sent him in, basically alone, to handle it. All the beings hires to the force had been fired by then. It stayed that way until years later, with you two. You were the first to make it that far.”

Penn had been the first. Ray shared a look with her.

“Fine. Communicate telepathically some more,” Cal grumbled, and opened his laptop to mess around on it without sitting down.

“They want the elf case locked up. For there to be no possible question about anything, in case the DA decides to take it to trial as something more serious,” Penn explained quietly, as if that would stop Cal from listening. Ray had just met him and could already tell that Cal was the stubborn, stick-his-nose-in type. “They don’t want to incite more tension. The immigrant situation has protestors outside City Hall daily, and then the dragon case up north is already getting the village heated—no pun intended.”

Ray recognized at least part of what Penn was talking about and also that she knew what he was going to say. He said it anyway. “Los Cerros has an imperfect history, but if it prides itself as being a beacon of tolerance, it shouldn’t be cooperating with the immigration authorities.”

“The town has a Spanish name. Like, let’s not forget our roots.” Cal muttered this as he typed, not looking up.

Penn sighed, not disagreeing. She and Ray had already voiced their opinions many times, for all the good it had done. They were very much in the minority. The PD was still supposed to pass on information, as if those immigrants weren’t part of the people they were supposed to serve and protect.

A part of Ray tried to shudder away from the thought. He and Penn were not wrong. That is what they were meant to do.

But he thought Cal might look at him with pity, or sadness, if he said so. He thought others might not acknowledge that he’d said it at all.

He wondered if he had admitted that to himself before, and if that was what his mind was trying to wriggle away from now. It made him plant his feet and scowl.

“What dragon up north?” For now, he focused on the part he didn’t recognize.

Cal raised his head. “I’ve discussed it a lot. That memory being gone is probably my fault.”

Penn waved Cal back to his work and explained for him. “Someone tried to hunt a dragon for parts. The dragon defended itself. This has angered some humans. That has angered some beings, who would like to know why they aren’t allowed to defend themselves, especially on their own property. The dragon is, of course, rich, and that has also added to general public grumblings. But mostly, some conservative talk shows picked up the story so now it’s everybody’s business.”

“Bens is on his way,” Cal announced while Ray was processing the new information. “What do I need?” Cal asked himself absently. “Ah, wallet? I have my phone. Something else?”

“Shoes.” Ray nearly barked it.

“Shoes!” Cal swept out of the kitchen, back to his search for his shoes.

“There are white tennis shoes by the couch,” Ray heard himself call out.

“Looking for the red pair, but thank you!”

Ray rubbed his temple now that Cal was safely out of sight.

“Do you still have that headache?” Penn was worried again, worried more. “Did you hit your head when you landed on the ground?” Ray should have healed by now if that was the case. Which Penn knew, because she went on. “Maybe your body is focused on your other injuries right now. The magical ones.”

Ray wanted to snap his teeth at her, which she would also know. Penn always knew what people wanted.

She continued in her unpleasant, compelling siren voice. “You need answers, but I don’t have them for you. Not yet. I can only tell you whatis… and offer you some more of your own coffee. However, if you’re wanting some sugar in your bowl, he’s in the other room. Probably trying to listen to our conversation.”

The living room was suddenly quieter.

Cal could be tricky. Ray found himself smiling.

“Damn,” Penn said in disgust, but smiled too. “You are as taken as you ever were.”

“What…” Ray had to clear his throat. He listened to Cal—eating again, because he had not eaten enough the day before—and felt his smile get pulled downward. He still didn’t understand. “What does he do when he’s not at the station?”

“We, meaning Benny and me, investigate, and we research, and then we offer our official opinion and suggestions. You can call it consulting or investigations or both. Generally on magical issues or issues related to beings. The PD call us in when their own “crack team of magical investigators” is stumped, which happens because none of them are beings or willing to listen to beings. Or, they call us when it seems politic for them to do so. This is also what we do for others who hire us, although they usually listen better.” Ray went to the kitchen doorway to watch him. Cal hopped into a pair of sneakers that were not red as he shouted out his answer. “Projects to save some older historic buildings. Legal defense teams wanting more information. That sort of stuff. No, they did not ask me and Bens to look into what happened to you. Which could be a personal consideration, but I doubt it. I mean, have their magical people attempted to talk to you about it yet?”

“Nobody has contacted me.” Ray grunted.

“Not even a reporter?” Cal stopped. “Did they not find out? What reason did the PD give for you going to the hospital?”

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