Page 60 of Goblins Don't Count
I stopped for a second to really process that. I’d been too stressed out with seeing my mother to really let the fact that my car had blown up sink in. I’d really loved that car. I’d had it for years, Tarn keeping it tuned up. Was my family safe?
I shook my head, and I started researching the cases Joss had last touched. I couldn’t focus on the fear and uncertainty, not when I had a job to do.
A pix dust dealer, a suicide, and a summoning circle.
Maybe if I found the dealer, he could explain himself. But how was I supposed to do that? What about that fairy I’d helped pick up a werewolf? That sounded iffy, but what were my other options? Goblins did not like fairies or I’d ask Trata. Or Sashimi. Was he okay? I’d just left him sleeping. Maybe he needed more medical intervention. But how could I get back into his house? The place really was a vault.
I called up the bar where I’d gone a few times to lurk around on various cases, where I’d sent the fairy.
“Sato. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She made it sound like the opposite of pleasure, with a threatening growl on the end, but she’d never actually ripped out my throat.
“Fairy in a purple sequin dress. Remember her?”
She snorted. “Hard to forget that kind of chaos.”
“Do you have a number where I can reach her?”
“A number for the Fairy Queen?”
I frowned at the file in front of me. “The Fairy Queen?”
“Yes. She married the alpha. I can give you his number, and he can get you in touch with her, but I don’t recommend it. They’re trouble.”
“Of course they are. Yes, please give me the alpha’s number.”
She gave it to me, and I thanked her and hung up. I didn’t even hesitate, just called, because what did I have to lose? My car had already been blown up.
“Officer Sato. So good to hear from you.”
I blinked. “You’re at the bar?”
“That’s right. I heard your entire conversation with my good friend. You’re looking for my wife? Why? It’s probably more trouble to you than it’s worth.”
“I’m looking for a pixie dust dealer.”
“Interesting. And you think my wife knows all the dust dealers?” There was a dangerous edge to his voice.
“I know that she can read fairy minds. She might be able to find him for me.”
“Maybe she could, but why would she?”
“I don’t know, maybe because I have three circles filled with blood waiting on two more to summon a greater demon, with a Coratta running around murdering people. Do I have the slightest idea how a pix dealer is involved? No. But I’m following the clues, Max. That’s what I do. So, you can give me her number or not, but if not, I’ll be tracking him down personally, and I’ll ask Sashimi if he knows any goblins that would be willing to help me shake down a few fairies.”
“Pulling the goblin card, hm? I did hear that you and the Goblin Authority were together.”
“You heard right.”
“I’ll ask my wife to call you if she’d like to help stop demons, although are you sure you aren’t in the pocket of the Goblin Authority?”
“I am sure I wouldn’t tell you if I were. Thanks for asking. Do you know what a Coratta demon is?”
“I do. Nasty things. I thought the angels locked them all up.”
“They did, but someone set one free.”
“And you think it was a pixie dust dealer? I doubt it. They’re a self-serving lot, not really for mass destruction, particularly when it involves their own skins.”
“He’s wily. Slips out of everyone’s hands.”
