[News, Time]

  While Lily and Paula gave their statements to a guardsman, I went out to the bench that the Nemanjas were shackled to.

  “We know that the weapons came from Earth, we know that you two bought the portal muffins to move the weapons. We know that the weapons are going to Veracity to support a gang war. Why don’t you tell us who your boss is and who your contact on Earth is? It might save you from the mines.”

  “You and your friends are dead when we tell the boss who took down his operation. Not one of you will live out the week.”

  “Why don’t you tell me who the boss is, I’ll pay him a visit myself.”

  “We’re not telling you anything.”

  “Wanna bet.”

  I checked with Lily and Paula, they were fine and would head back to the bakery after they finished their statements. I portaled to the library and walked down to Draco’s lair.

  “Draco, could I please use the ‘Big Ear’ ? Those two criminals we caught last night just told me we were all going to be killed by their boss. But they refuse to name the said boss.”

  “Here Rose, is there anything I can do?”

  “Maybe after we get the boss's name, but for now nothing all the crooks are locked up. Do you think I should erase the Nemanja’s memory of us?”

  “Well it certainly wouldn’t hurt anything, right if you can slow down or confuse the spread of information, but also don’t take the threat too seriously. I know you Rose, you, worry, worry, worry over every little detail if it affects your friends and their safety. Lots of criminals make idle threats.”

  “Alright I understand and I’ll bring the ‘Big Ear’ back in a little while.”

  Then I jumped to the Guards, I walked in and sat down on the bench that the Nemanjas were sitting on. Then I jumped the bench and the people sitting on it to the bottom of the pit trap on Hilltop.

  “Now would you like to tell me who your boss is?”

  “No way, you can’t torture a confession out of us, we know our rights.”

  “I don’t want a confession anymore, you threatened my friends and my family. So now were past confessions and right to the punishment phase of the this little operation.” I was trying to scare them but there wasn’t a lot I could do, plus I had limited time. Dogberry might be very upset that I had kidnapped his prisoners. “I think dogs and cats, I do hope you two aren’t allergic.

  I turned his head into a dogs and hers into a cat. The rest of their bodies remained human. He howled and she hissed. Then I turned them back. I authored a cell phone and started making an audio recording.

  “Alright now that you can see what I can do, let’s chat. First if you begin to talk about me, my friends or anyone besides the guards, your heads will revert to their animal forms. Second, if you don’t tell me who your boss is, your heads will revert to their animal forms. Thirdly if you ever talk about this conversation, I think you get the idea. If you do blow it and your heads are changed into their animal counterparts at least you’ll still share a similar interest. Licking your anuses. Now who would like to begin, tell me who your boss is and where he lives?”

  They both started talking at once, I pointed at Daria indicating that she should continue.

  “Our boss is Rayan Artsiom, he’s the leader of the guard in Veracity. When the gang war broke out among the three gangs, he saw an opportunity to make a lot of money. First he armed the weakest gang Granny’s with the weakest guns. Then the next weakest with slightly stronger weapons, finally the third and by far the strongest with weaker weapons. He keeps selling weapons to each group, very slowly giving them more and more powerful weapons, balancing the strength of one gang with more advanced weapons. He’s been doing it for over six months now.”

  “Thank you Daria, that was very helpful. One last question I really want to make sure that you have this correct, I don’t want to get blamed later for transforming a person without their full knowledge. What happens to your head if you break any of the three rules?”

  “It turns into a cat’s head.”

  I turned the ‘Big Ear’ at her.

  “Daria, have you lied to me or withheld any information?”

  “No.” That was true, so we know who’s behind this, time to find out about the Earth side operation.

  “Alright, Sonny it's your turn unless you prefer the Anubis look, who is your contact on Earth, how did you first make contact and when is your next contact scheduled for?”

  “Our contact on Earth is James David. Rayan sent us to Earth to purchase weapons. From his research he said the easiest place to buy weapons was the midwest United States, we found David in a bar in Wichita, he drove us to Muncie, Indiana. A large white warehouse on Hackely St. The name of the company was Vance Midwest Design. The entire building was filled with all sorts of weapons. Rayan gave us a shopping list and we just bought what was on it. We were supposed to return there tonight, meeting with David at midnight.”

  “Why didn’t you just import the guns directly into Veracity, why involve Wyldwood in this war? What happens to your head if you break any of the three rules?”

  “We couldn’t get to Earth from Veracity. We needed magic and word on the street is that Wyldwood has the highest concentration of magic in Emain Ablach aside from Quintessence, and the Fey city was too chaotic for our operation. Plus the punishment there is worse and they have a larger, more sophisticated Guard than Wyldwood. Once we got here we found out about the portal muffins and we started buying them, a few at a time so as not to arouse suspicion.”

  “You forgot one what happens to your head if you break any of the three rules?”

  “It turns into a dog's head.”

  Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

  I turned the ‘Big Ear’ at him.

  “Sonny, have you lied to me or withheld any information or do you plan to try and reveal the information?”

  “No I haven’t lied, or withheld anything and no I don’t want a dog's head. Prison will be bad enough as it is, with a human head.” This was all true. I forgot to ask Daria if she planned to reveal anything, I turned the ‘Big Ear’ at her and asked.

  “Daria, do you plan on trying to reveal any information to your boss?”

  “No, I swear on my life, this is all a secret. If Rayan finds out that we informed on him we are dead.”

  “Fair enough, we won’t be telling him I assure you.”

  I then jumped the bench and the two suspects back to the Guards. Dogberry jumped back about a foot when we appeared.

  “Rose, ma’am, might I have a word with you in my office please?”

  “Certainly Senior Guardsman Dogberry.”

  We walked into the back of the building into his office, he closed the door and went and sat down behind his desk. He indicated for me to have a seat before he began.

  “Ma’am, I know that you discovered this whole plot, which might never have been discovered otherwise. But that doesn’t mean you can just magic away my suspects. You do understand that right, plus anything you learned can’t be used in the court case.”

  “Dogberry, could I just say a few words in my defense. First the Nemanja’s threatened me that my friends and myself would be killed, by their boss, for interfering in his criminal activity. Second, I didn’t ask you because I knew legally you couldn’t allow me to take your prisoners to a place where I’m much stronger, so I took matters into my own hands. It’s better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I made an audio recording of the conversation. I didn’t ask about the case because we already know everything we need to know. I asked who their boss is and you’ll hear for yourself when you listen to the recording that Rayan Artsiom the leader of the guard in Veracity is. I can’t do anything about him but you’ll also hear who they were buying the weapons from on Earth and the warehouse where those weapons are being stored and they were supposed to meet their contact James David tonight at midnight on Earth and that is something I very much can do something about. Shall I play the recording for you so you can hear for yourself.”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  I played him the recording, then we listened to it again.

  “Dogberry, I’m really sorry that I had to do it this way, I apologize for not consulting with you first.”

  “No ma’am you were correct, if you’d asked first, I would have had to say no. I doubt the Nemanjas would have said a word about Artsiom, they’d be much more afraid of him then myself or prison. But you aren’t going to kill all the Earth criminals, ma’am.”

  “No of course I’m not, please come with me or if you are too busy send Nora to observe.”

  “Okay ma’am I’ll come, I don’t want to send Nora into a dangerous situation.”

  “Dogberry I promise you, it is not going to be dangerous for us.”

  Then I gave Dogberry one of the portal wallets and explained how to use it.

  “Just come to my library in the tower.” I pointed out what drawing to touch. “Anytime between eleven thirty and eleven forty five, I probably won’t be home until eleven thirty. Lu is making her debut at the theater for the premiere play. I can’t wait to see it. The tickets for seats are sold out but there is plenty of standing room, a lot closer to the stage too.”

  “I’ll be there ma’am.”

  “Good, I’ll see you tonight.”

  I portaled back to the tower and gave Draco back the ‘Big Ear’. I filled him in on all that I’d learned and my plan for the evening.

  “Lu’s going to be mad that you are not including her in the plan. I’ll go with you and Dogberry, just in case. I know that you really don’t need any help.”

  “I’m always messing up Lu’s plans. That's why tonight I’m not telling her, I want her to enjoy her debut and the cast party. Besides, we are only going to be on Earth for one minute.”

  “Alright I agree, besides I’ll be there to help.”

  “Right that’s all we need, but I was going to ask Paula to go too to make sure I do the right thing, by Earth law and we won’t know that until we capture them. Will you bring the ‘Big Ear’.”

  “Sure I’ll bring it.”

  I portaled to the bakery. Lily was baking when I arrived.

  “Rose, I’m so sorry I caused this illegal weapon importation.”

  “You didn’t Lily, you had the best of intentions, besides it’ll be over tonight, I’ll be seeing you at the cast party won’t I?”

  “For sure, I can’t wait to see the play. It sure pays to know the director. We are all sitting together and we have great seats too.”

  “Is Paula out front? I need to ask a favor of her.”

  “Yep she’s out there we were busy this morning but it’s been dead since lunch. The Teahouse gets all the afternoon business.”

  I walked out front and it was indeed ‘dead’ a tired looking Paula held her head propped up in her hands.

  “I hate to ask you this, but can you go on a late night adventure tonight with Dogberry, Draco and I. I’ll need advice about the Earth's legal system.”

  “Where and when?”