Page 35 of Great Service from Top to Bottom

Once inside a small room—that held a single table with multiple chairs, and cameras blinking from the corners—Leomaris nodded at the jailor and the man waved his keycard, unlocking our cuffs and taking them away with him when he left the room.

As soon as Zee’s tail and wrists were free, he whipped his tail out and popped open his wings, suddenly making the room feel small.

“Please refrain from encroaching on my personal space,” Reynard said in a tight, mildly irritated voice, which sounded a lot like his everyday voice . . . or his murder voice . . . or his need for a little more lemon in his tea voice.

I glanced over my left shoulder to see he’d grabbed Zee’s tail an inch from his face.

“You had better let go of my tail or we’re going to have a problem.” Zee yanked his tail free of Reynard’s grip.

“Then do not fling it at my face,” Reynard said, folding his arms and staring ahead.

“How am I supposed to contain all of this?” Zee swept a dramatic hand at himself. “If you had dimensions as large as mine, you’d understand.”

“If I had dimensions as large as yours, I’d keep them under control.”

“Are they alright?” Agent Leomaris asked me.

Were they alright? They weren’t physically fighting. Yet. “It’s complicated,” I told the agent, and took the offered seat at the table.

Agent Leomaris explained the long list of our charges—including multiple homicide, property damage, carrying a bladed weapon, and all manner of bonus charges that added up to winning the top We’re Screwed prize. Even with Vampire Pierce’s help and Reynard’s bail money, it wasn’t looking good.

“But I didn’t kill those fae,” I said. “I know it looks bad. There really was a pixie. How could I physically attack, subdue, and then kill that many fae?” I was the smallest, most unassuming person in the room. “Also, why? Why would I do that?”

“Adam, don’t say any more.” Reynard’s hand landed on my left shoulder. “As the cameras are not recording, I assume you have another reason for gathering us in this room, Agent?”

I hadn’t noticed the cameras were off. Reynard was right.

“I have read your statements and I believe your version of events, although the addition of the pixie seems unlikely,” Leomaris said. “Regardless, you have stumbled into an operation that is far larger than you realize. I’d like to propose that you investigate the syndicate for the SSD.”

“We’ll work for you guys?” Zee asked, shifting close to my right while Reynard continued to loom impressively on my left.

“That’s correct. You’ll gather intelligence regarding the trade of black market goods that will, hopefully, result in prosecution.”

“Undercover?” Zee asked, leaning forward.

“Not undercover, as you’re not official SSD agents⁠—”

“Do I get a hat?” Zee asked.

Agent Leomaris appeared briefly perplexed. “A hat?”

“Ooh, or a disguise?”

“No.”

“Sunglasses?”

Leomaris frowned. “Also no.”

“A long dramatic coat, like yours. I get that, right? Or one of those shiny assassin briefcases cuffed to my wrist?”

“Still, also no.”

“Well, that sucks.” He straightened, and folded his arms. “What do we get?”

“You get to go free,” Leomaris said, simply.

“Yeah, okay. That’s good too.”