�A rash of kidnappings,� he mumbled to himself. �Quentin�s cousin disappears while he�s visiting her on vacation.� He leaned back in his chair thoughtfully. �Television plots can be so� trite. I wish we could come up with something unique.�
�People don�t watch �unique�,� said a voice behind him.
Turning around, Ezra saw one of the actors from the show. �Hello, Mr. Hardwick,� he said patiently. �What can I do for you?�
�It�s about the scene we�re taping today,� Edwin said softly. �I � I�m not happy with my lines. They don�t fit my idea of how my character behaves.�
Ezra forced a smile and put his work aside. �In what way, exactly, do you find them inconsistent with your character thus far?�
Before Edwin could answer, Ezra�s phone rang and he rolled his eyes. �Excuse me,� he stated. �This could be important.� He picked on the handset and spoke gently. �Ezra Standish.�
�Hello, Ezra,� Larabee�s voice greeted. �I need you down here as soon as possible. We�ve got a mission.�
�I�ll be there directly,� Ezra replied. Hanging up, he stood said, �Pediconference, Edwin. Tell me what is wrong with the characterization in that scene while you see me to my vehicle.�
�Right,� the actor sighed. Following close on Ezra�s heels, he opened his script and said, �Mostly, it�s just that you have me using such grandiose vocabulary.� He locked eyes with head writer. �You�ve got me talking like Quentin,� he stated softly.
Ezra frowned and took the script from the taller man�s hands. After a moment, he nodded. �That�s because in the first draft, those lines were for Quentin. In the second re-write, they rearranged the scene and neglected to change the language.� Sighing deeply, he pulled his official copy of the latest draft and began quickly rearranging the lines so that characters spoke more like themselves, instead of each other. He handed the edited script to Edwin and said, �Give this to the director and make sure the others get copies of this re-write before filming today.�
�Right,� Edwin agreed. �Thanks, Ez.�
�Ezra!� the southerner corrected as the other jogged away. Turning away he shook his head and muttered, �My name is Ezra. I have no idea why every person I meet feels that it is necessary to truncate it.�
**
�Hey, Ez! What kept ya?� Buck called happily, as Ezra stepped into the conference room where Chris and the others were waiting.
The southerner sat down in the chair beside him and glared darkly. �I was forced to execute the last person who decided it was appropriate to call me �Ez�,� he replied evenly.
Buck blinked at him for a moment, trying to decide if the undercover agent was serious or not. After a short while, he smiled and said, �You trying to tell me you don�t like the nickname?�
Ezra sighed and shook his head. �I find the moniker both detestable and annoying. I would ask you to refrain from using it in the future.�
�Whatever you say, Ez,� Buck answered easily.
Ezra�s eyes widened in fury and he turned to Chris. �Mr. Larabee!� he started.
�Alright, children,� Chris cut in softly. �Let�s get down to business, shall we?� Once the other five men had turned their attention to him, he sat down at the table.
�A Soul Crystal was stolen from the Royal Conservatory earlier this morning,� he stated. Ezra was the only one to react to the news, since he was only mage and, hence, the only one who knew what a soul crystal was. He gasped in surprised and shook his head mutely. �I�m afraid so,� Chris said.
�Okay,� Vin said, his wings fluttering. �I can guess from Ezra�s reaction that this is bad, but why? What�s a soul crystal do?�
Chris nodded at Ezra and the magician cleared his throat. In a soft voice, he said, �When directed to, a soul crystal has the ability to removed the soul from any living creature. It kills whoever is unfortunate enough to have it turned on them. The energy contained in the soul can then be utilized to enact powerful spells. Their use and creation has been outlawed for nearly a century,� he explained. Turning to Chris, he asked, �What was it doing outside the Vault in the first place?�
Chris smirked. �Apparently, Lord Marken wanted to study it,� he stated. �He has a theory that the crystals have a memory and it may be possible to restore a victim to life if you get to them in time.�
�That makes sense,� Ezra stated. �In order to obtain more information, he�d need an actual crystal to study.�
Larabee nodded again. �The thief had enough knowledge of the Royal Conservatory that he was able to bypass security,� he added softly. �Buck, Ezra; I want you two to head over there and see if you can find any clues. Josiah and Vin will get started canvassing the surrounding neighborhood. Maybe someone saw something. Nathan and I are going to go and have a talk with Lord Marken, find out who knew that the Soul Crystal was in the conservatory to begin with.�
Ezra frowned slightly. �Make sure you tread softly with Lord Marken, Chris,� he advised. �He is one of King Allian�s most trusted advisors, as well as the Lord Magister of Shynia.�
�You trying to say that you think I can�t be diplomatic?� he asked irritably.
The southerner looked thoughtfully at his superior. �I was merely suggesting that you have a tendency to incur the wrath of those who happen to be in a position of authority,� he said carefully.
Chris frowned. �I�ll keep that in mind,� he stated softly. �Now, all of you get moving.� As the members of his team scattered in different directions, Larabee turned to Nathan and said, �He just reworded what I said so I wouldn�t get angry, didn�t he?�
�No one�s ever accused Ezra of being stupid,� Nathan stated, smiling.
Rolling his eyes, Larabee said, �Let�s go see that Lord.�
**
Ezra and Buck entered the small room in the Royal Conservatory where the Soul Crystal had been stored while Lord Marken studied it. While Buck began looking for physical clues, Standish sat down in the middle of the room with the carpetbag that was always by his side and began pulling things out of it.
�No sign of forced entry,� Buck said, after studying the locking mechanism on the door.
Meanwhile, Ezra had pulled a censor out of his bag and was now using it to scry for the thief�s path. Frowning, he said, �And the only way that anyone has entered this room has by way of the door.�
�So, whoever did this � it was an inside job,� Buck concluded.
Ezra nodded. �So it would seem,� he said softly. �We did suspect as much. This would merely confirm our assumptions.�
Buck sighed. �I�ll see if he might have left any fingerprints or hairs behind,� he stated, moving toward the open safe where the crystal had been stored.
Standish put his censor away and pulled out short black wand. He mumbled a spell and waved the wand. A moment later, Buck could see a few small lights scattered about the room. �What was that?� the investigator asked.
�A scan for biological material,� Ezra explained. He pulled out a few evidence bags and began gathering the glowing remnants for later analysis, being sure to note where he�d found each sample.
�Neat trick,� Buck mumbled.
Ezra smirked and eyed the other curiously. �You�ve never worked with a forensic sorcerer before, have you?� he asked softly.
Wilmington shrugged. �There aren�t that many in the Agency,� he replied. �Most work with the Wardens.�
Standish nodded in agreement and went back to gathering samples. �Find any prints?� he asked conversationally.
�Yup,� Buck answered triumphantly. �I�ll tell you another thing,� he added. �Our thief may have had access to this room, but he didn�t have access to this safe. It was cracked.�
�That�s something,� Ezra agreed. �It may help narrow the list.�
**
Chris and Nathan sat in the small room just outside Lord Marken�s office waiting for the mage to have a free moment, so they could speak with him. As the door opened, both men got to their feet.
�Alister said it�s being handled,� a person was saying as they stepped out of the office. �Just cooperate with whoever it is he�s sent.�
�Yes, your majesty,� another voice said.
Chris smiled as the speakers came into view. �Hello, Keenan,� he greeted softly.
The smaller man whirled around and grinned warmly. �Hey, Chris,� he said. �So Alister assigned your team to the case?�
�Yup,� he said.
Keenan Meadows, also called King Allian, nodded confidently and said, �I�ll leave you to it, then.� Turning to Lord Marken, he said, �See ya later, Foxfire.�
�So long,� the kitsune said, nodding politely. As the king quietly left, Lord Marken turned to his other visitors. �Sorry to have kept you waiting,� he said, waving them inside.
�Not a problem, Lord Marken,� Chris said softly. �We can understand how busy you might be.�
Marken�s ears flicked and his sat down in a comfortable chair, directing them to sit as well. �I assume you have some questions for me?� he prompted, his tail moving lazily behind him.
�Yes,� Chris agreed, watching the slight movement. He blinked and shifted his gaze to the Magister�s warm brown eyes.
Marken smiled. �Never seen a kitsune before?� he asked.
Larabee shook his head. �Not in person,� he admitted. �Sorry for staring.�
�It�s alright,� Marken stated, shaking his head. �I get it a lot.�
Chris nodded slightly. �Right,� he said. �How many people knew that you were studying the Soul Crystal?�
The kitsune frowned. �Only a few� Keenan, Michael and myself, of course,� he said.
�Anyone else?� Nathan prompted.
�Only the guard that transported it from Cygma,� Marken answered.
Chris scowled. That was probably their most likely suspect. �But if he�d wanted to steal it, why not just not deliver it in the first place?� he mused. �Why bring it and return later for it?�
Marken looked thoughtful and then answered, �Maybe because only Keenan could open the case it was transported in?�
�How�s that?� Nathan asked.
�The case was magically keyed to Keenan,� Marken explained. �If anyone else had tried to open it, it was have returned to the Vault instantly.�
�Okay,� Chris said nodding. �So who had the combination to the safe it was being stored in while it was here?�
�Only me,� Marken answered. �Not even Keenan had that.�
Chris nodded thoughtfully. Looking into Marken�s eyes, he said, �I think that�s all for now. We�ll call if we have any more questions.�
The kitsune nodded. �Good luck,� he said softly, as he showed them out.
Chris turned to Nathan and said, �Let�s go check out the crime lab. Buck and Ezra may have found something.�
Nathan nodded. �Do you think the Vin and Josiah are having any luck?� he asked.
Larabee shrugged. �Who knows,� he answered. �I don�t think this case will as straightforward as it seems.�
Nathan frowned, but didn�t say anything as the pair climbed into Chris� car to head to the crime lab.
**
Vin�s wings fluttered furiously as he walked down the street beside Josiah. �I hope the others are havin� better luck than we are,� he grumbled.
�Easy brother,� Josiah said gently. �Someone is bound to have seen something. We just have to find the right person to ask.�
Tanner glared up at the large enforcer and then pushed open the door of the next shop.
�Hello and welcome,� the shopkeeper greeted as soon as they�d stepped inside. �What can I do for you?�
Vin sized up the other man almost subconsciously. He had dark blonde hair, large blue eyes and soft lavender wings about twice the size of Vin�s own. �Hello,� Tanner said. �We�re with the Agency. We were wondering if you might have seen anything suspicious last night or early this morning.�
�Hmm�� the younger man replied. His wings fluttered lightly as he thought back. �I didn�t see anything, but I didn�t work last night.� Turning around, he called, �Ken-kun!�
A moment later, a brown-haired boy came in from a backroom. �What is it, Omi?� he asked, rubbing his hand through his hair tiredly.
�Did you or Ran see anything strange last night?� he asked. Pointing to Vin and Josiah, he added, �They�re with the Agency.�
�Yeah?� Ken asked, turning to Josiah, who nodding. �Neat,� he added, grinning. �Um� did I see anything strange�� he frowned for a moment and then nodded. �Yeah! When we were bringing some of the plants inside, this guy practically knocked me over. He didn�t even apologize.�
�So,� Vin said patiently. �A guy almost knocked you down� how?�
Ken smiled. �He was running and looking over his shoulder,� he explained. Turning to Omi, he added, �People should look where they�re going.�
Omi nodded sagely and asked, �Why don�t you tell them what he looked like, Ken-kun?�
�Well,� Ken stated, brow knitting. �I didn�t get a really good look at him, but he had dark hair and he was wearing the uniform for the Royal guard.�
�How tall was he?� Josiah asked, pulling out a notepad and writing down the description.
�About your height,� Ken answered. �But he was stockier.�
�What direction was he coming from?� Vin asked. He sighed softly, pleased that they may have actually found a real lead.
�Up the street,� the brunette answered, pointing in the direction of the Royal Conservatory.
Josiah nodded. �Thank you for your time,� he said politely. �We�ll stop by again if we have any more questions.�
�Alright,� Ken said, nodding. �Always happy to help the Agency.�
As soon as the pair had left, Omi turned to his partner. �Do you think they know we�re with the Agency too?� he asked.
Ken chuckled. �Probably not,� he answered. �You know how things work in the Agency. No one knows anything until they need to.�
�That�s true.� Omi agreed, nodding. He picked up a watering can and got back to work, while Ken grabbed his soccer ball to head for the local park.
**
Vin and Josiah returned to the Agency and found Ezra and Buck working in the lab. Vin turned to Chris, who was watching them, and asked, �Find anything?�
Chris nodded. �Lord Marken was the only one who had the combination to the safe and only a handful of people even knew the crystal was in the city.�
�That fits with what we found at the scene,� Buck stated. �The safe had been cracked.�
Ezra nodded. Turning to Chris, he said, �Most of the hairs match Lord Marken.� Shrugging, he added, �That�s to be expected, since he was working in that room. There are, however, two hairs from an unknown donor.�
�Good work,� Chris said, nodding. Turning to Vin, he asked, �Learn anything by talking to the people in the neighborhood?�
Tanner nodded, his wings ruffling slightly. �Guy at a flower-shop said he�d seen a guy dressed as a royal guard running from the direction of the conservatory,� he stated.
�Guy have name?� Chris asked.
�Ken Hidaka,� Josiah replied, after glancing at his notes.
Ezra stifled a chuckle and then looked a little sheepishly at the sudden looks he received from the others. �I� know him,� he said softly. Turning to Chris, he added, �He�s an Enforcer� when he�s not busy making flower arrangements, that is.�
Vin blinked in surprise. �This guy was a klutz, Ez,� he stated softly.
The southerner shrugged. �Be that as it may, he worked with Team Weiss, until quite recently,� he said. �Then the entire team was reassigned and a new Team Weiss was formed.�
�Okay,� Chris said, grinning. �I�d call that a reliable witness.� Turning to Josiah, he added, �Seeing as a royal guard was one of the top suspects, we should head over to his workplace and check him out.�
�While you do that,� Ezra said, �Vin, Buck and I will obtain a warrant to search his apartment.�
�Do that,� Chris agreed, nodding.
