“Roam, you forgot to say please. Don’t you know it’s a troll policy? They aren’t allowed to tell anyone anything without the magic word.” Honey elbowed Roam in the side.
He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “Please, tell us who’s been across the bridge, say, in the last three days to a week.”
“Bingo.” Grumble said. “It took you a minute, but you got it right. Let’s see, I’ve seen Sally Swanton, Miles Mongomery. Leahnora Loveridge, and, oh, that new fella, Clive. They looked really chummy. He’s here a lot. And of course, Gregg and Tabitha. You, Honey and Roam. All the neighbors, Mable, Don, and Julie. Cona....”
“That’s enough. Thanks.” Roam held up his hand and tried to stop the troll’s constant stream of babble.
“Oh, but I haven’t named all the familiars and fairies, and other creatures.” Grumble took a breath.
“It’s okay Grumble. I don’t think we need all those.” Honey assured him.
“But once I get started, it’s hard to stop, you see. My mouth just kinda keeps moving.” Grumble smiled and spoke through his teeth, “unless I keep my teeth together, that makes it really, really hard to talk.”
“Doesn’t seem hard for ya.” Roam rubbed his temples.
Honey patted Roam’s arm. “Now, that was quite a list, but we have another question.”
“We do.” Roam looked at her with pain in his eyes.
“Good, good, good. I like questions. Questions, I can do.” Grumble flipped his little feet and spun in a circle, doing a mix between break dancing and ballet.
“I see that.” Roam nodded. “I’m a little afraid to ask, but two of the neighbors reported late night activity, and maybe some arguing. You remember anything like that?”
“Clive leaves late. Sometimes really late. Like the other night. He left around midnight. Alone. With a skip in his step. So did Sally Swanton with no skip in her step.” Grumble demonstrated by skipping around them. “Lily and Clive liked to kiss. I wasn’t spying, but I saw them kiss a lot. She didn’t kiss Sally. But Sally arrived angry and left angry. She had a newspaper with her.”
“Interesting. And the argument, did you see or hear any of that?” Honey asked, as she gently took Grumble’s hand so he’d stop skipping.
“Hmmm. Let me search my memory.” The little troll squatted and squeezed his eyes shut. After one minute, he popped up like a jack-in-the-box just released from its tin can. “Got it. There was an argument about the trees. It was right over there under those trees, not in the orchard of apple trees. I can’t really see or hear anything that far away. This tussle was right there. Lily was facing me, and the talk was not very nice. She was yelling. He was yelling. Kinda scary. And it was dark. So, I didn’t see the man. But I heard him say he would burn down the orchard if she didn’t give him something. Tada!” Grumble fell to one knee and held his hands out in a mock ending pose.
“Who was it, Grumble? Who was the man?” Roam asked through his teeth.
“No idea. It was too dark, and he stayed in the shadows. Did you know how dark it gets out here at night? Like, unless the moon is shining right on top of you, you can’t see your hand in front of your face. Although I’m not so sure, that’s the best way to judge what you can or can’t see in the dark. Because if your hand is in front of your face, you can’t see anything but your hand. Right?” Grumble drew in a deep breath.
“Huh?” Roam shoved his hands in his pockets and paced away from the troll.
“Thank you, Grumble, you’ve been delightful. We really appreciate you spending time with us and sharing. We’re going to head into town, but if you think of any anything else, let me know.” Honey bent down and put out her hand so the little creature could step into her palm. She raised the troll up to her face and snuggled his small head to her cheek. Slowly, she placed him back on the grass.
“Thank you, Honey.” Grumble skipped back under the bridge, whistling to himself.
Honey grabbed Roams hand and guided him back to the path into town. Her keen eyes scanned the streets as they walked in silence, neither wanting to discuss the case in the open, where someone might be listening. A tall man with a wild mane of red hair caught her attention as he walked briskly in their direction, his arms crossed over his chest and a scowl etched on his face. She nudged Roam and nodded the man's way.
"Isn't that Gregg Abbott?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yep," Roam grunted, his eyes narrowing. "He looks like he's got something to say." As if sensing their attention, Gregg stormed over to them, his stride purposeful, his expression accusatory.
"Dr. Wimpleton!" he barked, jabbing a finger in Roam’s chest. "He’s behind this, I know it. Strange things have been happening all around Cauldron Falls since that old warlock arrived. Since he enchanted Lily. He’s nothing but trouble!"
Honey and Roam stopped in their tracks by the steaming Mr. Abbot’s tirade. "Now, what makes you think a total stranger has come here just to harm others for no reason? What evidence do you have to back up such an accusation?" Roam said.
“And how do you suppose he enchanted Lily?” Honey crossed her arms over her chest.
Gregg glared at Honey. "He's a foreigner! An outsider! He comes to town, and suddenly, two Shifters are dead and Lily's dead? It's obvious!"
"Obvious or not," Roam interjected, his voice calm but firm, "we need more than just suspicion to accuse someone of murder, Gregg."
A muscle twitched in Gregg's jaw, and he balled his fists at his sides. "Well, you better find some evidence soon, because I know he's guilty. And I won't let him get away with it!" With that, Gregg stomped away, muttering darkly under his breath. Honey exchanged a glance with Roam, concern and frustration mingling in her eyes.
"What was that all about?" she thought aloud.
