"It's not like social media, Stacey," Nagi said."You have to shield yourself.You're as transparent to the both of us as a sheer piece of white wet silk wrapped across your bosom.I can see your nipples."
"Metaphorical nipples, Stacey," Eddie said, without looking.
"This is why I didn't want you to bring her," Brynholf said."Already her presence is interfering with our investigation."
"It's our investigation," Nagi said."Not yours.You are a paper pusher.You are a bureaucrat.You are a lead anchor tied against our ankles."
"He has a point," Eddie said."We're all here to work.We have things we need to do.And we need to get back on that task.Nagi.You asked about the crime scene.It's a mess.We're not sure on the specifics of how it happened, but whoever was in there died."
"Means of death?"
"Inconclusive as of yet," Eddie said."Outside appearance, though.It looks like whoever it was literally exploded into a puddle of gore.I wanted to wait until you got here so we could look at it together."
"You're exaggerating, surely," Nagi said.
"I'll talk to our liaison for a walkthrough," Brynholf said."You know the reason I'm here is to interface with the human departments that handle these things.Our team is considered special operatives who specialize in crime-scene analysis specifically regarding gangs and gang-related activity."
Brynholf walked towards the human responders.
"How bad is it really?"Nagi asked.
"It's bad," Eddie said."Even worse than Phoenix."
"What are your thoughts?"Nagi asked.
"We don't even know who or what was killed in there.There are human-shaped pieces, but for the most part it's ankle-deep sludge and blood splatters on the wall.The guys wore rain boots and almost had to charter a pontoon through it."
"Have they tested the residual on further human skin?"Nagi asked.
"I'll say they probably haven't," I said."How many crime shows do you guys watch?"
"I don't watch television," Nagi said.
"Not much," Eddie said.
"It's human blood… or at least, they're going to think it's human blood.And there's a lot of transmissible diseases.Not a single crime scene analyst would touch that blood with their bare skin in the history of ever."
"We'll need to analyze a sample," Nagi said.
"We need to grab some without them seeing us, then," Eddie said.
Nagi started undoing the cuffs on his robe.
"We'll have to get more than a few samples," Nagi said."For Gurg to look through."He said 'look' very quickly, and it sounded funny when he said it."This will be like Phoenix again, won't it?"
"Same basic idea, I think.Brynholf's eyes are going to be on me.The detective's eyes are going to be on Stacey."
"I feel like Nagi is the most noticeable," I said.
"For now," Nagi said."Stacey, you may feel a slight skitter across your spine or in your bosom.Possibly running up or down your legs.Just don't pay attention to it."
And then Nagi was gone.Something furry and small popped its head up my pant legs, and I tried hard not to scream.Little nails perched about halfway up my knees.I could feel a cold tail flickering gently against my kneecap.
"Every instinct I have as a woman is telling me to shriek as loud as I can right now," I said.
"Just play along," Eddie said.
Brynholf walked from the apartment with another man.He was a human.Blonde, with an arched nose and green eyes.He smiled at me.God, he was a stunner.
