“A missing boy?” The Chief's voice went up an octave. “Another one?!”
“I also believe the boy is long dead, Chief,” I said. “The case is one that Claw Greishen worked about sixty-eight years ago.”
“Sixty-eight years?” the Chief and Jupeng asked in unison.
The Chief glanced at Jupeng before adding, “That's rather specific, Shinkai.”
“I know this because we fought about it, sir,” I said. “It was when I was still a talon.”
He grunted, knowing how persistent I could be back then. Eager is how I thought of myself. In hindsight, I could perceive what started the whole “annoying” label. And now I had my own annoying shadow. I glanced at the King and wondered if the Gods were laughing at me even as they saved me. Perhaps this was a type of justice. How fitting.
“Which case?” The Chief didn't ask me how I knew the items belonged to that specific boy. He knew I'd get to it.
“Kun Lo, sir.”
He frowned.
I wasn't surprised that he didn't remember the kid. It was a long time ago. And then there was his race. “He was a human teenager, sir. About sixteen. Disappeared at Lupon Lake.”
“Ah, I see,” he murmured.
He didn't.
So, I continued. “He went swimming with his friends and vanished during the outing. Claw Greishen investigated. He concluded that the boy drowned even though a body was never found.”
“Ah,” the Chief said, this time with true understanding. Everyone knew of Greishen's distaste for humans. If possible, he wasn't assigned cases involving them, but it had taken the higher-ups a while to come up with that solution. “I think I remember now. It wasn't an unfair conclusion.”
“But it was, sir. Because of this.” I pointed at the collection of items. “They never found his clothing. If he had simply drowned, his belongings would have been on the shore where his friends had left their belongings. But even his friends couldn't account for the missing items. They said Kun-lo had left his things with theirs. And yet, they were gone. I knew that child had been murdered. Abducted at the very least. Either way, even if it was an abduction and his captor kept him alive, as a human, Kun-lo would either be an old man at eighty-four years of age orhe'd be dead by now. I'm guessing he's dead, Chief. He certainly couldn't have caught and tortured Claw Greishen.”
“So why are a dead human boy's belongings sitting on the lap of the claw who investigated his disappearance?”
“I believe you've answered your own question, sir.” I waved at the body. “And I'm sorry to say that I also believe this to be the work of Hallaxgral.”
“Yes, I see the logic in that.” The Chief sighed. “So, the case continues. You are, of course, the lead clawer, Shinkai.” He looked at the King. “Will you be continuing your observation, Your Majesty?”
“Oh, yes.” The King slid his stare to me.
I didn't have to be an elite claw to hear the multiple meanings and the heavy dose of innuendo in his answer.
“Very well.” The Chief cleared his throat. “Claw Shinkai, you will continue to include His Majesty in your investigations.”
“Yes, sir,” I muttered.
The Chief lifted a brow at me.
“How is the General's son, Chief?”
His brow lowered. “He's well. It's good of you to ask, Shinkai. And the General is very grateful. You've done a lot for Talon-Horn goodwill.” Then his gaze shot to the King as he added, “Not that there is any ill will between us.”
The King inclined his head. “I know my people, Chief Ahsan. There is rivalry between the Horns and the Talons, but that is a far cry from ill will.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you.”
I ignored their side-talk and said, “I'm glad Rellen's all right. At least we saved one boy.” I looked at the items on the table, my words replaying in my head. One boy saved. One boy forgotten. A shiver ran down my spine. Was this Hallaxgral? Perhaps I was mistaken. But no, my instincts told me it was a new game. A new game with new rules. He was building up to this. And this wasn't murder for the fun of it or to merely get my attention. There was a point here. At last, I sighed and looked up to find the King staring at me oddly.
“All right. I'll leave you to it,” Chief Ahsan said. “Jupeng, you may assist if you wish or leave it in Shinkai's hands.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you. I think I'll leave it to Claw Shinkai. He seems to be familiar with both cases.” Jupeng looked at me in a manner similar to that of the King.
