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“Oh no, just protection wards, nothing untoward.”

“And you, Mr. Vex, are one hundred percent human?”

“What?” I blinked.

Detective Somers sat back in his chair and sighed. “You’re wholly human . . . not a half breed, or a sorcerer, demon, or something that looks human but isn’t?”

“Why?” That seemed like a personal question.

“It’s just routine admin. If you’re not human, then I can’t interview you, and we need to get the Supe Specials in.” He waved his pen around. “Lots of aggravation, very dramatic, but it protects the both of us from their lies.”

“I am absolutely human.” I grinned, and swallowed my thumping heart.

“That’s great, sign here.”

I scribbled on his form. He flipped it over, and readied the pen above a long list of questions.

“So what’s this about, Detective?”

“We have a missing person who was last seen protesting outside your hotel. Have you see this man?” He held out a photograph, of a smiling young man posing with a happy Labrador. Very different to how I’d seen him face down on the floor. “No, I don’t think so.”

“You didn’t happen to notice him outside the hotel yesterday?”

“I was very busy with the opening, you see? And the protestors all looked the same. I try not to get involved in all that, considering my clientele.”

“Lost Ones.” He leaned back, and smiled a friendly smile. “How’s that working out for you?”

I kept my smile, but in my head, I couldn’t seem to silence the playback of “Hit the Road Jack” thanks to Zee selecting it on the jukebox earlier. “They’re keeping me on my toes, that’s for sure.”

He chuckled along, as though we were pals. “You’re an interesting one, Mr. Vex. Where did you live before coming to San Francisco six months ago?”

“Oh you know, I traveled here and there, all over really.”

“I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking.”

“Europe.”

“What part of Europe?”

“Eastern Europe.”

“And if I look you up on the Interpol database, you’ll be registered in what part of Europe exactly?”

“Who was the missing man? What’s his name? His picture seems nice.”

“Don’t you mean who is the missing man? As he’s still missing. Unless you know something I don’t?”

“That’s what I said.” Goodness, this was getting tense.

He smiled. Blinked. “His name is Jacob Reese.”

“Reese, like the candy.”

“Yes, Mr. Vex, just like the candy.”

“Maybe you should ask some of the religious contingent in the crowd,” I suggested. “They were getting spirited. Perhaps they know where he went?”

He pointed his pen at me. “That’s a good idea. You should be a detective, Mr. Vex.”