The rain seemed to follow Buck until he arrived at a lavish oaken front door. He never imagined it would come to this but he was out of ideas. Sparks was the closest thing he had to a lead now.

  He pounded on the door. It swung open to reveal a stout corgi in a butler’s tuxedo. Despite being a head shorter, the dog somehow looked down at him.

  "Can I help you, suuh?"

  Buck glanced past him into a foyer dripping with excess—champagne chandelier floating above plush carpeted walls, a sweeping spiral staircase, and a runner so thick you could lose a shoe in it.

  "Yeah, I need to talk to your boss." Buck asked.

  The butler wrinkled his nose in a perfect sneer. "I'm afraid Master Sparks isn't available for comment. I would suggest making an appointment, but I know he doesn't take calls from drowned rats."

  A familiar voice called out from further within. "Who is it, Reginald?"

  That was all Buck needed. He pushed his way inside. Reginald sputtered after him, catching up as Buck pushed open the study door. The walls were lined with tall mahogany shelves, their tomes ancient and weathering. Sparks stood behind his desk, rolling up a large parchment into a tube.

  "Apologies, Master Sparks," announced Reginald. "This reporter manhandled his way inside. I will contact the authorities and take care of the floor immediately."

  Buck glanced down—rainwater pooled at his feet from his coat, staining the hardwood.

  Sparks waved his butler off "No need. The authorities are already here. Please take Detective Piper's things and bring us something to drink. I can only imagine the questions he must have to show up in this weather."

  The butler begrudgingly obeyed, handling the coat and hat like they were contagious, then vanished. Sparks came around the desk, leaning on it with that infuriating, knowing smile.

  "So, what brings you to my humble home? Hoping to find more evidence in which to smear my good name? Did I forget to tip?"

  Buck clenched his jaw and spoke through his teeth. "About that—I got carried away. I know you had nothing to do with that body."

  Sparks stroked at a whisker. "As apologies go, that was terrible. But I suppose one can't expect grace from the swanless. Is that all?

  "I just talked with Lieutenant Zywrath," Buck sighed as he found a seat. "Another Cremation Killer victim was found last night. The hare that wrecked the lounge was found backstage. Torched from the head down." Sparks sat up a little straighter. "There was something in his blood. A drug similar to something called 'Gladiator'. Do you know anything about it?"

  Sparks blinked. "First you accuse me of being a serial killer, now a drug dealer?" He shrugged helplessly. "I don't deal with narcotics, anyway. Never heard of it."

  Reginald returned at that moment, carrying a tray with a bottle and two tumblers. He set them on the desk and stood at the ready. Buck looked between the two, hesitant to continue. "Go on, detective. Having Reginald as a witness to this conversation would probably be in your best interest." The corgi offered a curt nod.

  "I'm not accusing you of anything. Gladiator was wiped from the streets. The drug could enhance the user's physical form. The fungus it was made from was wiped out."

  Sparks uncorked the bottle and poured them both a drink as he listened. "If that's true, what was our party-crasher taking?"

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "Something worse. Someone is making a new version of this drug. My guess is they are trying to perfect it and Fixer is their janitor."

  Sparks looked deep in thought. The sound of a grandfather clock ticked heavily in the silence. "So, why come to me?" he finally asked. "I'm just a humble financier."

  Buck scoffed and stood up. "I saw you at the lounge. You attacked those soldiers. You saved those people. I've been chasing you long enough to know you don't stick your neck out unless something's in it for you. Or maybe you have something weighing heavy on your conscience?" Sparks drew back in confusion. Buck pressed on. "You have resources and contacts I don't. If I’m going to have any chance at stopping these bastards before someone else dies, I need your help."

  Sparks walked away from his desk and faced a shelf full of tomes, saying nothing. He drank from his tumbler, holding it in both hands. Buck thought he saw them tremble.

  "Are you suggesting an arrangement? A little, quid pro quo, perhaps?" Sparks asked.

  Buck took a sip of the liquor as he sat back down. It was brandy and not cheap. The liquid warmed his chest like a snake made of fire coiling into its new home."Sure, call it whatever you like. What do you want from me?"

  Sparks smoothed down the front of his suit and made a show of deciding. "I would like to be able to go to the market or theater or other various proclivities without being monitored." He must have caught wind of Martin's surveillance. It was nice while it lasted. Buck sighed and nodded in agreement. "Very well then. What would you like to know?"

  "Let's start with last night. Why were you at the lounge?"

  "I was there for the mozzarella sticks."

  Buck cocked an eyebrow. "Kind of a pricey place for mozzarella sticks."

  "Have you ever HAD their mozzarella sticks? Simply di-VINE." Reginald licked his chops in agreement.

  "Right. And I was there for a lap dance from Goldie," Buck snarked. "Try again."

  Sparks took another swallow of the brandy. "I was meeting a client. I'm afraid that's all you're going to get."

  "Client confidentiality. I get it. I'm sure I'll wind up searching through the ash at some point anyway. What about the diner?"

  Sparks hesitated. "Aethercorp. Out of respect for the dead, that's all I'll say on the matter."

  Buck frowned. Aethercorp was the newest power company in the city. Privately owned and very advanced. "What does a power plant have to do with any of this?"

  Sparks pulled out a large flat device from a drawer and flipped it open

  "The hell is that?" Buck asked, shifting away slightly.

  "It's a laptop?" Sparks said, confused at the reaction. "Let’s do some research." With a few swift keystrokes, Sparks brought up Aethercorp's website.

  Buck came around slowly to look at the screen. Tech was never his strong suit. He preferred his instincts or a well-placed shot. "How are you doing that?"

  "Really, detective. You simply must join us in the current century." Sparks pressed another key and a video began to play on the monitor. A female gnome talked about Aethercorp's beginnings over a backdrop of soft music and sweeping promises. It ended with their company slogan: Aethercorp. We’re not just a power company. We’re the answer to your future.

  "Presumptuous," Buck groaned.

  "For once, we agree."

  A muffled ringing came from inside Sparks' suit. He excused himself to the far side of the room to answer it.

  "Sparks. Yes I know, I have caller ID. I see. Well, I'm a bit busy at the mo…I see. When? I'll be there shortly…You could say that. Must I? Oh, very well. See you soon, my dear." He hung up and returned to the desk.

  Buck pointed at a flashing advertisement on the laptop’s screen. "This says you may have already won ten thousand klopens?"

  Sparks quickly slammed the lid of the laptop down. "Don't touch that. Reginald?"

  The butler reappeared with Buck’s clothes, now dry and warm. "I took the liberty of laundering them, suuh."

  "Excellent timing as always, Reginald." Sparks opened the study door and gestured for Buck to exit. "Shall we?"

  "That depends. Where are we going?"

  "To meet another one of my clients. They asked that you attend as well."

  Buck stopped dead in the middle of the hallway. "No offense Sparks, but the last two client meetings you’ve had ended up with charred bodies. I said I was sorry about the false accusation, all right? Don't make a liar outta me."

  Sparks laughed aloud at that. "Oh, detective. If I wanted you dead, I'd do it to your face. Besides, I believe you already know them. To Miss Bushytail's please, Reginald."