The task force wasn’t much to look at.

  A single conference room. A handful of patrol officers. Trinity in fresh bandages. Zywrath clutching a mug of black coffee like it was life support. Hazelnut and Krouri watched from the back. Sparks sat with a napkin and pen, doodling something vaguely strategic.

  "Thank you for hearing me out," Buck began. "I'm not one for speeches so I'll make this as brief as I can. We’ve got one shot to stop Fixer. I’m done chasing him around this city." He pointed to Sparks. "We know he wants Sparks and his Eidolon, so let's give them to him."

  Sparks immediately sat up straight. "I don’t like where this is headed."

  "Relax, matchstick. You’re bait— not a body. We'll use Lighthouse Beacon Radio. Sparks goes on the air and provokes him. Calls him out and sets up a rematch in the park. That's phase one." Buck turned toward the small cluster of officers. "Phase two: We use Gaul’s ring to project an illusion that looks, smells and burns like Sparks himself. While he's distracted, Hazelnut can sneak over and tag Fixer with a dimensional cuff. Once he’s tethered—"

  "—we hit him with everything we've got," Trinity finished, expression grim.

  "But we keep him alive," Buck stressed. "Alive means answers."

  "Well, there are worse plans," Zywrath commented. "How do you know he will take the bait?"

  Sparks offered a tired grin. "He's egotistical and easily offended. I know just what to say to get him fired up." He clicked on the overhead projector and slapped down the napkin—now revealed as a rough map of the park, circled positions sketched in red.

  Trinity folded his arms. "And how do we know YOU won’t run the moment things go south?"

  Sparks killed the projector. "Because I’ve seen what running causes." He let that hang for a beat. "With the events of the last few months, I've found myself unenthused with the idea of arson as an art form. This city has a deep corruption to be rooted out and I would prefer to help rather than hinder. I've come to realize just how dangerous this fire can be. I would like to offer my paw in truce to take down a greater threat than I would ever be."

  The captain still wasn’t sold. "You’re comparing yourself to him. I will not rationalize you and the Cremation Killer as one being worse than the other. You’re both criminals." He paused to consider something. "However, this plan has merit. I'll participate on the condition that Sparks remains in custody. I won't risk him being on site."

  "I'm already in custody, sir." Sparks replied, jangling his cuff for all to see.

  Rovert frowned, ears twitching. "About that…" He reached over and twisted Sparks’s cuff—snapping it clean in half. Alarms screamed through the station.

  "Sorry!, Sorry, that was me!" Rovert called as Yanni barged in and immediately shut the alarm off. "I was trying to make a point. If Fixer sees the cuff, He'll know it's a trap and it won't be hard for him to remove."

  "Not everyone can snap enchanted steel with their bare hands either, genius," Yanni muttered, shoving him aside. "We’ll hide the cuff under illusion. Easy."

  She eyed the orange tabbi. "And yes. Sparks needs to be on site. If things go south, Fixer will be more likely to stay put instead of rampaging through the city."

  "Well, what about the others? I highly doubt these two reporters are qualified for what is basically a sting operation." Rovert said, gesturing to Hazelnut and Krouri.

  "Miss Kukri has already engaged with Fixer once before and you can trust me when I say Miss Bushytail is more than qualified." Zywrath replied, sharing a glance with the squirrel.

  Hazelnut raised a finger in contention. "Also, not a reporter."

  Rovert shook his head. "No, I will not risk one arsonist for the possibility of catching another. The Crimson Lotus will operate out of a cell or not at all."

  "What have we managed to actually do with this task force?" Yannni asked in frustration. "The city is losing faith in us. The Mayor's office threw us together as a publicity stunt and I'm sure they'll be quick to drag our names through the mud if we don’t do something soon. We don't have the resources for a city wide manhunt. This is our best shot."

  Rovert blustered. "There's just so much that could go wrong—"

  Yanni flicked him squarely between the eyes. "sO mUcH cOuLd Go WrOnG," she mocked. "How many times have I told you that exact thing every time you've literally leapt headfirst into a burning building? You put yourself in harm's way every day. You think you're the only one allowed to do that if it means saving lives? Look around you! Look at what these citizens have managed to do that we haven’t."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Rovert deflated like a scolded puppy. His tail gave a meek wag.

  "So, we agree?" Krouri asked.

  Rovert sighed, defeated. "Fine. We'll do it."

  A slow grin spread across Buck’s face.

  Yanni smirked at Sparks. "One last thing. Rovert's not entirely wrong. You will need some sort of tether, just in case." She whispered in the dalmatian’s ear and he brightened like a child at a birthday party.

  "Don’t you dare put a collar on me," Sparks hissed, already backing toward the door.

  Buck shut it gently in front of him, skeletal grin wide. "Could be worse, matchstick."

  "How?"

  Buck leaned in. "Could be a cone."

  *  *  *

  The smell of disinfectant emanating from the hospital hallway invaded Hazelnut's nostrils as she exited the elevator. She hated it. It reminded her of treating her own scrapes and skinned knees during those lonely nights in the city's alleyways. The others were gathering tools and supplies for the plan tomorrow. All she needed was her cloak and a little luck. She found Illani’s room and knocked gently. The raven lay in bed, staring distantly out the window. When she turned her head, a tired but genuine smile appeared.

  "I heard about Poppy and Widget. Are they okay?"

  "Poppy’s home and being watched by Pearl. Widget’s…still a wreck." Hazelnut leaned in for a soft hug, which Illani returned as much as she could.

  "And Iggy?"

  "According to Krouri, Pazienza 'apologizes for the misunderstanding' and is arranging for Iggy to be brought home." At the mention of Krouri, the light in Illani’s eyes dulled again. Hazelnut pivoted quickly. "Buck’s got a plan. Even Sparks is helping. We’re going after Fixer tomorrow."

  "So you've come just to tell me I'm not needed again?"

  Hazelnut winced. "That’s not why I came." Illani turned to face the window, pulling her hands from Hazelnut's grasp. The squirrel grabbed them back and held on tightly. "Illani, I am so sorry. I was desperate for help back at the diner and I needed a solution faster than the paper could provide. I was chasing my own tail, spiraling out of control." Hazelnut shook away the thought. "Never mind. I'm not here to make excuses. I'm here to help you get better. You need to believe in yourself again."

  Illani didn't move. "It's not about what I believe in."

  "Then believe in the Truth. Whatever happened between you and Krouri…that doesn’t undo everything you’ve stood for. You know the Truth."

  Illani’s voice cracked around the anger. "Do I? Everyone seems to have their own version. If mortals gave Eidolons the form as we understand them, how do I know people aren't just making up their own truths? How do I know I'm not repeating some else's lie?"

  "You’re a reporter. That’s the whole job—to find the real Truth amongst the lies."

  Illani looked down at her hands, still in Hazelnut's grasp. "Or maybe I've been going to school to learn how to selectively cover up the truth."

  Hazelnut sighed. Illani's faith in herself had shattered along with her bond. "Two people can see the same thing from different angles. Doesn’t change what actually happened. That’s the point of Truth. Not ‘your version’ or ‘their version’—just what is."

  Illani stared at her hands as if she barely recognized them. "And if no one else ever sees it? If it stays in my head and nowhere else?"

  "Then you say it louder," Hazelnut said. "Through articles. Broadcasts. From the tallest damn rooftop if you have to. You show them what’s real."

  For a long moment, Illani said nothing.

  "People lie, Illani. Whether we mean to or not. For good or evil, people lie. We need people like you to show us that the Truth still remains. Like Krouri. She's sorry. She didn't know. It deceived her too."

  Illani nodded silently. "She's not entirely to blame. There's a truth she's been hiding from for a while now. The kind that isn't uncovered, but passed down. Her grandfather underestimated what Pazienza would become, and now the lie is bigger than both of them." She finally met Hazelnut’s eyes. "I hope she can fix it."

  "She will," Hazelnut said, squeezing her fingers, "with you beside her."

  Illani didn’t answer—but she didn’t turn away, either.

  "Here," Hazelnut added, fishing a coin from her pocket. "How about a distraction? Take a look at this."

  Illani squinted, then blinked in surprise. "T.K…Taurence?" she gasped. "You don't think-? Wow, how long has it been?"

  "Years now. It showed up out of the blue. Anything you can tell me about where it came from?"

  "Maybe…" She took it carefully and closed her eyes. The air flickered faintly around her feathers. "This coin is one of four that was owned by Taurence and one of six in total. It's been used in a payphone before."

  Hazelnut’s breath caught in her throat. She remembered the payphone. The runes. The sound of Taurence’s voice.

  "Phones like these are all over the city. They have a rune inscribed on them and grooves on the slot to help prevent fakes from being used, but these coins register as both real AND fake. No one uses them anymore so they've become secure, private lines."

  She hugged Illani hard enough to make the bed creak. "Thank you. Truly. I needed that."

  Illani managed a small laugh. "Just be careful, okay? We’re all counting on you."

  Hazelnut let go and flashed her the bravest smile she could muster. "I will be."