Despite knowing it the first, I couldn't believe it. Old man Eilias was dead. His friends mourned, his enemies cheered, and life moved on. Or so it would seem. The truth was, almost every citizen knew and respected Eilias. The death of someone as old as him always brought... complications. You could see it in the way the streets went just a bit more silent.

  Some homes had salt spilled in front of their doors. Some even nailed up iron horseshoes. Certain people, pale and heavily clothed, walked just a bit faster. Sensible artists. Probably.

  Some shops closed early, just before sunset.

  This was not the case at the Silver Fox. My inn was going to close on the day of my death. Which could be soon, considering who had just entered.

  At first glance, the inn wasn’t the best place for a boy, ten years old at most. A lollipop would have looked much better in his small hands than the gin and tonic he had just ordered. His blond, curly hair with a crown of dandelions, tanned skin, and wide smile gave him the appearance of a harmless little angel.

  And yet, the bar emptied almost instantly when he entered. Because this was no ordinary rascal. This was Matthew.

  "Hi Emm! Hope you can spare a while."

  I pushed back a cold chill that run down my spine. That soft, cheerfull tone was still one of the worst things one could hear, far above growling of feral beasts.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  "G-Greetings... What can I assist you with?"

  "You can start with another gin, please and thank you!"

  "Here you go, sir. On the house, of course."

  He almost chokes on the drink.

  "Sir?! My-my, why so formal? Relax a bit, Emm! We're all friends here, after all!" He exclaimed into empty pub.

  "Anyway... I've heard the old man kicked the bucket! I'd say I'll miss him...but, as we both know, I hate lies. Almost as much as those who tread in the night. Filthy animals, am I right?"

  His meaningfull glare pierces me.

  "We are what we are... sir." It comes out way more choked than I intended. But maybe that's for the better right now.

  He laughts, his woice ringing like bell, before his atention drifts back towards his glass.

  "You really are, ain't you? Now, as far as I'm concerned, the less, the better. But. The major and the council want me to investigate. I don't. Investigating is boring. So, here's the deal. That old fart was your...parent? Mentor? Whatewer. So, now, he is still yours. Your problem to solve."

  His glass is full again. I hadn't toutched the bottle. Child continued in its monologue.

  "So, by the end of the... Hmm... Year's probably too long, isn't it? So is month. Such a funny thing, the time. Hmm... let's say you have few weeks to bring in the results."

  I could see where this was going. Didn't like it one bit.

  We’ll meet here. You’ll tell me a name. And I’ll… solve the problem."

  "And if I refuse? I’m a barkeep, not a detective."

  The boy giggled, clearly amused.

  "But you won’t! Because I’m asking nicely. So, do we have a deal?"

  I considered my options. There weren’t many.

  "Deal," I sighed.

  "Good girl," he cooed, hopping down from the chair. "Thanks for the drink!"

  I closed my eyes and counted to ten, furious. The floor under my feet swayed a bit. When I looked again, Matthew was gone. The only sign of his visit was a hundred-dollar bill… and a single dandelion.

  And just like that, I’d become a private investigator