The Magician's Assistant

22

Rachael, Gramps, and Erika were led to a small shack just a short walk from the ship. The investigators with them had stayed behind to continue searching for evidence and questioning crew members.

The sailor left them at the shack, and returned to his post at the end of the pier.

"Up every night, huh? He must be an oddball," Rachael said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Erika asked.

"Perhaps we should just knock? I hate to wake him, but this is important," Gramps said.

"If he can't be up by... What is it, noon? Then that's his problem," Rachael said, stepping towards the door.

She knocked on the door. Someone said something unintelligible inside. Rachael waited a few seconds, then knocked again.

"I already paid rent this month," a man said inside.

Rachael continued to knock.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" the man said.

A minute later, the door opened.

A half dressed man stared out through the cracked open door. He looked nearly asleep and bewildered.

"You're not..."

He gave them a dazed stare.

"Who are you?"

"We're investigating a crime. Did you see-" Rachael began.

The man's eyes widened. He was suddenly wide awake.

"I didn't do anything! I'm innocent!"

"You aren't a suspect," Rachael said.

"Maybe he should be," Erika whispered.

The man began to frantically ramble about how he was innocent.

"Did you see anyone break into that ship down there," Rachael said, doing her best to cut the man off as she pointed to the ship.

"I... Well, I... I did see something a bit strange over there awhile ago,"

"Go on,"

"It was a few weeks ago. You see, I've been fishing late at night lately. I've been trying to catch this fish. It's very rare, but it's real. You can look it up. I'm not lying, it's called-"

"Please just get to the point,"

"I did see a strange man snooping around that boat for a few nights. I've seen him a few times after that, too. I think he lives nearby. Nice guy, from what I've seen of him,"

"Describe him,"

"Well, he's one of those bird fellas. Short black hair, with black wings. He was really fit, too. Probably loads the ships,"

Rachael, Erika, and Gramps all shot each other a look.

"Do you know what he was doing out here at night?"

"I think he was just wandering around. Out on a walk, or something. I didn't pay him much mind. He did get pretty close to that ship once, but I got distracted by something on my line and I forgot about him. It was just a crab cage that managed to-"

"Where does this man live, and what's his name?"

"I don't know his name, but he's in one of the apartment blocks where all the dockhands seem to live. You should be able to find it without much trouble,"

"Could you please lead us there? I have a terrible sense of direction," Gramps said.

"I guess I do need my morning walk,"