"Now I just want a bowl of stew,”
Toby said, then chuckled.
"Even I think that's disgusting,” Karl commented. “You know, the Psych Ward is just down one floor. I can make arrangements—"
"Hush,” I scolded.
"And the warehouse?” Toby asked. “What about the cloning operation?" "When Maynard, Karl and I returned today, there wasn't much left,” I replied. “Most of the machinery and Maryut were gone. Seems they collected their toys and ran away. But just in case,” I smiled, “we completely razed the building. Maynard paid Crash to wipe it all the way down to the foundation." "Now there isn'tanything left,” Karl said with smug satisfaction. "Which reminds me.” Tapping Karl on the head, I pointed to Toby. “Show him." Karl smiled broadly and reached into the pocket of his tiny leather jacket. Removing a black billfold, he held it up and flipped it open. “Karl Vigratsky,” he said, flashing his new badge and identification card, “Brimstone Seeker."
"In training,” I added.
Toby tossed his head back and laughed. “That's awesome!" Karl turned the billfold and ran his fingers gently over the badge's gold finish, “Maynard made me a Seeker."
"For actions above and beyond the call of duty,” I said with more than a hint of pride in my voice. It was hard to believe that a few days ago I wanted to squish that little, nasty, green bugger, but now I wouldn't think of working without him. He had proven himself again and again during this investigation, even if he was a pain in the ass. Of all of us, he had changed the most. Karl had come a long way. I was proud of him.
"I don't have to live in the basement of the Brimstone building anymore,” Karl added. “I get paid every two weeks now!"
Toby nodded approvingly. “Where you going to live now?" "The basement of the Brimstone building,” Karl answered without missing a beat. “Have you seen how expensive rent is out there?"
My laugh mutated into a snort. Pressing my hand to my mouth, I tried to stop giggling, even though it felt good. It had been a while since I was really happy and relaxed. I kept trying to remind myself to enjoy the moment. They pass too quickly.
"You deserve it.” Toby smiled. “Congratulations.” He turned back to me. “Well, whodunit?" I kept forgetting that it wasn't really Toby with me during the investigation, but a copy. He had no idea what happened. “Get dressed and I'll show you,” I answered.
"Even I think that's disgusting,” Karl commented. “You know, the Psych Ward is just down one floor. I can make arrangements—"
"Hush,” I scolded.
"And the warehouse?” Toby asked. “What about the cloning operation?" "When Maynard, Karl and I returned today, there wasn't much left,” I replied. “Most of the machinery and Maryut were gone. Seems they collected their toys and ran away. But just in case,” I smiled, “we completely razed the building. Maynard paid Crash to wipe it all the way down to the foundation." "Now there isn'tanything left,” Karl said with smug satisfaction. "Which reminds me.” Tapping Karl on the head, I pointed to Toby. “Show him." Karl smiled broadly and reached into the pocket of his tiny leather jacket. Removing a black billfold, he held it up and flipped it open. “Karl Vigratsky,” he said, flashing his new badge and identification card, “Brimstone Seeker."
"In training,” I added.
Toby tossed his head back and laughed. “That's awesome!" Karl turned the billfold and ran his fingers gently over the badge's gold finish, “Maynard made me a Seeker."
"For actions above and beyond the call of duty,” I said with more than a hint of pride in my voice. It was hard to believe that a few days ago I wanted to squish that little, nasty, green bugger, but now I wouldn't think of working without him. He had proven himself again and again during this investigation, even if he was a pain in the ass. Of all of us, he had changed the most. Karl had come a long way. I was proud of him.
"I don't have to live in the basement of the Brimstone building anymore,” Karl added. “I get paid every two weeks now!"
Toby nodded approvingly. “Where you going to live now?" "The basement of the Brimstone building,” Karl answered without missing a beat. “Have you seen how expensive rent is out there?"
My laugh mutated into a snort. Pressing my hand to my mouth, I tried to stop giggling, even though it felt good. It had been a while since I was really happy and relaxed. I kept trying to remind myself to enjoy the moment. They pass too quickly.
"You deserve it.” Toby smiled. “Congratulations.” He turned back to me. “Well, whodunit?" I kept forgetting that it wasn't really Toby with me during the investigation, but a copy. He had no idea what happened. “Get dressed and I'll show you,” I answered.