Officer Grey Walker was given the choice of administrative duty or paid leave. He chose to take time off while the disciplinary board investigated the incident at the old City Standard building. After a visit with an old friend, he learned that he had been the victim of an imp's prank and was likely being stalked by the imp.
Grey sat in the corner of the coffee shop reading a copy of the local paper when Lucas Marshall joined him. "You're not supposed to talk to me," Grey cautioned.
"I'm not supposed to talk to you about the incident, but nothing says we can't discuss the weather," Lucas countered.
"It's still a bad idea," Grey shook the newspaper and raised it in front of his face. "Have they interviewed you, yet?"
"That's why I'm here. They already have my statement, so I figured there was no reason to keep avoiding you."
Grey lowered the newspaper. "How's the rookie working out?"
"She's smart. I was worried she couldn't keep up, but she's more than a match at times." Lucas ordered a cup of coffee. "What have you been doing in your time off?"
"Playing cat and mouse with an imp. She keeps showing up everywhere I go. Duncan says that she has attached herself to me. I'm beginning to wonder if she's real or if there is something seriously wrong with me. I managed to get an appointment for a brain scan. It wasn't all that hard to talk the department shrink into ordering it."
"What if they find nothing wrong?"
"What if they find something wrong? I'm too young to die. Seriously, either way, my career is over."
The four-person disciplinary board sat at a long table. Grey sat in a chair opposite wearing his uniform. They had spent the better part of an hour passing papers and chatting among themselves. Finally, the Chief of Police spoke up. "Officer Walker, we have read your report on the incident at the City Standard building. We have also interviewed your partner and other officers present at the scene. The crowd that you spoke of in your report consisted of a few individuals who worked in the building across the street. Every one of them contradicts your account. In light of this, would you like to alter your statement?"
Grey stood up to address the board. "I do not wish to amend my statement. In fact, I have decided to resign as a police officer. There are extenuating circumstances that inhibit my ability to be effective as such." Grey placed his shield and his service weapon on the table before leaving the room.
As Grey walked down the hallway toward the elevator, he spotted his stalker following him when he turned a corner. She had been following him all week, but every time that he turned to confront her, she disappeared. He was beginning to question his sanity. He had devised a plan to draw her out, to force her to come to him. He was counting on her not wanting to lose the object of her affection.
Grey took his time cleaning out his locker, leaving behind those few objects that he carried that were city property. Several of his colleagues took time to pat him on the back, wish him well, and tell him how much he would be missed. He knew that in a week or so, most of those officers would have forgotten him. He was hoping to avoid his former partner. Lucas and he were fierce competitors at the academy but became fast friends after being paired upon completion of field training.
Lucas was worried about Grey, who seemed quieter than normal. He followed Grey to the City Standard building and watched him make his way back to the roof. The building had been prepped for implosion. The windows and doors had been removed and any useful fixtures. The only thing barring entry was a locked chain link fence with barbed wire strung along the top. Lucas watched as Grey tore open a section of the fence before entering the building. He followed Grey up to the roof.
Grey went to the back of the building where an empty parking lot stood between two abandoned buildings. He stood there looking down, waiting for something. Lucas was about to intervene when she appeared, suspended in the air. Suddenly, Grey ran to the edge of the roof and jumped. Lucas sprinted to the roof edge and looked down to see Grey and the woman arrive safely at the bottom. Grey grabbed the woman tightly. "Take us back to the roof," he demanded, "or I will break something." A few seconds later they were back on the rooftop. "Lucas, come meet our mystery woman." He turned to the young woman, "tell me your name."
"Am... Amber...gris," she stammered.
"Ambergris?" Lucas asked, "What kind of parents name a child after whale vomit?"
"Imps," Grey smiled. "Only creatures lonelier than nightwalkers."
Amber struggled against Grey's grip on her arm. "Let me go," she demanded, but her influence failed to get her released. "I'll make your friend walk off the roof." she threatened.
"You do and I'll break your neck," Grey countered.
Amber pouted for a few minutes, then asked politely, "Please, let me go."
"That's better," Grey replied. "But only if you promise to stop following me."
"I can't do that," Amber said, "But I can get you your job back."
"If I'm stuck with you, I'm better off without it." Grey released the imp then turned to Lucas, "You can stop worrying about me. I'll be around. I promise."
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