Muse Silver-Green

Paisley banged on the door. "Let me in! You're breaking the rules. Why was everyone in the building sent home? There is no fly infestation."

"You'll be allowed back in soon, but only Apollo and the fire department have the key," I said.

"Green, you're incompetent, and you let your emotions take over."

"But I was correct. Mason might save our planet by bringing the cult leaders down, despite not being chosen to do so."

"Stop fighting! I'm trying not to be shot." A bandit fired at Mason, but he dove and fired back.

"And you should have, but is it wise to allow a non-chosen one to save our world?" Muse Paisley asked.

Mason ducked again. 'Shut up,' he thought.

"They wanted the opposite of me, but as I look at Zander's notes, his Muses follow the rules less than either of us," I said curtly.

"Fine." Muse Paisley left, or at least shut up.

I focused on Mason. "Behind you!"

Mason fired, and the man fled.

The other bandit approached Holbrook and pretended to be the hero. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She stiffened and covered her uninjured ear with her hand.

The overly muscular man with flowing hair grasped Holbrook's arm tightly and swung her like a doll. "You're cute and solid, not like ninety-five-pound weaklings. Go to the bar with me and buy me a drink, a new suit, and a steak. My partner fled."

"Keep your hands off of me." She yanked herself away.

"Sassy goblin, you've insulted me." He attempted to fire at her again.

"I don't owe you." Her eyes narrowed, and her fingers slid to her weapon.

Mason rushed to her. "Where did you go off to? Is this guy your ex?"

"Baby, I've never met him before. I told you that my ex was Zander." Her smile collapsed.

"Looks like you and girlie are fighting, and I'll take her out," the man said.

"You're not touching me." Holbrook stepped away from the man.

Mason grimaced and glared at him. "My soon-to-be bride and I are leaving. I recommend tucking your weapon away before you accidentally shoot yourself."

The man shoved his weapon into Holbrook's side.

She slid out her laser gun and shot the man in the arm. "Even I refuse to fight a man of your size, which is why I carry a painful laser gun."

He dropped his weapon. "You hurt me! I'll pound you."

Holbrook shot him again. "Attacking an Agency-14 agent isn't wise."

A security officer ran after them. "I'll drop him off."

Holbrook leaned close to Mason.

His tail wagged. "I gave you an accidental upgrade from a mere girlfriend. Strong women are cute." He smiled, and his ears perked up. "We'll take turns being rescued. Let's save those royal teens."

"Rob will be furious. Good, he's annoying." Holbrook smiled.

"The head of security is waiting for you," the officer said.

Mason and Holbrook left the spaceport with the officer and the prisoner. On the officer's ear, there was an odd marking—not a tattoo, but a scar from being branded.

"Let me check your credentials," Mason said to the officer.

The impostor, security officer, and prisoner ran.

Holbrook subdued them with her laser gun, and security officers dragged the men away.

An officer displayed his authentic badge.

"His partner comes in to rescue the couple and asks for a donation. We have been trying to capture them for days." Real security officers led them through the garden path, with happy couples holding hands, not noticing them.

They walked out of the garden and passed two boutique hotels, a merry-go-round shaped like a daisy, and a white coaster covered with wooden roses.

Vendors sold treats like soup cones and mint tea.

I could smell the soup and even taste the roast peppers and tomatoes. Oh, I wish I could spend a day narrating resort attendees' lives. That's fantastic. I need a vacation, and Paisley needs a longer one.

Mason and Holbrook entered a whimsically painted jail with the words Enchanted Fairy Gardens Resort's Security in neon.

I was hoping for a jail-themed office, and honestly, I was a tad disappointed by the wooden desk.

Tan curtains hung in the lone window.

The resort's head of security, Frank, appeared to be a humanoid unicorn. Flowing curls reached his broad shoulders.

"Holbrook, I'm glad to see you again. My officers texted me. You're the heroes of the hour. I'm checking your boyfriend's clearance with Agent Lace. Babette Nickel never told me she was sending a replacement. Are they still scared of me? Was he fired for seeing through Tolbert's disguise and not telling you?"

"While he let that monster in by hiring him as a guard, he wasn't fired." Holbrook stiffened.

Frank's mouth was a hard, straight line. "Or is this because we caught him smooching, Babette?"

Mason's tail dropped. "Oh, I knew she cheated with Zander, but Nickel claimed she didn't know he was engaged."

"She lied, but he came on to her," Holbrook said.

Mason shrugged. "I suspected, but I needed to know from you. Figuring out things and solving mysteries is a major part of my day job, and all my musicals have puzzles to unravel."

Frank folded his arms. "Holbrook's and my love life isn't a mystery for you to solve."

"I'm sorry for prying," Mason said.

"No, he needs to know everything," Holbrook said.

"Do I have to?" Frank frowned. "I cheated on Nickel with ten different women during the four months we dated, and I thought she forgave me."

"Kissing Zander was probably for revenge," Holbrook said.

Frank sighed to himself. "Nickel and I never went beyond kissing. Most of her other relationships didn't last even that long."

"I lost my deposit and have an overpriced dress I burned to ash, but I kind of feel sorry for Nickel. She is falling apart."

"No hard feelings," Frank said to Holbrook.

She shrugged. "Zander doesn't have the skill set for this mission. He lost the abilities he once had. Mason is Agent Lace's youngest son, and he's been vetted."

"Agent Lace is amazing. We tease each other." He shook Mason's hand.

Mason's shoulders slumped. "I'm not a real consultant or agent."

"No, if you are Lace's son, you are more than qualified. Your antics are legendary." Frank changed the subject and stared at Holbrook. "Gloria knows you're coming, and she'll be glad to see you." Frank's phone rang. He checked the number. "Hey, it's Agent Lace. Stay here, and we'll talk later about Zander."

"Do we have to?" Holbrook sat on Frank's desk.

Frank listened to Agent Lace for a moment. "Yes, your son is here." He handed the phone to Mason.

"Place it on speakerphone. I want Frank and Holbrook to be informed. They're trustworthy," Agent Lace said over the phone.

"Mom, are you calling me to explain why you didn't tell me that you got the job with the general?" Mason narrowed his eyes.

His mother's sigh could be heard over the phone. "Normally, I shouldn't be hired, but the new king has a little crush on me. I also didn't want to hurt your feelings about you not getting the job."

"No, I'd have celebrated it," Mason said. "We both knew you were the better candidate."

Lace spoke again. "You're going to attend a virtual meeting. I had to travel to the planet of Hidden Dreams and set up our housing for the operation," Lace said.

"So, will we be able to speak to Rob?" Mason asked.

"Yes, he thinks this is an interview. Dina is the strongest suspect. Rob took programming classes at school, but he wasn't kicked out for failing, but there was evidence he hired others to code for him."

"Kay's motive is greater," Lace said.

Mason breathed deeply. No one had told her. "You're close with Nickel, and we're once close to Dina."

"Yes, Dina helped me retrieve part of my pension, but she is the one who gave her manufactured evidence against me to the police. But I am not sure if someone didn't give it to her." Lace frowned.

"Agent Rock-Heart cleared me, but not your husband. He had access to the postcards Deb-Dagger used through the years. Not all were from the stolen batch," Frank said.

"Stay in the office, and I'll contact you in two hours. The royal twins land in four hours," she said.

"Mom, I love you."

"Mason, I love you too, and I hired Zander again, despite me being so furious at him for hurting Nickel and Holbrook. His child was taken by the cult with a crappy, illegal court order. Show him kindness."

"Will do." Mason hung up the phone.

"I demand access to the computer first, and I want permission to call a few people who knew Rob and his sisters during their university years. The papers you gave were incomplete."

"Shanna didn't go to the university," Frank said.

Mason's ears stood up. "She is not a suspect."

"Is this because she is hot?" Frank asked.

"Shanna is not my type, but no. I'd rather stab myself in the leg than date any member of the Salamander family, especially one that resembles me," Mason said.

"There is a betting pool among the crew that Shanna is his first cousin. Her ears were surgically altered to look less fairy," Holbrook said.

Mason dialed, and he tried to contact seven students and five former teachers before one talked to him, and he recorded and took notes down. "Rob was expelled." Mason walked to the computer and turned it on.

He and Holbrook read for an hour.

She turned to Mason. "Did I just read there was a takeover, and Rob no longer owns the company?"

"The sale has not been approved of yet, but yes, Kay and Dina are aiming for a ruthless takeover," Mason said.

I took notes. Why was this important? My mind is built for snacks and musicals, not puzzles.