The girls I had spent time actively trying to get away from, get out from underneath their shadows were now in my office and nearly on the verge of tears. Except Applejack, because she 'cries on the inside' which I call bullshit on. I've seen her cry, she just has so much pride and stubbornness underneath that ten gallon hat of hers that she can't see past her own rack at times. I looked at Twilight who was almost actively crying, she held what looked like a manila folder close to her chest, looked like a police investigation file. With her being a princess I wouldn't doubt that she would have asked for and gotten her own copy of the proceedings the investigation.
When I left Ponyville two years ago, I disappeared. There was no trace of a kidnapping, mugging gone wrong, abduction, nothing I just packed my things and left. I was gone the next day, I didn't leave a note or any reason as to why I was gone. The girls might not have even noticed that I had disappeared, but they obviously did. They obviously looked distressed and I just got up and walked to the door the girls never took their eyes off me as I looked at Quick. "Ms. Pick could you please brew a pot of coffee, these ladies look like they need a little pick me up before discussing details pertaining to our new potential case."
"Not a problem Mr.Drake." Quick smiled and went over to the coffee machine and prepared a fresh pot for the girls as I sat back behind my desk.
"Thank you." Twilight managed to squeak out.
"It's not a problem, I always want to make sure that people are comfortable when in my office." I said while eying the folder, "If I were to hazard to guess, I'd probably be right in assuming that that would be the police report?"
Twilight looked down and just nodded. Starlight coughed into her hand, "Please understand that this is not easy for Twilight at the moment, the person in question is one of if not the closest and oldest friend she's ever had. While we've been helping her with her day to day life, she can hardly function without Spike." She explained.
"I apologize, I don't mean to come across as rude." I said, "This person Spike, obviously meant a lot to you and I just want to help." Yeah, nice going you lying jackass. You're standing, or rather sitting right in front of them. I thought to myself after I spoke to the girls.
Quick came in with a tray that had the pot of coffee, eight mugs, sugar, milk, and creamer. "Here you go girls, one cup for each of you and one for Mr.Drake here because nothing short of an entire gallon of coffee will wake up this drakeblood."
Rarity looked up at me, "You're a drakeblood? Why are you here in Manehattan instead of in the Firelands?"
"I was orphaned as young child so my parents couldn't initiate me into their family clan." I explained. Liar.
"Oh my apologies." Rarity bowed her head.
"It's fine you didn't know. I would like for my secretary to refrain from spilling any more of my personal information until we have formed a formal contract with the potential clients." I looked at Quick and she just bowed her head.
"Sorry boss." She apologized.
"It's fine." I organized my mail and paperwork and handed it to her, "Please just get this filed away and sent out to the appropriate resources."
"Why again?" Quick asked.
"So you know how to do paperwork yourself when you become a PI." I said.
"Then why aren't you doing it?" Quick asked.
"Because you don't know how to negotiate a contract yet." I replied and that shut her down.
"I'll go file and mail these away." Quick said and left the room.
I got up and closed the door behind her, then I gestured to the tray with the coffee. "Please, help yourselves." The girls and I served ourselves coffee and prepared them the way that we had preferred. I mixed my coffee with sugar and creamer, I looked at the girls. "Are you ready to talk?" I asked them after they had their first few sips of coffee.
Twilight slowly nodded and put the folder she was clutching and replaced it with a mug of coffee. "About this time two years ago, our close friend Spike Solaris, went missing. He just vanished, almost like a ghost or a shadow like he never even existed, the police looked up and down and searched his last known location but nothing." Twilight slowly opened the folder. "There were no signs of a struggle or abduction, but I don't understand why he would just disappear."
"We also looked in the Dragon district in Fillydelphia, but that turned up nothing." Rainbow added, rubbing her shoulder blades. "It was a long trip, I was tired by the end of it."
"You're always tired Rainbow Dash." Applejack said before taking another sip of her coffee. "I find you sleeping in my orchard all the time."
"Girls can we please focus?" Pinkie of all people said, in fact she was the most out of character of them all. Did my leaving really affect them that hard? It looks pretty obvious now that I think about it.
"Spike was very dear to us." Fluttershy said.
"Spike is very dear to us." Twilight said, "I don't care what the police said, he's not dead. They never found a body."
"Twilight adamantly believes that Spike is still alive." Rarity spoke up, "We support her beliefs but we have moved on, for the sake of our sanity."
"I told you it was fine girls." Twilight said.
I wish I could take off this ring and show that it was me, in fact a small part of me wants to, but what would that get me? I'm actually doing pretty well here, I'm living the life I want to live. "So you believe he's still alive?"
"Yes I do, and I heard that you're one of the best private investigators in Equis, you solved a kidnapping and murder 10 years after the police decided to call it quits." Twilight said.
"Only after new evidence had come to light and more people were willing to come forward. Sometimes time is what it takes." I said.
"Please, I'll do anything to get Spike back, or at least talk to him!" Twilight said, "I'll double or even triple your rates!"
"Twilight!" Starlight said, "Don't be so rash, you've spent so much money already."
"No, you don't have to do that, the thing is time. I can't spend a lot of time away from here because I still need to keep the lights on and the bills paid." I said.
"Oh." Twilight looked down, "What's the longest amount of time you can stay away?"
"Two weeks." I said. "That's the most amount of time I can give you. If I can't solve it, I'll refer you to some people who can help you move on."
"Alright, I just want some definitive answers." Twilight said.
We soon drew up a contract and Quick led the girls out. I leaned back in my chair and sighed. Quick came back in, "That was Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
"Trust me, I know." I said as I got up. "I'm going to pack my stuff, do you want to come with me?"
"YES!" Quick said. "Oh man my first field assignment, what should I bring?"
"Your lockpicks, and plenty of clothes and cash. I'll bring the weapons."
"W-Weapons?" Quick said.
"Yes, now go home and get packed. I'll call you on your cell and tell you which train to take." I said as I loosened my tie, "In the meantime I have a letter to write."