//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 - Dead On Arrival 
// Story: A Dance With Death 
// by Dee Pad 
//------------------------------//

"Are we all set?" Limbo asked with zeal.

Samba took an extra second to make sure her mane was alright, brushing a few errant strands back into place, and gave Limbo an affirmative smile.  "Ready."

"Good.  Webber, get over here, bud."

The spider skittered up Limbo's leg from the coffee table and the detective lifted her eyepatch for him to crawl inside.  As usual, Samba averted her eyes in order to help keep her breakfast down.  She'd seen Limbo stabbed, dismembered, and decapitated multiple times at this point, but the sight of a spider crawling into or out of her empty eye socket still gave her the heebie-jeebies.

"Now, hopefully we won't be waiting too much longer," Limbo said with a slight huff, tapping her hoof on the carpeted floor of Samba's apartment.

Samba could certainly understand her impatience.  Yesterday had revealed some potentially important information, and Limbo was eager to get a jump on it.  Samba had a feeling that a possible breakthrough like this in the Ghost case would be just what Limbo needed to rekindle her motivation.  It seemed nothing could really keep that dedicated detective down for long, whether it was losing her best friend, or having her home burnt down.  Limbo was a force to be reckoned with, for sure.

Of course, Samba was almost as enthusiastic as Limbo was, which honestly surprised even herself.  Samba was all for helping Limbo in any way she could, even having willingly put herself in harm's way a couple of times.  She had started to convince herself that those were flukes, though; circumstances that, in retrospect, were not as dangerous as they first appeared.  But the fact that she was fidgeting impatiently herself—not with nervousness, but excitement—was evidence that perhaps what Limbo had said about her yesterday may have had some merit.  Maybe she'd find out for sure during her monthly weekend with Pirouette coming up.

Now all they had to do was wait for their new client to show up.  With the new information they'd learned, having Mandible tag along to town hall probably wasn't a bad idea.  Any additional details she could provide would be helpful.  Also, Limbo had some choice words for Night Owl and the rest of the force for blowing Mandible's plight off like she'd lost her puppy, not her brother, but that was a little lower on the list of priorities right now.

Eventually, there was a knock on the door.  Samba answered it, letting Mandible inside.

"Morning, Mandi," Samba greeted with a chipper lilt in her voice.

"Good morning," the changeling greeted back.

Limbo trotted over, eager to get about their day.  "Alright, let's skip the pleasantries, ladies.  We've got business to attend to.  I wanna see professionalism all around."

"I was just saying hi," said Mandible.  "I'm not much of a morning person, so I'm trying to force myself to be upbeat so you don't regret taking me along."

"Sounds like you need a coffee," Limbo assessed.

"Excuse me if I don't have a 'get up and sparkle' mentality," Mandible grumbled.

"Rise and shine," Samba corrected.

"Whatever."

Limbo gave Mandible a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, guiding her out into the hall so the three of them could get on their way.  "Yeah, you definitely need coffee.  I know that feel, believe me.  Mornings are the bane of my existence without a steaming hot cup of joe to make it tolerable.  Or three.  Just ask my former colleagues at the B.P.D.  That job is the reason I became a caffeine addict.  And I actually haven't had a good cup of coffee since yesterday morning.  I'm running on half a can of flat grape soda and Do-Boy's dirt water right now."

"You seem pretty mellow right now, though," Mandible pointed out.

"I chalk that up to my hyper focus on the case right now.  The only other thing that energizes me the way coffee does is a good breakthrough.  Also, my body has probably absorbed enough caffeine over the years to have a reserve of it stored in my pores.  I'm surprised I don't sweat coffee at this point."

Mandible grimaced doubtfully.  "I don't know much about pony anatomy, but I don't think it works like that."

"She's making a joke," Samba told the changeling with a quiet chuckle.

"Maybe I am, but I still need to get some real coffee in me, pronto," Limbo claimed with a sigh.  "My raw enthusiasm will only get me so far.  Gotta refill the tanks.  You know what place actually has good coffee?  There's this independent mobile vendor who sells great coffee.  I know where he sets up shop every day of the week, and he should be on the way to town hall.  What say we grab ourselves a cup each and some bagels, my treat?"

Mandible smiled gratefully.  "Hard to say no to that.  Coffee's not big in the Changeling Kingdom, but if it's as good as those hayburgers, I'll happily give it a shot."

"He got anything other than coffee?" Samba asked cautiously.

"Yeah, yeah, you can get tea if you want," Limbo told her mockingly.  "But getting a cup of tea from him is like going to the beach with no intention of getting in the water."

"How would you know?  Do you even know what tea tastes like?" she countered.

"Hey, I liked that rotroot tea."

"I think we both know the real reason you 'liked' it," Samba deadpanned, shuddering at the thought.

The three of them stepped outside the apartment building, Limbo turning her eye up towards the skyline as she pondered something.

"Huh.  Maybe coffee is the only good drink we ponies have, and even then it's hit or miss.  Rotroot tea, morphoberry smoothies...  Other cultures have some interesting, non-coffee drinks.  Wonder what the favorite beverage is in the Dragon Lands."

"I don't think even you could stomach what the dragons drink.  It's probably something to do with gemstones or lava."

"Sounds like a challenge to me," Limbo said with a half-joking smirk.

Making their way down the streets of Baltimare toward town hall, Limbo lead Samba and Mandible to where she knew this vendor set up shop on Thursdays, which was apparently outside a local buckball stadium.  The mobile cart didn't really stand out much, as there were competing vendors set up nearby as well.  The crowd outside, as well as the commotion coming from the stadium, seemed to suggest there was a game in progress, but that wasn't of any concern to the three mares; they were only stopping by for a quick breakfast.

Limbo approached the green and white cart, the smell of toast and freshly brewed coffee wafting from the compact kitchen within.  The detective greeted the vendor—a white unicorn stallion with a green and white striped mane that matched the cart's décor—with familiarity, the two exchanging pleasantries as though they were close friends and despite her earlier insistences against such things in the essence of time.

Samba had a look around as they waited for the friendly vendor to prepare their orders.  Despite Limbo having talked up the guy's coffee, there weren't many customers waiting in line.  She wasn't complaining, as it meant they could get their orders faster, but it appeared his business just wasn't as popular as the competition, which all appeared to be stalls belonging to big name chain restaurants.

But, as it so happened, while they were waiting, Samba spotted Mayor Highstrung walking away from a Do-Boy's cart, a cup of coffee and a pair of glazed donuts in the pink grasp of his magic.  Considering where they were currently headed, it seemed prudent to grab the mayor's attention.

"Mister Mayor!  Over here!" Samba called out, flagging the portly, yellow stallion down.

With one of the donuts wedged in his mouth, Mayor Highstrung glanced her way.  He chomped down, chewing with a smile as he waddled his way over.  "Mish Shamba, goob morning," he greeted with a mouthful of pastry before swallowing.  "And you as well, Detective."

Limbo barely acknowledged him as she leaned on the counter, just halfheartedly lifting a hoof as she stared desperately at the coffee being poured up for her.  "Don't talk to me until I've had my coffee."

The mayor turned his attention to the changeling standing with Samba and Limbo.  "And who's this?"

"New client.  Name's Mandible.  Mandible, Mayor Highstrung," Limbo introduced concisely without even taking her eyes off her coffee.

Highstrung suddenly straightened up, putting on a more professional face while dabbing the crumbs from his mouth with his necktie.  He cleared his throat as he greeted Mandible with uncharacteristic charisma.  "Good morning, Madam, lovely to meet you.  I'd just like to say that it's wonderful to see the changeling community in our fine city thriving so strongly.  And as your mayor, you can rest assured that any treatment deemed unjust or hurtful toward your esteemed people will be swiftly dealt with under my guidance to ensure that Baltimare is an ideal second home for you and your kin."

Mandible just blinked blankly.

"What are you doing?" Samba asked him, just as confused herself.

Highstrung's professionalism faltered slightly, a bead of nervous sweat rolling down his forehead.  "Um, I-I'm just doing what Gust suggested and trying to endear myself to my citizens.  I was practicing in the mirror last night and this morning.  I quite think I'm getting better at exuding confidence."  He ran a hoof through his mane to reconstitute his previous disposition as he turned back to Mandible.  "So, how did that sound?"

Mandible's monotone eyes just shifted awkwardly.  "Um..."

"She's not a citizen.  She arrived in the city yesterday," Limbo informed him as she walked over with her coffee.

"Oh..."  That caused the mayor to visibly deflate, but he quickly gave the changeling a hopeful grin.  "Still, if you were a citizen here, would I have been able to count on your support after that spiel?"

Mandible just stared in utter confusion.  "I have no idea what we're talking about."

"Get your orders in, girls.  We ain't got all day," Limbo requested, tilting her head toward the cart.  While they were doing that, she turned to the mayor.  "We were just on our way to town hall because of Mandible actually.  Speaking of which, it's ten o' clock, shouldn't you be there by now?  You don't seem too concerned about the prospect of Bubble Gust putting your head on a pike for being late again."

"Oh, she's not even in yet either," he told her.  "She and I worked late last night to prepare for the election.  I decided to pack it in eventually, but she insisted on pulling an all-nighter to rewrite my speech.  She likely won't be coming into work until noon and Loose Leaf requested some time off."

"Hm."  Limbo took a much needed sip of her coffee.  "Gotta admire her tenacity.  Girl's still putting her all into this even though the election is basically a foregone conclusion at this point."

"You really have no faith in me, do you, Detective?" Highstrung moaned, lowering his head and taking a depressed bite of his donut.

"I don't really give a flying frejole about the election.  I just know I don't care for any of the candidates," she stated bluntly.

Samba and Mandible returned with their orders.  The former had the same kind of paper cup that Limbo and Mandible did, but contained tea instead of coffee.  The changeling, along with her coffee, carried a pair of toasted bagel slathered with cream cheese in her neon green aura, one of them belonging to Samba since she needed at least three legs to walk.

"All set," Samba interjected.

Limbo nodded and started back down the street towards town hall, Samba, Mandible, and Mayor Highstrung following along with her.  "Guess it's fortuitous that we happened to bump into the mayor on the way.  Woulda sucked to show up there and find out the place is locked up."

"So, what are you helping Miss Mandible with anyway, Detective?" Highstrung inquired to kill time on the way.

"Her brother disappeared while he was visiting the city.  We have a hunch that it may have been the Ghost."

"Ah, then this is pertinent to my interests," the mayor said with a smile.

"Might want to try being a little more tactful, Mister Mayor," Samba warned him.

"What?  We're all on the same side here."

Samba shook her head with a sigh.  "Not the point.  And I think I know who I'm voting for..." she mumbled.

"Well, I may have to just leave you ladies to your devices," Highstrung told them with an exasperated sigh.  "As much as I'd like to help in whatever way I can, I currently have a lot on my plate."

Limbo grimaced at him.  "Psh, right.  Maybe when your house burns down you can complain about having a full plate."

Mayor Highstrung frowned upon hearing that.  "Ah, right.  We read about that in the paper yesterday.  Our condolences."

"Save your sympathies, I've got better things to do than mope around feeling sorry for myself like a certain political official I know."

"Should I recount the events of yesterday for him?" Samba deadpanned.

"Shush.  My point is, maybe try thinking about other people before yourself.  You're the mayor.  It's kinda your job to keep everpony's best interest in mind."

"And I can't exactly do that if I lose the election," Highstrung countered.

"You don't have to be a leader to think about other people.  It surprises and disheartens me how many people I know that haven't figured that out yet.  And two of them are running for mayor.  This city is going downhill either way."

"Um, maybe focus on the task at hoof," Samba suggested, pointing out that town hall was now within sight.

"Yeah, yeah, agree to disagree or whatever," Limbo moaned dismissively.

Highstrung lead them up the short steps of the building, unlocking the door and letting them inside.  They went straight for Bubble Gust's office, the breezie secretary nowhere in sight like the mayor presumed.

"So, what were you looking for, Detective?" asked the mayor.

"Citizen records, like usual.  Except now we need info on all of Mango Inc.'s staff."

"It wasn't one of the changeling employees?" Highstrung asked with hopefulness.

"If our hunch holds water, then it would be unlikely.  Unfortunately, the files that Leaf delivered the other day were roasted like chestnuts, so...  Yeah, sorry about that."

Highstrung ran a hoof over his mane with a groan.  "Oooh, they aren't going to be happy to hear that...  Maybe we can keep that little tidbit under wraps until after the election."

"If you think that'll make a difference.  Anyhoo, wanna get on that, or do you need your pint-sized helper to do it for you?"

The mayor sighed.  "I'll see what I can do.  I'll take whatever time I can get without a high-pitched voice yelling in my ear," he moaned as he started sifting through the filing cabinets.

"It is kinda quiet around here without Bubble Gust and Leaf," Samba commented.  She glanced around at all the bookshelves surrounding them.  "Almost feels more like an actual library."

Mandible scanned the myriad books lining the shelves with interest.  "I wonder what pony books are like."

"You an avid reader, Mandi?" asked Samba.

"I've read some books written by changeling authors, but they're all either about super kiddy, happy sunshine and rainbows, or our dark and violent history.  Not really my mug of cocoa," she said as she sipped her coffee.  She licked her lips with a pleased smile.  "Mmm, this coffee is definitely my mug of cocoa, though.  Invigorating.  Kinda makes my heart feel like it's beating faster.  Um, is that a good thing?"

"Depends who you ask probably."

Samba joined Mandible in perusing the shelves while Limbo and the mayor were busy.  While she was walking along the perimeter of the room, she spotted a book laying on the floor.  There was a clearly empty space on the shelf nearby where it was supposed to be, but it must have somehow fallen.  Glancing at the cover of the book, Samba learned it was a dictionary; a very thick and heavy dictionary.  It may have been one of the heftiest books in the room.  Proving that point, Samba picked it up with no lack of effort, as though it were filled with lead.  She was about to return it to its place on the shelf, having no interest in leafing through a dictionary, but she paused.  There was a dark red stain that had soaked into the blue carpet, previously concealed by the book.

Samba's heart suddenly felt like it had jumped up into her throat, a disturbing thought occurring to her.  With narrowed pupils, she turned her eyes back to the book in her grasp, slowly and shakily flipping it over.

Stuck to the back cover of the book, which was stained with the same red liquid, was the diminutive form of a breezie, pressed face down onto the book as flat as a piece of paper.

"Eyaaaah!"

In a horrified panic, Samba haphazardly flung the book, the dictionary flipping through the air before landing with a loud thud and a wet squelch back on the floor.  Samba immediately held her hooves to her mouth regrettably when she'd realized what she'd done.

At the sound of her terrified shriek, Limbo, Mayor Highstrung, and Mandible all hurried over to investigate.

"Samba?  What happened?" Limbo asked.

The unicorn could only sit there, wide-eyed and aghast.  She pointed a shaky hoof toward the dictionary.  "Bu-Bu...  Ha-ma-ma...  Whaaa..." was all she could manage in her current state.

Her panicked stammering sounded a little familiar to Limbo.  Following her quivering hoof, the detective cautiously flipped the dictionary over, revealing the flattened body of Bubble Gust plastered on the other side.

Highstrung took a step back in shock, placing his hooves on his head in horror.  "Wh-What?!  G-Gust?!"

Limbo grimaced at the pitiable sight.  "Oooh, that's not good."

Mandible leaned over the trembling Samba's shoulder at the smooshed breezie.  "Um...  Long shot, but you think she's okay?"


***** ***** *****


Within a half an hour, town hall had become surrounded by police carriages, the entrance to the building blocked off by officers and yellow tape.  Many passersby slowed down to see if they could glean what was going on, but they were all shooed away by the cops standing guard in the area.

Inside, the office of the mayor's secretary was being combed over by the B.P.D.'s forensics team.  A pair of officers were busy peeling Bubble Gust's body off of the bloody dictionary, dropping her into what appeared to be a resealable plastic bag that somepony had spray painted black.

Meanwhile, Limbo, Samba, Mayor Highstrung, and Mandible were forced to wait in the hallway while the cops did their work.  The mayor was in quite the tizzy, pacing around nervously and mumbling to himself.

"You're gonna have to stop that," Limbo grumbled in annoyance.

"How can I?!" he blurted.  "My secretary is dead!  What am I supposed to do now?!  My entire campaign was riding on her!  I'll be a total train wreck without her!"

"Personally, I'd feel sorry for her before myself, but that's just me," Samba muttered with a scowl.

"Not our problem, Mister Mayor," Limbo told him apathetically.  "Right now, we have to focus on cooperating with the B.P.D., for as much good as that's gonna do us."

Mandible glanced between Limbo and Samba frantically, her whole body practically quivering, though not necessarily with terror.  "Gotta say you two are surprisingly calm for having just discovered a dead body," she spouted off in one quick breath.

"Well, I was a cop myself once," Limbo explained.  "I've seen my fair share of crime scenes.  Not the first dead body I've seen."

"I wish I could say it was mine," Samba uttered under her breath with a discreet glance at Limbo.

"Well I'm a little jittery after that.  Can't stop shaking," Mandible said.

Limbo eyed up the coffee cup in her magical grip, not hearing any splashing within it, even with how much it was shaking.  "Somehow, I doubt that's from seeing the body."

"And what is standing around here going to accomplish anyway?" Highstrung argued.  "She died, plain and simple.  What information could we possibly offer?"

Limbo gave the mayor a firm slap upside the head, earning a disgruntled glower from him, but nothing more.  "If you would cool your jets for a few minutes, maybe you could think about this more clearly."

"My secretary was pressed flat enough to be pinned in an entomology display.  How am I supposed to be calm?!"

"Maybe start by showing a little respect for the dead, Mister Mayor," Samba scolded.

"Samba, you wanna tell him what I'm getting at?" Limbo requested with an exasperated eye roll.

The dancer blinked in confusion.  "Huh?  Uh...  What are we talking about?"

Limbo was about to elaborate, but her attention was diverted by a certain police officer brushing his way through the other cops, his eyes locked onto her the whole way.

Night Owl greeted her with a long sigh through his nostrils.  "Why am I not surprised to see you here?  You just go wherever the action is, don'tcha?"

"It's not like I know about it in advance.  I'm just a lucky gal, I guess," Limbo joked.  "Why are you so late anyway?  Thought you were supposed to be the competent one."

"I was busy with other stuff," he told her, being purposely vague.

"Let me guess: Career."

Owl narrowed his eyes at her.  "What's it to you?"

"Well, I might have some info on that front.  Interested?" she told him coyly.

He hesitated, staring doubtfully.  "And what might that be?"

"Oh!  She's talking about me!" Mandible interjected energetically, invading Owl's personal space and causing him to step back uncomfortably.

Owl glanced between Limbo and the changeling.  "New friend?"

"Client," Limbo corrected.  "She's—"

"I'm Mandible but you call me Mandi!  Detective Limbo thinks my brother's disappearance is related to that Ghost person and wants me to help!"

Owl could only stare at her, her boisterous and enthusiastic attitude weirding him out.  He turned to Limbo.  "What is her deal?"

"Sorry," Limbo offered with a shrug.  "Coffee virgin.  You know how it is."

Owl just grimaced, gently pushing the changeling back to give himself some breathing room.  "Right.  So, I gather her brother's a victim of the Ghost?"

"Is this what we should be discussing right now?" Samba interjected.  "Bubble Gust just died.  I think we can put the Ghost thing on hold for a minute."

"Let us make that judgment," Owl said with authority before turning back to Limbo.  "What's your theory?  Because, let's face it, whatever info you've got, it's not gonna be conclusive proof."

"Mandible's brother's a changeling tourist who knew no noteworthy spells.  If the Ghost was a changeling, they'd have no reason to kidnap them.  Ergo, the Ghost may not be a changeling like we previously suspected."

"Could be a copycat," Owl posited.

"Possible, but unlikely."

"How do you figure?"

"Consider this: what if the Ghost had one of Career's devices prior to the heist?"

Owl straightened up slightly.  "Interesting.  Certainly possible if they work for him.  You're suggesting they wanted a more updated model, then?"

"Precisely, and used the expo to misdirect us."

"And an out-of-towner disappearing would fly under our radar.  Makes sense so far, but it's still all conjecture."

"Tangent, but what have you learned from Career thus far?"

Owl didn't respond, simply grumbling in mild frustration.

"That's what I thought.  You can't tell me he's not being disagreeable about this investigation."

"You suggesting he's willfully withholding information?"

"You saying you haven't considered that possibility yourself?"

Owl said nothing.

"You know my hunches are reliable.  You wouldn't be investigating Career by yourself if they weren't."

"I'm not jumping to conclusions, if that's what you're saying."

"But you're suspicious of him, just like I am."

Mandible watched the back and forth with vested interest.  "Wow, they're really playing ping pong, huh?  This is cool."

"I mean, it's not like this has anything to do with why we're here right now," Samba reiterated.

Owl, having heard Samba's comment, backed away from the conversation.  "She's right.  This is a discussion for another time.  Miss Gust's death is priority one right now.  So unless you somehow have something to contribute in that regard, kindly leave and stay out of our way."

"And what makes you think we don't?" Limbo challenged.

Samba quirked an eyebrow.  "What are you talking about?  What's to figure out?"

"I just think there's more to this than meets the eye."

"I don't know how much that means coming from a cyclops," Owl mocked.

"You wanna get slugged in the chops?" Limbo threatened.

The bat pony sighed with annoyance and exasperation.  "I swear to Celestia, Limbo, if you suggest that the Ghost is somehow related to Miss Gust's death..."

"I'm not saying that specifically."

Samba's eyes widened as she caught onto what Limbo was getting at.  "Wait, you don't actually think Gust was murdered, do you?"

"What?!  Murdered?!  Why?!" Highstrung balked.

"I don't see how this points to a murder," Samba disagreed.  "It seems too simple."

"Yeah she was just a itsy-bitsy breezie who got smooshed by a big fat dictionary," Mandible yammered.  "Howzat not make sense?"

Limbo cast a bemused look at Owl.  "Your people wouldn't happen to have brought any tranquillizers we could give her, did they?"

"Doubtful, but I'm tempted to ask," he responded with a grimace of his own.

"Can we stay on topic please?" Samba insisted, growing impatient with this discussion.

"Okay, think about this," Limbo started.  "Why did Gust get squashed like a grape in wine country?"

"She might've just got a little careless," Samba speculated.  "According to Mayor Highstrung, she was pulling an all-nighter by herself."

The mayor held a hoof to his face with regret.  "Oooh, if I had just insisted she go home when I did, this would never have happened..."

"I doubt she'd've listened to you anyway," Limbo remarked.  "Let's face it, you don't exactly have a strong air of authority, which is pretty sad to say about our mayor."

"What I'm trying to get at is that maybe she was just rummaging through the bookshelf and the dictionary fell on her," Samba continued.

"I doubt that," Highstrung disagreed.  "The books in her office are mostly for decoration.  Just old textbooks and encyclopedias."

"But you said she was rewriting your speech, right?  Maybe she needed to check the dictionary to look for a specific ponish word."

"I don't see any need for that.  Her accent may have been thick, but she was perfectly fluent in ponish," the mayor assured.  "In all the time I've known her, I've never heard her trip over her words.  She spoke ponish better than some who speak it natively."

"I can attest to that based on my interactions with her," Limbo corroborated.  "So, then, I ask again: what reason did she have to remove the dictionary and put herself in very obvious danger for a creature her size?  I know she can be prideful and defensive when it comes to her size, but she's obviously aware of her limitations.  She doesn't have any systems in place for the bookshelves like she does the filing cabinets, so I don't see any legitimate reason for her to do that."

Owl held up a hoof.  "Counterpoint: what reason would somecreature have to come here and kill her?"

"I'm not saying that somecreature came here with the sole intention of killing Bubble Gust.  After all, she was working later than usual.  Town hall should've been locked up for the night."

"A burglary, then?" Owl presumed.

"But what would be valuable enough here to be worth stealing?" Highstrung questioned.  "Nothing here is worth more than a few hundred bits at most."

"Guess we'll just have to find out," Limbo suggested.  She looked expectantly at Owl.

The stallion, in turn, looked at Mayor Highstrung, speaking to him with reluctant authority.  "Mister Mayor, I'd like to ask that you search the offices for anything that may be out of place."

The mayor hesitated, but nodded.  "O-Okay."  He then scampered off into the office.

With that done, Owl set his curious and doubtful sights back on Limbo.  "So, seeing as you apparently have all the answers, what do you propose this supposed burglar was after?"

Limbo simply shrugged.  "Who can say?  But we'll know in due time once the mayor finds out what's missing."

"If something's missing," Owl corrected with a glower.  "Hypothetically speaking, what if it turns out that nothing was stolen?  You still going to insist that this was a murder?"

"I don't see enough evidence to suggest that this was an accident.  Gust had systems in place to access anything she needs in her office.  I saw nothing near the body she would have used to help her remove a heavy book like that.  She might be a little brash, but I have a hard time believing that her death is a result of carelessness."

"This is just you making wild assumptions again, but fine, let's run with this.  Miss Gust was murdered.  Mayor Highstrung insists there's nothing of value to steal.  Would our potential thief see it necessary to take a person's life over whatever it is they came here for?"

"Well, let's ponder another question, shall we?" Limbo said.  "Who stands to gain from Bubble Gust's death?"

Owl narrowed his eyes at her.  "You can't be serious."

"It's a possibility," Limbo posited with a shrug.

"You're gonna stand there and tell me that you determined all of that already.  Is that why you brought him up earlier?"

Mandible leaned over to Samba.  "I'm totally lost."

"You and me both, sister," Samba sighed.

Owl prodded a hoof defiantly against Limbo's barrel.  "You're a loon if you actually think that Mango Career killed her."

Samba's eyes widened.  "Mango Career?  Wait, you're accusing him?!"

"Will you two calm down?" Limbo told them, shoving Owl's hoof away.  "I'm not accusing Career, I'm just saying that he benefits from Gust's death.  It could be entirely possible that one of his fanatic followers wanted to ensure their idol's victory in the election."

"You really think that would be necessary?  You yourself said that Career basically has the election in the bag already, Limbo," Samba reminded her.

Limbo responded by turning to Owl.  "What do you think, chum?"

Owl grimaced, but didn't fight her point.  "I can't say there's no credence to that.  There are some nut cases out there who'll do some crazy things because they think it's helpful, even murder.  We've dealt with similar cases in the past."

"So you're not denying the possibility," Limbo said with a genuine grin.

Owl glared at her.  "I still think you're grasping at straws.  This whole theory of yours is predicated on whether or not the 'killer' came here to steal something.  So stop wetting your lips.  You're not tooting your own horn yet."

"Um, Chief Night Owl."

Owl turned back to see Highstrung returning from the office.  He cast the mayor a corrective glower.  "Call me Sergeant, please."

"Uh, sure, sure.  Anyway, it appears that something has indeed gone missing."

Owl shot a haughty smirk back at Limbo.  "Hear that?  Looks like Miss Gust was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Take that pill with your next cup of coffee."

Limbo just indignantly rolled her eye.  "I was the one to suggest that it may have been a burglary, remember?"

"And then you claimed that somepony came here to kill her."

"I said it was a possibility.  I never disagreed that it could've been happenstance."

"Whatever."  Owl faced Highstrung once more.  "Alright, so what went missing?"

"Some citizen records.  After sifting through them, it would seem that most—if not all—of the records pertaining to employees of Mango Incorporated were stolen, including those of Mister Career himself and even his brother."

Owl blinked.  He hesitated, a disgruntled scowl working its way onto his face as he slowly looked back at Limbo again, the detective flashing the toothiest, most triumphant grin back at him.

"Just Mango Inc. employees?" Samba repeated with some surprise.  "But... if Gust's killer came here for those files specifically..."

"It could've been the Ghost, is what you're trying to get at, right?" Owl insinuated.  "Hate to burst a second bubble here, but the Ghost wouldn't have just left the body there to be discovered.  We don't even have any conclusive proof that the Ghost has ever killed anypony."

Samba and Limbo shared knowing glances, but said nothing.

Owl ran a hoof through his mane with an exasperated sigh.  "But this does mean I'm going to have to pay Mango Inc. headquarters another visit sometime in the near future.  You know, after we finish up here.  Anything else you wanna randomly throw out, Limbo?"

"Well, I had intended to chew you guys out for dismissing poor Mandible here and her plight, but, you know what?  I'm in a good mood suddenly, so I think I've said enough for now," she said with a condescending flick of her hoof.

"My thoughts exactly.  Now, kindly make yourself scarce.  We're busy here," Owl grumbled, taking his leave of the conversation.  "Mister Mayor, I'm gonna ask you to come with me.  You need to be questioned while we take inventory on those missing records."

"Oh, y-yes, of course."  Highstrung obediently followed Owl into the office, leaving Limbo, Samba, and Mandible in the hall with just a few slacking officers milling about.

Limbo started making her way toward the exit.  "Well, no sense sticking around here while the cops are in our way.  Let's bounce."

Limbo, Samba, and Mandible stepped outside and down onto the sidewalk.  There was quite a commotion in the streets, as the presence of so many police officers around town hall was sure to garner attention, so the cops outside were pretty busy maintaining the perimeter and keeping the curious citizens from sticking their noses where they didn't belong.

But Limbo just ignored the masses, instead silently focusing on her own thoughts.

"Wasn't expecting this today," Mandible commented.  "I just came to this city to learn more about my brother's disappearance.  Didn't think I'd get all tied up in a murder."

"We still don't know for sure that Bubble Gust was murdered," Samba reminded her.  She let out a somber sigh.  "It's still hard to believe that she's just... gone, just like that."

"Yeah, kinda crazy.  Hey, can we get more coffee?" Mandible asked, still clearly riding her caffeine high.

"I... don't think that's a good idea," said Samba to the jittery changeling.  She turned to Limbo, who was being surprisingly quiet.  She offered a sympathetic look.  "I guess this is tougher for you, huh?  You've known Gust longer than me.  It must have been shocking."

Limbo looked up, snapped from her thoughts.  "Hm?  Oh, yeah, very tragic, great person, taken before her time, other stuff you might hear in a eulogy.  Anyway, we need to figure out why this happened."

Samba stared at her, a little disappointed in her reaction.  "You're not gonna take any time to mourn her death?"

"She's gone, Samba.  Mourning's not gonna fix that," Limbo stated bluntly.  "We should focus on the more important stuff, like finding out who did this and why to prevent somepony else from meeting the same fate."

"Makes sense to me," said Mandible.  "I mean, it's not like we can just bring her back to life, right?"

Samba and Limbo exchanged brief glances, but wisely ignored the comment.

"Anyway..." Samba started to divert the subject.  "What's the plan now?"

"Let's recap," Limbo began.  "Bubble Gust was working alone here late last night.  A burglar shows up with the intent of stealing citizen records pertaining to Mango Inc. employees and related people.  Whoever this person was, they likely weren't expecting Bubble Gust to be there.  As a result, they were caught red hoofed slash clawed slash whatever they have by Gust.  In a panic, the thief, afraid that Gust would contact the police, did the only thing they could think to do and splattered her like a bug on a carriage window."

"I'm surprised and a bit disgusted by how little respect people have for the dead, especially you," Samba grumbled.

"And I kinda build a fence to that comparison," Mandible grimaced.

"The killer then chose not to dispose of the body, perhaps believing what Owl did and hoping it would just look like an act of carelessness on the victim's part," Limbo continued.  "Seems a little amateurish, if you ask me, which reinforces my assumption that the murder was not premeditated."

"And you're assuming that the murderer is connected to Mango Inc.?" Samba said, recalling Limbo's words.

"That would make the most sense, and the files that disappeared could also point to the Ghost being involved.  Wick Nimble is proof that the Ghost is not above employing scapegoats."

"So we're going to Mango Inc., then, right?" Samba presumed.

"Oooh, does this mean I get to meet the guy who invented the spellphone?" Mandible chirped eagerly, trotting in place.  "I'm a little nervous.  I hope I don't get hit by stars."

Samba gave the changeling a frown.  "Um, I think it might be better for you to wait back at your hotel room, Mandi.  Maybe drink some water and find a way to work the caffeine out of your system."

"Yeah, I ain't hiring another assistant," Limbo added.  "I'm not made of paychecks and complimentary lunches."

Mandible just shrugged, her coffee-fueled enthusiasm undeterred.  "Okey doke.  I want another bagel anyway.  Those things were dee-lish."  She licked her lips as she trotted on her way back toward her hotel.

Samba turned back to Limbo.  Now that Mandible had left, the detective appeared to be seriously mulling something over.  "What's up?"

Limbo paused before answering, looking a little conflicted.  "I have a hunch, but I want more information first."

"You gonna talk to Career?"

"Eventually, but there's another stop I wanna make before we head there.  I've just gotta ask the mayor for an address."


***** ***** *****


Limbo had lead Samba to the suburbs of Baltimare, as per the directions that Mayor Highstrung had given them.  Samba was still in the dark, though.  Limbo was being annoyingly coy about where exactly they were headed, and no matter how many times Samba asked, the detective kept her mouth shut.  All she knew was that they were in the suburbs, near the coastline of Horseshoe Bay.  It was a pretty stunning view, all things considered, but it was hard to enjoy it what with the thought of having just discovered a dead body an hour ago.

The two mares stopped in front of a two-story, light blue house.  Limbo checked the address the mayor had given her, confirming that this was the place.  They stepped up onto the porch and Limbo knocked on the door.

"Okay, can you please tell me who we're looking for?" Samba asked again in frustration.

"Sheesh, how impatient are you?  We're here now.  Just wait two more seconds," Limbo chastised.

After about ten more seconds, the door finally opened, and on the other side was—to Samba's surprise and confusion—Loose Leaf.

"Oh, hey, guys," Leaf greeted.  "Can't say I was expecting company, least of all you two."

Samba scowled slightly at Limbo.  "Really?  We came to find Leaf?  And why exactly couldn't you just tell me that?"

"It builds suspense," she answered as though that were an adequate reasoning.

"You watch too many movies," Samba grumbled.

"I don't remember ever telling you where I live," Leaf noted curiously.  "But if I know you as well as I think I do, I'm guessing this isn't a casual visit.

Samba frowned distressingly.  "We've got some bad news, Leaf."

"Bubble Gust is dead," Limbo stated outright.

Leaf's eyes widened in shock.  "What?!  Are you serious?!"

Samba nodded solemnly.  "She was working late on Mayor Highstrung's speech last night.  We found her body not long ago."

"Holy crap," he breathed with disbelief.  "That's crazy.  Just like that, huh?  What even happened?"

"Flattened by a dictionary," answered Limbo.  "I know they say 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,' but..."

"Will you stop?" Samba chided her.

Leaf ran a hoof through his thick, white mane with a sigh.  "Geez, this is certainly not news I expected to get today.  Makes me wonder if it somehow could've been avoided if I hadn't had the last couple of days off from work."

"Knowing Gust, she probably would've suggested you work with her all night," Samba said with a small smile.

"I don't doubt that," Leaf chuckled.  "She could get a little too... flirty for my tastes occasionally, but I definitely wouldn't wish something like this for her.  I can only imagine the state the mayor's in right now."

"Yeah, he's kind of a mess, but it's not like I expected any different," said Limbo.

Leaf looked between the two mares curiously.  "Okay, as rough as this news is, I get the feeling there's more to this visit than just breaking the news to me.  I hope you don't think that me and Gust were actually 'a thing.'"

Limbo put on her serious face.  "We have reason to believe that she was murdered."

Leaf took a moment to process that.  "I see.  Let me guess: I'm a suspect because I have access to town hall, and because of how 'close' Gust and I are."

"True.  The cops are interrogating the mayor as we speak, so they'll likely come looking for you later too.  But, more than that, a bunch of citizen records were stolen in the process, all allegedly related to people working at, or connected to, Mango Incorporated.  According to the mayor, even yours and your brother's have gone missing."

"Really?  So essentially you're saying that everycreature related to Mango Inc. is a suspect in this murder," Leaf inferred.  "You think this is related to the Ghost at all in that case?"

"Possibly.  That's what we're trying to determine.  We'll probably be headed over to talk to your brother after this before the cops can get their grubby mitts on him."

"So we're questioning Leaf?" asked Samba.  "Is that really necessary?  Do you honestly think he'd do something like that?"

"We have to be impartial, Samba.  That's part of what it takes to uphold the law," Limbo explained.  "Everypony is innocent until proven guilty, but the opposite is kinda true too.  You can't rule anypony out until you have definitive proof."  She turned back to Leaf.  "So, with that in mind, I'd like to ask some questions regarding your whereabouts last night."

Leaf simply smiled accommodatingly, stepping inside and gesturing for them to come inside.  "Sure.  Anything I can do to help you catch Gust's killer.  Come on in."

Limbo and Samba accepted the invitation.  Leaf's home wasn't anything spectacular at first glance, just your run-of-the-mill, two-story house.  However, it was the things that lay around the place that caught the two visitors' eyes.  Leaf lead them into the living room, and Samba and Limbo immediately noticed several dismantled spellphones on the coffee table, not dissimilar to his brother's desk at Mango Incorporated headquarters.  And it wasn't just spellphones; there was a large bookshelf in the room that displayed not books, but various electronics, including a remote control airship, a radio, a desk fan, and a plethora of other gadgets whose purposes were not immediately apparent to anypony who wasn't a tech nut.

"Can I get you girls anything?  Limbo, I know you like your coffee," Leaf kindly offered.

Limbo grimaced at him in suspicion.  "What, you trying to poison me with your iced coffee?"

Leaf sighed at her stubbornness.  "I have a coffee maker.  I can make more than iced coffee."

He lead her into the kitchen, pointing out the state-of-the-art coffee maker on the counter, right next to the state-of-the-art toaster and state-of-the-art blender.

Limbo walked over to the coffee maker, eyeing it up.  "You have a top-of-the-line coffee maker, and yet you choose to drink iced coffee.  What kind of psychopath are you?"

"Do you want coffee or not?" Leaf deadpanned bemusedly.

She narrowed her eyes.  "Show me where you keep the grounds and I'll make it myself."

Leaf shoved her out of the way.  "Will you relax?  I think I can manage a black coffee."

"We'll see."

Leaf got everything ready and started the coffee maker.  "You want some coffee too, Samba?"

"Oh, uh, no, thanks.  I'll just have water," she replied, not wanting to impose.

"You sure?  I can make tea if you'd prefer that."

Samba smiled.  "Well, if you're offering.  Thank you."

"You like green tea?"

Samba tilted her head curiously.  "I've never had it, but I'll give it shot."

"Alrighty."  Leaf turned on the state-of-the-art kettle.  "At least you're more open-minded than Limbo," he quipped with a smirk in the detective's direction.

"Hey, I'm not closed-minded.  I just prefer good beverages," Limbo responded defensively.

Leaf just chuckled as he fetched some mugs for his guests.

While he was preparing their drinks, Samba looked around Leaf's kitchen.  With all the doodads in his living room and the high tech appliances in the kitchen, she was starting to get an idea of what Leaf was into.  "You've got a lot of tech stuff here.  I guess that makes sense seeing who your brother is."

"Mango's got nothing to do with it really.  I've been tinkering with electronics since I was a kid.  I grew up during the advent of Equestrian technology, it was hard not to take an interest in that stuff."

"Speak for yourself," Limbo grumbled.  "This kinda junk just goes right over my head."

"I can't say I know much about this stuff either," Samba admitted with some embarrassment.  "I can use a spellphone, but I have no idea how they work internally."

"Well, it's a little more than just circuitry," Leaf explained.  "A lot of technology uses magic too.  That was part of Mango's philosophy when he started his business: to unite magic and technology in a way that could change the Equestrian lifestyle as we know it."

"Sounds like he succeeded," Samba said with a smile.

"Save for the part where we've got little kids glued to their phones all the time," added Limbo.

"So, why are you taking phones apart anyway?" asked Samba, referring to what she saw in the living room.  "I figured you'd know how they work, right?"

"Like I said, I like to tinker.  Pretty much every piece of tech you see in here I've modified in some way," he answered.  "I was working on those phones before you two showed up.  I actually make a little extra cash on the side modding spellphones for people.  Just, uh... don't tell my brother about that.  It voids the warranty and might be a little bit..."  He glanced at Limbo, looking a little nervous.

"If you're going to say 'illegal,' don't worry about it," she told him indifferently.  "This sorta crap is a little out of my wheelhouse.  Scribble might know more about it.  She's always on her phone, texting her friends."

"Good to know," Leaf chuckled as he poured up Limbo's coffee and Samba's tea.

Limbo stared into the mug at the black brew inside.  It looked like a pretty normal cup of black coffee.

"Would you stop acting like its a magic potion with unknown effects?" Leaf chastised with a challenging smirk.  "Just drink it."

"For what it's worth, this green tea is delicious," Samba complimented with a satisfied grin.

Limbo grimaced, apprehensively bringing the mug to her lips and taking a tiny sip.

"How is it?" Leaf asked with a cocky smile.  "Good, right?"

Limbo paused briefly, narrowing her eyes at him.  "I admit nothing."

Leaf just rolled his eyes, shaking his head in amusement at her stubborn pride.  "As fun as this small talk is, you guys came here for a more important reason, right?"

Limbo nodded.  "Right, why don't we just get straight to it, then?  We've got other stuff we need to do today.  So, Leaf, where exactly were you last night?  We don't have a specific timeframe for Gust's death yet, so I'd like to know your movements and activities between when town hall normally locks up and ten o' clock this morning."

"Well, that's pretty easy," Leaf said with a confident and dismissive shrug as he walked his guests back to the living room.  "I had the last couple of days off from work, so all I've been doing is volunteering at the soup kitchen during the day and fiddling with these spellphones during the night."

"And do you have anypony who can corroborate your story?" Limbo inquired.

"The homeless people at the soup kitchen can confirm that I was there yesterday."

"And what about last night?"

Leaf grinned again.  "I've got the best backup for that."

He pointed to a corner of the living room, directing Limbo's and Samba's attention to a small device overlooking the room.

"Is that a camera?" asked Samba.

"Yup.  I've got security cameras set up in every room in my house."

"Geez, never took you for the paranoid type," Limbo commented.

"I'm not paranoid," Leaf sneered.  "I just like messing with tech stuff.  The first thing you've gotta learn about people like me is that we do things not necessarily because we have to, but simply because we can.  The point is, these little guys can clear me of any suspicion."

"Alright, let's see it," Limbo requested.

Leaf shrugged, gesturing for them to follow him upstairs.  "Sure.  Come with me."

He lead them to the second floor, where there wasn't much aside from a few doors, likely his bedroom and maybe a bathroom.  There was also another camera positioned in the corner to keep an electronic eye on the upstairs hall.

Leaf directed them to the only door on the right side of the hall.  Inside appeared to be a modest office space, mostly decorated with more gadgets and electronic parts.  On one wall was a desk and a computer.  Computers weren't terribly common throughout Equestria just yet, with most used primarily by businesses.  Any commercial computers available to the public were pretty expensive, but one could assume Leaf's connection to Mango Career might have had something to do with him having one himself.

Leaf sat at the desk, switching on the computer.  The monitor lit up, displaying the few programs he had on the computer's desktop.  "I've got a backlog of my security camera footage for the past month.  I can show you if you want."

"Just the past month?" Limbo questioned suspiciously.

"The computer only has so much storage space.  The footage takes up a lot of memory, so I had to delete some of the older records to make space on the hard drive and—"

Limbo waved her hoof disinterestedly.  "Yeah, yeah, geeky tech mumbo jumbo, whatever.  Can you just show us the footage from last night?"

Leaf rolled his eyes.  "Yeah, sure."

He clicked a file on the screen, opening a video feed from a security camera positioned above his front door that neither of them had noticed when they arrived.  The time stamp on the footage displayed the current date and time.

"So, this is a live feed right now," Leaf explained.

He clicked a button and began cycling between the many cameras throughout his house, showing brief glimpses of the living room, kitchen, bedroom, even his basement.  He eventually stopped on a feed of the room they were in, showing a live feed of their backs.

Samba glanced back over her shoulder to the camera in the corner of the room, then back to the computer screen.  "That's a little weird."

"Now, here's the recording from last night."

Leaf brought up a video of the front door camera again, this time displaying the scene at night through a night vision mode.  He scrubbed back through the footage to the point where he returned home that afternoon, showing him arriving at his front door at around three thirty p.m.

"Town hall closes at five p.m., so Mayor Highstrung and Bubble Gust would've still been there at this point," Leaf reiterated.  "And you said they were working late, right?  So they were there even later than that."

Leaf then began to go through the pieces of the footage from throughout the rest of the evening, showing that he never left the house for the remainder of the day.

"And what about late last night?" Limbo asked.

He switched to the bedroom camera, scrubbing ahead to when he tucked himself into bed and let the footage fast forward through the night.  "See?  Nothing."

"Hang on."  Limbo pointed at the screen.  At approximately three a.m., Leaf had gotten out of bed and left the bedroom.  "What's up here?"

"I had a lot of coffee that evening, so I went to use the bathroom," he explained.  "I can show you the bathroom footage if you really need it."

"Uh, n-no that's okay.  I'll take your word for it," she replied awkwardly.

"Well, you can see I came back just a minute later anyway," he pointed out, showing him returning to bed very soon afterward.

"I guess that settles that," said Samba with a smile.  "Not that we were really accusing you, Leaf.  This was just a formality."

"I know, I get it.  And, you know, you're really starting to sound like a detective yourself, Samba," Leaf complimented.

Samba blushed bashfully.  "You think so?"

"Sure.  Guess Limbo's rubbing off on you, for better or worse," he laughed.

"You're lucky I'm not actually a cop anymore," muttered Limbo as she sipped her coffee.

Leaf frowned sympathetically at Samba.  "Still, it must've been rough discovering Gust's body like that.  I can't imagine how I would've reacted if I was in your position."

"It could've been worse, I guess," Samba said modestly.  "If I had been there alone, I might have been too panicked to even think about calling the police."

"Not that it'd be any different if you had," Limbo mocked with a roll of her eye.  "They weren't getting much done from what I saw."

"Give it rest, Limbo," Samba reprimanded.  "The point is, I'm just glad that Limbo, the mayor, and even Mandible were there.  It felt like there wasn't really any pressure on me."

Leaf quirked an eyebrow.  "Speaking of, how's Mandible's thing going anyway?  Any luck?"

"We haven't really had a chance to look into it yet, what with Gust getting exterminated and all," Limbo answered.

"We think that her brother's disappearance might be related to the Ghost, though," Samba explained.  "So she's definitely been helpful in that regard.

Leaf leaned back in his chair, mulling something over.  "Man, it's starting to sound like the Ghost is responsible for every crime in this city."

"Granted, that's just speculation on our part," Limbo clarified.  "But the evidence seems to be pointing to the Ghost being connected to Mandible's situation.  Admittedly, the Ghost being involved with Gust's death is more of a long shot, but seeing as Mango Inc. is the connecting thread here, I'm insisting on looking into it anyway."

"All of this means that the Ghost is starting to get sloppy, though," Samba stated confidently.  "That must mean we're on the right track."

"Which could also mean that the Ghost might just become more dangerous, right?" Leaf postulated.  "If they're that desperate, what's to stop them from threatening to hurt people to get you to back off?"

"They kidnapped Poe, and that hasn't deterred me," Limbo stated with steadfast resolution.

"But how many lives need to be put in danger before you start being a little more cautious?" he asked.

Limbo stepped forward adamantly.  "Backing off isn't gonna solve anything.  I need to catch the Ghost as quickly as possible so they can't hurt any more people."

Leaf held up his hooves to try and calm her down before she got too belligerent.  "Alright, I get it.  I'm just saying, maybe think about everypony's well being, not just those in immediate danger."

"I don't need somepony lecturing me about that after the stuff I've been hearing lately.  Besides, I always put everypony's well being before my own.  I have nothing of value to lose compared to everypony else, so thinking about my own safety would just be a hindrance."

Samba stared at Limbo with a small frown, silently pitying her.

Leaf just shrugged.  "Whatever.  I always knew you were too stubborn for somepony to change your mind, but I figured I'd try anyway."

"I get where you're coming from, Leaf, but I actually agree with Limbo," said Samba.  "We can't just let the Ghost do whatever they want."

He sighed with a shake of his head.  "I know I said Limbo's rubbing off on you, but maybe you should think about what that means exactly."

Samba's ears drooped as she turned to Limbo.  The detective didn't seem at all fazed by this conversation.  Her resolve and her ideals were unwavering.

"Well, anyway, I think we need to get going to see your brother," Limbo dismissed as she downed the rest of her coffee, laying the empty mug on the desk.  "I'd thank you for the coffee, but I don't want to stroke your ego."

Leaf chuckled.  "Whatever you say."

Limbo promptly took her leave ahead of Samba.  The dancer lingered a moment longer, offering an awkward and apologetic grin.

"Sorry for wasting your time, Leaf.  I didn't expect the conversation to head in that direction."

He shrugged.  "Not like we steered it that way on purpose, so don't blame yourself.  Good luck with your investigation.  Hopefully Mango can shed some light on this."

"Same."  Samba finished off her cup of green tea, smiling appreciatively.  "The tea was great, thank you."

"Your welcome.  At least one of you has manners," he laughed.  "And don't be a stranger.  I'd like to say you and me are friends now, right?"

Samba giggled.  "Yeah, of course.  Just remember: you said it, not me, so don't complain about being in the friend-zone later."

"I'll try not to cry myself to sleep at night," he said jokingly as Samba left to catch up to Limbo.


***** ***** *****


Once more, Limbo and Samba found themselves standing at the gate to the gardens surrounding Mango Incorporated headquarters, the tall, glass tower looming over them.  Samba felt a pit in her stomach just looking at it.

"Do you still think Career is involved in this?" Samba asked Limbo, mostly as a way of taking her mind off of the dizzying height of the building.

"It's hard not to think so.  Wick Nimble, the Spellmet, Gust's death and the missing records.  And considering the way Career's been acting during this whole debacle, all the signs are starting to point in this direction."

"You don't actually think... Career's the Ghost, do you?" Samba inquired quietly and hesitantly.

"At this point, we can't rule out the possibility.  I've got a weird feeling in my gut, but I can't tell if that's my intuition, or Leaf's coffee.  Whatever the case, we need info out of Career, stat.  This whole investigation pretty much hinges on what we can get from him now."

"I know he's been acting kinda suspicious, but I just don't see how it could be him.  Why go through the trouble of stealing his own invention at the Magi-Tech Expo?"

"We've already theorized that the heist may have been an elaborate misdirection, but that is a lot of trouble to go through just to mess with the authorities.  Career would have no reason to go to such lengths unless he was just a cocky jerk hole who wanted to watch us run in circles—which, in all honesty, wouldn't surprise me too much."

Samba was about to speak again, but spotted something past Limbo.  She tapped the zombie detective on the shoulder and diverted her attention.  Walking down the sidewalk with purpose in his step was Night Owl, the slotted pupils of his golden eyes locked onto Limbo as he approached.

Limbo grimaced with displeasure.  "Great, looks like we didn't get here as fast as I would've liked.  See, this is what happens when you engage in idle small talk," she grumbled to Samba.

"Well, excuse me for being a considerate person," she responded sarcastically.

Owl lifted his nose at Limbo, cocking a curious eyebrow.  "You're just getting here?  I figured you'd've made a beeline for this place while we were cleaning up."

"Well, unlike you lot, I like to cover all my bases," Limbo quipped.

"Career's brother?" Owl inferred.

"Obviously."

Owl nodded.  "I was going to pay him a visit myself eventually, but I consider Career higher priority at the moment," he told her with a needling sneer.

"You think I don't know what I'm doing?" she snipped back.

"I know that you're an acquaintance of his, so I don't exactly know if you'll be one hundred percent objective with him."

"I think you know me better than that."

"Unfortunately, that's true."

"Can you two stop, please?" Samba pleaded.  "We're here for the same reason.  I know you guys have your differences, but I also know you still respect each other.  So can you both just put your prides aside and focus on what's important?"

Limbo and Owl stared at one another for a moment in silence.  Limbo was the one to break said silence.  "So, how'd things go after we left?  Any new info?" she asked, eliciting a small, relieved smile from Samba.

"Not much," he said with a shrug.  "We mostly just confirmed what the mayor told us: every record pertaining to Mango Inc. employees and related individuals has been stolen."

"All of them?"

"Every last one.  If this were the Ghost—like you seem to be thinking—I feel like it would make more sense to just destroy the citizen records in their entirety.  Taking only what the thief did is only pushing us in one direction."

"Which could be the entire point," Limbo speculated.  "At this point, I'm starting to think that the Ghost is toying with us."

"That'd be a deviation from how the Ghost has operated in the past, assuming that the Ghost is tied to all of this at all."

"I get the feeling we'll figure that out sooner rather than later.  Samba was the one who pointed out that we're pushing the Ghost into a corner, so they're starting to get a little desperate."

Samba tried to hide her proud grin, but the bashful blush in her cheeks didn't help.  Thankfully, Limbo and Owl were too busy with their discussion to notice.

"I guess it was just a matter of time before the Ghost slipped up," Owl conceded.  "You keep kidnapping people and eventually you're gonna overlook something or leave evidence behind.  Even somecreature as crafty and meticulous as the Ghost isn't perfect."

"Speaking of imperfection, should we badger Career for info?"

Owl smirked.  "S'why I came here."

"Like old times."  Limbo daintily held out her hoof with a facetious smile.  "Then shall we?"

Owl swatted her hoof away with a grimace.  "Don't push it."

Limbo and Owl started through the gardens toward the tower.  However, Limbo paused, noticing something was missing.  She glanced over her shoulder to find Samba still standing on the sidewalk, staring up at the glass monolith.  "Samba, what's the hold up?"

The dancer gulped, cracking a shaky smile.  "Um...  As much as I'd like to join you, m-maybe I should sit this one out.  You and Owl can probably handle this without me, right?  Please say yes."

Owl quirked an eyebrow at her blatantly nervous behavior, turning to Limbo for an explanation.

Limbo simply shrugged.  "Up to you.  I mean, you could wait in the lobby and chitchat with 'Buster Chops.'"

Owl gave her an odd look.  "'Buster Chops'?"

Samba took one more look at the building, its peak seemingly touching the clouds—or at least her brain was tricking her into thinking it was.  "N-Nah, I'm good.  Think I'll just, uh... head home for now.  Maybe give Mandi and call and hang with her until I've gotta head to work tonight," she chuckled awkwardly.  She turned to walk away, waving to the pair of law enforcement officers.  "Good luck.  Catch you guys later," she bid them before trotting off rather quickly.

"What's with her all of a sudden?" Owl inquired.

Limbo waved the query off dismissively.  "Don't worry about it.  Let's just go."

Owl shrugged, letting it go and accompanying Limbo into the building.  They made their way across the seemingly endless expanse of white toward the elevators where Quad Blast was once again standing guard.

The burly earth pony offered an affable nod to Limbo and Owl.  "Mornin', Detective.  Back again, Sergeant?"

Owl responded with a curt nod.

"What's my name?" Limbo asked out of nowhere with a playful smirk.

Quad clammed up, blushing with embarrassment.

"Ignore her.  I have more I need to ask Career," Owl told him.

Quad's eyes shifted back and forth awkwardly.

"Alright, we ain't doing this bit again," Limbo groaned impatiently.  She glared sternly at Quad.  "We need to talk to your boss.  Now, I know you don't remember names, but you still remember what happened last time I was here, right?"

"You mean when I popped out your shoulder?"

Limbo stiffened up, glancing toward Owl from the corner of her eye.

"Oh, really?" Owl said with an amused smirk in Limbo's direction.

If she could blush, Limbo's face would be beet red right now.  "D-Don't listen to him.  His memory's crap."

"Names is the only thing I don't 'member well," Quad reiterated.

"I wouldn't mind hearing that story," Owl snickered.

"C-Can we stay focused please?" Limbo insisted, doing her best to maintain her dignity.  "Just let us through so we can talk to your boss.  You remember that we're allowed through at least, right?"

Quad nodded.  "Yep.  But the boss ain't in a good mood today, just to give you a head's up."

"Doesn't matter," said Owl.  "We need to talk to him as soon as possible.  If anything, his foul mood could work in our favor."

"Think so?" asked Limbo.

"We'll see."

Quad stepped aside to give them access to the elevators.  "Head on up."

Limbo and Owl stepped into one of the two glass elevators, riding it all the way up to the eightieth floor to Mango Career's office.  When they made it there, they found Career sitting at his desk with his head in his hooves, looking even more disheveled than the last time Limbo had seen him a couple of days ago.

Upon hearing the elevator arrive, Career listlessly lifted his head, putting on his brand new pair of glasses as he prepared to shoot an aggravated glare at whomever it was that had chosen to disturb him.  His mood did not lift in the slightest when he saw the detective and the police officer approaching him together.  If anything, their presence only served to frustrate him further, groaning quietly and doing everything in his power to not slam his head against his desk.  He cast an impatient glower at his two visitors.

"What do you want?" he practically growled.

"Cup of coffee'd be nice," Limbo quipped.

Career narrowed his eyes at her.

"You're not helping," Owl chastised her.

Career shook his head.  "Look, things've been stressful for me lately.  Haven't you asked me enough questions today, Sergeant?"

"Unfortunately, no," Owl told him bluntly.

The unicorn glanced at Limbo.  "Didn't we agree that I'd call your assistant if something came up?"

"First of all, you still haven't, which tells me that you haven't really done anything since we last spoke," Limbo stated judgmentally.  "Second, something has come up.  On our end at least."

Career sighed in exasperation.  "Alright, what is it?"

"You remember Bubble Gust, right?"

"Mayor Highstrung's secretary?  Yes, why?"

"She's dead."

Career's eyes widened suddenly.  "Dead?  Are you sure?"

"We can fit her inside an envelope in her current state, so, yeah, pretty sure."

Career let his shock dissipate, quickly reverting back to his sour disposition.  "I'm sorry to hear that, but—at the risk of sounding apathetic—how does this involve me aside from improving my odds in the election?"

Owl stepped forward to explain.  "To be concise, we've determined that Miss Gust was likely murdered by a thief, as many citizen records were also missing from her office, all of which are related to people working for, or connected to you and your company."

"Which includes your files," added Limbo.

Career grimaced at the pair, his ire visibly building.  "I sincerely hope you did not come here to accuse me of murder on top of everything else I have to deal with right now."

"That depends and what info we can get here today," Limbo told him.

Owl gave her a reprimanding nudge.  "Considering we believe that the Ghost is somecreature under your employ, we can't rule out the possibility that the theft and Miss Gust's murder are connected to the Ghost in some way."

Career arched an eyebrow at his wording.  "'Somecreature'?  I thought you were certain it was a changeling."

"New evidence has come to light," Limbo informed him.  "It's more than likely that the Ghost is not a changeling."

A slight sigh of relief escaped Career's lungs.  "Well, that might be the first piece of good news I've heard since the expo."

"Unfortunately, if that is in fact the case," Owl continued in his companion's stead, "it means we have to expand our search to include all of your employees, including the changelings, just in case."

"And that's not all," said Limbo.  "We also believe that the device stolen at the expo wasn't the first one that the Ghost nicked."

"But how does that make sense?" questioned Career.  "Why go through the—"

"Alright, I've answered this question enough today," Limbo groaned.  "Probably to upgrade to one of the newer prototypes.  That's the best theory we've got so far.  That, or just to set up an overly-elaborate misdirection."

"The reason doesn't matter in the short term," Owl asserted.  "The point is, we need to determine if that's actually the case.  That will mostly prove whether or not the Ghost is a changeling."

"You said all of the old prototypes are stored in the R&D department here, yeah?" Limbo recalled.  "Mind if we have a quick look-see?"

Career sighed, clearly exhausted, but stood from his desk reluctantly.  "If it'll help with the investigation and theoretically take some of the pressure off me, then fine.  Follow me."

The three ponies rode the elevator back down to the fortieth floor.  There they were greeted by a busy workspace of various creatures diligently working.  Many were sitting in front of computer screens and tweaking code, others were tinkering with spellphones and other devices, others still were gathered around and discussing ways to improve quality or cost effectiveness.

None of this interested Limbo in the slightest.  Instead, she glanced around the spacious room, looking for her objective.  "So, where do you keep the prototypes?" she asked impatiently.

Career lead them to across the room, his employees pausing what they were doing to watch curiously to see what their boss was doing and why he was accompanied by a pony in uniform and a mare with an eyepatch.  They stopped in front of a walled off room—one of the few rooms in the building not encompassed by glass.  It was large enough to be an office on its own, but the word "STORAGE" was painted onto it.  Career opened the door and lead Limbo and Owl inside.

Upon seeing the interior, Limbo immediately had flashbacks to the storage room at the Magi-Tech Expo.  The room was an absolute wreck, with all sorts of odds, ends, and doohickeys littered all over the place with no sense of organization at all.  Shelves were lined with a variety of seemingly unrelated gadgets and spare parts, cords and cables were just laying in heaps on the floor, and Limbo even spotted a few empty cans of soda left behind by absentminded employees.

"How do we even know the prototypes are in here?" Owl inquired as he gawked at the mess.

"They're here," Career assured him.  "It might be a little messy, but I know where the Spellmets are."

He began rummaging through some of the over-stacked shelves, eventually unearthing one of the prototypes that had been buried like an ancient fossil.

"I think your organization system needs some reworking," Owl commented with a grimace.

"We're busy revolutionizing the way people live their lives.  Time spent cleaning this mess is time we could be spending bettering Equestria."

"The logic of a grade schooler whose parents keep telling them to clean their room," Limbo quipped.

"They do say children are the future," Owl added.  "Some of them just look like adults."

"I really don't appreciate the snide remarks, Officer," Career sneered.

"The faster you dig up those prototypes, the sooner we'll be out of your hair," Limbo told him.

Career rolled his eyes grouchily, passing the first prototype Spellmet to Limbo.  "Here.  Just hold this while I keep looking."

Limbo took the Spellmet, but held it at hoof's length like it was a dirty diaper.  This was an earlier prototype, so it looked even more ridiculous than the one she'd seen at the expo; exposed wires, metal frame, less flexibility, and even L.E.D. lights sticking out of it like a Hearth's Warming decoration instead of the glowing bands in the most recent version.  Limbo's brain immediately equated it to an alien brainwashing device, or the electrode cap off of an electric chair.

Still, as horrendous as the thing looked, Limbo had to acknowledge its significance, even if she didn't know how it worked exactly.  She stared at the rings that were designed to fit around the wearer's horn.  "So, only people who have horns can actually use these things, right?"

"With the current designs, yes," Career answered as he continued to sift through the debris.  "As it stands, the wearer needs a conduit through which the Spellmet can detect their magic.  Even those with funnel horn or broken horns can still channel their magic, and that little bit is still enough to activate the device's recording and replicating mechanisms.  I won't go into the details of how it all works, as I doubt you'll be able to grasp it without knowledge of engineering, programming, and the arcane arts."

"It sounds like you're trying to insult me, and I hate that you're right," Limbo grumbled.  To retaliate, she slipped the Spellmet onto her head.  "I just want you to know how dumb this thing looks.  Do I look like a clown in this thing, or what?"

"As I stated at the Magi-Tech expo, we haven't finalized the design quite yet," Career reminded her without even looking to acknowledge her point.  "We have concepts for what we want the end product to look like, but it's a matter of effectively combining function and form, and we haven't quite figured that part out yet.  We do hope to eventually make a version of it that can be used by anycreature—earth ponies, pegasi, bat ponies, zebras, etcetera—but that's a far off goal right now.  We likely won't figure that out before the Spellmet's initial public release, so, for now, we're focusing on magically-impaired individuals as the target audience."

"Hm.  That sucks, but it's something.  I might be giving you flak for how it looks, but I'm not gonna say it ain't an amazing invention," Limbo admitted.  "It'd be pretty cool to see earth ponies using magic.  Right, Owl?"

Owl didn't respond.  He was just staring at the Spellmet on Limbo's head, a puzzled look on his face.

Limbo quirked an eyebrow at him.  "Um, I know it looks stupid, but you don't have to act that disgusted."

"You said only somecreature with a horn can activate the device, right, Mr. Career?" Owl asked for clarification, not removing his eyes from the Spellmet.

"Yes, wh—"

Career turned around, but hesitated the moment his eyes landed on the Spellmet.  The tiny, colorful lightbulbs decorating the device were flickering weakly, despite the fact that there was no horn inserted into its sleeve.

"How...?" Career breathed, his jaw slacked in disbelief.  "You're an earth pony.  The Spellmet shouldn't be reacting to you."

Limbo stiffened up, casting a nervous, sidelong glance toward Owl.  He was staring in confusion at her, his eyes narrowed as if he was trying to piece something together.  She was starting to think it might be a good idea to remove the thing before Owl got too suspicious and figured out what was going on with Limbo's brain.

"Um, I-I'm gonna just take this off before it short circuits and fries my brain," Limbo stuttered awkwardly as she pulled it off and passed it back to Career.  "S-See?  This why you should clean this place every now and then.  All the dust and crap has probably caused, like... corrosion or something.  The thing's obviously malfunctioning."

Career took the prototype back, his eyes briefly shifting between it and Limbo.  "Hmm...  Perhaps you have a point.  I'll see what I can do about that.  In any case, I have the other prototypes here."

Career removed a series of Spellmets he'd gathered from the mess with his magic, clearing off a shelf and placing each of them upon it.  Some looked identical to one another, while others had slightly different, more efficient designs—for lack of a better word.

"Okay, so counting the one that was stolen from the expo, you've made fifteen prototypes so far, is that right?" Owl inquired.

"No, there are sixteen.  Granted, some are duplicates made for additional testing.  The stolen Spellmet was labeled as a version six prototype.  But the remaining fifteen are versions one through five and the spares we made."

"For somepony who was boasting about engineering and programming before, you don't seem to be good at counting," Limbo commented.  "There're only fourteen Spellmets here."

Career blinked, looking over the devices lined up on the shelf and recounting them.  Indeed, there were only fourteen Spellmets there.  "Wh-What?  That can't be right.  There are sixteen in total, I'm positive."  He analyzed what they had in front of them in a slight panic.  "O-One of the version threes is missing.  I-It must be in here somewhere!"

Career began to frantically dig back into the mess, tossing stuff all over the place in a desperate bid to find the missing Spellmet.

Owl, meanwhile, let out a long sigh.  "Guess that clinches it.  You were right, Limbo."

"As if there were any doubt.  But just this once, I won't rub it in your face."

"Appreciated," he deadpanned bemusedly.

Career turned back to them, puzzled by their conversation.  "But how could you have known about this?"

"Like we said when we arrived, new evidence has come to light," Limbo repeated.  "We suspected that the Ghost has actually had one of your prototypes for some time now."

"Th-They have?"

Owl nodded.  "How old are these version threes exactly?"

"Um...  Th-The first prototype version three was developed a few years ago at this point."

Limbo and Owl shared knowing glances.

"Around the time the kidnappings started," Limbo stated.

Owl shot a harsh glower towards Career.  The unicorn took a step back, vexed by the accusatory look.

"What?"

Owl took a forceful step toward him.  "So, you're telling me that one of your prototypes has been missing for upwards of three years and nopony here noticed?"

"Y-You don't know that for sure!" Career argued defensively.  "It could've gone missing recently!"

"Why would the Ghost bother to go after an old model when there were three newer models available?" Limbo added doubtfully.

Career gulped.  "M-Maybe one of my employees has it and is... making some adjustments?" he posited, though sounding very uncertain.

"You mean the employees that you have thus far refused to interrogate since the theft at the Magi-Tech Expo like we requested of you?" Owl reminded him sternly.

"I've been buried under a figurative ton of problems and have been dealing with a lot of stress since then!" Career shouted, growing angry and indignant.  "I have a company to keep afloat!  I have an election to prepare for!  My younger brother has been pressuring me about our relationship!"

"None of that means anything to me," Owl snarled, baring his short fangs at him.  "You've given the Ghost a weapon and a motive to kidnap those people.  They went missing due to your negligence!"

Career glared back just as harshly.  "You are not seriously blaming me for the Ghost's actions, are you?!"

"You might have been an unwitting accomplice, but you've also done nothing to help fix the problem either, even after being told by both myself and Owl." Limbo reiterated.  "And let's not forget that you somehow still found time in your 'busy and stressful' schedule to go volunteer at a soup kitchen.  Commendable, but given your circumstances, maybe not very responsible."

Career grit his teeth furiously.  "I cannot believe I'm hearing this!  This is slander!  You cannot treat me as though I'm as bad as somecreature who kidnaps people!"

"You might not be as bad, but you're also not any better," Limbo stated seriously.

"You've been willfully uncooperative, disagreeable, and, quite frankly, acting like a whiny, entitled child since your little toy went missing," Owl chastised.

"I am not listening to any more of this hogwash!  I want you two out of my building immediately!  Don't make me call security!"

Owl didn't budge.  In fact his expression became even more intense, his slotted pupils narrowing as though fighting back the urge to pounce aggressively.  He spoke once more at Career, his voice low and guttural.  "Mango Career, you are under arrest for obstruction of justice."

Career's eyes widened in shock and rage.  "What?!  You can't be—"

"You have the right to remain silent," Owl continued.  "Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law."

Career stomped forward, prodding Owl belligerently in the chest with his hoof.  "This is outrageous!  You can't do this to me!  I am your future may—Ah!"

In the blink of an eye, Owl grabbed Career's hoof, twisting him around and shoving the businessman to the ground.  Limbo just watched quietly as her former colleague put his police training to good use.

"Anything you say can and will be used against you," Owl repeated more forcefully as a warning.  "Don't make me add resisting arrest to the charges."

With a low growl and a defeated huff, Career stopped struggling, but still did his best to shoot an icy glare over his shoulder at the cop.

Owl looked up at Limbo.  "Grab my cuffs."

Limbo did as she was instructed, retrieving Owl's hoofcuffs from his belt and slapping them on Career's front legs.  Owl then pulled him up from the floor and began escorting him out.

The employees working within the R&D department had all halted whatever they were doing as soon as they heard the commotion coming from the storage room, but none of them had been expecting their boss to emerge in cuffs.  Owl paid them no mind and just nudged Career along to the elevator, contacting his subordinates via his radio to request a carriage back to the station.

Limbo followed along, but paused to observe the shocked and confused faces of Career's employees.  She cleared her throat a little awkwardly.  "So, uh, good news.  You might be getting a long weekend."