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In that case… “We’ve already handled the problem,” Daphne informed the agent.
“Hands up!” shouted the male.
“Why?” She honestly didn’t understand the demand.
“Ma’am, it is an offense under the Cryptid Enforcement Act to refuse to obey an order,” the chunky fellow stated, hitching up his pants by the loops.
“Do as they say,” Baptiste muttered.
With a roll of her eyes, Daphne complied, but she reserved the right to get annoyed about it.
The pink lady nudged her partner. “Disarm them.”
“Why me?” he grumbled.
“Because I’m the one holding the bubble around them to prevent spells,” she sassed. “So move your ass before I drop the shield and see what happens.”
Daphne’s opinion of the woman lifted.
The male approached Baptiste first and grimaced. “Something reeks.”
“That would be the oversized arthropod we had to kill,” Baptiste explained.
“Say again?” asked the male.
Baptiste simplified for him. “Giant cockroach.”
“It’s dead,” Daphne added. “You’re welcome.”
The woman pursed her lips. “And you are who exactly?”
Before they could reply, the corpulent fellow held up Baptiste’s wallet with all his plastic cards. “Says here he’s a special agent with that new SMU division over in Nexus.”
The statement arched the woman’s brow. “You’re out of your jurisdiction.”
“I’m not here on SMU business. The attack was unexpected,” Baptiste said with a shrug.
The woman’s gaze switched to Daphne. “And who’s your friend?”
Daphne could speak for herself. “I’m Daphne, paladin to Mother Earth, currently on a quest at her bidding.”
“Mother Earth doesn’t have paladins,” Pink Lady retorted.
“You’re looking at one.” As Daphne spoke, the corpulent fellow went to touch the hilt of her dagger and got his hand slapped. “No,” she added in case it wasn’t clear.
“She hit me!” The man sounded surprised.
“I could do worse if you’d like.” Daphne was being rather restrained.
“Listen, Psycho,” Baptiste hissed. “Now is not the time to live up to your nickname. These two are just doing their jobs.”
“They are interfering in my goddess’s business. Surely there’s a law against that,” Daphne retorted.
The fat fellow blustered. “I don’t know who you are, but if you think I’m just going to take you at your word that you’re working for Mother Earth—”
The ground suddenly rippled underfoot and a crack appeared in the pavement by Pink Lady. From that crevice, a sapling shot up and grew, sprouting branches and leaves, even blossoms that flowered then ripened into bright red apples.
It took about a minute but proved evidence enough for the male partner to huff, “Yeah, that’s good enough for me. I ain’t pissing off that goddess. You deal with them while I check out the roach situation.” He chose to leave them to enter the motel room, but Pink Lady remained staring.
