Edgar Avenue [2023]

It was way too late in the night to be doing this. I had work in the morning and I promised Otto a visit to his apartment in the evening. I was excited though, because I had bought his cats a treat and I couldn’t wait to give it to them. Still, I had to finish this up and get it over with. The faster I find this freak, the sooner I can lie down.

I continue walking down the block, stepping over trash and avoiding sleeping bags of people lining the sidewalks. It was a solemn sight, but the pitch darkness and the rush for safety and rest didn’t leave me with a lot of room for pity. I don’t think these people wanted mine anyways. I walked until I reached an empty block.

I squint for the street name, barely readable in the moonlight. Edgar Avenue. Crossing the street, I eventually make out an organized trail of small bugs marching towards a manhole dead center of the street. Stopping at the manhole I notice that it’s loose, as if it’s been cracked open recently. I stomp my foot on the manhole three times before backing off. The trail of ants scatters at my disturbance. “Tabi tabi po.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the manhole cover twists in its place and springs outward. A familiar, green disgruntled face stares up at me, adjusting the manhole cover back onto its head. The goblin was displeased, but not irritated, as if I wasn’t the only visitor it had tonight. “Urgh. Wolf. What do you want?”

“Edgar.” I greeted. I sift through my coat pockets, unfolding a piece of paper. Before I could hold it out for him to read, he snatched it from my hands and brought it close to his face. “It’s another missing person case. Have you heard of Elizabeth Porcha?”

Edgar’s ears twitch before puckering his lips up in thought. “Mehh. I know a Porcha. But she goes by the name Olivia.”

“That’s her sister. She was the one who made the missing person report. My crew haven’t been able to find any leads on Elizabeth so now I’m coming to you.”

“Olivia did it.”

“Did what?”

“Kill her.” The nuno hands me back my paper, taking a finger and giving his ear a good, deep scratch. I wasn’t planning to touch his hands after that.

“And how do you know Olivia killed her? She made the report and we already ruled her out as a suspect.”

“Corpse Eater. Disposed of her through a corpse eater and then made the report to not look suspicious.” Edgar groans, reciting all this information as if it had been common knowledge. “This should’ve been something you’ve already considered, wolf.”

“Would you happen to know where this corpse eater is?”

“I do.” Edgar grins, tapping his fingers on the asphalt in a slow, deliberate flutter. “If you give me my treat, I’ll tell you.”

I sigh, digging into my coat once more and pulling out a family-sized chocolate bar. It was expensive too, it was manufactured by the finest angel confiseurs in the country. I rip it open and toss it at the nuno. He barely catches it, barking at me for being rude, then snarfing it down in four bites; including the wrapper. “Tell me.”

“The corpse eater is hiding in Se Koni. No specific address, but they live in the redlight district close to Club Vertigo.” The nuno licks his fingers clean of any excess chocolate, humming like it was the best thing it has eaten in weeks. “I should’ve gotten two chocolate bars for that information.”

“Gluttonous goblin.” I mocked.

“Don’t get cheap with me, wolf. Or else I’ll stop responding to your summons.”

“Do that, and I’ll go down the sewers myself and eat you.” I cross my arms and glare at him. Sure, I was capable and I have done it before with a more barbaric nuno, but I wasn’t about to do it here and now. Plus, Edgar actually proved to be useful. He hasn’t lied to me yet.

“I heard you got a new partner, wolf.” Edgar changes the topic. I glare at him, physically taken aback by the statement. I didn’t say anything though, curious at what he had to say about us. “About damn time. Sick and tired of hearing that Aw-Toe guy cry about you.”

“What?”

“I didn’t think you were capable of getting over that Sky guy either.” The goblin leers, baring his sharp teeth in a cheeky smile. I feel my heart drop into my stomach at the mention of Sky. I didn’t know how to feel knowing Edgar was aware of that. “Unless you haven’t and you’re just using your Aw-Toe guy to cover up your feelings, haeheahae.”

“No. You don’t know that, and you’re wrong.”

“Whatever you say, wolf. Just don’t go crying all over the city finding pity in people’s beds when you two break up, haheehaehe.” The goblin laughs harder, but I interrupt its laughing session when I take my foot and slam down the manhole cover, effectively squashing the nuno back into the sewers. I hear it yell as it tumbles down the manhole chimney, cursing my name as it fell.

I turned around and left the block. My job was done and I needed to sleep badly. At least I get to see Otto tomorrow.