if you think an othernatural is responsible for the missing tourists.”
“I have no reason to think so right now, although one of the missing tourists was seen talking to Zara Vincent at the farmer’s market.”
Dulcinea snorted. “I’ve talked to her there, too. I get tinctures from her. She’s nothing like Giselle.”
He shrugged. “I’d agree, but if being Guardian has taught me anything it’s that nothing is guaranteed.”
The group nodded. Sydra spoke up. “You want us to ask around? See what we can find out?”
“Anything you can do would be a help. The police are questioning relatives and the like but so far, there’s not been much useful information turned up.”
Cy made a face. “Have they checked security cams?”
“That’s being done but there’s a lot of footage to go through.”
Cy crossed his arms and frowned. “Harlow could get it done.”
The room fell silent.
Slowly, Augustine nodded. “Yes, she could. Which brings me to my next topic. As you all know, Harlow has been, for lack of a better term, possessed by the spirit of her dead twin, Ava Mae.” He held a hand up. “I know you’re going to have questions, but I don’t have answers. Not many anyway. What I can tell you is that while Ava Mae seems to have taken over, Harlow is still in there. And until I tell you otherwise, I want you to treat her like you normally would. Like you have no idea Ava Mae even exists. Cy’s been working with me on this and hopefully we’ll have Harlow back soon.”
Lines furrowed Dulcinea’s forehead. “I’m really sorry to hear that. If there’s anything we can do, you know we’ll do it.”
“I know. Thank you.” He looked around at the others, seeing concern and wishing he could do more to reassure them. “Beatrice, as far as putting you back to work—”
Fenton straightened. “If I may?”
Augustine raised his brows. “Go ahead.”
Fenton tugged at his jacket. “I’m sure Augustine would rather you not be in the field if you can’t communicate, but if you’re willing, I could use some help here. Detective Grantham has delivered copies of all the files they’ve collected on the missing tourists. I’ve been combing through them for anything that might offer a clue, but…” He sighed. “It’s an enormous amount of work.”
She nodded eagerly, holding her hands out.
Fenton smiled. “Thank you. I don’t mind telling you I’m a little relieved I won’t be tackling the job by myself.”
Augustine kept his smile to himself, but he was grateful to Fenton for helping out like that. Beatrice could be useful but out of harm’s way. It was a perfect solution. “I’m headed to the police department. Cy, you’re on call as soon as I hear from Lally, and Beatrice is here with Fenton. Sydra and Dulcinea, I want you two on patrol together in the Quarter. That’s where all the tourists that have gone missing have been staying so there could be a connection. Let yourself be seen. Go armed up. Take pictures with the tourists if they want them. I want a visible fae presence there.”
Dulcinea rolled her eyes and started to say something.
He cut her off with a look. “I can answer your question without you even asking it. Yes, you have to be nice to the tourists. Report back on anything or anyone you think is out of place or unusual. Feel free to swing by Belle’s and see if Renny has any info we could use.” The gator shifter was Dulcinea’s on-again, off-again beau and a bartender at the Quarter’s oldest othernatural bar. If anyone had his ear to the ground, it was Renny. Augustine stood. “All right, we’ve all got our jobs. Let’s get out there and get them done.”
He took off for the police station. When he arrived, a handful of reporters were milling about in the lobby.
One of them pointed at him. “Hey, you’re the fae Guardian, right?”
Augustine stopped short. It wasn’t often humans knew his position. “Yes. What can I do for you?”
“Why are you here? Are you helping the police find the missing tourists? How are the fae involved in this?” An LMD got shoved in his face, most likely to record his answers. “Is this a fae crime? Are the police not doing enough?”
Damn it. He hadn’t anticipated this. “As Guardian of the city, it’s my job to protect all of its citizens, so I’m here to offer whatever help I can to the very capable officers of the New Orleans Police Department.”
More questions got