Always loved bars like this. Quiet, unassuming, nobody causing no crap but everybody giving a crap while pretending they don't. Worn and scratched up, smelling stale and old yet warm and welcoming if you're the right kind to feel it. Technically I'm not the right kind but I always feel better around these folks.

Local cops and detectives sometimes come in but they know they get nothing from here. Everyone was here, everyone saw everyone and if it was proven they were somewhere else, you give a shrug and a "must have got the nights confused" and the cops just gotta walk away.

Not tonight though. Tonight "she" walked in. Never seen her before but she starts flashing a picture. Starts by the door with the standard "Was this man here three nights ago?" crap. Thing is everyone who answers gets corrected. "Yeah think I saw him" or "Yeah he seemed cool I bought him a draft." Gets answered with the truth "No you didn't you were not here you were on a date with your best friend's wife." "No you didn't you've been broke for 2 weeks and are running up a tab but wish someone would buy you a draft."

Now no one is answering, but she keeps walking through, asking and then saying "Uh huh, I see." and keeps moving. Folks are getting nervous but that will end in a second. Bartender is barking and asking for ID but she is just ignoring him. She told the bouncer to sit when he walked up and he did. Such confidence. The bravado of the untouchable. My turn though.

"Ma'am have you seen this man?"

"Yep, been here all week. Just left about an hour ago." There is the pause. Not even going to look up at her. "Is there an issue officer? Something wrong with your telepathy?"

"Telepathy? Why would you say that?"

"Because that's what you were using. You ask your question then read the true answer off their minds. Dirty little trick to be using on a class 3 planet with a class 2 Psi rating and illegal in much of the Consortium of Civilized Worlds. But we are outside Consortium borders now are we not. Matter of fact" sniff sniff "You're outside your sphere of power completely are you not little miss" sniff sniff "Cosmo knight."

She has noticed, the bar has not just gone quiet but is actually frozen, unmoving in any way.

"I'm in pursuit of a criminal most heinous. If you have any information I would very much appreciate the help."

"Not happening. This is the Alibi and I already told you, he's been here all week. Just left about an hour ago. Now, if there is anything else, I'd like to see your Imperium hunting permit because if you don't have one then you are trespassing, on MY territory." Now I'll give her a look, and let one eye shift yellow.

"You're a Lycan. An Imperium officer?"

"Don't know what you are talking about ma'am. If I did though, I'd probably have to inform you that with your presence known you've got until the next full moon to get off planet or be the subject of a hunt. That would be 5 days from now. Good luck with your search though."

The noise and movement returns to the bar.

"As I said ma'am, he has been here all week, just left about an hour ago I think." She looks nervous for a moment.

"Well, that's good to know. Thank you."

She leaves, life gets back to being good. Bonus, the bar keep sent me a free drink, another 'Blood of my enemies'. Good crap.

I'll have to make sure she does leave...or never leaves. Then look into her "criminal most heinous" myself.