The Dame and the Stolen Manuscripts

GhostWing shivered, her feathers ruffling against the cold as she tugged at her scarf and jacket. Maybe walking around Manehattan's Industrial District in the dead of the night wasn't her best idea but at this point it was too late to head back to her hotel and she simply didn't have any other choice at this point. Secular authorities weren't taking her seriously, simply shrugging off her claims and saying they'll 'have somepony look into it as soon as possible.' She bristled at the thought and while her work being stolen may not be as important as certain other crimes, Ghost certainly felt her outrage at the lack of care about her problem was quite warranted.

At least there was a rather nice young woman there who recommended this stallion. She didn't know much other than that he was a PI named Just Jack and that the mare mentioned he was a rather handsome looking bat pony. Her eye twitched and she took a deep breath, reminding herself that this wasn't some horribly written Stephanie Neigher vampony novel and that this was strictly business.

She reached the address on the business card she was given, double checking that she was in the right place before walking through the doors. Ghost took the elevator up to the correct floor and stepped out, spotting the door with the stallion's business and name. Taking a deep breath, she trotted over and raised a hoof, knocking.

Looking up from his desk, Jack hit the door buzzer, signaling whoever was outside to enter his office. He then looked back down at the various papers scattered across his desk. As he went back to marking off names and looking through files, he didn't think to turn on the lights for this pony who might soon be his next client. Indeed, he just sat there in his dark office, his pale golden eyes seeming to glow slightly in the darkness.

Ghost pushed open the door, looking into the darkness, squinting her eyes as she slowly walked in. There's always that feeling in a mare's chest to not do something but GhostWing squelched it quickly. All else fails, she had a healthy pair of lungs and could scream if need be.

"Umm... Hello? I don't suppose turning some lights on would be out of the question would it?" She asked, the door closing behind her.

Jack raised an eyebrow, before turning on his table lamp. It took him no less than a second to figure out that this mare was out of her element. She looked visibly shaken to him, but she also looked fairly well off. It's been awhile since he'd had a case worth it's pay.

"Hello, the name's Jack. What can I help you with?"

When there was finally light, GhostWing was blinded for a moment, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the change. She walked closer to the desk, looking the stallion over. Well, that mare wasn't kidding, he was definitely handsome... and really tall. His question snapped her out of her thoughts, turning to pull a book out of her saddle bag and put it on his desk, the author's name Sapphire Heart under the title.

"Someone stole my book," She said.

Jack blinked a few times, looking between the book, and the mare.

"Well...it seems you found it?"

He was utterly confounded...unless she was an anonymous author and someone claimed credit for writing her novels. It seemed to him that the case might be more interesting. But he'd need this mare to give a little more information before he took the case.

"No, they stole my manuscript and published under their own name. If it had reached my publisher like it was supposed to, G.W. Winters would be the name on that cover," she said.

She really wasn't all that comfortable letting people know she was an author but again, not much choice here and besides, PI's were supposed to be discreet, right? Ghost shifted and sat down on one of the chairs, loosening her scarf.

"I already tried finding the pony by the name but they used a pseudonym like I do. And the publisher who published the book is being tight-lipped about this too, my own publishers can't get anything and they're threatening legal action. I just... It's been a while since I actually wrote something I was excited about and this book was it. Is there any way you can help?" She asked.

"I'm not working a case currently, so don't see why not. When do you want me to start?"

He got up from his desk, ruffling his leathery bat wings as he walked over to the window. This case wouldn't be easy, and he might have a few more assault and battery charges before it was over. But it'd be worth it...this is the kind of case Jack longed for. Something worth solving, something both of him could focus on. On that note, he reminded himself he needed to pick up his meds soon.

"Oh, and though I would like to, I don't work for free, Ma'am. 40 bits a day."

"Now, if possible," She said, letting out a relieved breath when he agreed to take her case then pulled her wallet out. "I never expected you to. Money won't be an issue."

"I assume you have some base leads, Ms...?"

He looked back at her, expecting her pseudonym, but hoping for her real name.

"GhostWing, my name is GhostWing. And I'd start with the publisher but like I said, they're pretty tight lipped about this," She said. "And it's just Jack, right?"

"Yeah. Where's there office? I know how to handle the tight lipped sort...." As he spoke, he smirked slightly, bearing his fangs.

Ghost blinked at the fangs, shivering a bit. "Right, well this is for today and tomorrow then," she said, counting out 80 bits. "Do you mind if I come back again tomorrow? Maybe my publisher will have found something that can help you."

"Of course not, Miss Ghost. But for now...I have work to do." With that he escorted her ouut of his office, locked the door, and took off into the night sky, literally.

With that taken care of, Ghost started back for her hotel room, flying most of the way. Once there she shed her jacket and scarf, stretching out her wings before letting them loosely hang at her sides as she went to shower before bed.

Jack soared through the sky, headed for the publisher's office. Though he couldn't stop worrying about Ghost Wing. His gut told him something was off, and his gut was never wrong. He sighed as he came to a stop midair, and took off towards the hotel Miss Ghost was staying at. He'd seen the name of the hotel when she'd opened her wallet to pay him, her door key-card wasn't tucked in very far.

She hummed softly as she turned the water on, double checking that the door was locked while she waited for the water to heat up. Ugh, she forgot to cover her typewriter... Wait... no she didn't... She walked over to her trusty machine looking it over and gritting her teeth when she saw that the typing ribbon had been removed. Well. Jokes on whoever stole it, it was a fresh one she'd just installed that morning. The ones with her manuscript was safely locked away in her publisher's office. Anyways, back to that shower...

He landed in the hotel lobby, asking the stewardess for Ghost's room number, before flying up the staircase to the floor her room was on, and running to her room as fast as he could. He was always late when he was needed, he just hoped he wouldn't be this time.

Ghost trotted back to her shower, stepping under the hot water with a sigh, starting to carefully clean her wings, unaware of the figure who'd just picked the lock on her door and was quietly sneaking into her room.

As he entered the hallway her room was in, catching the tail of a figure sneaking into her room. He narrowed his eyes and shot down into her room, tackling the figure into the bedside table of her room, knocking the lamp over and making a huge ruckus.

Ghost jumped when she heard the commotion, stepping out of the shower and pulling on her robe as quick as she could. What in the hay was going on?! The figure let out an oomf and a groan before turning to push Jack off of him.

As the figure turned, he bit hard into the their leg as they pushed at him, using their own momentum to throw them into the glass pane, causing it to crack slightly.

"Back off, if you know what's good for you." As he spoke, Jack bared his fangs and narrowed his eyes

GhostWing threw the bathroom door open and ran out. "Jack?! What's going on?!" She demanded when she saw the stallion. The figure gritted their teeth before taking the momentary distraction to bolt out the door.

"Someone isn't happy with you looking into them, it looks like. Are you okay, Miss Ghost?"

He closed the door, before looking back at her.

Ghost looked at the open door of her hotel room then to the broken side table and cracked window before looking at Jack. "I'm fine... What would he have done?" She asked, shivering from the chill in the air, she was still drenched from the shower.