Lindsay picked up the next file in the stack and began to read it out loud.

“At approximately 0315 I responded to a report of vandalism at 1243 Oak Street. Upon arrival I witnessed a small human like creature, approximately the size and appearance of a garden gnome, run across the front yard of the residence.” She stopped and looked at Wren.

“Please don’t tell me that lawn gnomes are coming to life and wreaking havoc in my county,” she said.

“Of course not or at least I don’t think so,” Wren answered her. “I am guessing there is more in that report than what you read.”

“Oh yes,” Lindsay scanned through it and then continued, “The little person came running back out of the dark toward the patrol car and jumped on to the hood of car.” She stopped and looked at Wren again. “Great now I have to call Max and ask if there are dents in his car that he needs to explain.”

She didn’t even continue to read the report; she just closed it and pushed it across the desk toward Wren. She looked at him and could she in his eyes that he was bothered by what she was dealing with.

“Sweetheart, I know you can’t tell me about all of this,” she said as she motioned to her desk and the map on her office wall, “but do you have any idea as to how long this is going to go on? I can barely find deputies to replace those who quit because of this stuff. The only deputies I know are not going anywhere are the Bobs, Andy and Max. I hired Annie and so far so good, but she is fresh out of training and barely old enough to carry a gun.”

“I wish I knew but I have to say what you and this department are doing really is a huge help. I don’t have the resources to track and locate everything, and your idea of this map has been more help than you know,” Wren said. “I promise I will tell you everything that I can as soon as I can.”

“I know you will. Do you want to call Max and ask him about his garden gnome or would you like to just talk to him in the morning before he goes home?” Lindsay asked.

“I think I might send a small team out to the address and see what they can find,” Wren said as he picked the file up off the desk and began to read over it. “It had a strong smell of wet dirt and mold,” Wren read shaking his head. “Isn’t Max the one that saw your little flying friend the first time?”

“He was and I told everyone that it was just him playing a practical joke on everyone” Lindsay answered. “If you have never watched any of his animated films you should because he really is talented.”

“I have known about his talents long before Little Bob and Mike Sims brought that video by the house. Max really does have a gift when it comes to the computer animation, that is why I have had him help me on a few things in the past,” Wren said. “Oh and her name is Bow.”

“I’m sorry, but who’s name?” Lindsay asked with confusion.

“Your little friend from the bridge, Randy named her Rainbow, but we all call her Bow,” Wren said smiling. “The lab guys keep her there and take her out every day the weather is nice to let her play. There is someone with her twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. If you would like to see her, I will take you there.”

Lindsay smiled as she thought about the strange little creature that she had befriended. It had the body of a small rhesus monkey with golden fur and large wings similar to an eagle’s but covered in iridescent feathers that changed colors in the sunlight. Strangely it had bonded with Lindsay and she had been able to hold it and carry it to the van, where it was loaded and taken to the lab.

“I will think about it. I would love to see her, but I don’t want her to get upset,” Lindsay told him.

“I understand. I think you should know that she wrote your name down. She didn’t spell it right, but it was clear that she was trying to write Lindsay,” Wren told her.

“Well I guess if she is asking for me I should go see her soon,” Lindsay answered.

“You aren’t even going to ask about a flying monkey’s ability to write? Wow, you are definitely the right person to have the job you have. You aren’t even a little surprised?” Wren asked.

“Wren, since I have taken over this office I have had teenagers attacked in the Sycamore River by a sea monster that had some kind of venom that doesn’t exist in nature. We had the incident involving our large friends when rescuing Nim Jones. Little Bob and I went out to the poltergeist call that seemed to understand what I said and follow my commands. That is on top of the dozens of calls involving weirdness that my poor deputies have been trying to deal with above the normal calls. So no, it does not surprise me the flying monkey can write,” Lindsay said.

Wren laughed, “That has to be one of the best things you have ever said to me. I think I love you more now than I did when I walked in here and I didn’t think that was possible.”