"Then how did you get them all to meet at the Golden Egg tonight?" Sabrina said.
"I use the Empire State Building as a signal," Oz explained. "You may have seen them light it up for holidays. On Christmas they use red and Saint Patrick's Day it's green. When we need to see everyone we use bright purple."
"Perhaps we should try that," Granny said.
"I doubt anyone would show up after Titania's fit. I can tell you this much: I know the dwarfs live in the subway system and I believe Sinbad lives somewhere down by the docks," Oz said. "We Everafters keep to ourselves here in the city."
"That's it? That's all you know?" Sabrina cried.
"I'll ask around about the others and let you know if I find out anything else," the little man said. He apologized, said his good-byes, and moments later he left the room.
"We're in the middle of a mystery!" Daphne clapped, nearly bouncing in anticipation. "Where do we start?"
"Let's make a list of our clues so far," Granny Relda replied. "Sabrina, could you find us an ink pen? I bet there's one in the desk."
"No," Sabrina whispered. "I don't want anything to do with this. We should all just go home."
The room grew quiet. Daphne and Granny Relda stared at her as if she were some kind of algebra problem with no solution. Sabrina had rarely felt so alone. Couldn't Granny see that ever since she and Daphne had gotten involved in the detective business, they had been like two human wrecking balls, causing death and destruction over and over again? They had survived the Jabberwocky by the skin of their teeth and now they were jumping back into the fire. What if someone got hurt again?
What if their luck finally ran out? The sting of tears filled Sabrina's eyes and she quickly turned and ran into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She sat on the side of the tub in the dark and tried to catch her breath.
After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door and it slowly opened.
"Liebling?"
Granny Relda said as she flicked on the light and entered the room. She sat down next to Sabrina and put her hand on the girl's shoulder. Sabrina pulled away.
"I don't want to do this," she said to her grandmother.
"Sabrina, these people asked for our help. It won't hurt us to look around and ask some--"
"No… I'm not talking about this mystery. I don't want to be a Grimm."
Granny sat quietly for a long time and Sabrina prepared herself for a lecture about responsibility and doing the right thing. "You don't have to, Sabrina," Granny finally said. Sabrina was stunned.
"You were deposited into this life against your will. I thought that after some time you would get used to being a Grimm and see what a rewarding life it can be. But I realize now that I'm forcing you to do it and that isn't fair. You do have a choice and I should have explained it. Many in our family have walked a
way from their heritage. If you've ever read any of Douglas Grimm's journals, he often wrote about how miserable he was; even your Opa Basil had his doubts. Obviously, your own father made a choice to pursue a different life. You can do the same if that is what you want."
"Sure, and you'll be disappointed with me. You'll give me that look you give me when you're angry," Sabrina said.
"I'll miss sharing the time with you," Granny said. "And I truly believe you are becoming an excellent detective, but you can retire if you want. Perhaps it is best if you stay at home from now on and keep an eye on your parents."
Sabrina wondered if her grandmother was pulling a trick on her, but the old lady just smiled and kissed her on the forehead.
"I can still help find a way to wake up Mom and Dad?" Sabrina said.
"Of course," the old woman said.
Sabrina felt like the sun had come out and was shining just for her. The gnawing pain in her belly subsided for the first time in months.
"I can't wait to tell Daphne we don't have to do this anymore," Sabrina added.
Granny frowned. "Sabrina, you get to make your choice and you have to let her make one for herself."
"She's only seven years old," Sabrina argued. "And you're only eleven, but I'm trusting your decision," the old woman said. "But--"
"Now, unfortunately, we're in the middle of a case to which I have committed us all. So, let's make a compromise. When we get home you'll be done with being a fairy-tale detective, but right now, we have a mystery to solve. Can your sister and I count on you for one more case?"
Sabrina nodded. Still, she was happy; in fact, she was grinning from ear to ear. She hadn't expected her grandmother to understand her choice, let alone support it. She could walk away from the Grimm family legacy. No more Everafters, monsters, and lunatics. Now all she had to do was convince Daphne to make the same decision.
Granny Relda kissed Sabrina on the top of her head. "Let's go join the others."