Chapter Text
The detective sighed as he stared down at the pile of files laid messily astray across his desk, bringing up a hand to rub at the glass above his eye as it closed tightly in thought.
The recent disappearances of toons in the nearby area had been stressing everyone, especially since the police hadn't been able to find out where they had been disappearing off to, nor had there been any leads to follow aside from the fact that each toon had once starred in the long forgotten show titled Dandy's World. Gardenview had been shut down long ago due to lack of safety regulations, however, leading the investigators to believe that the correlation between the missing toons had merely been a coincidence.
Rodger didn't think that was the case.
He looked back over at the bulletin board that held the images of the missing toons and newspaper articles that had been typed out each time one had disappeared. The newest one was about a little girl from an orphanage Rodger had been hoping to adopt from. More specifically, the images displayed showed the little 8-ball smiling happily, not knowing the future that lay ahead of her. Toodles had always been a really joyful child.
Rodger took in a sharp breath and spun away from the board, clearing his throat and sitting back in his chair as he thought up ways to gather more information on the missing toons case.
For a moment, he considered texting his ex wife merely to get the numbers of other toons that she still kept in touch with, such as Glisten. As much as he wanted to stray away from the idea, he couldn't deny that the odds of managing to get in contact with the other toons alone would be a train wreck. The only other person he really talked to after the TV show had ended was Brightney, and that was only occasionally. He highly doubted she talked to Glisten or Vee much, if at all. Those two somehow always had the inside scoop, he found.
It wasn't like he and Teagan had ended off on bad terms. It was more like they had grown tired of each other after a while. In the beginning, it was nice to have someone who could keep up with Rodger’s quick retorts, who could come up with swift answers to any and all of his questions. After a year, though, they agreed that it has grown tiring to be around someone who was so similar to themselves. So, they broke it off. No hard feelings or resentment, just a calm agreement to let go of each other.
And yet, he was still hesitant to even speak to her. It felt awkward, even though it shouldn't be. There was no reason to feel that way, Rodger knew that.
It still felt odd to be around her, though, whenever he was.
Shaking the thoughts away, at last, Rodger got tired of waiting around and picked up his phone, the light blinding him momentarily in the dim room, though it was no matter. A detective could handle a little bit of flash.
He scrolled down to find Teagan's number (not very far, given his short social circle) and opened their chat to find their last messages. It had been months since they had last spoken. There was the occasional two to three word chat to confirm something through one another, though nothing more. He fought the urge to just scroll back up through their chats to see if she had maybe given him the number of another toon in the past and instead typed out his message.
How hard could it be?
…
Several minutes passed as Rodger stared down sleepily at the ever flashing line that blinked in the messaging bar, having sat and deleted multiple typed out messages over and over again. Everything seemed too blunt, or not blunt enough, not to mention that it was quite late at night. Would she even respond at all? Should he wait for the next morning? She had her hands full with her tea business, after all. It wouldn't be a very big surprise if she had already gone to bed.
But if she was, he could get the information he needed and finally get the sleep he needed…
After another moment of reevaluating his decisions, Rodger let out a heavy sigh and typed the conversation starter once more, feeling a headache start to come on.
Rodger: Good evening, Teagan. If you are by any chance up as of now, I was hoping you could give me the contacts of the toons we used to work with at Gardenview? I would like to ask them if they know anything for a case I am working on.
To the magnifying glass's surprise, the three dots signifying an incoming reply appeared on his screen almost immediately. Who was he to judge if Teagan was up so late, though?
It didn't take long for her to type out her reply. She never took long to do much of anything, if he was being honest.
Teagan: Your determination for a case never ceases to amaze me, Rodger.
A short reply, but a reply nonetheless.
A moment later, Teagan supplied a short list of contacts she still had. Glisten, Cosmo, Brightney, and Ginger. An odd combo indeed, though, given that Teagan probably bought bakery goods from Cosmo and Ginger to sell at her tea shop, it wasn't entirely impossible that she was close with them. Though, they were useful to have.
Rodger: Thank you.
And that was the end of the conversation.
-
Rodger had waited until the next morning to decide who to text first.
He looked between the numbers Teagan had supplied him with, weighing the options as he sat in his alpha sleeper pajamas eating the stale cereal he had kept in his kitchen for months. Honey nut cheerios weren't his favorite, but he might as well finish them off while they weren't moldy. He wasn't one to waste money.
On one hand, texting Cosmo first would probably help with gathering information on Sprout’s disappearance, but he probably couldn't tell Rodger anything the public or the police didn't already interrogate out of him. Ginger would probably only know as much as Cosmo knew, too.
Brightney didn't seem to know anything about the disappearances of the toons. Rodger had already interrogated her during a visit to her bookstore, after all.
That left Glisten.
If Rodger was being honest with himself, Glisten probably was the most logical choice of them all, anyways. He always happened to have the latest information and the deepest scoops on every toon that used to star in Dandy's World. Rodger doubted anything about that would've changed, even after all the time that had passed. Though, it would be more than unlikely that the fashion model would answer the phone. After all, calls from new numbers were sketchy enough on their own, not to mention he was probably very busy with keeping up with trends or something of the matter.
Though, he supposed it was worth a try at calling the mirror.
He punched in the number in the contact search and pressed ‘call’, leaning back in his seat as he waited for the phone to go to voice mail or for someone to appear on the other end.
It took at least fifty seconds of waiting before someone picked up the phone.
“Who is this?” a boy on the other line asked, the sound of a TV's soap opera audible in the background of the call. Of course Glisten would watch cheesy romances.
“It's Rodger,” Rodger chose to reply, standing with his bowl of cereal in hand, appetite gone as he realized it had become soggy and instead choosing to throw away the cereal bits though dump the milk. “The detective you used to constantly nag about the smudges on-”
A sharp gasp cut him off as Glisten exclaimed, “Ohhhh, Rodger…” He didn't sound as excited as he made himself seem. “How've you been? I heard you've been stuck on a case from Teagan,” he teased. “Guess even our most talented local detective can't solve this one.”
Rodger felt his glass warm at that. It was always so embarrassing to be stuck on a case and unable to continue on with the many others he could be working on.
“It's alright, though,” Glisten continued on. “Nobody's perfect. Well, nobody but me, that is,” he corrected himself.
Rodger could swear he felt all warmth and affection fade immediately at the correction. He rolled his eye, sighing before replying quickly so that Glisten wouldn't end up talking to himself the whole ‘conversation’, as he had somehow managed in the past. It honestly surprised him more than it annoyed him.
“I was calling to see if you had time to chat…? In person, I mean,” he rushed out before Glisten could speak again, leaning against his counter. He could swear he felt a few crumbs and dust sticking to the top. He'd need to clean that later. “Preferably today. It's for the case I've been working on. I think you'd know a thing or two about what I want to ask you.”
“Today?” the fashionista on the other end of the phone echoed, the faint sound of flipping papers audible on the other end and a quiet hum. “W-Well, uhm.. That's cutting it a little close, don't you think, dear?”
Rodger nodded, then realized that Glisten couldn't see him and cleared his throat. “Yes, I understand that perfectly,” he replied rather simply. “Though I was hoping you could clear your schedule for me. This is rather important.”
Glisten let out an amused scoff, to which Rodger didn't understand. He couldn't see how a case this serious could be humorous at all. Maybe Glisten was amused by the fact he didn't have the utmost faith in his ability to clear his schedule quickly? Though that seemed to be a rather odd thing to find amusing. Then again, the glitter boy was quite odd himself. His behavior thus far only further proved that.
“Oh please,” Glisten replied, voice dripping with perfection. “Of course I can fit you in. Does sometime around eight work for you? Other than that, I won't be free again during the day until Sunday.”
“That'll do,” Rodger stated after a glimpse to the calendar that hung by a magnet on the fridge. It wasn't like he ever had anything to do besides struggle to solve cases anyways. There was the occasional trip to Brightey's bookstore, though those were never marked.
After a few moments of back and forth confirmation about the date and Glisten’s address, the meeting was scheduled.
-
08:16 PM.
0657 Tear Fountain Drive.
The drive to the wealthy mirror's home took longer than Rodger had anticipated. He always lived by the rule of “if you're early you're on time, if you're on time you're late”, so naturally, he had left his home fifteen minutes earlier than he needed to. He hadn't expected Glisten to live so far away. Though, it was only natural that the “perfect” toon lived in the “perfect” home.
It was certainly large and well kept, from the looks of it.
Rodger stepped out of his rather dull black car, which he had parked beside the lawn rather than in the driveway, and tipped his hat up to inspect the large house in front of him. Lights seemed to be on in every room visible through windows, though blinds were drawn to cover them. Rodger guessed that the house was two stories and unreasonably tall. People had a way of spending their money on unnecessarily tall ceilings. He never understood it.
Following the line where the grass meet the pavement, he trudged up the slightly slanted hill to the rather large door. He eyed the stained wood for a moment before clicking a button he assumed was the doorbell. A faint though audible ringing could be heard echoing from inside, confirming his suspicions.
The door swung open in front of him, revealing a rather fashionable mirror standing in front of him. He nodded a silent greeting and a tip of his hat, about to speak up before he was cut off.
“Oh, Rodger! You're rather late,” he rather rudely pointed out, stepping aside and glancing everywhere but at the detective himself. He'd make sure to note that later. “I thought you had forgotten.”
Rodger stepped into the house, the warm lighting from the chandelier on the high ceiling above a clear indicator of Glisten’s wealth as both an influencer and a model.
“I hadn't known you lived quite a distance away. My apologies,” he offered, hands still tucked into the black trench coat around his frame, one holding a thin briefcase by his side. “Is there a particular area you were hoping to talk in or is by the door fine?” he asked, swiping out a digital voice recorder to make it easier to quote the other male on things.
Glisten eyed the recorder for a moment before nodding and silently motioning for Rodger to follow behind as he lead the way through the halls and into a spacious living room, a tv embedded into the wall and couches clothed with intricate designs that allowed the room to look more detailed. A few glittery paintings were mounted on the wall, as well as the occasional self portrait (painted by Brusha, one of the other toons that had started an art gallery).
Rodger took a seat on the couch as Glisten sat on the loveseat beside the coffee table that he had set the voice recorder, adjusting the white scarf tied tightly around his neck and crossing one leg over the other to seem casual. It was clear he was nervous. Rodger would notice that trend with him even before they left Gardenview and went their separate ways. He always seemed distant and a little too defensive when talking about serious personal matters that involved himself.
Though, he tossed that thought to the back of his mind to potentially take notice of during the questioning later and leaned forward to press the button on the recorder to begin the questions.
“So, I'm sure you have read about the disappearances of the toons that had once starred in the show Dandy's World,” he began, not bothering to sugar coat his words as he got right into the interview.
Glisten straightened up, nodding shortly and clearing his throat to ‘absent mindedly’ eye his nails.
“Yes, I've read about them in the papers from time to time,” he said easily, setting his hand back in his lap and adjusting his position. “Cosmo, Boxten, Looey, and that little girl, right?” he asked for confirmation.
Rodger had to remind himself not to get emotional at the mention of Toodles, though he couldn't help the pang that the reminder of her disappearance brought.
“Yes, Toodles,” he corrected, setting his elbows on slick black dress pants and leaning forward, eye narrowing beneath the brim of his hat. “I was hoping you would have some information on the matter, given your connection to Looey through Vee and Sprout.”
Glisten hummed, tilting his head to the side and offering a slightly condescending smile to the detective. “Well it depends what you're asking for, sir,” he stated rather simply even for him.
“I want to know anything you can offer,” he said, searching the other's eyes for any information that dared to stray away from him. “Any unnatural behaviors, notable lack of a usual appearance; anything you can think of that would be beneficial to the case.”
Glisten shook his head, getting to his feet and stretching out his back.
“No, not at the moment. Maybe we can put a pin in it. I feel a little dried out. Water?” he suggested, already making his way down into the kitchen that was connected via a doorway in the wall.
Rodger let out a sigh, clicking to pause the recording and leaning back in his spot. Glisten always had a way of averting the subject whenever a response was difficult to come up with.
“Sure, since you're already on your way,” he replied, linking his fingers together as he waited. “Ice would be appreciated, though.”
And thus, the two sat in silence in the living room moments later, Glisten's hands cupping around an iced water in his lap while taking the occasional sip. Rodger had opted to put his own glass down after taking a drink, using the opportunity of leaning forward to begin recording their world again.
“Any ideas yet?’ he asked, raising his eyebrow over at the mirror, who seemed a little startled that Rodger had spoken, as if he had forgotten he was there at all.
“Right! Ah, yes, of course I do,” he stated, swirling the cup in his palms while he began to give out the information Rodger had been seeking. “Before he disappeared a few months ago, he was texting me about Dandy mentioning something about coming back over to Gardenview, saying something about left behind circus props. Nothing was odd about the way he had behaved, though.”
Rodger nodded, a little irritated at the lack of other knowledge though he supposed he couldn't be too annoyed at that fact. It was to be expected, and any information was still information. It wasn't exactly uncommon for Looey to forget some of the props the circus trio used, though. He doubted he could use it as actual evidence.
“What about Sprout?” he instead chose to ask. “I believe you two are still close. Did he say anything about Dandy, either?”
Glisten shrugged, setting down his glass with a gentle clink on the table, the clear liquid swaying lightly within before settling for a still appearance. “He mentioned him briefly to me. I think it was Cosmo that had been reached out to by Dandy, though. I just brushed it off as Dandy being creepy, since he didn't really tell me the details. You could ask him about it at the bakery and get better info there, though.”
Rodger nodded in understanding. It was just as he had expected. Though the similarity caught him a little off guard, he could probably guess Cosmo potentially left a piece of cooking equipment and went to retrieve it. It wasn't entirely far-fetched.
“I was planning on visiting sometime, actually,” he said, leaning forward again to ask about the final toon he was hoping to hear about. “And, Boxten. You two were close. Anything about him?”
Glisten nodded, seeming a little more eager to speak of Boxten rather than his closer friends. “Yes, actually, he was acting nervous with me quite a while before he disappeared,” Glisten stated, words coming out fast as he leaned forward in the loveseat. “Like, more than usual, nervous. A lot more jumpy too. I asked him about it a few times, but he only really mentioned that Dandy had asked him to help him with something. Being the pushover he is, I wouldn't doubt it if he had agreed. Especially with how pushy that flower can be.”
Rodger nodded, taking another sip of his water before setting the glass back down on the table, resting his palms back together in his lap as he silently went over the gathered information in his head. Looey had left behind equipment, Cosmo's situation was unknown, and Boxten was pushed into agreeing with something. All entirely different situations, but rooting from one key thing; Dandicus Dancifer.
“I see… Thank you for your time and information, Glisten,” he decided to close with, pressing to end the voice recording and shifting to tuck it back into his pocket.
Glisten let out a gentle sigh, heavier than it seemed though covered up by the perfectionist he was.
“Why of course, detective,” he said, smiling coolly up at Rodger and standing to guide him out the door. “You're positive there's nothing else I can be or service to?”
Rodger nodded, picking up his briefcase that he had brought in case Glisten was unfamiliar with the case and following after the fashionista to the door.
“I'll call if something comes up,” he informed, turning to face Glisten properly. “I appreciate you making the time to come in contact with me. Your information was valuable.”
Glisten rolled his eyes, leaning against the doorframe. “A ‘thank you’ would've sufficed, Mr. Brain.”
Rodger let out a small breath of humor, nodding a silent goodbye to the mirror before walking out onto the concrete outside and checking his watch as the door slid shut behind him.
8:34 pm.