Butler- Lie Detector

  Butler ripped open the man’s shirt, placing his palm flat on the P.I.’s heart. Time for a little trick he’d learned from Madame Ko, his Japanese sensei. “Don’t worry, Monsieur Carrère. I’m a doctor. There’s been an accident, but you’re perfectly fine.”

  “An accident? I don’t remember any accident.”

  “Trauma. It’s quite normal. I’m just going to check your vitals.”

  Butler placed a thumb on Luc’s neck, locating the artery.

 “I’m going to ask you a few questions, to check for concussion.”

 Luc didn’t argue, then again who’d argue with a six-foot-plus Eurasian man with muscles like a Michelangelo statue?

  “Is your name Luc Carrère?”

  “Yes.”

  Butler noted the pulse rate. One from the heartbeat, and a second reference on the carotid artery. Steady in spite of the accident.

  “Are you a private eye?”

  “I prefer the title investigator.”

  No increase in pulse rate. The man was telling the truth.

 “Have you ever sold batteries to a mystery buyer?”

 “No, I have not,” protested Luc. “What kind of doctor are you?”

 The man’s pulse skyrocketed. He was lying.

 “Answer the questions, Monsieur arrère,” said Butler sternly. “Just one more. Have you ever had dealings with goblins?”

 Relief flooded through Luc. The police did not ask questions about fairies. “What are you? razy? oblins? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

 Butler closed his eyes, concentrating on the pounding beneath his thumb and palm. Luc’s pulse had settled. He was telling the truth. He had never had any direct dealings with the goblins. Obviously the B’wa Kell weren’t that stupid.

-The Arctic Incident, Chapter 6