“I believe it’s what you referred to as ‘unnecessary attention’ . . . also known in some dimensions as a cop.”
“I can see that. I just can’t understand what he wants with me.”
“What did you say?” the cop demanded, heaving to a halt in front of me.
“Me? Nothing,” I replied, barely remembering in time that he couldn’t see or hear Kalvin. “What’s the trouble, officer?”
“Maybe you are. We’ll see. What’s your name?”
“Don’t tell him!” Kalvin whispered in my ear.
“Why?” I said, the words slipping out before I had a chance to think.
“Because it’s my job to keep track of suspicious characters,” the cop growled, taking my question as being directed at him.
“Me? What have I done that’s suspicious?”
“I’ve been following you for a couple of blocks now, and I’ve seen how you keep swervin’ around folks. I even saw you apologize to someone and . . . say, I’ll ask the questions here. Now, what’s your name?”
“Tell him to bag it!” Kalvin advised. “He doesn’t have a warrant or anything.”
“Skeeve, sir,” I supplied, desperately trying to ignore the Djin. All I needed now was to get in trouble with the local authorities. “Sorry if I’m acting strange, but I’m . . . not from around here and I’m a little disoriented.” I decided at the last moment to try to keep my off-dimension origins a secret. The policeman seemed to be fooled by my disguise spell, and I saw no point in enlightening him unless asked directly.
“You’re being too polite!” the Djin whispered insistantly. “That’s what made him suspicious in the first place, remember?”