Another month. Another victim. The detective suspected the world was trapped in a silent war, and they didn't even realize it.
While he could never say for sure, it had all the tell-tale signs of an assault from the Fae. A personal office was over overcome by fauna. Strange vines and fruits had burst forth from a computer. An inscrutable insignia showed on a monitor that refused to be turned off- even when unplugged.
Things didn't sound any better after interviewing the neighbors.
"The blue tree growing from the 4th story window? Its always been there."
"I rather like the efforts to add more megafauna to the apartment complex."
"The resident of that apartment is kind, so I don't question it."
The detective returned to the apartment of the missing person in question. There was no dried up husk of a body under a mountain of vines. Nor signs of some wild beast. The place looked somewhat well-maintained- was the original resident replaced? Or is this place protected by some Fae magic to mask the fact the original person was disappeared?
"Excuse me. You're trespassing."
Ah. Likely one of these cases. The humanoid fox person before him answered many of the detective's questions. He just needed to confirm it. The detective smooth talked the way he always did.
"Apologies, there seems to be a misunderstanding. Sir- Or uhm, Madame." Fuck. Never try to gender the Fae or their associates. The detective talked quickly to cover his mistake. "I'm investigating a missing person report." The detective shoved a paper in the fox-humanoid's face.
The fox's embarrassed wince of recognition said it all. "I have no idea who this person is at all." A lie. "I've lived here by myself for the past five years." A truth. "I'm not sure why you're here-" A lie "-but I'd feel more comfortable if you'd leave promptly" A truth.
The detective apologized, and made his way out the door.
Another dead-end case. At least officially. The world wasn't ready for "reality altering Fae magic" as an answer.