"Is this the right place?" Sarah asked. They were standing outside a small door covered in dirt at the end of a dimly-lit hallway in a building that could only be described as a dump in the middle of a slum. The words "Custodian Closet" had been crossed out with magic marker and "Larry's Detective Agency" had been written over it in a shaky hand.

"Yeah, this is the place," Dennis said. "There's actually more space in there then you'd think because one of the walls collapsed, so he's actually got the entire room next door as well. You just can't get in that way because the door to that room is rusted shut."

"No offense, but this is kind of what I imagined Max's office would look like, if he even has an office. I've never been entirely clear on that."

"So, I do have to warn you, my brother's a little eccentric."

Sarah turned and glanced at Lothar and Dr. Octavius who were standing behind them and currently comparing who had the bigger set of lab goggles. "Don't worry, I'm used to eccentric people."

"He's just really into this detective thing. But don't worry, he's actually good at it."

She knocked on the door and it swung open a few inches. "Should we just go in?"

"Yeah," Dennis said. "My brother hates getting up to answer the door. He thinks it ruins the whole vibe he's going for. Just go on in."

Sarah stepped through the door and blinked her eyes a few times. "Is it just me or is the lighting in here really weird?"

"Oh yeah," Dennis said as he stepped in behind her. "My brother stopped paying the color bill on this place on purpose, so they shut it off. He prefers it that way. He thinks it looks more authentic or something if his office is in black and white."

"I didn't realize that color was a utility that you had to pay for," Sarah said with a shrug as she looked around.

The office was sparsely furnished. An old filing cabinet filled up most of one wall and a threadbare throw carpet lay on the floor. There was a desk in the corner covered with papers, half-empty liquor bottles, and an ashtray with a still lit cigarette sending a trail of smoke up into the air. An owl wearing a trench-coat and a fedora sat behind the desk, half-concealed in the shadows. He was staring out a window that was being battered with rain.

"Wasn't it bright and sunny outside when we came in here?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah, he has a rain machine that sprays that window around the clock. Once again, it's an authenticity thing. He's got another window over there that he can actually look out of. Anyway, I told you he's eccentric."

"It was a Tuesday afternoon when trouble came bursting into my office in the form of a dame," the owl in the fedora said. "But then, dames usually mean trouble. Especially in this town. It has a way of grinding people up and spitting them out until we all end up pieces of refuge cluttering up the sewer."

"Would you knock that off, Larry? It's me, Dennis. I've brought you some customers."

Larry sat up abruptly and knocked over one of his liquor bottles in the process. "Customers? It's been awhile since I've had any of those around here. So what's the deal, toots? Your man stepping out on you with another broad? Or is it something more insidious? Blackmail? Murder? Are you being harassed by a troupe of mimes? What's the score?"

"Eh, something about a weird energy spike? You probably want to ask my uncle and his mad scientist buddy. They're the ones that want to hire you. I just kind of came along to keep them company."

"I see," Larry said. "So where is this uncle of yours and his friend?"

"They should be right behind us," Sarah said with a frown. She poked her head back out in the hallway. They were squatting on the floor playing with a couple of gyroscopes. "Guys! Put those things away and get in here! Weren't you the ones who were so gung-ho about hiring a detective and solving this energy mystery? Go tell the nice man what's going on so maybe he can help!"

"Sorry, sorry," Dr. Octavius said as he shoved his gyroscope into his pocket and leaped to his feet. "We just got caught up in a discussion about tools of the trade."

"Don't mind us," Lothar said. "We get easily distracted. But, yes. It was very important that we come here and get to the bottom of this mystery."

"Say, if you folks are looking for a place that's putting out a gigantic amount of energy, I think I know exactly where it is," Larry said as he walked out into the hallway. "There's a gated compound just down the road. They keep blasting me with bright light at all hours of the night and there's this ear-deafening humming noise coming out of there. I tried to knock on the gate a few days ago to complain and they had the nerve to blast me with some sort of energy bolt. My tail feathers are still scorched from that."

"Could you take us to this place?" Lothar asked.

"Sure. Say, Dennis, you did say these guys were paying customers, right?"

"We'll pay, but we were told you might be willing to honor a family discount?" Dr. Octavius said.

"What the hell are you doing, Dennis? Stop offering people the family discount! Are you trying to send me to the poor house?"

"Sorry, Larry. I'm just trying to send some business your way."

"I guess it's been awhile since I've had any non-family discount customers. Very well. I shall honor the discount! But if you're happy with the services I provide, I hope you'll consider recommending me to some friends at full price."

"If we're happy with your services, maybe we'll hire you to locate Pauline, since Max doesn't seem to be doing a very good job of it," Sarah said. "But we'll be needing the discount on that case, too, if we take you on."

"In a city full of deadbeats and scammers, this dame was the biggest con artist of them all," Larry mumbled to himself. "You've got yourself a deal. Come with me. I've got a score to settle with these jerks anyway for their less than jovial welcome the last time I crossed paths with them."