Those Thirty Days

  Keen Eye sighed as she swiveled back and forth on her office chair, the occasional squeak alongside the gentle pitter-patter of rain on her windows constituting the only sounds in the room. It had slowly become more and more apparent to Keen that setting up her office for investigating matters of intrigue or criminal activity in this sector of Equestria was a rather big mistake if she wanted any chance at keeping her door open. She looked out of the only window whose curtains were draw back, watching as the small cascades of water rolled down the glass with the bright oranges and deep reds of the setting sun behind it splashed the entire room in its beautiful colors. It had been a slow day, something, though now a easily understandable common occurrence, she didn't appreciate at all. She gave a lazy glance over her shoulder towards her wall clock for what seemed the hundredth time that day. She'd give it five more minutes, then she'd lock up and head home. Sure, that would be closing early, but if anypony needed her help, they'd get here soon enough o they'd go to her apartment. She sighed once more, leaning further back into her chair, the plush material giving a bit under her weight, though still providing enough support that it was nice. She had never been in the clouds, but she had a good idea that this might be what they felt like to pegasi or any other pony with a cloud walking spell.

  She was suddenly ripped from her idle wondering when she heard her door open. She looked over expectantly, only to see the janitor walk in with a mop bucket dangling from a metal handle, which he held in his teeth. The pony gave Keen a quick nod before letting down his bucket and taking out a feather duster, quickly swiping over the shelves and desk.

  "Don't suppose who need anything?" Keen asked hopefully, though her voice gave nothing away. The janitor lifted his head from the desk, his feather duster still clenched between his teeth. He put his right fore hoof to his chin, tapping it a few times in thought before lowering it once more and shaking his head before putting his duster away, taking out his small broom, getting back to his work without hesitation. Keen gave an exasperated sigh as she fell back into her chair. "Isn't there anypony who has some sort of mystery that needs solving? One point fifty-six million ponies and other mixed species and there isn't a single point of intrigue?" The janitor pony shrugged as he laid down his dustpan and carefully swept the dust into it before tossing the dirt into the bag strapped to his bags. Keen flung her head back once more, scanning her eyes over the plain white ceiling. "You'd think that somepony would have something they'd like help with figuring out. Watching somepony else out of worry or suspicion, trying to find out if their neighbor really did steal their cat, anything really. There has to be something!" She shouted angrily as she smacked her chair with a hoof.

  The janitor gave a brief grunt before the sound of a wet mop slapping against the floor told Keen that he was almost done with his work. Soon enough he'd leave, then she'd pack up her things and head off to home. She'd take a long, calming, hot bath while listening to some good music. She might even stop by the dry cleaner's and see if Gin and the gang were playing a round. She had the evening to herself, with no reason to spend it only anything but what she wanted to do. But even as she pondered what she'd do with her evening, another pony walked in with a package balanced on her wings.

  "Ah gots a package fer Miss Keen Eye." The mail mare stated in a thick accent. Keen Eye motioned to her desk, which quickly found itself bearing the heavy weight of the rather interesting package. "Sign 'ere please." The mare continued presenting a small clipboard with a paper clipped to it that contained odds and ends about the delivery. Keen quickly took a pen between her lips from her cup of writing utensils, giving a quick signature. Keen placed the pen back into its place along with its brethren. She looked back to the package, then to the mail mare, who was now leaving the office.

  "Any ideas about what it is?" Keen Eye asked curiously. The mail mare gave a shrug.

  "Company policy is tuh not snoop in tuh other ponehs things. The forum says that it includes some 'lectronic stuffs, among other things." The mail mare replied. "Ah mean, fer all Ah know, it's a TV, then again it could be a large assortment of toasters. Honestly, it's anypony's guess." The mail mare then shut the door and was down the hall in no time. The janitor pony quickly followed, stowing his mop back in its side compartment in the bucket before lifting it and moving on to the next office.

  Keen Eye opened her desk's center draw, taking out her letter opener in her teeth. She quickly ran it down the seem between the two leaves of cardboard joined only by tape. Putting down her knife, she pulled one of the flaps back, looking at the pile of packing peanuts that covered whatever had been sent to her. She brought her waste basket over, shoving piles of the foam pellets into the metal basket. Soon enough she found the contents of the box proper, which were another smaller cardboard box, an overflowing plastic file holder, and a plastic container. Keen Eye quickly took out the objects, setting them on the desk before her, quickly feeling around the box once more, finding nothing but a note taped to the cardboard flap that she hadn't folded back.

  "Well, this is interesting." Keen mumbled to herself before taking her letter opener out again and removing the letter from its place, placing it on her desk as she once again put her letter opener back into her desk. Looking at the note, she began to read over the few words in had scrawled over its surface. "Hello, Detective, this package contains objects of interest relating to a curious incident that occurred not to long ago." She read aloud. "I know that once you begin looking into the matter, that you will agree. The contents of the boxes are as follows: a brand new tape player, thirty tapes containing twenty-four hour recordings, thirty tapes containing select times from the previous tapes, and all files and notes pertinent to your investigation in this matter. I must insist you listen to the tapes in order, since the last tape has a spell attached to it which will alert me to when you listen to it. At the moment, I cannot divulge what exactly I'm having you look into, but once you begin, I do believe you will understand exactly what the reason is that I have sent you all of this. I wish you the best of luck. Signed 'Client'." Keen looked at the note with even more questions than before.

  Keen set the note down, looking over the objects. She quickly opened the first box, pulling out a rather high quality tape player. She had seen it in several magazines with the words 'NEW!' and 'BEST SOUND FOR YOUR BITS!' and other pieces of advertising. She had considered buying one, since most of her records were starting to warp, and her phonograph wasn't in the best of shape either; maybe she'd be able to keep it after the case was done with. She looked over to the other box, clicking the simple plastic locks up, finding that it was a multi-shelf system. Pulling one out, she found two tapes, one much larger than the other, both labeled with the number '19'. Keen felt a small urge to pop the tape into the player, but eventually just slid the shelf back in, pulling the top most shelf out in its stead, revealing two tapes that looked almost identical to the others except for the number being a '1'. She took the smaller of the two out, looking for any other marking, but there was absolutely nothing she could see that might set it off from other tapes besides the number written on it. Keen turned her attention to the tape player, quickly removing the packaging. The black plastic had a nice finish, allowing her to see her reflection quite clearly in it.

  She pressed the release button, and was quickly met with a satisfying click as the player popped its lid up, revealing the inner workings of the machine. Quickly pressing the button for normal tapes, two spokes popped up in the correct position for the tape that lay out of the case. Keen, feeling a bit of curiosity, pressed the other button. The supply and take up reals went back, flush with the rest of the system, only to be replaced by two others that were slightly thicker and further apart, perfectly suited for the large tape that was still in the draw. Pressing the button for regular tapes again, she placed the first tape inside of it, shutting the lid. She turned to the folder finally, taking the top most folder out. It was a regular looking manila folder for the most part, except for the big, black, block letters on the top that read 'Project: Solitaire' that was partially covered by larger, red letters that proclaimed 'TOP SECRET', just Keen's type of folder. She opened the mysterious folder, looking at the first page.

  'This file is property of Fillydelphia Research Institute. If you are not a part of the corporation, please return his all haste as the contents of this folder are of the sensitive nature. Failure to do so will result in your arrest, alongside a steep fine to your person.'

  Keen smiled at the paper deviously, quickly turning it over to look at the first page. She'd been hired for a job, something she had had little experience with in recent days, but something she wasn't about let go. She would hit this one hard, even if she didn't know what her client wanted, she believed that the pony was right, and that in no time at all, she'd figure  out what they wanted.