by B N Miles
She frowned. “Not that I can recall,” she said. “That’s an odd question.”
“I know,” he admitted. “Any other rumors or stories?”
“Got plenty of rumors and stories but none of them are true,” she said. “You should try out old Richie. He sits out on the stoop outside the grocery a couple blocks over. He’s as old as I am but has a better memory, and he loves town gossip.”
“We’ll do that, thanks.”
She shrugged. “And tell the girl to unbutton her shirt. He’ll like that move.” She winked and grinned at Cassie, who laughed.
He waved and they headed out. Instead of driving over, they went on foot. Cassie walked close to him and unbuttoned her shirt again. He glanced at her and had to admit, her body was incredible.
“That went well,” she said.
“I think so. We got a lead.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know if I’d call that a lead.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you’ve been a detective before.”
She snorted. “You’re a Marshal. That’s not a detective.”
“True, but tracking down fugitives is part of what I do.”
She gave me a look. “And do you track many down?”
Jared hesitated, then shrugged with a grin. “Not really.”
She rolled her eyes as they approached the grocery store. It was small and a little worn out, but it was one of the few remaining businesses in the area. An older man sat out front on a small folding chair next to the stoop, a brown paper bag in his lap. He had tan skin and a heavy mustache that was streaked with gray. He squinted as Jared approached, Cassie right behind him.
“Are you Richie?” he asked.
“I hope so,” he said. “And you are?”
“My name’s Jared. This is Cassie. We’re doing a survey of the local mines and the nice woman at the gas station told us to talk to you.”
He cackled. “Nobody calls Maggie nice, son. But sure, I’ll talk to you. What do you wanna know?”
“She said you’re familiar with the mines.”
“Right, I am.” His eyes flipped over to Cassie and Jared felt oddly gratified when the man looked at her body. Jared wasn’t sure what that feeling was, so he pushed it aside to be investigated later.
“We’re looking into old mines, inactive but not filled in.”
“The sort the kids always get killed in,” Richie said, “I know what you mean.”
“Right. But we’re looking for particular mines with odd rumors about them. In particular, rumors about them being overgrown.”
He frowned. “They’re all overgrown, son,” he said. “You do realize that?”
“I know, but—”
“Lots of odd rumors,” he continued. Jared felt Cassie step closer and lean toward him. He glanced at her and she was pressing her arms together in front of her, ever so slightly, making her breasts more prominent. It was clearly working because Richie just kept right on talking as her glanced at her chest again. “Some about kids going missing and stolen by bandits. Some about bank robbers and bootleggers hiding in there. Lots about them mines being haunted. But none of them are true, though. I go back there myself every year and look around, make sure all the shafts are still safe and closed up.”
“Really?” Jared asked.
“Sure. Like I said, we lose a kid or two. It’d be more if someone didn’t make sure all that stuff stayed hidden and closed.”
“Tell me, did you notice anything different this year? Any shafts left open that weren’t the year before?”
He nodded. “Sure. A couple. Figured the kids did it.”
“And in either of those two… were there plants? All around, I mean?”
“Sure,” he said again. “One of them was real overgrown. But that’s not strange, son. They’re all overgrown. Some worse than others, but time and nature always takes its due.”
“Would you mind telling us where that mine’s located?” Jared asked.
He frowned at the pair of them. “Look, ya’ll can do whatever you choose, you’re adults. But the mines aren’t safe. When I say kids die every year, I mean it. And some adults die, too. People like you that go poking around where they shouldn’t end up stuck or worse. I don’t want to have to hunt you down myself, or find your bodies years from now. You hear me?”
“We aren’t going in,” Jared said. “We plan on doing a basic plant survey.”
He frowned at that and gave them both a long look before nodding. “All right. Write this down.”
Jared grabbed a pen and a pad from his pocket, flipped it open, and jotted down his directions. When he finished, Jared nodded. “I appreciate that,” he said.
“Yeah, sure,” Richie said. “Just don’t get yourselves killed. Be a shame, to lose a pretty girl like that.” He grinned at Cassie.
“Thank you,” she said, straightening. “But I’m out of your league.” She smiled at him and he laughed hard.
They walked away, back to the gas station. Jared got into the car and Cassie followed. She leaned toward him. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re useful,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not just a pair of tits, you know.”
“Oh, I know. You’re also a big, scary fox monster.”
“Don’t forget it.’
He grinned. “I won’t. But the trick worked on that guy.”
“Not so much on the old lady.”
“Ah, you don’t know that. You didn’t give it a shot.”
She rolled her eyes. “Where to now, boss?” she asked.
“Lunch time,” he said. “We’ll hit up the diner. I need to report in to Wyatt and check on things.”
“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “This is fun so far. It’s a shame it has to end.”
“Yeah, it is,” Jared said, and was surprised to find that he meant it.
He’d always worked alone. He never had a partner before. On the few times he did fugitive collection, he had gone on very easy jobs and hadn’t needed a second pair of hands.
This was nice, he realized. He liked having Cassie around. Not just because she was gorgeous and he wanted to rip her clothes off, but because he enjoyed her company. She was funny and smart and easy to talk to. She had a great smile and seemed to like Jared, for whatever reason.
He put the car in drive and pulled out before he let himself get more attached. At the end of the day, she was a prisoner. She was going to Max. There was nothing he could do to stop it, even if he wanted to.
12
Jared stood outside of the diner while Cassie shoved a metric ton of pancakes down her throat back inside. He called Wyatt and his Captain answered on the third ring.
“Wondering when you’d check in,” he grunted.
“Hello, sir,” Jared said.
Wyatt sighed. “Sorry. Got in late last night and I’m a little ragged.”
“Understandable.”
“Report?”
“Well, I believe I know where the Dryads are hiding,” he said. “Or at least we have a lead.”
“That’s good news.”
“We’re going to investigate the spot this afternoon. I want to make sure they’re there first before we go rushing in.”
“I can provide backup for the actual arrest,” Wyatt said.
“Thank you, sir. I think that will be needed.”
“Good. And our girl?”
“She’s being cooperative,” he said. “Helping when she doesn’t need to. I think she’s enjoying herself, sir.”
He chuckled. “Good. Let her have some fun before they toss her into Max.”
“Sir, do you have any more insight into that?” he asked, a little tentative.
He was quiet for a long moment. “No,” he said. “And don’t ask again.”
Jared frowned. That was an odd answer. He was about to push when some instinct told him to keep his mouth shut.
Magi families had reach. He knew that better than most. They had long, l
ong reach, especially within the MetaDept, even within the Meta Marshal Service. If that reach extended all the way to his Captain…
Talking on the phone might not be safe.
“Very good, sir,” he said.
“Just make sure you get that Dryad,” he said. “And any of his clan mates that helped him.”
“And the artifact?” Jared asked.
“If you can recover that, do it.” Wyatt sounded almost greedy for a moment. “But that’s not part of our operation. There are other MetaDept officers assigned to hunting that down.”
“I didn’t realize there were others in the area.”
“You didn’t think you were the only one working this case?”
“I just…” Jared trailed off. Of course he had, which was stupid. This was a huge, high-profile case. There was no way he would be out here alone.
“Be careful,” Wyatt said. “Your primary goal is to bring in Ferric alive. If we can get him to Max, they can extract all the information we’ll need from him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And keep that girl in your sight. They want her back, too.”
He went still. “They… do?”
“Yes,” he said. “I got chewed out over letting her stay, but if you say she’s being helpful, then it was a good call. But she goes back, no matter what.”
“I understand.”
They were quiet for a long moment. “Don’t get attached,” Wyatt said.
“I won’t, sir.”
“Good.” He let out a breath. “I shouldn’t say this, but I will anyway. She’s not what she seems.”
“She’s not… what, sir? She’s not a Shifter?”
He sounded strained. “Her tribe is important. One of the most important where she comes from. That makes her Shifter royalty.”
Jared was quiet for a moment. “I don’t get that vibe from her, sir.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Royalty isn’t the right word, but you know what I mean.”
“I do, sir. So she’s important.”
“And famous… in some ways.” He let out a sigh. “Except I haven’t been able to find anything on this supposed tribe. I’m getting my info from way up high, so I know it’s legitimate, but…” He trailed off again, sounding pained.
“I understand. I’ll see what I can dig up on my own.”
“Just be careful with her. She’s not what she seems. That girl is connected, very, very connected. If I were you, I’d stay ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. I’m getting some astronomical level pressure coming from the top over all this, and I’m putting my faith in you. Don’t let me down.”
He hung up without saying goodbye. Jared looked at his phone then let it fall into his pocket.
He stepped back inside and lingered near the entrance. He could see Cassie still sitting in their booth, digging in with gusto. She could’ve run while he was out there and gotten a good head start. Maybe even shifted, broken the tracker, and gotten away. Or she could run, find a local Shifter tribe, and ask them to rip off the tracker. Most of them didn’t love the MetaDept and would be happy to help. Especially if she’s as important as Wyatt said.
There were so many ways for her to escape right now. And yet, there she was, eating her pancakes, looking content.
Jared didn’t like it. He didn’t like that he had no clue why she belonged in Max. He didn’t like the pressure his boss was getting, and he didn’t like that he was getting attached, despite what his boss just said.
He walked over and slipped into the booth across from her. She looked up and smiled.
“Hey there,” she said. “Did you try the blueberry pancakes? I think they’re using fresh blueberries.”
“I’ll have to try some,” I said.
“Good. But get your own.”
He laughed as she dug back in.
After lunch, Jared took Cassie out to the car and popped the trunk. They were parked a bit further away from the other cars, although it wasn’t exactly packed. They stood under the shade of a tree and looked down at the gear arrayed there.
“This is for you,” Jared said, lifting a lightweight jacket out. It looked like a simple rain jacket, smooth and navy blue, covering the chest and arms.
“Oh, thanks,” she said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted.”
He gave her a look. “That’s MetaDept standard issue battle armor.”
“Oh.” She held the jacket out and stared. “Doesn’t look like much.”
“It’s enchanted,” he said. “It’ll stop bullets and knives, but not forever. You can take up to three or four shots, more than a few cuts from a knife, depending on the size and strength of the Meta. We only have one, and since I can use magic, it’s all yours.”
She smiled at him. “You’re worried about my safety.”
“I can’t return you to Max if you get yourself killed.”
That seemed to deflate her. She gave him a look then unzipped the jacket and pulled it on. He looked away, annoyed with himself, but his boss’s words kept ringing in his ears. Shifter royalty, don’t get close.
“Fits,” she said. “But I guess that’s the enchantment.”
“Yep,” Jared said. “You’d be surprised how hard it is to make clothes change shape to fit their wearer. That’s some subtle stuff.”
She looked at the jacket with an appreciative smile. “Do I get a gun now?”
He laughed and picked up the service weapon. It looked like a simple Glock, but it was enchanted to pack an extra punch, depending on the magazine he inserted. He put on the shoulder holster and fitted the gun in, making sure it was secure and comfortable. He put a couple spare magazines in his back pocket, just in case, and pulled a lightweight jacket over top the holster.
“No guns for you,” he said.
“Think I’ll shoot you?”
“No, I think you’ll shoot one of our Dryads. I already watched you rip one to pieces.”
She blushed a little, which surprised him. “I can get… feral, in that form.”
“Yeah, no kidding.”
“It’s not me, you know. I mean, it’s me, but it’s also… mixed up with the magic and our god.”
He frowned at that. “Your god?”
“It’s strange. It’s like she’s… present, when I change.“ She frowned. “That’s a clinical way of looking at it. You know, the Shifter God once ruled half this world.”
“I believe that, but we don’t with them very often anymore, though. I think they like to keep to themselves, or at least that’s what I’ve read.”
She frowned. “Well, whatever you call it, Shifter magic is all tangled up with our god.” She sighed. “I think most of them are.”
“That makes you lose yourself?” he asked.
“Something like that. It’s like… having another mind inside your mind, whispering things. It’s hard to filter out what’s fake and what’s real. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like being crazy, it’s more like…” She struggled for words. “It’s more like you have more than one desire, and they’re all equally right.”
“I think I know what you mean,” he said. “We trained for something like that.”
“Really?”
“Holding contradictory thoughts in your mind was one part of my Magi training. One of my least favorite parts. Took me months to get it right.”
“It’s like that, yeah. But the contradictory thought is external and comes from a god.”
He nodded. “I think I get that. My understanding is, each Meta race has a different relationship with their source. Some are more active than others.”
“That sounds right.” She shrugged. “But I don’t know. I haven’t asked a Troll how close they are to their Troll god.”
Jared laughed and grabbed a backpack from the trunk. He stuffed a few more things inside of it, including a second tracking beacon, some rope, flashlights, gloves, filter masks, some climbing gear, and a few other random tools they might need. He threw it onto
his back and slammed the trunk shut.
“I only ever dealt with a Troll once,” he said. “The guy broke my wrist when I tried to cuff him.”
“Really?” she asked. “What happened?”
Jared laughed. “He was a fugitive, I hunted him down. He didn’t like that.”
“But I mean, with your wrists?”
“Oh. I turned his hands into ice.” He tilted his head at her. “That was the last time I used magic, actually. Ready to go?”
She looked at him with wide eyes. “Uh, right. Yeah. We’re walking?”
He looked at the pad in his hand. “Richie said the mine is a few miles that way,” he said, gesturing toward the hills at the south of the town. “If we get moving, we can make it there and back before dark.”
“Sounds like a plan then.”
Jared grinned at her. “Don’t worry about that Troll. The Magi at Max must’ve fixed him up.”
“I wasn’t worried,” she said as Jared began to walk. She hurried to catch up. “I just didn’t know you could do that.”
He tilted his head and grinned at her. “You really aren’t from around here, are you?”
She gave him a strange look as he laughed and stepped onto an old, overgrown trail.
13
They hiked for most of the day, keeping close together. The area around Further was desolate scrub land, not exactly a desert but too rocky and hilly for a dense forest to grow. The underbrush was sparse and dying, only the occasional tree breaking the otherwise rolling landscape.
Jared kept looking at the directions from Richie and wondering if the man had lied to them. The directions seemed straightforward at first, follow the trail, make a few turns, stop when you see an enormous boulder, go left, it’s just up there, but the more they walked, the more it felt like they were chasing ghosts.
After about an hour, Cassie sat down in the shade of the only big tree for miles and took the water canteen Jared offered her. She guzzled some back and sighed. “We’re lost.”
“We’re not lost.”
“Did he say how far it was?”
“You were there.”
