by CC Dragon
“Old as in former. We’ll be on our way. Speedy recovery, Mitch.” Mason nodded to me and opened the door.
“Call if you need anything,” I said.
We walked to the elevator, and I exhaled. “She really is hating me more and more. Even with you as a buffer. I bet Mitch tells her I’m dating you to calm her down.”
“He’s weak. She’s worried. I don’t think it’s about you or me,” Mason said.
“She was like that before, but you’re right. It’s worse now only because she doesn’t have someone to blame and take it out on. He’s had a complication. It happens. He’ll bounce back. He always does. I get the worrying, but wouldn’t you want friends to visit you while in the hospital? To visit your spouse?” I asked.
The elevator doors opened, and we got on.
Mason pushed the button for the lobby floor. “Yes, but she blames the FBI for his injury. We’re just reminders of the pain and danger. I see why you were concerned. She might talk him into a desk job or retirement. Odds are, you’ll need a new partner permanently even if he recovers. Let’s hope you get someone with magical abilities.”
I sighed. “You said he’s weak. What did you base that on? What drugs are they giving him?”
“It’s not the drugs. That’s all normal. When I shook his hand, he felt weak. His energy is low.”
“He just had surgery,” I said.
Mason looked at me. “I know. He’s fighting, but he’s weak—just trying not to show it.”
“Can you heal him?” I asked.
“We don’t use magic that way. Healing a human with magic is dangerous anyway,” he said.
“But he’ll make it,” I said.
“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Mason asked.
“You introduced doubt. I’m sure he’ll be fine. It might take time. He might take a desk job, but he’ll live.” I smiled.
Mason smiled. “You are driven.”
“If he gets worse, we’ll use magic.” The elevator dinged, and I walked off as the doors opened. “Is my being driven that bad?”
“No, but no matter how hard you work or hope—you can’t always win.” Mason followed me.
“Everything is always such a fight, I never feel like I win. Except when I got you on board,” I admitted with a slight smile.
We got into our car and headed for the next interview.
The Wallis family was pretty ordinary by most standards.
“Mr. Wallis works in maintenance at a large hotel. Mrs. Wallis is a nurse at the hospital we just left. He has two kids from a previous marriage, and she just had a baby—on maternity leave.” I read off the notes while he parked the car.
“Magical?” he asked.
“I don’t know. It stood out to me, but with both of them having jobs—doesn’t scream magic. We’ll see.” We headed to the front door.
Mason rang the bell, and we waited.
“Zel phoned ahead, so they should be expecting us,” I said.
Finally, the door opened. Mrs. Wallis with a baby in her arms. “Hi, sorry. Stuff is crazy. Come in.”
There was a loud child at the table making a mess of a macaroni and cheese lunch. It looked like the five-year-old.
“No school today?” I asked.
“I prefer to home school. I usually work evening shifts at the hospital. It saves on childcare, and we make sure the kids don’t get wrong messages.”
“That is Charlie?” Mason asked.
Mrs. Wallis nodded. “My stepson. This is Mary.” She pointed to the baby.
“Congratulations. Is your husband here?” I asked.
She shook her head. “Sorry, he had a friend who needed help ASAP. Car trouble. Happens a lot when he’s got a day off or in the middle of the night—he can fix anything. But he helps people.”
“That’s nice. We wanted to follow up on your other stepson. Joe. He’s about seven. The case hasn’t showed much progress from the local PD. Any developments?” Mason asked.
She sighed. “They want people to trust the police, but they don’t do anything. They just come back and ask questions. The law enforcement groups don’t even talk to each other.”
“Actually, we do have a joint task force going right now. We are talking to each other, but our records indicate that your husband shares custody. Sometimes, one child prefers to stay with the other parent—the agreement may not specify that, but if both parents agree—it can happen. Even on a temporary basis. Then one parent gets upset and enforces the agreement. Is there any chance that’s the case here?” I asked.
She rolled her eyes. “I thought so for a bit. Charlie is younger. He likes it here because I’m home. He has a little sister, but he really misses his brother. We let Joey spend more time with his mom because she’s single now. Alone. He thought she was sad. He’s a really good kid to care about her. Then she missed bringing him back. We went over there to talk. Charlie needs his brother time, too, and I was home schooling him, and she was not making him do any school work. It’s ultimately about what’s best for the kids, but Joey needs to play with his siblings and do his school.”
“With all due respect, Joey was reported missing before Mary was born. Charlie really preferred it here and didn’t want to follow his brother?” Mason asked.
Mrs. Wallis nodded. “Joey is older. He felt he needed to be with his mom. Charlie didn’t want Dad to be lonely either. He was trying to emulate his big brother, but he liked it here more.”
“Was the mother keeping Joey from you?” I asked.
“We thought she was, but she insisted that she had brought Joey back and we had him. That we’d lost him and were blaming it all on her. She just lost her mind. My husband searched her apartment with the police and threatened her if she didn’t tell him where Joey way. We tried everything and no Joey. She thinks we’re hiding him. We think she is. I think someone must’ve taken him.” Mrs. Wallis wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“I’m sorry. Is it possible he ran away to a friend’s house because he felt like he was the problem?” I asked.
She shook her head. “We tried all of his friends. We put the word out all over Anchorage and even in the school system he didn’t attend. His mom is from a small town up North. I think it’s possible she took him there and left him with grandparents or some other family.”
“To take one and not both seems cruel to the children. She’d likely take both if she could,” Mason said.
“I know, but maybe she did that to throw people off.” Mrs. Wallis rocked the baby as it began to fuss.
“Or she meant to get Charlie later if we didn’t raise a stink about Joey staying with her. Is she still living around here or did she move North as well?” I asked.
“No, she’s still here as far as I know. She calls Charlie and comes by to visit every other weekend. But Joey is old enough to understand, and he’s resourceful and smart. Charlie is needier. She probably will leave him with me until he’s old enough, and then snatch Charlie away.” Mrs. Wallis frowned.
“The state troopers could easily go there and do a search. Have you asked them to do that?” Mason asked.
She shook her head. “My hubby doesn’t want to start a war. He was sure Joey would call if he was up there with the grandparents. He’d call us at the first chance to talk to Charlie. But nothing, so making more trouble with that family won’t help. We’ve already created a lot of tension. She swears on her kids that she didn’t do anything or hurt Joey. I don’t believe she would hurt him. She seems worried but not doing anything about it. We were hoping the police could investigate properly, and we wouldn’t be the bad guys in a custody battle.”
“I need more milk!” Charlie called.
“Would you mind if I got it and asked him a few questions?” I asked.
“Please.” Mrs. Wallis sighed with relief.
I headed for the kitchen. “Hi, Charlie. I’m Dot. I’m going to get the milk, okay?”
“Who are you? A friend of my stepmom?” Char
lie asked.
I got the milk from the fridge and added some to his glass. “I work for the FBI. Do you know what that is?”
“Like the police?” he asked.
“Yes, but we handle some more in-depth cases. Complicated stuff.” I put the milk away. “Can I ask you a couple of questions?”
“Am I in trouble?” he frowned.
I smiled. “No, not at all. We want to help your family.”
“Can I see your badge?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye.
I moved my suit jacket aside and pulled the badge from my pocket. “See?”
“Cool.” He grabbed it, and his hand brushed mine.
I felt that tingle. A hint of magic ran through this kid.
“It is cool. But I’m guessing you’re missing your brother. Do you have any idea where he is?” I asked.
Charlie pulled his hand away. “I miss him. He went to stay with Mommy a bit and never came back.”
“Do you think he’s still with your mom? Maybe like a secret?” I asked.
His cute little face scrunched up. “He doesn’t always like me, but he likes Daddy.”
“I think he misses you a lot wherever he is. Did he go hiking or anything like that? Maybe with an uncle or your mom’s family? Maybe he got lost?” I asked.
“Only when we went up to see the polar bears and grandparents,” he said.
“Okay. So, your dad isn’t into that?” I asked.
“He hunts around here, but never lets us go. He says we’re too young yet, and it’s dangerous.” Charlie shrugged. “Are you going to find Joey?”
“We’re going to try. If you think of anything, please let me know. Okay. What’s my name?” I asked.
“Dot.” Charlie said.
“Yep. Dot Foster, FBI,” I said. “Your mom will know how to get ahold of me. But if your mom isn’t around or you get scared—you call 911. You tell them you need to talk to who?”
“Dot Foster, FBI,” he repeated.
“Good job,” I said.
“Okay.” Charlie nodded.
“Thanks, Charlie. I’ll do everything I can to find Joey.” I held out my hand, and he shook it.
“Bye,” he said.
“Bye.” I went back out to Mason.
“The boy doesn’t keep secrets,” Mrs. Wallis said.
“No, but it’s good to hear what he had to say. Kids talk to strangers differently,” I explained. “We’ll talk to your husband’s ex-wife and check in on that town where she has family. Let’s hope it’s something as simple as a custody dispute.”
“Is that it?” she asked.
Mason smiled and stood. “I think we have everything we need to proceed. If you have any questions, please call. If your husband wants to talk—just call, and we’ll come out again. We’ll be in touch.”
“That’s what they all say.” She took the business cards we handed over.
“We have to check things out in person. People can lie too easily over the phone. It’s not magic,” Mason explained.
“Okay, I need to put the baby down for a nap. Thanks.” She followed us to the door.
Once back in the car, I sighed.
“Kid okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “I think Joey and Charlie’s birth mom is some level of magic. The kid had a tingle, but not really active powers. If Joey started to show magical abilities, she might’ve moved him away to protect him. Not sure I can blame her if that’s the situation.”
“I see. Complicated with magical and non-magical parents. Secrets humans keep,” he said.
“Humans mostly can’t handle it. How do you handle it in the village? Everyone knows about magic, but not everyone has it?”
“We don’t have that designation. We’re all mortals. Magic is something you learn and harness. It’s easier for some than others. Like any gift. Some are naturally musical. Some are born hunters. Some are magical from the beginning.” Mason shrugged.
“We can research the mom and the town she’s from. Let’s visit the other family,” I said.
Our phones beeped. We both checked them.
Mandatory task force meeting in half an hour!
“Great,” I said.
We arrived just in time, and Zel was rescheduling the meeting with the family.
“Progress reports,” Lewis said.
The police guys went first, and then Lewis shot a look at me.
“The morning was a bust. Lots of families, but they were normal or resolved. We’ll update those cases in the system but follow-up seems to be lacking. The afternoon has potential, but we need to research the other parent involved,” I said.
“Don’t get caught up in one family. Weed out the ones that don’t fit. If they fit the potential case—focus on those. We have to prove this fast,” Lewis said.
“One definitely does. Pulling us off the case for another meeting only delays things more,” Mason replied.
Lewis glared at Mason. “I think you’re forgetting you’re a temp. Perhaps you’d rather go back to your village, and we’ll find Agent Foster another temp partner who wants to remain with the FBI.”
That shift was weird. I felt like Lewis had been poisoned against Mason somehow. Spell or prejudice. Some white men hated any minorities, even Natives who had more of a right to be here than the rest of us.
“Mason was my choice. He’s approved by Green. What could he have done in one day?” I asked.
“He’s been reading and asking a ton of questions of all the people on the case,” Lewis shot back.
“Fresh eyes. Just what we need.” I shrugged.
“I needed to learn the case. I wasn’t criticizing any of the work done,” Mason answered.
Lewis nodded. “I’d like a word in private with Agent Foster.”
Everyone else left. I fought the rush to leave or punch Lewis—either was a bad choice right now.
“You getting back with your ex isn’t an excuse to put together a task force,” Lewis said.
I frowned. “Mason and I never dated. This is not personal. He’s qualified and available—he worked in Violent Crimes. Mitch is out of commission for a while, and if you get me a partner from another division, they’ll be less up to speed than Mason on how we work. Green got this. What’s your problem with Mason?”
Lewis chuckled. “Mason is a village officer. He’s nothing. The man is only interested in protecting his own kind. I don’t know why he took this job. Maybe he wants to date you? Maybe he wants to find out what we’re up to with some case to do with a Native? I just think he’s not fully on board the way you want him to be.”
“Mason isn’t nothing. He’s very valuable. Do you want him off the task force, or do you want to close down the task force?” I held back, not getting in his face the way I really wanted to. Dragging Mason here was my idea, and I had to defend him.
“This is my shot at running a task force. I don’t want him to screw it up. I don’t think he belongs here. I don’t trust him,” Lewis said.
I nodded. “I think he left the FBI for his own reasons, and the FBI didn’t want him to go.”
“Diversity hire,” Lewis mocked.
“Critical hire, in my opinion. We can’t serve the people of Alaska properly if we don’t have a single Native agent. He needs to stay on this task force and as my partner until you have a real objection that you can sell to Green. Otherwise, get off his back and mine. Who will Green agree with?”
Lewis shrugged. “Just a friendly warning. Your neck is on the line—as his partner.”
Chapter Sixteen
The tension was like icicles down my back as Mason and I went into my office. Some things I couldn’t fix, magic or not.
“You know what’s happening, right?” Mason asked.
“Lewis is a prejudiced jerk. Ignore him. We’ll have to travel soon enough to explore the other families,” I said.
“He is a plant. Green doesn’t want to look racist, but he put Lewis there knowing he can’t tolerate Natives. Why did he take th
is?” Mason asked.
“Power. Lewis sees a chance to move up,” I answered.
“Why did Green approve it?” he asked.
“You’re good. Green won’t let anyone say he blew a case where kids were in danger. He set this up so he could snatch it back from Lewis for any reason. If there is enough evidence, he’ll take it back. Hell, it’s Green. He might even use Lewis being prejudiced against you as a reason to yank it all back. Blame it all on Lewis but reintegrate the cases so he gets all the glory.” I shook my head. “I’m learning more and more why you left.”
Mason nodded. “I’m here for Mitch and you. I don’t care what they think or say. But if I’m hurting the investigation, you need to cut me loose.”
I rolled my eyes. “I need someone I can trust and talk magic with. Indigo is dangerous, and he’s not working alone. I need someone who can have my back with magic as well as the FBI crap.”
Zel tapped on the door.
“Come in,” I said.
“I rescheduled your meeting with the Johnson family for tomorrow morning. I checked out the other Mrs. Wallis—she kept the name because of the kids. She’s a waitress originally from Coldfoot. I’m not sure we should tip her off about the meeting if she is hiding her kid. I talked to her boss, and she’s off tomorrow so might as well try a drop in after the Johnsons. I’ll track down what family she has up in Coldfoot, but that’s a start.” She smiled.
“Thanks. What do you know about Lewis? He’s being a total idiot,” I said.
She nodded. “He moved here because he thinks Alaska is that last holdout from all the invasive types. America is being taken over by outsiders. Alaska is for hardcore homesteaders that founded America.”
“How is he allowed to work in the FBI?” I asked.
“It’s Alaska. People mind their own business. It is the last place where you can truly be off the grid and free. But if he thinks Natives will ever go—he’s wrong.” Mason shrugged.
“Go where? It’s your land,” I scoffed.
“Magicals should just claim Alaska and come out,” Zel said.
I smiled. “That wouldn’t be dangerous at all.”
“If things go badly, our village would simply disappear,” Mason said.
