by Sandra Elsa
Jerry glanced at the screen where President Drover looped through his little tizzy. "Guess that's the only wedding present you get."
"But it's one hell of a wedding present," Harrison said.
Jerry turned off the loop. "Not that I don't enjoy this. But somebody mentioned dinner?"
"Yeah, we only have forty-five minutes to get cleaned up and back there. We'll be in the bathroom." Harrison carried me down the hall, then went back to the bedroom while I undressed and washed up. He returned with the slinky black dress he'd picked out the night before and helped me into it, each accidental brush of his fingers as he pulled it over my head a caress that left a trail of heat down my body.
"I want to make love to you right now. Except we don't have the time to make it memorable. And I want the first time between us to be memorable."
He quickly washed, then carried me back to the living room and set me down on the now empty couch. "I'll be right back." As he opened the door to the bedroom he'd claimed for his own I saw my boxes lined against the far wall. He left the door open and I watched him change from a distance guaranteed not to get us off track. He put on a white shirt and black slacks, then brushed his hair out and returned to me, hair brush in hand.
Jerry came out of the other room clad similar to Harrison. And Harrison scooped me off the couch and carried me down to the car.
At the restaurant, Jerry got my wheelchair out of the back of the car while Harrison lifted me into it. Other customers ebbed away from us, as we made our way to the front door. People stood inside, waiting for tables. I hoped that meant the food was good, because personally, I’d rather eat at Little Gobble than wait for a table.
Stacy was one of the people waiting. When she came over to us, people decided we weren't toxic and to be avoided. I mourned the loss. I put my best face on and smiled at her as she welcomed us warmly.
"Welcome to District Fifty-five, Francesca." She bent over and kissed my cheek.
That was pushing the boundaries of how close somebody I didn't know could get but I kept the smile pasted on my face even if I couldn't return the over-the-top greeting. "Thank you for inviting us to supper."
She looked at Harrison and then Jerry. "Which of these two fine gentlemen is your new husband?"
Harrison's hand descended possessively to my shoulder. I reached up and placed mine over his. "My husband, Harrison Kendrel." I waved toward Jerry. "And his cousin, Jerry, whom I don't even have a last name for yet." Stacy held out her hand to Harrison and then Jerry. Sharp green eyes assessing both as she extended her greeting.
Jerry engulfed the proffered hand in both of his. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
We had gone from pariahs to be ignored, to center of interest, when Stacy greeted us. I was glad when she led us from the group in the foyer to a table along the far wall. Two women were already seated at the table. Both of them had Stacy's rich brown hair and sparkling green eyes. Stacy introduced them as Sara and Beth, her sisters, then gave them our names.
Stacy looked at me and said, "They share my duties so I thought you should get to know them as well. There are four of us. Barb is on duty now."
"What is it you do?" Jerry asked.
Stacy's eyes darted to me and I closed my eyes with the slightest shake of my head. The hesitation barely noticeable she said, "We work for the District government. So how long do you folks plan to be here?"
"We're not certain," Harrison said. "Frankie's leg needs some time off. But we plan to travel. We're thinking sooner might be better. Need to get some things together before heading out."
"I'm thinking at minimum a week, maximum two," I added.
"So where are you headed?"
"Far away from the Founding Two-hundred," Harrison said. "We're not sure precisely where we'll end up but we need to get to someplace my family has fewer resources."
Stacy shared a glance with her sisters. "Who's looking for you?"
"Who isn't?" I answered before Harrison could bring up his family again.
She turned to look at me. "Nobody with your talent has been registered in a long time, so I figure you--"
"I'm a private investigator who got tangled in something that stripped away my options. Time to start over somewhere more relaxed. My husband was in the middle of the tangle and his cousin, somewhere at the beginning of the mess. We all need to leave. We're not a danger to anybody except those who might choose to come after us."
"I'm sorry, but after what you did to me this afternoon because a couple of idiots thought they could bully you…if somebody seriously comes after you, I suspect it will be a representative of District Seven and your stress levels will hit the roof. I'm not sure that would be good for anybody."
"Then it would behoove the good folk of this district to make sure that doesn't happen," I said. "Like I told you earlier, I don't control when that particular talent swells out of control. We won't be here that long. And after the week I've had, I really hope it will be quiet. I just got married and I'm thinking staying behind closed doors might be a good way to spend most of my time."
Harrison added in a light cheerful tone, "A few shopping trips to get ready to travel."
Stacy turned to Jerry, then paused while the waitress took drink orders. When the cheerful woman left, Stacy asked, "And what are your plans?"
He hesitated, eyes darting at Sara. "Sounds like I'm going to be bored. Frankie rescued me from a bad situation. They took me home from the hospital, but Mom thought maybe I should leave before I ended up dead anyway."
"You're from District Seven?"
Jerry licked his lips, then nodded.
"And who wants you dead?"
He glanced over at us before saying, "Harrison's father. He thinks I purposely led Harrison into a trap. Blames me for giving him a taste of freedom. Hell, in his mind it's probably my fault he met Frankie. He escaped the original hazard but he won't go back without her and I'm getting the feeling there isn't enough money in the world to lure her into District Seven."
"I wasn't going back unless they dragged me anyway, with or without Frankie," Harrison said. "She just makes me that much more determined to stay away."
"What happened to your face?" Stacy nodded at the fine lines not yet healed that marred Harrison's perfection.
"That would be from what my cousin labeled escaping the original hazard. I went through a window pursued by a creature of shadows."
"Shadows?"
"It was a man." I said. "Cloaked in some manner of spell that gave him supernatural powers and hid him in shadow. When the watch killed it, it transformed back into an elderly human male. He seemed happy to die. Don't think the transformation was his personal doing."
Harrison looked over at me. "I didn't know it was dead."
"Five of the watch Were's chased it down. Caught it as it was about to jump between buildings it fell five stories and five of us unloaded silver into it when it struck the ground."
"Sounds like a bit of overkill," Stacy said.
"You had to be there. The fall didn't kill it, I'd already shot it three times with regular ammo, and we were standing outside a room filled with bodies. Nerves were strung a bit tight."
"That thing was human?" Harrison sounded doubtful.
"Sixty years ago he was Walter Effron. Drug kingpin. Murderer. Embezzler. You name it he was probably guilty of it. They had a day devoted to his activities and disappearance in my criminology courses. Spell-morphed and probably left with the directive to keep people away from that room. The question is; who designed it. Neither of the siphons had that sort of talent."
Harrison narrowed his eyes and chewed his lower lip turning to glance at the three sisters before he asked, "You have some ideas on that?"
"One or two. But it's really not something I'm prepared to discuss right now. Let's just say I find it peculiar that you and Jerry were both snared from your regular routines, and your father has got to have enemies. He can blame Jerry all he wants for you being caught, but I don't think J
erry could remember his own name by then."
"Oh my god." Jerry's face contorted as he struggled to contain reaction. Tears glimmered but didn't fall. "Thank you, Frankie. I wasn't even sure if I was responsible for Harrison getting involved. You have no idea how it feels to have somebody believe you're innocent."
"Somebody kept the siphons and Effron as pets. And whoever it was; has it in for your family."
Harrison grew quiet. Something was obviously bothering him. Figured he'd broach it when the time was appropriate.
Our drinks arrived and we ordered supper. Until our food arrived Harrison filled the gaps with questions about where particular types of shops were, like camping and natural foods and if there were any sporting stores in the District. Stacy and her sisters all cheerfully answered his questions. Once food arrived, talk slowed, but didn't cease. All in all it was a pleasant evening. Numerous people stopped by to say hello to Stacy or one of her sisters and they lingered until they were introduced to us.
When the food was gone, Harrison stood and extended a hand to Stacy. "Thank you for inviting us. Pleasure to meet you. Hate to rush off, but I got married this morning…" He left the--there are things I want to be doing more than meeting my new neighbors-- hanging in the air, but it was plain to all.
Stacy blushed and said, "Of course. Sorry for keeping you. And congratulations."
Shy quiet Sara extended a hand to Jerry. "If you're bored, give me a call. Maybe we can find something to keep you entertained while you're with us."
"Is there a tri-D Cineplex? I get the feeling maybe I don't want to be in the house early tonight."
"Two streets down and three to the right," she volunteered. "Unless you'd like company." Her cheeks flushed.
"I would appreciate the company. Is that all right with you, Frankie?"
I closed my eyes and looked at Sara's bright pink aura. I knew Jerry could see it just as easily, but he'd walked away with a siphon once. I smiled at Sara and said, "Suits my plans just fine. You know how to get home?"
"Everybody knows where you've moved into," Sara said. "We'll get him home."
"Just not too early," Harrison said. He clasped Jerry's shoulder as he stood. "Have a good night."
"You too. And Frankie…I'm sorry about this morning. Harrison's happy. Happier than I've ever seen him. You just…surprised me."
"We'll start over tomorrow," I assured him. "Good-night."
Harrison backed the wheelchair away from the table and headed for the door.
Stacy accompanied us out. "I got the feeling you didn't think we should let him know anything we didn't want known elsewhere?"
"I don't know him well enough to trust him, and he definitely came off with a Sevener attitude this morning. I think you're better off not letting him know."
"I'll clue Sara in. She is safe with him, right?"
I glanced up at Harrison leaving the answer to him.
"He's never mistreated a woman. He hasn't lost the attitude that being from District Seven makes him better than the rest of the world. Frankie hasn't had him long enough to beat that out of him. If Sara can handle his inflated ego, they'll be fine."
"Good enough, it's been a pleasure meeting you."
"Same here. Sorry about this afternoon."
"Nothing personal, but I'm sort of glad you don't plan to stay."
"If we keep the house, is there someone you know who might be interested in living there with our excess belongings for say…half the rent?"
"I'll ask around."
Beth joined us just in time to bid good-night as we stopped at the car. "What are we asking around about?"
Stacy told her. Beth's hand shot in the air. "Me, me, me. And my boyfriend."
"Guess that answers that."
"We'll be back and forth periodically. Maybe once a year. Might be two or three times the first year, but eventually we'll move all our stuff and be done with return trips."
Harrison's handheld chirped a two note tone I hadn't heard before. His eyes caught mine. "I need to call him. Can you twist the location we're calling from?"
"As long as my father's been allowed to go home. Let me message him and find out where he's at." I turned to Stacy and Beth. "Good-night. Beth, we'll get with you a couple days before we leave. We'll have to check with the owner to make sure the plan's all right with him."
"Nice meeting you," she said.
Good-night," Stacy added.
Chapter 33
Harrison held the door while I transferred to the car, then folded the chair and slid it in the back seat. Once behind the wheel he said, "I need to tell him your thoughts on why Jerry and I ended up in the clutches of a siphon. He should at least know somebody is out to get the family."
"I thought about telling Wally, but somebody at HQ stole a copy of the report from the day we met. And somebody enabled a siphon in a containment unit to commit suicide, or maybe even killed her. Wally would have to take it up the chain of command. Too many eyes. Your way's probably better, as long as we can do it without being traced."
I used the light in the parking lot to send a message to Mage Jallahan. He replied promptly that he was at the university in the middle of an experiment, but he wanted to congratulate us on our marriage and hoped we'd be happy together.
I shot back one more message. **You're alone?
**Yes. I'll write when I'm through with this experiment.
**Sorry to disturb you. Just wanted to make sure you weren't with Drover. We need to call him, but we really don't want to be found.
**I have a handle on Jordan's persuasion technique. I have discovered that if I care passionately enough about something, nothing he does can make me go against my natural inclination. I will not help him find you. He cannot make me, help him find you. Do what you must, knowing you are safe.
**Words fail me and that does not happen often. Take care of yourself, Father. I have no doubt Jordan Drover can be a fierce enemy.
**Daughter, I tried to make him see the good side of you marrying his son. I do not know that I made headway with him, but I believe I gave him something to think about. Beakers are boiling over. I hope I get the chance to see you again.
#
I left him alone. When I put my handheld down, Harrison started the car and drove to the house. Fifty-five was quiet after dark. The trip took less than five minutes. We sat in the car while Harrison read the message on his handheld from his father. He turned it to allow me to read it.
**Harrison, I'm at a loss for words. You leave your mother. You leave me and all our plans because of a woman? I know damn good and well she's a mage. Now you've married her, bring her home and all will be forgiven.
#
Harrison picked up the new phone but I stopped him and dug in my tote until I found the old one. "No sense giving him our new number."
Harrison took the phone and dialed his father's number. He put it on speaker.
It rang four times before being picked up. Jordan Drover asked, "To whom am I speaking?" in a measured tone, clearly putting effort into calm.
"Your son. Don't try to coerce me into anything, you won't change my mind. I'm not coming back until I'm ready to come back and I don't know if that will ever happen. Francesca doesn't wish to live in District Seven."
"I'll send the watch after you. Mages are required to live here."
"I got married today, Father. There are many things I would prefer to be doing than talking to you. However while discussing recent events, Frankie made several observations I thought you should hear."
Jordan Drover listened in silence as Harrison outlined my thoughts on the siphons place of residence and the shadow creature and the unlikelihood of pure chance putting both himself and Jerry in front of the same woman. Both snared from a regular routine. He also mentioned the report stolen from Detective Thompson's desk, and the fact that the siphon, when caught, hung herself in a containment unit when that should have been impossible.
When he finished, Drover said, "Your wif
e came up with this?"
"Yes. I thought you should know, there's a very real chance somebody is attempting to kill off your family one at a time, and I assume you would be the ultimate target."
"Did she have any ideas who might be behind it?"
"I don't know the residents of District Seven except what I see on the news." I spoke for myself. "Whoever it is, would have to be strong enough he himself did not become a victim of the siphon. Possibly someone who employs a lot of Were. Probably from a family whose excessive talents stretch back at least 60 years—“
“What brings you to that conclusion?” he interrupted.
“Walter Effron. The man was reduced to a shadow. Little more than a guard dog, and he was our world’s version of a mob boss. Probably had as many security guards on him as you do. Most likely of the mage and were variety. He didn’t go down easy.” I’d read up on Effron after we’d killed him. Eight bodies had been found at his last known location. One of his security detail had never been found. Speculation had flown about whether the surviving guard had shared Effron’s fate or had been the turn coat that caused his demise. “You might want to check with Detective Dowling from HQ. He issued orders without giving a reason, to ban me from District Three when I went with Sergeant Wallin to speak to the female siphon. He was obviously keeping abreast of the situation and tried slowing us down before we could get there. She was already out the door when we arrived."
Silence filled the air for at least ten seconds. Right about the time I decided we lost the connection Jordan said, "So you're there too, Francesca. I didn't think I’d ever get the chance to speak to you again. Answer one question for me?"
"Ask it."
"What are you?"
"You've had enough clues. Surely you figured it out by now." Nobody was going to have a recording of me confessing to being a null.
"Does your father know what you are?"
"If you're asking did he know what my mother was and by default what I would be, I'm reasonably certain he had no clue. If you're asking did I tell him, the answer is still, no. I believe he figured it out after I reclaimed my weapons but he never directly asked."
