by TR Cameron
“It doesn’t mention whether that effort is successful or not, I’m guessing.”
Keshalla snorted. “Correct. They never work that way.”
Ruby reclined on the boulder to look up at the sky with its smattering of wispy clouds. “Let me make one more crazy guess. It’s inside the mountain.”
“Lower than anyone’s ever been, as far as we know.”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’ll check my calendar. I’m a little busy at the moment, but maybe something will open up in the ‘suicidal quest for something that may or may not exist’ category.”
Her teacher laughed and gave her a friendly slap on the stomach. “Well, if you decide to do it, know that I will go with you.”
Shocked, Ruby sat up to see Keshalla's face, to be sure she wasn’t joking. “Really?”
“Of course. You know you always have my support. Besides, if you’re killed along the way, I get a fancy new artifact sword.” She managed to keep a neutral expression through all of it.
Ruby scowled. “Your teaching style really needs some work, lady.”
They laughed, and she departed with a far lighter soul than when she’d arrived. Now, it’s time to recruit some allies.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ruby made it back to Earth in the early evening and decided to see if she could catch the sheriff before she left the office. She imagined the woman probably worked late hours, and if it didn’t pan out, she could always try another day. Her new costume looked fantastic in the mirror, perfect for her official intro to Alejo.
A portal delivered her to the small-town seat of county government that was home to all its official offices. She’d reconnoitered the area the week before and counted herself lucky to have found the time to do so in her packed schedule. Her arrival alley was a block or so away from the sheriff’s office if she remembered correctly. She launched herself up to the rooftop of the two-story building she’d materialized behind and looked around. Yep. Two blocks.
She timed the traffic in the streets below and leapt over the spaces between buildings when the risk of discovery was minimal, in case her veil faltered. It would be unlucky if the sheriff lived a significant distance away, but again, if it didn’t work out, she’d try later. The information she wanted to share was useful but not imminently dire. The roof of the sheriff’s office boasted no additional protections, and she peered down over the far side and spotted the woman’s official vehicle. A security camera looked out on the area. She made sure her illusion of invisibility was in place before dropping to the ground and crossing to crouch behind Alejo’s car. She put her hands on the trunk, summoned the same spell she’d used to track the diamonds, and retreated to the roof. She released her veil to conserve her magic and settled in to wait.
It took a little over an hour before the sheriff emerged and started her drive home. Ruby moved rooftop to rooftop along a parallel avenue, hidden by an illusion. When the professional buildings gave way to a residential area, it forced her to descend to ground level, running on the sidewalk and occasionally in the street to avoid other pedestrians. Still, her magic led her unerringly after her quarry.
Fortunately, after less than a mile, the trail ended at a block of houses, one of which had the sheriff’s car parked in the driveway. Ruby headed into the back yard and spotted the woman standing inside through sliding glass doors beyond a narrow patio. She had a bottle of beer in one hand and her phone in the other, apparently immersed in scrolling through something on it. Demetrius had identified that number, and she pulled out a burner phone and dialed it.
The other woman lifted the phone to her ear with a frown. “Alejo.”
“Don’t panic, but look in your back yard.”
She turned and obeyed, then said, “A person in a Halloween costume sitting on a swing. Should I be impressed?”
Ruby laughed. The illusion from the mask distorted her voice so the sheriff wouldn’t recognize it from their previous encounters. “How about you come out and chat? I’ll keep my hands on the ropes. You can bring your gun if you like.” Ruby was fairly confident the other woman’s weapon wouldn’t be loaded with anti-magic bullets, so the force shield an inch away from her skin would protect her from any misunderstandings.
“That’s asking for a lot of trust.”
“It took a lot for me to come here. Seems fair you should have to give a little, too.” Alejo sighed and ended the call. Ruby packed the phone away and made sure both her hands were visible on the ropes that held up the swing. It was attached to a sturdy old tree, and she decided she liked the sheriff’s taste in housing. The other woman emerged with a second bottle and offered it. Ruby shook her head. “Can’t drink through the mask, unfortunately.”
Alejo laughed. “Maybe next time, then. Something I can do for you?”
“The reverse. I have information for you.”
The sheriff shrugged. “Beware of strangers bearing gifts, they say. How do I know it’s good?
Ruby gave a small snort. “Have you seen what I’ve been doing? For my part, I’ve been watching you. You seem like an honest person committed to the actual values of your job. I’m not sure of anyone else in your office and certainly can’t trust Ely PD.”
Alejo replied, “Maybe you should be talking to the Paranormal Defense Agency?” Ruby stared at her in silence until the sheriff laughed and admitted, “Okay, I agree, those guys are losers. So, what did you want to tell me? No promises to believe you, just so we’re clear.”
“Fair enough. First, Aces Security was involved with the diamond theft. They might not have been behind it, but they definitely played a role.”
The other woman frowned. “How do you know?”
Ruby shook her head. “I’ll probably never be able to answer that question the way you want. Suffice to say that my sources are excellent.”
“But why? I don’t see the payoff for them.”
She shrugged. “Chaos works to their advantage, maybe. People tend to seek security and protection when they feel threatened, right?”
Alejo nodded but didn’t seem convinced. “I’ll look into it.”
“Be careful who you rely on. I really think they have informants or wiretaps or something on y’all. Yes, I know that sounds paranoid. Trust me on it for the moment. Those guys are playing for keeps.”
“I hear you. I am capable of being discreet, believe it or not.”
“Okay, second, there’s a gang out there selling black-market magic items.”
Alejo tipped the bottle back, finishing it, then set it on the ground beside her. “I’m aware of that one. Seems to be mainly operated out of pawnshops. We’re building a case, although it’s difficult given the large number of them. Could be there is a leak somewhere because they always seem to be more than willing to let us look around their places when we show up unannounced.”
Ruby pushed off, putting the swing into motion. “Maybe consider looking at Aces for that one, too.”
The other woman frowned. “Really?”
“Really. Third, if you have information for me, send it to the email address that I’ll text you when we’re done. Don’t bother trying to trace it. Any attempt will result in its erasure and no more communication between us. And trust me, my infomancer is better than anyone you have access to. No insult intended.”
She laughed. “None taken. It’s a lucrative field, so we get interns at the start of their classes, at best.” Her expression sobered. “Why should I believe you?”
Ruby shrugged. “Don’t my actions speak for me?”
“That’s one side of the argument. The other says you might have another agenda.”
“Fair. And really, who doesn’t have multiple agendas, right? But we want the same thing: peace in and around Magic City. You put catching me on the bottom of your to-do list, and I’ll keep sharing information with you. Maybe, eventually, you’ll be willing to share some back.”
Alejo considered it, looking up at the stars now that night had fully
fallen. “You’re asking a lot, masked stranger.” Her tone made it seem like she was referring to an old western movie or something. “Still, I don’t have a lot of other people offering to help, and since you’re clearly a magical, what the hell am I going to accomplish against you in my backyard, anyway?” She uncapped the second beer and took a drink. “You should know, the PDA is around, more of them than usual. I’m pretty sure they’re interested in you and your two friends.”
Ruby grinned and wondered what the dragon mask made that look like. “See? We’re already sharing useful information. Thanks for the warning.” She stood to leave. “Hey, any idea where I can find the Desert Ghosts? I have a question to ask them.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
With the information Alejo had provided, it was easy enough for Ruby to find the garage that served as the home to the Desert Ghosts Motorcycle Club. The building lay within a large fenced-in area, but no cameras were in evidence. The structure at one time had been an auto repair shop with six bays. Now, all those were open, and the sound of raucous conversation and celebration came from inside. She opened her senses to the place and detected magical alarms covering the perimeter. That reminds me, I need to lock down the house. I should’ve gotten stuff from Margrave. At least I can throw some spells around as soon as I get back.
She jumped up and over the defenses on a burst of force magic and landed smoothly on the roof, careful to maintain her illusory invisibility throughout. From there, she was able to make her way carefully down to a high window, fortunately left open for air circulation, and crawl inside. The skeleton of the structure was metal, with steel beams crisscrossing in a grid pattern. She crawled into a corner and crouched to survey the situation.
Below, magicals of every variety commonly found in Magic City were sitting around on lawn chairs, toolboxes, or on the concrete floor, or wandering around. Everyone had an alcoholic beverage in hand, some simply beer bottles, others with as much as a fifth of liquor in their grip. They appeared to be having a good time, and even the occasional raised voices, pushing, and shoving seemed playful. Men outnumbered women about two to one, but the latter were decidedly not subservient in any way. She sensed respect for them from the men rather than stereotypical condescension, confirming what she knew about the group. It’s not impossible for people to be scumbags and still do a ton of charity work, but I can’t imagine it happens that often.
She summoned a force shield around herself, then another in front of her, and called, “Hey. Can I talk to you?”
Suddenly guns were in evidence, and several shots were fired in her direction before a voice shouted an order for them to stop. A dwarf yanked pistols from a few people’s hands, saying, “You’ve had too much to drink. We don’t shoot at shadows. You get these back when you prove yourself capable of using your brain, rather than just damaging it with alcohol.”
Another dwarf looked up in her direction, and she released the veil and allowed her costume to glitter so he could see her. He asked, “Who are you up there?”
“A friend, I hope. A friend in need of help.”
He crossed his arms and growled, “People seeking our assistance usually work through channels. Are you gonna give me a crick in my neck by staying up there, or are you gonna get down here like a civilized uninvited guest?”
She laughed and jumped down, using force magic to land softly. “I apologize for the strange entry, but obviously I would’ve taken you by surprise, regardless.”
He nodded. “Yeah, since it’s not Halloween. You one of those people involved in the casino things I heard about on the news?” The rest of the group had sauntered into position behind him and in a semi-circle to either side of her. She chose not to take it as a threat, confident that she could escape if they decided they wanted to mix it up.
“Yeah, I am. Is that good or bad?”
The dwarf shrugged. “Near as I can tell, it’s good. So, what do you want?”
She shook her head. “I can’t share the details. They’d be too dangerous for you to know unless you’re in.”
He chuckled. “So, we should help you on trust, is it?”
“You know what I’ve been up to. I know what you all do for the community. It seems like a natural partnership.”
“If getting our help was that easy, we’d never have any time left to relax.” He gestured at the people surrounding them, who laughed at the crack.
“Fair point. Are we at an impasse, then?”
He reached up and scratched his chin under his long beard. The dwarf was handsome, with strong bones, sharp blue eyes, and sandy brown hair. “Know how to ride?”
“Yeah. I’m adequate.”
“Have a bike?”
She shrugged. “Not at the moment, but I could get one if properly motivated.”
He gave a small nod. “Then you could apply for membership, join us, become a probie.”
“Probie? That sounds a little intrusive.”
He laughed. “Probational member. Nothing more.”
Ruby replied, “What if I’m human under here? I don’t see any around.”
He shrugged. “We take anyone who can pass the entrance test and are willing to help us with the charity stuff, humans included, although none are part of the group at the moment. We have in the past, but you know, people move in, people move out. The Desert Ghosts continue on.” He lifted his bottle in a toast and took a deep drink.
She crossed her arms. “This entrance exam, what is it?”
He grinned. “Hold your own against one of us in a fistfight.”
“Do I get to pick?” She pointed at a woman to her right, a brunette with some severely impressive makeup. “She’s cute. That could be fun.”
The joke got her a laugh, but the dwarf shook his head. “Nope, I choose. You game?”
Ruby nodded. “Let’s do it.”
He clapped his hands and yelled, “Make a space. Betting by normal rules.” The people moved quickly to clear an area for the bout. Chatter rose and fell as odds were offered, rejected, revised, and rejected again. He informed her, “No magic, no fancy equipment. Ditch the armor.”
“Your word that I get it back as-is. No touchy.”
The dwarf laughed. “Freely given.”
She started to unstrap her armor plates. “And if I lose?”
“You don’t get to join. You do get to go on your way. Filled with shame at the loss, of course.”
“Of course. Seems fair.” She finished removing her gear and set it aside in a pile.
He said, “And the mask.”
Ruby shook her head. “That would be bad for everyone. Some information you’re better without. Can’t be forced to tell what you don’t know. How about we make faces off-limits instead?”
He considered it for a second, then replied, “Done.” He raised his voice again and called, “Tymas.”
The Kilomea who stepped out from the back of the group was easily seven-and-a-half feet tall and muscular like all members of his species, although maybe gone a little soft around the middle. Yeah, probably that rock-hard softness that looks deceptive until you hit it, or it hits you. She laughed. “Y’all don’t play fair, do you?”
Her opponent punched a fist into an open hand and replied in a gravelly tone, “We’ve seen you in action on the web. Your skills are obvious. Consider it a sign of respect.”
She snorted. “I’ll try to remember that when someone half again my size is pummeling me.”
He shrugged. “Clearly you’re brave since you risked dropping in on us. I’m sure you can handle it.”
“No hard feelings, however it turns out?”
“None on my side. Start when you’re ready.”
It had been a while since Ruby had been in a standup fistfight with anyone other than Keshalla, and they didn’t spar unarmed all that often. She circled with the bigger man, feinting to try to draw him out. He bit the first time, and she grinned behind her mask. When she tried it again, he was wise to her tricks. He stepped toward
her instead of flinching away and forced her to scuttle backward to the laughter of the surrounding crowd. They started to yell suggestions, mainly telling the Kilomea to smash her, although a few higher voices suggested she should kick him in uncomfortable places or gouge his eyes out.
He grinned, and she did too. No matter what else happened, she couldn’t deny that she liked the members of the group she’d met so far. All right, let’s do this. She skipped in fast, delivering a pair of punches to his stomach. They landed, but as she’d thought, his gut was rock-solid, like punching a huge sack of sand that was ready to burst. He threw a looping cross with his right hand that she ducked to avoid but only managed a partial block on the left jab to her ribs. It connected hard enough to hurt and sent her skipping back out of range.
Her biggest concern wasn’t how to beat him. She knew a zillion ways to manage that. It was how to do so in a way that wouldn’t permanently damage him or somehow offend the rest of the group. The situation took a lot of her options off the table. In a fight to the death, she’d be working to break his joints or aiming kill strikes to the throat. None of that was useful at the moment.
Her musings came to an abrupt end as he rushed forward with a shout that startled her, as he’d doubtless intended it to. She flinched but was ready when he arrived. He slammed into her and tried for a bear hug. She fell backward and grabbed his shirt, then tumbled him over the top of her in her best Captain Kirk impersonation. He crashed to the ground behind her, scattering onlookers who had gotten too close. She made it back to her feet and darted away before he could recover. The crowd cheered, urging them both on. He rose with a smile. “You’ve got a little fight in you. I like that.”
She recognized the quote and laughed. “I’m a dragon, not Batman, but well said.”
He charged her again, this time more warily, and unexpectedly snapped a foot at her midsection. Big mistake, buddy. She grabbed the leg and pulled up on it, intending to flip him over. It came as a complete shock when he used it as a lever to throw a roundhouse kick at the side of her head. Forced to release him or take the blow, she dove out of the way and watched him finish the flip with a nimble landing. “Capoeira, are you kidding?”
