by Martha Carr
“You were saying?” Lois asked innocently.
“The phone works but we were wondering if there was another way… a kind of back channel?”
“You mean something magical that she’ll recognize came from one of her kind?”
“We’re not all the same species, you know,” said Patsy, giving Lois a warning look. “We’re not like human beings who separate themselves out by all kinds of things.”
The general looked stymied and turned to look at his entourage, as if he was thinking of leaving.
“That doesn’t mean you don’t have a good idea.” Lois pushed her glasses back up her nose. “Or that we can’t help. Patsy’s right, you know. Leira Berens is not a witch. She’s part Light Elf, most likely. No D&D players? It’s like a bigger, taller magical pixie. Like a giant Tinkerbell.”
The group of men nodded their heads solemnly.
“But we can send her a message. We’re well trained, highly qualified at what we do.” Lois was constantly offering reasons to be given another raise. “What do you want us to tell her?”
“This letter we prepared has an outline of the job.” The general handed Lois a folder with a single sheet in it.
Lois opened the folder and looked at the paper. One sentence. She rolled her eyes at all the pomp and circumstance for nineteen words. But the last part still made her let out a short gasp.
Act as a liaison between the human beings and the magical world at large, including other worlds or dimensions.
“Other worlds?” she squeaked.
“That’s classified,” the general said, holding up his hand. “We can only discuss that with Detective Berens. Can you get her the message?”
“It doesn’t say anything in here about pay, or how to call you back, or where she’d work.” Patsy looked over Lois’ shoulder, flipping it over to see if anything might be on the back.
“All negotiable. Let Berens know that,” he said firmly.
Patsy’s eyebrows shot up.
“Here’s my card,” said the general, taking a step forward, finally separating himself from the rest of his group, looking even smaller as he held out the small square ivory-colored card. “My private number is on there. She can contact me there, and only there. I’ll need the file back,” he said, holding out his hand. “You have the message committed to memory?”
Lois shut the folder, handing it back. Patsy went back to frowning. “It’s just the one sentence. I think we’ve got it.”
“Send as soon as possible?”
“Right away, sir,” Lois said, a look coming over her face. Patsy saw it and looked back at the general.
“Thank you for your service, ladies,” he said, clicking his heels together and nodding his head. The men turned and waited, peeling out after the general. The sounds of the birds tweeting followed the men out, growing fainter as they got to the parking lot.
“We added that feature to let us know where they were when they’re here,” said Patsy. “Those are mourning doves. Very soothing.” She waved her wand and put General Hospital back up, front and center. “Now, what was that look all about? You looked like you were sucking a lemon!”
“Didn’t you get it? They know more than we told them.”
“So? They’re not obligated to tell us anything. We tell them. That’s the gig.”
Lois looked annoyed. “No shit, Sherlock. But if we didn’t tell them, and they’re hinting at other worlds, other dimensions, then who did and what do they know? What are they so worried about that they’re looking for someone powerful to help them? And mark my words, Ms. Berens is very powerful. They seem to know it too.”
“Ours is not to reason why. Ours is to do our job and get our paycheck.” Patsy popped an M&M into her mouth.
“You’re not at all worried? When has more information about our world in the hands of humans ever been a good idea?”
“Things are changing. The gates opening is getting closer, you know that. It’s coming whether we like it or not. Besides, from the looks of the reports we got, Leira Berens can handle herself. She may be just what we need in there with them. Send the message.”
“Like I had a choice,” said Lois, pulling out her phone. “If they only knew. We use their technology half the time. Hello, Herman? Yeah, I need a favor. Can you send a ball of light with a message to that Light Elf, Leira Berens? Yeah, I know you saw her at Jackalope! Why do you think I’m calling you? She needs to call me at this number, right away. Tell her it’s about a case.”
“Oh, that’s good.” Patsy gave her the thumbs up. “What if she doesn’t call back?”
“Then we send a ball of light.”
Chapter Fifteen
Leira hung up the phone.
“Well?” Correk stood next to her, impatiently leaning over the kitchen counter, his hands on his hips.
The troll was hanging from the handle of the refrigerator, grunting and pulling, trying to get it open.
“They offered me a job.” Leira shook her head. Everything in her life was changing. “That was a General Anderson. He said I can name my salary, name my hours and can even have a fancy title if I need one.”
“What would you do for them that would rate all of that?”
The troll finally got the door of the fridge open, with a triumphant, “Aha!” He swung backward, still hanging on. He let go and dropped down, scurrying for the opening. Correk reached out and shut it swiftly with his foot, leaving the troll standing in front of the closed door. “Motherfuckers!” he squeaked.
“That’s a new one. Your vocabulary is growing, two syllables,” Leira said, looking down at the frustrated troll. “Why doesn’t he just grow a little and push you aside?”
“There’s a fortunate loophole to all of that. Once attached to another being he can’t grow or shrink on his own. He needs your emotions to do it. What’s the job?”
“They want me to act as a kind of consultant between human beings and magical beings. They said there’s more but we would have to have a face to face meeting and they need to know right away.”
“Where are you meeting them?” Correk look concerned.
“Here, in Austin. They’re coming here. I’m to go alone, which is a good idea. I don’t want the U.S. government getting a good look at you. We still have black sites and I have no idea how advanced our technology really is. What if they have something that can block magic? Besides, you’re running low. That last spell you tried at the party kinda fizzled. Sorry bro, that was a flop.”
“It was a perfectly acceptable full-size unicorn made out of light from a fireball that ran around the room. Twice.”
“Before mooing. Don’t even say that was on purpose. It’s okay, I get it. You need a recharge.”
“Smug doesn’t look good on you. At least tell me where you’re going.”
“In case you have to rally the troops?” Leira cocked her head to one side and gave him a crooked smile. “At an old warehouse on Ben White Boulevard. You didn’t think they’d talk about all of this in a public place, did you?”
“Why are you even considering it? I thought you loved your job.”
“Did and do, very much. But, my ability to hide what I can do is getting harder every day. Time is going to run out on me. The meeting’s in a couple hours. Apparently, they’re already in town. You’ll have to go to the basketball game with Toni and her friends without me. Go, you’ll have fun. You liked them, you know you did.”
“I do need to visit home again, and soon.”
“I figured.”
The troll had managed to open the refrigerator again and this time, scrambled up to the top shelf where he was peeling American cheese slices as fast as he could, stuffing them into his mouth.
“Let him. Those have been in there forever. Look how happy he is. Is he even chewing?” Leira winced and looked away as the troll opened his mouth to shove in another piece, exposing the wet glob of cheese already in his craw.
Correk picked up the troll by the scruff of his
neck, grabbing the cheese at the same time, and deposited both in the new round plastic blue toy box Leira had gotten for the tiny beast.
“You’re in more danger around the ladies than I will be meeting the general today. It’s clear they need me. They won’t want to harm me.”
“It’s also clear they know a lot about you.”
“It’s a complicated world. Between human technology and magic, that was inevitable. Besides, magic leaves a trail and I left a couple of good ones lately. Somebody talked.” She shrugged. “It was bound to happen.”
“You look too unconcerned for my taste.”
“I’m still bringing my gun and my spidey senses, along with my magic. I’m ready.”
“I hope so.”
“Believe so. I’m still a damn good detective, just enhanced. It’ll be okay. Thanks for caring.” She patted his arm, trying to reassure him.
Correk shook his head. “No, it’s not the job. You think you’ve got a way to help your mother.”
“That took you long enough. Of course I do, but it’s still true that this could turn into a good move for me… if they’re willing to play things my way. They should be a big enough bully to clear my mother’s name and erase any record of her ever being diagnosed as crazy.”
The troll belched cheese, giving his belly a satisfied rub.
“Maybe I’ll bring the troll,” she said.
“Much better plan.”
Correk worked his way through the crowds in the stands at the Erwin Center, up to the rows near the top that held all the people from the Jackalope. The game was already underway and everyone was yelling and cheering for the Longhorns men’s basketball team.
People were on their feet shouting as Jack and Larry waved to him to sit with them.
“Sorry about the nosebleed section,” said Jack. “It was the best we could do. The Longhorns have some devoted fans. Glad you could make it! Where’s Leira?”
“She had a pressing matter come up and sends her regrets,” said Correk, taking a seat. “What are those men down on that court doing? Trying to put that orange ball in the net over there?”
“Where could you have possibly been all these years that you don’t recognize basketball? Don’t you guys watch our sports from over there?” Larry jumped to his feet, yelling, “Go! Go! Go!”
Correk stood back up to get a better view and saw a player wearing a Longhorns jersey run down the court, throw the ball to someone else, who threw the ball from the far corner by the basket. It swished in, making a satisfying circle at the top of the net before dropping straight down.
“Three points!” Jack, yelled, holding up his fist for Correk to bump.
“This one I’ve seen,” said Correk, smiling as he held up his fist.
“Hey, Correk.” A row of women sitting in front of them turned, almost as one, smiling at him. Some of them waved.
“Loved your unicorn!”
“The mooing was the best part!”
Correk could feel his face warming up.
“You were apparently a big hit at the party. The women have been jawing about you ever since.” Jack’s smile quickly turned to frustration and he jumped to his feet again. “That was traveling! I can see it from here!”
The women frowned at Jack before turning the charm offensive back on, asking Correk if he was enjoying the game.
“Can I get you anything?” asked an older brunette who had juggled fireballs at the Jackalope while doing the limbo.
“Watch out for those witches. They’re man eaters.” Larry gave him a friendly elbow.
Correk settled back into his seat and started twisting his fingers together in his lap, creating a small fireball. He cupped it in the palms of his hands, leaned down and whispered a spell.
The line of women in front of him abruptly looked around as if they had forgotten something and turned back to the game, chatting with each other about who hooked up with who at the party.
“Very clever,” Jack gave him a wink. “Very wise, too. You’ll have to teach me that one.”
“Yeah, you need a spell to get the women to notice you first.” Larry laughed. “Now, can we finally focus on the game?”
There was a makeshift meeting room set up on one side of the empty warehouse that consisted of a card table and chairs. The only people present were the general, one aide and Leira. The general’s hat sat in front of him, neatly lined up next to his phone.
Leira sat up straight, her badge clearly visible on her belt, right next to her gun.
“I realize this looks fairly unremarkable.” The general looked at the surroundings. “But it’s for the best. The less attention we attract the better. I’m told this building is secure, so nothing we say can be heard. You can speak freely, and so can I. That’s all we really need. There’s not even any phone service. We own this building.”
“Tell me why I’m here.” Leira sat forward, her face set in a fierce stare. When in a corner of any kind, get out of it as quickly as you can. Leave the fear behind. Hagan taught her that the first week on the job.
“I was told you’re good at what you do and are not easily intimidated. I can see that’s true. That’s good.” He sat back in his chair. “I’ll keep it short. There’s not really much to say at this point, anyway. The U.S. government has become aware of an event that is going to happen about twenty years in the future. Ah, good, you already know what I’m talking about.” He held up his hand. “It’s alright, I was hoping you’d know. I have to be back in Washington very shortly and the less I have to explain, the better. Now, there’s a lot of anxiety and confusion, as you might imagine, about what it means to have gates opening up between two worlds that neither side can control.”
“It’s not the first time this has happened,” said Leira.
“So I’ve been told. But as a people, human beings have short memories and we tend to rewrite what we don’t like, making it even harder to learn from history.” He smiled at Leira. “I have several daughters, you know. Your determination reminds me of them.”
“What is it you want me to do?”
“Right, good, keeping me on track. Eye on the prize. Of course. You have a unique combination of being both human and well, alien. Magical, from the other side. Your abilities have been noticed right up the chain of command within a very small, but high-ranking group. You are gifted at pulling pure power from the Earth, straight through you and channeling it. I’ve read about others like you but only from thousands of years ago.”
That can’t be true, thought Leira. “You still haven’t gotten to what it is you want me to do.” She drew her brows together, studying his face. Friend or foe? she wondered. Still can’t tell.
“Humor me for one more minute. A little background so you can see we’ve done our homework. You are already a peace officer, used to working as part of a chain of command, and doing it very successfully. That gives certain people, myself included, a higher comfort level.”
“I won’t go off on my own agenda.”
“Precisely. I like your rigorous honesty. Now is not the time for hidden agendas or polite truths. We’ve known about the magical beings among us for decades.”
“Not always with the best results for the magical beings.” Leira clenched her fists, thinking of the stories she had already heard from others at the Jackalope. And her mother.
“Unfortunately true. But we’ve all evolved to a different place. We want the Golden Age, that’s what it’s called I believe, to go as smoothly as possible. If that’s to happen we need someone to bridge the gap between human beings and this other world. Between Earth and Oriceran.”
“You know the name of the world.”
“We know a lot, which we will share with you as soon as you accept the position of liaison, working for Earth on our behalf to set ground rules that everyone can live with.”
“You’re hoping to use my abilities to help you get your way.”
“We only want to ensure the quality of life here on Earth is n
ot threatened. We are not interested in being an aggressor.”
“Fair enough. I have a few conditions.”
“Name them.”
“I stay here in Austin, I name my own salary, and you take care of a personal problem I’m having with the bureaucracy of a hospital.”
“You’re referring to your mother, Eireka Berens. I told you, we have done all our homework. What is it you want? For her to be released? Done. We can have her out this afternoon.” He waved for his aide.
Leira was stunned, the breath knocked out of her. She sat still for a moment. There had to be more to this deal.
“I want more than that. I want any record of her ever being declared insane, erased. I want any mention, anywhere that she made of Oriceran or elves or magic erased for good. No trace anywhere. I want a new history in place that says she’s been living a quiet life, here in Austin the entire fifteen years.”
“That scenario would actually be better for all of us. Consider it done. Was that it?”
“One last thing. I retain the right to say no to any directive I find unethical or that crosses the line, and I decide where the line is.”
The general looked momentarily angry but just as quickly, let it go. “We may not have the ability to speak a few words into the air and make something appear, but as a race, we rise to the occasion quite brilliantly, more times than not. And, you are still part human, along with your mother. Somewhere inside of you, you know this to be true.”
Leira waited patiently for him to answer. He who speaks first loses.
“Fine, agreed. As if we could make you, anyway. As the gates open your power will only increase. Better we learn to trust each other now. Have we reached an agreement?”
“Free my mother. I’ll come to work for you under the terms and conditions we discussed. I assume I’ll be reporting directly to you.”
“And only me. There are only a handful of people who will know of our arrangement. For now, that’s best for everyone.”
