Fire and Obsidian

by Andrew Grey

  “Well, shit.” James looked for the others on the team and issued them instructions to go back to the station. After he was done, he turned to tell Mattias they were leaving, but he was nowhere to be found. James groaned and wandered among the cars. He found Mattias standing at the door to the back seat of the police cruiser.

  “What were you thinking?” Mattias was asking through a slightly cracked back window. “This isn’t going to go away, and now this little incident is going to follow you for the rest of your life.” As James approached, Mattias grew quiet. “Please. I made my living as a thief for almost ten years. I know what the fuck I’m talking about. You sell your damned soul to the devil, hurting others, to get what you want. It doesn’t work out in the end.” The boy seemed to be listening, so James took a step back, giving Mattias some room. “Who cares if you don’t get caught? It still eats at you from the inside.” Mattias shook his head. “You’ll find out, believe me.” James backed away from the car, and Mattias saw him and came over. “Are we done?” He didn’t even wait for an answer before heading back to James’s car and getting in.

  James slipped into the driver’s seat and started the engine. This had been a waste of time from a case perspective, but the effect on Mattias was unexpected, and James once again didn’t know quite what to make of him. Part of James wanted to be able to take Mattias at face value… and another part warred with his former profession. James put the car in gear, but his foot clamped down on the brake to stop the car from moving. Former profession. James realized that, in his head, he’d acknowledged Mattias had changed his life. Being a thief was what Mattias had done, but it wasn’t who he was now. Maybe James needed to give him the benefit of the doubt. He shook his head to clear it and pulled slowly away from the crime scene, heading back.

  “What the fuck was that kid thinking?” Mattias asked when they were about halfway back, his hands clenched to fists. “He was stupid beyond belief and has no idea how much he has changed his life for the worse. Sure, if this is a first offense, then he might not go to jail, but his record is going to stay with him for the rest of his life in one way or another. And he stole a lot more than just a television and a few things.”

  James nodded. “I know. That family just had their security and peace of mind ripped away from them. They won’t go on vacation without worrying about what’s happening back home. They might install a security system or have neighbors watch the house for them, but their lives have been changed, all because some kid wanted to get some extra money.” He tried not to think about how many people his father had stolen their security from.

  “Yeah… well, we never think much beyond what it is that we want.” Mattias turned to him as James pulled to a stop. “It’s all about ourselves. We need to survive, or we need to buy that next fix, or we want that video game system… or whatever, and someone else’s things are right there. All we have to do is take them, get out and away, and that’s pretty much the end of it. I was never caught, and frankly I never thought I would be. No one does. We all think we’ll get away with it forever.” Mattias slumped in the seat.

  “What are you worrying about?” James asked. “My dad?” It was a guess, but an educated one, given their conversation from the night before. Mattias nodded and said nothing more. For some reason James felt a little put out. “Why?” he pressed.

  “Because of what he’s doing to you,” Mattias finally answered. “I know how that whole situation is wearing on you and leaving your loyalties divided. I’ve been there. My career divided my own until I came face-to-face with a victim.” He shook his head.

  “I always wonder if my dad ever actually saw the people he was hurting. Or if he did and just didn’t care.” James gripped the wheel tighter. This was uncharted territory for him. He rarely talked about shit like this with anyone. Not that he didn’t need to or hadn’t felt as though he wanted to talk, but he’d never found anyone he thought could possibly understand. “I keep wondering what I should do.”

  Mattias nodded. “There’s nothing you can do. You love your dad and don’t want to hurt him or your mom. Turning in your dad will do both those things. But not saying something will continue to pull on your soul until it either rips or you let it go. And neither of those things is preferable.” He grew quiet. “My only advice is to talk to your father and tell him he either has to quit or you will turn him in. Give your dad the chance to do the right thing.” Mattias patted his arm. “You owe it to your dad to give him the chance, and you owe it to yourself to take some sort of action to relieve this conflict.”

  Just hearing Mattias say those words seemed to change something inside him. He had come up with the same course of action some time ago, and if truth be told, he’d been afraid to have the conversation. “What if my father decides to do neither, and he and Mom simply move on and I lose them both forever?”

  “You mean, like go on the run… from you?” Mattias asked and shook his head. “Is that really practical… at their age? They could try to hide, but they can’t run from both you and the law.”

  “True, but in a way, I’m asking them to choose between the life they’ve both had and me… and how I feel.” And what if they didn’t choose him? That was always the difficult question. It was coming out all over again, only this time it was much more substantive. James wasn’t just asking them to accept who he was—he was asking them to change part of who they were. “Can they change? Is it possible?”

  Mattias shrugged. “You won’t know until you talk to them.”

  James couldn’t argue with Mattias’s logic.

  He pulled into the station and parked in the same spot he’d used earlier. Mattias got out, and they walked side by side into the station, where they were met by the sheriff.

  “Have you seen this?” Solly asked, handing James a printout of an internet page once they got to the squad room. “It seems my opponent, Skip Parker, is spouting that we aren’t able to solve this spate of robberies, and that if he were in office, he would. Of course, that’s bullshit, but it makes for great campaigning, and people are getting scared as reports build up day after day.” He dropped the pages into the trash. “Get this case solved, and do it fast before this entire situation blows up and becomes so big that—” Solly swallowed.

  “We’ll do our best,” Clay said forcefully. Solly had the loyalty and dedication of the men under him. “We’ll get the entire department to help if we have to.” He and Pierre turned and strode toward the workroom to get started, and after Solly left, James and Mattias did the same. There had to be nuggets of information in what they already had. They just needed to find them.

  “WE’RE GETTING nowhere looking at the same information again and again,” Clay said with frustration as he scraped his chair on the floor. He got to his feet and began pacing.

  “I agree,” Mattias said. “What we need is more information, but we don’t have any at the moment. We need to find some.” He smiled, and James’s belly fluttered a little. Mattias closed the report he’d been reviewing yet again. “I’m not saying that these reports aren’t complete, but….” He stood as well, sighed, and left the room, the door closing with a thud behind him.

  James wasn’t sure what was going on, and he got up to go, but Pierre shook his head. “I think he may need a few minutes.”

  “Why?” James asked.

  Pierre seemed surprised. “We’re used to this. It’s what we deal with every day. He wants to help you solve this case… badly. I think he’s taking this personally, given his background and the changes the guy has made in his life. And he isn’t used to our usual level of frustration.” He raised his eyebrows.

  “What do you think he’s doing?” James looked at the closed door.

  Pierre and Clay glanced at each other and then back to him. “I think he’s probably calling some old friends to see if anyone has heard anything. Maybe contacts that are still active,” Pierre said.

  James shook his head and strode toward the door. “This isn’t some da
mned television show. We have to do things correctly.” Besides, after the last few days, James was beginning to understand just how much something like that could cost Mattias. Yeah, the people he might know… maybe they could help him, but at what cost? What pound of flesh would they try to extract from him? James was well aware that no one did something for nothing. Not in those circles.

  “Yes. But we need information, and Mattias just might be able to procure some.” Pierre turned away and returned to one of the laptops that sat on the table.

  James hurried out through the station to the front door. He found Mattias in the parking area, out near the road, talking on his phone. James watched as Mattias ended the call and put the phone in his pocket. He sighed before turning, and James knew the instant he saw him, his eyes brightening for a second and then growing darker.

  “I have an appointment this evening… and I have to go alone.”

  “Over my dead body,” James growled. “What do you think you’re playing at? This is a sheriff’s investigation.”

  “We need information, and a friend of a friend might be able to point us in the right direction.” Mattias’s expression changed. “I can’t involve you in this.”

  “You already have. If you agreed to some sort of meeting….” He held Mattias’s gaze, watching the uncertainty grow. “Then you know what price they’re going to extract, and I won’t allow it.”

  “You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do. This is my decision, and I can make it perfectly well on my own.” Mattias’s lips formed into a line.

  “Yes, you can, and I can make my own decisions as well. And if you think you’re going to any meeting that involves this case alone… you’re sadly mistaken. Now came back inside, and we’ll figure out how to make sure you’re properly… protected.” He waited for Mattias and followed him inside. “Where is this meeting?”

  Mattias paused and turned, his hand on the door. “At the shop where we’re having you measured for your tuxedo. I didn’t tell my contact who you were, but I figured it would be best if someone were nearby in case of trouble.” His eyes glimmered with mischief.

  “You manipulative bastard,” James said without heat.

  “At least I know you care about my virtue.” Mattias wagged his eyebrows, and James rolled his eyes. He should have known when Mattias gave up too quickly.

  “What I care about is that no one puts themselves in danger or does anything to impugn the reputation of this investigation or the department. I need my professionalism intact once this case is over.”

  Mattias didn’t bat an eyelash. “Bullshit. You want this case solved just as much as I do. Besides, the police use informants and get information from a number of sources to solve cases.”

  “Don’t be flippant,” James said, placing his hand on Mattias’s shoulder. “You know damned well that no one does anything for free.”

  Mattias sighed, the amusement slipping from his eyes. “I’m well aware of what might be required. But we need some information that we don’t seem to be able to get any other way. When the time comes, I’ll be prepared to pay whatever it is I need to.” He pulled open the door and went inside.

  James followed, anger building. “I will not have—”

  Mattias whirled around. “Just let go of this head of steam. I can handle whatever comes up. This isn’t my first time around the block. This meeting may yield exactly nothing. Or we could get lucky and get the piece of information we need to finally get a break. Just relax.” He sighed. “You’ll be with me. How much trouble can I possibly get into?” The mischief had definitely returned, and James wondered what he was allowing himself to get into.

  THE TUXEDO shop looked like any other shop in the strip mall. Mannequins stood in the windows, dressed better than James ever had. “Are you sure about this?”

  “We need to get you measured anyway. I already have the tickets for the charity event, and you need to be dressed properly.” Mattias motioned toward the door. “If you want to wait here until after I’ve met with my contact, that’s perfectly fine.” He strode toward the shop door, and James huffed, following him inside. This seemed like a strange place for a meeting.

  Mattias went right inside and spoke with the older gentleman behind the counter. “Great.”

  The man took James over, measured him for a shirt, and tried a couple of jackets on him. “Do you need shoes?”

  “I have black dress shoes.” James tried to pay attention, but also kept an eye on Mattias as he wandered the store. It was a bit like watching a tennis match. No one else came into the store, and James wondered if the guy who at that moment was running a tape up his inseam was the person they were supposed to meet.

  “What sort of tuxedo did you have in mind?” the man asked.

  “A standard black jacket and pants, but I think a deep red tie will add a hint of color,” Mattias answered. “We could go with a gray vest….” He looked over the display of various tie and vest combinations. “I think not. Simple is better with these kinds of things.”

  “Very good. Let me get your information, and I can have what you need here tomorrow.”

  James followed him to the desk and provided the information requested. When he turned around, Mattias was nowhere to be seen.

  “Where did my friend go?” James asked, stepping away to peer around one of the display walls. He hadn’t heard the door open or close, and it had one of those beepers on it, so Mattias had to be here somewhere. James finished paying, and Mattias joined him once again, standing at the counter. Once James had his receipt, they left the shop. “Where did you go?”

  “Nowhere,” Mattias answered.

  “Was he your contact?” James asked.

  “No.” Mattias smiled as a lady, probably approaching sixty, exited the shop. “Carrie,” Mattias said, hugging her.

  “It’s been too long.” She turned to James. “Is he cool?”

  Mattias nodded.

  “Okay. I thought you were out of the business, so I was surprised to get your call. You need a job or something?” She took Mattias’s arm as they walked down the sidewalk in front of the shopping center, with James following behind.

  “I’m out of the business, and I intend to stay out. You know I’ve been working with the police.” James had to give Mattias credit for being honest.

  “Is he a cop?”

  “Yeah. But he’s okay. James is only interested in the same thing I am—who is behind these robberies.” Mattias stopped their walking. “These guys are hurting people, real people like you and Bill. We need to put an end to it.”

  She patted Mattias’s cheek. “You were always too kindhearted for the business.” She glanced back at James, distrust clear in her pinched expression.

  “No. I think the business got a hell of a lot nastier than it needed to.” Mattias turned to her. “Do you know who is behind these robberies?” Mattias pressed, but Carrie shook her head.

  “No one I know or ever had dealings with. Work it out, though. They seem to strike where they want.” She leaned close and spoke something directly into Mattias’s ear.

  Mattias smiled and then kissed her cheek before turning back to James. “Please go to the car. I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.” He turned without looking back and led Carrie away, their heads close together.

  James wondered what the hell those two were up to and considered breaking them up. Hell, if Carrie knew information that could help them, then there was likely something in her past that James could use against her. His cop instincts came forward, along with a touch of righteous indignation. But he held himself back, going to the car and standing next to it as Mattias led Carrie around in front of the TJ Maxx at the far side of the parking lot. She got into her car and drove off. Then Mattias returned and got in the car.

  “What did she tell you?” James demanded. “And who is she?”

  “I introduced her to you. I know that’s not her real name, but it’s the only one that I will tell you. And she wasn
’t going to let you see her car so you could trace her license plate. Carrie is an old bird, and she’s survived as long as she has by being careful.”

  “You don’t trust me?” James asked, wondering why that notion hurt a little.

  Mattias rolled his eyes. “Why should I trust you when you’re so Trusty McTrustful yourself? It goes both ways, you know. I can say that she’s heard of our people and says they are from out of town. Apparently they came to her, trying to sell some things, but she wasn’t buying.”

  “Where did she say they were from?” James asked, not starting the car yet.

  “She wasn’t sure. It was hard for her to place, but she thought it might have been somewhere farther south.” James got the feeling that Mattias wasn’t telling him everything. “The woman who matched the description from the auction house tried to sell her the locket. She had a feeling it was hot and declined, but Carrie did say the woman had someone else out in the car, and she thought she saw a kid as well.”

  “A family of thieves?” James asked with a sigh.

  “I don’t know, and neither did she.”

  “Why is she helping us?” James asked and turned on the engine, the air-conditioning cooling the interior of the car.

  “Because people like this… they hurt everyone. Carrie knows what’s happening, but she isn’t a bad person. She doesn’t buy stolen goods, but often they are offered to her. I’m sure you can understand that. If there are thieves operating in the area, then everyone—antiques, pawn shops, anyone that does resale of any kind—has to be careful, and it hurts their ability to do business.” Mattias seemed to relax, but James wasn’t letting this go just yet.

  “What else did she tell you?”

  Mattias pursed his lips. “You don’t get to ask those questions. She and I have known each other for some time.” He turned to James, and the glare lowered the temperature in the car by the second. “If you must know, she was the one who helped me build a new life. Carrie used to have an antique store in Philadelphia. She ran it for years, and then she was robbed. They took everything she had, cleaned her out. After that, she didn’t have a business any longer or any way to support herself. Everything she’d worked for all those years… poof… gone, like that. The police found nothing.”