“I am not one of your fans or tech flunkies, Rennert. I suggest you think twice before you grab me.”
“Don't run.” The dagger at his throat didn't faze him despite its sharp point and her steady hand. He didn't release her. “Your secret is safe with me, mage, and my secret will be safe with you, or you and your partner's bodies will find the bottom of the ocean."
“My partner?” Her voice dripped with ice.
“The techie behind your earpiece and microphone.”
Jenira's jaw clenched; no one had ever detected the surveillance equipment before. The earpiece was designed to be invisible, especially under her hair and the cover of night, and the microphone sewn into her shirt was similarly hidden. Her enchanted blade bit into his skin, a tiny bead of blood welling to the surface. She wanted to hurt him for threatening her sister, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew she wouldn’t leave the roof alive if she pressed him further.
“Let go of me.” He stepped back, but Jenira didn’t re-sheath the blade, although she did remove it from his neck.
“It is hard in your profession to trust others.” His voice projected understanding and sympathy, causing her pride to bristle. “But we must work together to apprehend these monsters. Each of us has a secret; you keep mine, and I'll keep yours. No harm shall come to you or your partner if you do not share my secret, but be assured I will know if either of you breathes a word to anyone.” He spoke with such conviction that Jenira believed him. “Will you take the job?”
Jenira considered everything at stake. She now possessed information on one of the most influential men in the Americas, information which could be used in blackmail. He also wanted to pay her a tidy sum of money to kill people she wanted to kill. The decision seemed like a no-brainer, but it left her uneasy. Layers of secrets rested between them, and he stripped hers with a look.
She squared her jaw, gifting him with a cold smile. “I will accept your offer.” She would secure her and Cat’s escape from segregation and territory lifestyle. She preferred to work alone, just her and Cat, but Cat hadn't uncovered any incriminating evidence of the murderer’s identities although she’d tried. Despite Cat's brilliance, Rennert's position afforded him real-world connections she couldn't access.
“Excellent. Do you have a name or shall I continue to address you as the Desert Rose?”
“Jen Dering.” A few hundred Jens and Jennifers lived in the Americas, but there were few Jeniras. The last name was a fictional alias; both she and Cat had several.
“Are you going to put away the dagger?”
Jenira's eyes flicked to the blade in her hand, and she shrugged. She didn't re-sheathe her dagger. She understood his motives for the meeting now, but she didn't trust him. Her lack of response elicited a second genuine smile. Jenira didn't think Rennert smiled much, or that he was a happy man. A techie who possessed magic wouldn't face a comfortable life. At least they now had a reason why he was so reclusive. The fewer people who met him, the easier it was to keep his secret.
“Can we meet in the daylight to discuss the plan and evidence I've collected, or do you melt in the sun?” Jenira didn't acknowledge his weak attempt at humor, although her lips wanted to curl upwards.
“You can send any information to my pda, just like other jobs. There's no reason for us to meet again.”
“That’s not an option. Whoever is responsible for the murders has impressive resources. They can trace any communication.”
Cat's brilliance with computers and technology went unparalleled, but exceptions always existed. Meeting Rennert without her mask posed risks, though. She didn't worry about being identified as the Desert Rose but hiding her face was a learned safety mechanism.
She mentally listed the difficulties of a daytime meeting. Passing through the Rialto's security would force her to arrive mostly unarmed. If he had plans to move against her, she would need to rely on her magic. However, exposing her would expose him, something he wanted to avoid at all costs.
“What did you have in mind? What do you know?” She wished he would just share his findings so she could find the mage killers before more murders occurred.
“Be at Rennert Industries tomorrow at 3 pm. I am holding interviews for a personal assistant so you will blend in with the other applicants. I will give you more information when we meet.”
“Why can’t you just tell me what you know now?” Posing as a secretary was insulting on top of the safety considerations.
Rennert shrugged, making the gesture seem casual despite the intensity with which he studied her. “I'm not ready yet. I want you to go home and discuss your decision with your partner. If you follow through, I will give you more information.” He was providing her with an out, and she admitted she was grateful she wouldn't have to make such a momentous decision without consulting her sister. Cat's opinion on the organization's ability to track their electronic communication would also be helpful. Cat had broken into Rennert's system already; it wasn't too far-fetched that others could do so.
“Very well,” she relented with a sigh. Her suspicious nature hoped his stalling tactic wasn’t an effort to set another trap.
The man nodded once in satisfaction. “Good. Tell the receptionist you're arriving for an interview as my personal assistant; I assume you have false identification. My building has no magical Sniffers or electronic sensors. Sniffers cannot come within a one block radius of my building.” Jenira's eyebrows rose as she contemplated the difficulty of that feat. If it were a simple request or decree, his rivals in the tech industry would become very suspicious. His lips curved again at her thoughtfully surprised expression, not quite hidden by her mask. “It's a delicate enchantment.”
Jenira was impressed and jealous. A misdirection enchantment aimed at Sniffers was a complicated spell. The casting would require a subtle manipulation of a mage's innate ability and require a high level of power. The talent was beyond her skill level, and it posed a jarring reminder of Rennert's power although the lack of sensors put her more at ease.
“If I asked to meet your partner, would you permit it?”
“No.”
Rennert nodded as if he expected no less. “We will meet again tomorrow, then.”
Maintaining eye contact, she crouched gracefully to retrieve her bag. She found the spark of magic deep within his amber eyes and held it as she blinked out of sight.
Chapter Four
Cat
“What in Darwin’s name, Jenira?” Cat sprung from her chair. Her sister phased into the tiny bungalow, accompanied by a static screech of feedback in her ear. She tore the earpiece from her head and glared at her. “Did you phase in front of him?” Sheepishness crossed Jenira's features for a brief second.
“I wanted him to know who he's dealing with,” Jenira replied, regaining her customary confidence. She dropped the bag and shrugged off her sword holster.
“No, you wanted to show off.” Cat's heart continued to pound, the night's conversation looming heavily.
“Maybe a little,” Jenira admitted with a scowl. “He already knows I'm a mage. I didn't phase directly here. I arrived in spurts to avoid sensors.”
Cat plopped back down in her chair, the cheap frame creaking from the abuse. She pulled off her glasses and rubbed her nose to ward off a growing headache. “Your magic is the secret he referred to? What's his secret?” Cat typically watched Jenira's jobs via video surveillance. Losing that sense erased much of the context, and the conversation had left her confused and scared.
Jenira sank into her customary seat; the armchair they had scavenged had seen better days but it still served its purpose. The night might not have involved killing or running, but Cat could see the stress that pinched Jenira’s features and dulled her eyes as she peeled the mask from her face. Jenira was gorgeous, despite the jagged scar that stretched from the outer corner of her right eyebrow to the middle of her cheek. Cat's gaze lingered on the jagged line, but she refused to retreat into the memories of the knife and blood.<
br />
“He's a mage.”
“What?” Cat startled, knocking a stack of circuit boards off the overloaded desk. They crashed to the floor, but both of them ignored the mess and the noise. She thrust her glasses back onto her nose, staring in disbelief. “Are you sure? How is that even possible? He's one of the most brilliant techie minds in the world.”
“I know.” Jenira leaned forward, her eyes brightening. “But it's true; my magic responded to him. He might even match me in power, Cat. I don't know how he's masked himself for so long or how he creates his tech. Maybe he isn't doing the work; I suppose he could be claiming credit for the inventions his employees are creating.”
“It's possible,” Cat mused, scrunching her nose. “That seems more plausible than him possessing mage and tech abilities. There are very few Magitechs born each generation and the natural conflict drives them insane. Is he crazy? What does he look like? He sounded...” Cat shivered. His voice had reminded her of an impending thunderstorm, threatening and formidable.
“He sounds and looks dangerous,” Jenira agreed. “He’s probably twice my size and all muscle; he could crush me. He reminds me of a panther, all leashed brutality and strength, but he's built like a gorilla. He doesn't seem insane, but he's not normal.”
“Who is?” Cat snorted. “Do you trust him?”
Jenira met her eyes. “No. He knows about you.”
“I heard,” Cat whispered, shuddering again. His quiet threat had nearly tumbled her from her chair. No one had ever noticed the earpiece; it was created to be invisible. She barely saw it in the full light of their apartment, and she had personally inserted it in Jenira's ear.
“What do you think, Cat? I thought he might be responsible for the murders, but he wants to destroy the killers. Considering he has magic, I understand the why, but why me? Why intervene? Why did he threaten me with you?” Jenira's assignments were usually straightforward and uncomplicated. Cat's thoughts spun as she laid out the facts in her mind before voicing the out loud.
“The reason why he's intervening is obvious. He might know the victims or fear for friends or relatives. I searched for his name in the database, but he isn't listed which means both of his parents weren't mages. Even one magic parent would endanger his family, though. It’s obvious why he’s hiring you; he wants this to remain under wraps. He already suspected you were a mage because you've never acted against other mages. That information would have been difficult for him to find, Jen. Although you kill, you generally only kill bad guys and have never killed a mage, so he hoped you'd be outraged by the murders. And although he remains hidden from the public eye, he has influential contacts in the government, both local and territorial. I'm certain he's under surveillance; your anonymity helps him avoid further scrutiny. As for why he threatened me, he must have gambled that you were more attached to me than being outed as a mage. He doesn't know me or what I am to you.”
Jenira nodded. For years, they had been talking through the difficulties of her jobs together as a team. “So? What do you think? Should we take the job?”
Cat closed her eyes and reclined in her chair. Statistics and odds trailed through her mind-the likelihood of Rennert betraying them, the danger Jenira faced by following through with tomorrow's appointment, and how much damage he might inflict if Jenira refused. These decisions weren’t the type she enjoyed; action oriented problems were typically Jenira’s responsibility. Any decision which relied on instincts or hopes reduced her reliance on facts and probabilities.
“I'm uncertain, sis.” Cat broke the thoughtful silence. The only sound was the hum of Cat's machines as they processed data nonstop; their soft song always soothed Cat's nerves. The windows were closed and shaded, protecting them in their safe space. “I'll admit I can't uncover any useful facts on the mage attacks; the killers are skilled at covering their tracks. Because of this, I agree that discussing the matter over the pda is dangerous. They either are techies or have the help of techies who cloak their abilities and identities. Their skills might extend to electronically hunting for any interest in their activities. If you want to avenge the mage murders, we might not have any other choice than to trust Rennert.”
“And the money?”
Cat's heart fluttered. The amount Rennert offered had shocked her speechless. Her mind had instantly calculated how many parts she could buy or the information she could procure to further her research.
“Rennert’s offer is generous, but these killers are not amateurs, Jen. No amount of money is worth your life, and this job is going to be dangerous and difficult. Rennert said he would pay for equipment and we are going to take him up on that. We'll need to upgrade our surveillance and precautionary measures to the best money can buy. I won't sacrifice your health for all the money in the world.”
Jenira's eyes glinted with unshed tears as she pulled Cat into a quick embrace, both hanging off their chairs to reach the other. “I know you will do everything in your power to keep me safe. It's settled then; we'll accept the job. If it gets too dangerous or if I suspect Rennert is playing us, we'll run, but I hope we don’t have to. I hope that we avenge the murdered mages and move to Europe where we can live together without fear.”
Cat forced a smile. Jenira wanted to relocate, but Cat didn't share her enthusiasm. In her most optimistic dreams, her invention would erase the need to escape. She hoped her projects would aid Integration efforts, proving to techs and mages that they could work together and their natures weren’t a threat to the other faction. First, though, the murders needed to stop. Her discoveries and hard labor would amount to nothing if a second civil war started between the two races.
“So, tomorrow?” Cat asked, avoiding the discussion of the future. “You can't attend a job interview dressed like that.”
Jenira laughed, twirling one of her daggers. “No, I guess not. What do I wear?” She wrinkled her pretty nose, more aquiline than Cat's.
“Don't ask me!” Cat gestured to her own ensemble of stretchy black pants and an oversized sweater. Cat's style was comfort. Her machines didn't care what she wore or whether she combed her hair. Jenira was the beauty and dressed to impress whether she was attending a job interview or kicking ass. She even managed to look beautiful when she threw on a ratty hoodie and ran around the neighborhood. “So, we're agreed, sis?”
“We need to stop these monsters. You can do it, Jen.”
“We can do it,” Jenira corrected, rising and patting Cat's shoulder with a yawn. “All right, sleepy time for me.”
“I've got stuff to do.” Cat motioned to the mess surrounding her. She didn't comprehend how Jenira could sleep after all the excitement, but Jenira's brain operated differently than Cat's. Her older sister was either on or off whereas Cat was always on, like her computers. Cat often stayed up late into the night, working or researching. She never tired of staring at a screen or tinkering with spare parts. Her mind even worked while her body slept. When Jenira's bedroom door closed, she turned back to her desk.
She started a search on each monitor after double checking her firewalls and protective measures. The first search revolved around the brutal attacks; she needed to fact check Rennert's information. The second was intended to satisfy her burning curiosity about techies with magic. Fairy tales and legends of Magitechs abounded, but the stories agreed Magitechs never lived to middle age. Rennert was in his third decade if the scant data on the web was correct. If he was a sane Magitech, the implications were exciting. A man in his position and with his influence could be the ultimate weapon in the fight for Integration. As a person, he would be the ultimate proof that magic and tech weren’t automatic enemies.
Cat leaned closer to the glowing screens, scanning the search results. Her eyes sped back and forth as she devoured and examined. The only mention of the murders existed on sanctioned online news sites. The organization wanted their exploits to be common knowledge, but no trace of the attacks appeared on any underworld server which meant the data was being manipulated. C
at had made that discovery very early in her techie work. If something remained entirely absent from the internet, it was intentionally scrubbed. Anything which existed in the real world without a web presence deserved suspicion. For this reason, Cat allowed a trickle of chatter about the Desert Rose on the underground servers while erasing any other information.
The same reporter had written all the articles about the mage murders. The killers struck in Brenville, York, and Calhigh - the three cities with the most registered magic users in the Eastern Territory. Each victim was employed and sponsored by a tech company, and each family contained at least one child. The families appeared respected in their communities and never caused trouble, a necessity for mages who chose to live in the tech world. Their employment records stated honor, professionalism, and efficiency.
The killers crept into the homes in the middle of the night with no sign of forced entry. Even the weakest mage warded their homes against unwanted trespassers, making this detail stranger. The neck of each family member had been slit before the killers disappeared without a trace. There was no evidence of a struggle or counter-attack indicating they had all been caught unawares. In every case, no fingertips, DNA, or suspects came to light. The incidents also shared one more chilling detail. The words “Mages – Go Home” were written on the bedroom walls in the victims' blood. Cat’s stomach rebelled as she analyzed the photographs.
The killers appeared to have breached the wards without waking any of the family members, and there had been no electronic surveillance around the houses – a common finding in mage communities. The unlikelihood of the killers not being heard or seen suggested mage assistance.
The registry database included the names of each of the victims; they had all been born in the Eastern Territory, another anomaly. The top employers of mages in the Eastern Territory were security companies. Magic and tech proved more effective at warding off intruders than either mode alone, although the two methods had to be used separately.
Worlds Collide (Magitech Book 1) Page 3
