Constance had been following all this with very mixed feelings. She and Robert had recently reconciled and were now living together, but they were still feeling their way along about a lot of things. She hadn’t been at all thrilled about the idea of having him travel around, leaving her behind. Now she exclaimed, “What do you mean? Me? Really?”
“I told Drew I’d only do this if I could always have you right there with me. I want you to quit your job at the bank. I need you to help me with these witches.”
-----
Tracy waited until she and Missy were alone in their room, with little risk of being interrupted. “Millie called me today. Guess what? She and Oliver are going to work for Robert Ulrey as FBI psychics. Robert’s heading up a new Psychic Division, with several assistants, and he’s hoping to add a few more witches. He and Connie will be the only ones who’ll know they’re witches, of course, aside from the witches themselves.”
“Connie will be helping him with this?” Missy raised one eyebrow. Then, after thinking for a moment, she nodded and said, “Okay, I can see that. Now that he and Connie are together again, Robert won’t want to ever have his job interfere with their relationship. Having Connie actually helping him with this will avoid a lot of issues. And, she’ll be very good with any of the witches who might decide to sign on … they’ll believe they’re safe and Robert can be trusted if she’s part of it.”
“Millie said essentially the same thing. It’s all about the trust factor. She reminded me how she only agreed to help search for Candy because you had me ask her to do that and I had assured her about Robert. And, about “P” Branch. Then, she convinced Oliver to help.”
“Will the witches who join this Division be told about “P” Branch?”
Tracy laughed and said, “Not at first and maybe never. It will all depend. But, rest assured, “P” Branch will be very much involved in all of this. After all those years of having their non interference policy, they’re finally getting into the game. Of course, they’ll not exactly be interfering but they’ll definitely be influencing some things.”
“Marsha told me Drew recently briefed everyone at “P” Branch and explained things were changing … our rescuing Candy, without the world learning anything about our being supnats? That’s made those government officials rethink things.” Marsha Goodding and her husband Lester were “P” Branch analysts and had been working pretty much full time supporting Missy and all her activities for quite a while. Missy smiled. “You know … those officials who’d always insisted on all the non interference stuff.”
“In for a penny, in for a pound, huh?” Tracy giggled.
“Well. It’s not just that. It’s recognition that supnats are not only real, but that other countries might be using them. They were able to ignore all of Drew’s warnings for years but now that General Blake has insisted on having Team Twenty-Two, just in case? Plus, with Charles Winword at the CIA and the Secretary of Defense and … well, yeah … they’ve even convinced the President.”
“See what mayhem you stirred up, Missy? You know it’s all because “P” Branch didn’t want you being a vigilante, after the way you killed those guys who were holding Alice, right? One thing led to another and then, finally, you had me tossing my fireballs around so you and Oliver could rescue Candy.” Tracy laughed and added, “Of course, that was quite an adventure!”
“Very funny. I doubt my vigilante activities would ever have gotten the attention your fireballs managed to get. That’s why those government officials are now all worried about whatever supnats our enemies might have.”
“Well, aside from any assistance my feeble efforts may have provided towards anything …” Tracy laughed and raised her eyebrows, giving her face its most innocent expression. “Millie has asked for our help with the New York coven. While she’s known that friend she has over there for years … you know, the one Emily’s grandmother mentioned? Well, they both think it will help if you and I are there when she comes up here to convince Troy Dangelmeyer to join the FBI.”
“Troy Dangelmeyer is the finder witch here in New York?”
“Yep. And, he’s been very vocal in their coven. He’s also one of those anti-establishment types and not very likely to listen to a bunch of old fogies suggesting he join the FBI. Of course, if some young, beautiful girls were encouraging him?”
“Hmmm … sounds sexist. I assume he’s running with a younger crowd then?”
Tracy nodded and said, “He’s still in college; he’s a junior over at Colgate University. He’s also a good friend of Emily’s brother. Scott’s a freshman over there and they’re both on the swim team. I guess I’m not all that surprised to learn Scott’s a good swimmer … you said he’s a water witch, right?”
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“Tracy tells me there’s a big pow-wow in New York the Saturday after next. She and Missy will be going and introducing themselves to the coven down there.”
Mike laughed and said, “I’m quite certain she didn’t actually describe that as any pow-wow.” He knew John loved any opportunity to make fun of witches and was definitely baiting him. Missy had briefed him with her mental messages all about this latest fun venture of theirs and he’d been expecting this phone call once John had heard from Tracy. The idea was he and John should both travel down there in Mike’s car and attend the meeting.
“Tracy thinks they can get special passes so they can sign out overnight, since this is an FBI thing. They’ll probably have to bring Captain Bonomo along to validate that but he won’t actually be coming out to meet the coven. The only non-witches, aside from the two of us, will be Robert and Connie. Oh, and Candy. She and Oliver will be there.”
“Well, the overnight part certainly works for me. I won’t have been with Missy since we went to General Blake’s promotion ceremony.” Mike knew John was well aware his mind was constantly being filled with Missy’s thoughts and messages. “By the way, Millie’s coming up here this weekend. She’s never visited anyone at the coven in Salem before but they know about her and are willing to listen to what she’ll be telling them about this new FBI Division. Robert and Connie will be there, of course. And, she’s asked me to join them. It’s time they finally learned about Missy.”
John didn’t need to ask why Mike wouldn’t be with Missy the weekend coming up; after the big football game on Saturday his crazy sister was shooting for the Combat Weapons Team and then playing an important soccer game down in Pennsylvania on Sunday. The football game was a home game and he’d be watching it there at the academy with Tracy. “Won’t they be upset Missy isn’t with you?”
“Millie will explain how there just hasn’t been any opportunity for Missy to meet with them, how Missy only learned she was a witch a year ago, how she went to Afghanistan this summer, etc., etc. Of course, Millie is mainly coming up here for Robert in hopes their finder witch will join his new division, but Millie really thinks she needs to explain about Missy once she’s with them. And, having me along … well …”
John interrupted saying, “I get it, I get it. Of course, now that my sister can blink herself practically anywhere she wants doing this super scary spirit form thing of hers … oh, wait! We’re keeping that a secret from everyone else, for now.”
Mike knew John was again yanking his chain. “Hey, she’s being very careful with that. And, you know she never wanted Tracy to get scared. She says Tracy is now comfortable with her doing it.”
“Are you comfortable? ‘Cuz I sure as hell am not comfortable. Changing herself into a huge cat was bad enough. But, now? Changing into nothing? Energy without mass?”
Mike sighed. He actually was not all that comfortable either but wasn’t about to admit it. “She’s energy and that’s not nothing. And, energy is what witches do, right? They harness it, control it, use it … in a way, this all makes perfect sense. It’s what she is, John. She’s energy. We all are, only she’s able to do more with her energy than we can. And, she says Tracy really is fine with that now.”
/> Chapter Seven
Oct 19, 2019
The meeting with the Salem coven was actually held in Lynn since this time of year, less than two weeks before Halloween, was all about “Haunted Happenings” with crowds of tourists all visiting Salem. The real witches all wanted to keep as far away from all the hoopla as possible. A couple of them had even declined this meeting, very concerned about having three strange non-witches present. While they all had heard of Millicent Pratt and her reputation as an excellent finder witch, that hadn’t been enough to overcome their fear of being exposed to outsiders.
After Millie had been introduced, she then introduced Robert, Connie and Mike, explaining a bit about each of them. But, the coven leaders insisted she first tell them all about Missy before bringing up anything else. That helped in some respects as many did indeed remember all the notoriety when Missy had gone missing from soccer camp and remembered Robert being involved.
Missy’s parents had worked very hard during the two years she’d been gone, influencing the local community and never giving up hope. They’d kept awareness about their daughter constant, with rally events and fund raisers to renew various search efforts. And, then Missy had returned. While there hadn’t been much of an explanation given to the media -- thanks to Robert, details concerning Missy’s ordeal had not been made public -- everyone did remember Robert and his role as the FBI investigator.
“So, you’re saying this girl is a shifter and lived as a mountain lion for those two years? Plus, she only learned she’s also a witch when she met this other witch Tracy at West Point? And then, Tracy introduced her to your coven in Texas this past March?” This was followed by more questions from other coven members, wanting to know about Missy’s powers and abilities. There were also some grumblings by a few of them, asking why Missy hadn’t contacted them, since they were right there in Missy’s home town.
Millie finally said, “Look, this girl is a West Point cadet and that’s very demanding. She came to Texas with her family in March for her Spring Break vacation and she hasn’t had much free time since then. When classes finished, she and Tracy went off to Jump School. Then, she went over to Afghanistan with the Army, only returning right before classes started back up at the academy. Visiting covens has not been a top priority.”
Mike stood up and said, “Missy and I will visit here when she’s able to do that. But, she’ll be at the New York coven next week.” Millie had explained to them how he was bonded with Missy and was her soulmate. “The academy is giving her and Tracy some special passes in order to assist the FBI. Perhaps some of you might like to attend that meeting so you can meet her then?”
“Why special passes?”
Robert now answered, saying, “As you know, I’m hoping to recruit psychics for the FBI’s new Psychic Division and I’ve asked the academy for help. Millie and another finder witch, Oliver Bessom from the D.C. coven, have already joined this division. And, the Superintendent at West Point knows Missy and Tracy assisted us with locating Candace Axtell. Details concerning that are highly classified, so I can’t reveal anything further. But, I’m sure you all heard about the dramatic last minute rescue with Candace returning home seven weeks ago.”
This info created quite a stir as, indeed, the news about General Blake’s niece being threatened by WIJO had been the top story for several days. Most had expected she’d be publicly executed since the U.S. government had not been expected to negotiate with kidnappers and exchange forty terrorists to save her. So, when Candace had miraculously avoided getting beheaded and came home, without the U.S. meeting any of WIJO’s demands, it had been an even greater story. All the secrecy about her return had only made the story that much bigger.
Finally, one of the senior members hushed the others and announced, “Okay, obviously there’s a very strong alliance between this FBI Psychic Division of Robert’s and the Army. They asked him to find the general’s niece and Millie agreed to help, as one of his psychics. And, I think I’m seeing some of the relationships here. Missy and Robert have been close friends for years. Missy and Tracy are Army cadets. Missy went to Afghanistan with the Army. This general is one of the Army’s top commander’s in Afghanistan. Missy and Tracy helped Robert’s psychics find the general’s niece.”
Robert said, “Yes, very good. As I’ve stated, I can’t reveal details, since much of this is classified. But, my Psychic Division has now received a lot of credit due to our success in finding Candace Axtell and that’s created a huge demand for our services. So, I’m recruiting … looking for more witches to join my team … here in Salem, down in New York, wherever there are covens having finder witches.”
Another voice then asked, “What can you tell us about this relationship between Missy and your witch psychics? Is she an air witch? What about this Tracy? I haven’t heard anything about what powers and abilities these girls have, as yet.” It was well known that finder witches were always air witches.
Millie said, “Missy is an earth witch and Tracy is a fire witch. I’ve been Tracy’s mentor for years. They both are very powerful, and … now that they’ve bonded with their soulmates … the abilities they’ve already demonstrated are much greater than any I’m aware of elsewhere.” She glanced knowingly at Mike and many of the others did likewise.
This created another stir of interest among the group, with some pleased and excited while others were quite concerned the two girls might pose a risk to other witches. Having the FBI and the Army find out about witches was not viewed as ending well and the fact Robert and his ex-wife Connie were there, both non-witches, simply confirmed that more trouble might be soon to follow. Even having Mike there made them nervous since Missy was not there and they didn’t really know her, didn’t know how much they could trust her, weren’t sure having her be at West Point was at all appropriate for a witch.
After more discussion it was eventually decided. Six of them -- all elders in the coven including Desiree Yerger, their finder witch -- would come to the meeting in New York the following weekend. There they could meet Missy and Tracy as well as Oliver and Candace Axtell. Desiree would decide after that meeting whether or not she would join Robert’s Psychic Division.
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Army had won the football game and most of the Khan Klass members were now gathered at Cullum Hall to celebrate. Since the classroom where Major Khan was teaching them Farsi and Pashto was fondly called Kelsey’s Korner, it hadn’t taken their non-participating classmates very long to start referring to them as the Khan Klass, aka KK@KK. The jokes were endless, of course. The question asked most often was whether or not pointy hoods were required.
Since any such jokes were always responded to in words no one outside the Klass could understand, that had only added to the fun. This created many opportunities for those learning these new languages to practice using them with one another and it was amazing how quickly they were all gaining a large speaking vocabulary. It turned out Kelsey, in addition to having an incredibly high IQ, had a real ear for proper pronunciation and was able to provide the others with constant corrections whenever Major Khan or Sergeant Town were not around to do that.
Tracy had brought John and Sharon had brought her boyfriend Lee. Most of the cadets had met both guys during earlier visits as well as at the Plebe-Parent Weekend Ball just prior to Spring Break in March. Tony and Marcus had brought their latest girlfriends who were not cadets and had not met any of the others; they were quickly introduced all around. Kelsey and Mitch were a couple, as were Gary and Kelly, so only Sally Navarro was odd girl out. Missy wasn’t there, having left after the game to go off for her Combat Weapons Team match.
Since Tony was from Long Island, his girlfriend Cassie hadn’t had to travel very far. She not only was from Long Island but was also attending college right in New York City. Like Tony, she was Italian while Marcus’s girlfriend Chandra, like Marcus, was African American. Chandra was from Alabama but went to the same college as Cassie, which was how she’d ended up meeting M
arcus. Tony had brought him along to his girlfriend’s campus over the Labor Day Weekend. At the time, the girls hadn’t known one another but were in the same dorm. They since had become really close friends.
Once they’d all brought their food and drinks over and had seated themselves around a couple of large tables, the conversation quickly returned to the highlights of that day’s football game. Mitch had once again made a huge contribution to their win, averaging more than five yards per carry and running for a hundred and fifty yards. Although he’d not scored any touchdowns in this game, his running had been such a huge threat their quarterback had been allowed plenty of time and had easily picked apart the opposing team’s defense, completing most of his passes.
Once they’d thoroughly rehashed all the key plays in their team’s win, embarrassing Mitch but making Kelsey positively glow with how proud she felt about her boyfriend’s performance, someone brought up how far each of the non-cadets had travelled just to be there that weekend. Lee had flown in from Chicago and was cheered for having come the furthest and thus demonstrating the greatest amount of loyalty towards his girlfriend.
John complained, “Wait … I think I deserve this loyalty award since my travel time by car actually took longer and was much more arduous than Lee’s trip, flying in here on an airplane.” Looking at Tracy, he then laughed and whispered in her ear, “Or, maybe we should label this award the lust award. If so, then I’m definitely claiming the prize!”
Sharon said, “No, no! Lee’s travel was far more arduous! Since the first class seats were sold out, he was all squeezed into those tiny seats back in coach. My man has truly gone above and beyond, just to be here with me!” Since Lee was six-seven, dwarfing even Mitch who was huge, he immediately got all the sympathy votes and that settled it. Then, Sharon made an additional comment, saying, “He’s so big … it makes it really hard for him to fit, you know?”
At these words, Tracy looked over at Sally and managed to catch her eye. Without letting Sharon notice, she held her two hands several inches apart. Then, mimicking what Missy had done months earlier, when revealing Sharon’s big secret and describing how well-endowed Sharon’s boyfriend was, she spread her hands even further apart. Then she innocently raised her eyebrows and stared directly at Sally. That earlier conversation had been when it was just the four of them but what caused Sally to completely lose it now, exploding in paroxysms of laughter she couldn’t hold in, was recalling all the banter between Missy and Tracy back then about orgasms and how Sharon had no reason for jealously about what anyone else might be experiencing.
Missy Makes Mayhem (Missy the Werecat Book 5) Page 6
