Strong Mystery: Murder, Mystery and Magic Books 1-3 (Steampunk Magica)

by Raven Bond

  “So I wandered outside to get some air before bed,” she began. “I know I am not supposed to, but after all that gone on, I still knew that somehow I was the reason that the talks were in trouble. Despite your kind words, and the words of Mike I knew it. My mind was awhirl about what I was to do, so I thought that some air would be just the thing.” She looked down shamefaced.

  “I had heard some of the other girls talk about how to sneak out quietly so that the look outs did not catch you so I did that,” she went on.

  “Once I was outside, a boy came up to me out of the shadows. He nearly scared me into screaming for the look outs. In fact, I had opened my mouth to do this that when what he whispered silenced me.

  “‘Are you Mistress Mary?’” he asked. ‘Yes,’ I said. He held out an envelope. ‘This is for you,’ he says. ‘I am to wait.’ And he stood there in the shadows as I opened the strange message. It was written in simple Mandarin.”

  “‘I know what you are,’ the note said,” as she continued. “‘Come alone to the restaurant where we met before. Together, you and I can avert a war. Tell the bearer of this note, yes’” She tilted her head. “Might I have some more water?” She asked. Mike held the bowl forward. After she had drunk, she continued.

  “I looked up at the boy in the shadows and said yes. He came forward with a grin and spoke, ‘Huang said you would say that. You are to follow me.’ We went by a winding route through the alleyways which left me completely lost. Finally we came to a window at what I assumed was the back of the restaurant.

  ‘You climb in here’, the boy said’. Why, I asked him. ‘Because we do not want to alert the guard. Jimmy would have a fit.’ He said.” At this Jimmy the Horse made a rude noise and muttered something that sounded to Owen like ‘Damned right,’ but otherwise held his peace. Mary continued.

  “With his help, I made it through the window, with some difficulty. I found myself in a dark room that seemed to be some sort of storage place. It was filled with large sacks filled with rice and there was the smell of different spices so thick as to be overpowering in such a small space. There was, however, no one to meet me.”

  “I turned back to look out the window only to find my guide had vanished. Determined not to panic, I saw light outlining what was a door at the other end of the room. As quietly as I could I made my way across the room to it. Upon opening it, I found myself in a brightly lit corridor. It was then that I heard the screams. The inhuman, ghastly screams.”

  “I ran down the corridor and opening the door at the other end of it, I found myself in the banquet room that we had been in earlier. There was a horrible smell as if someone had burned meat. Then I saw the-the body.” Mary’s voice took on a quiver as she continued.

  “The next thing I knew I was surrounded by angry men with guns who were yelling that I had killed him.” She looked at Owen pleading in her eyes. “I did not kill him! I certainly did not mean to! Tell me I cannot do that!”

  Owen petted her face, soothing tones in his voice. “No I doubt very much that you did Mary.” He tugged at the ropes binding her. “Can we at least free her,” he asked Jimmy, “She has told us that she had nothing to do with Huang’s death.”

  “No,” Jimmy replied. He eyed Owen shrewdly, “Owen did she say? I knew you were no ‘old relative’! You are that Britisher, Owen Strong, and the Sorcerer who is meddling in other people’s business.”

  “Guilty as charged,” he admitted. Owen stood up straight, one hand pulling off the graying moustaches. He pretended not to notice the shifting of the youngsters’ aim to himself. Jimmy nodded as if pleased with himself.

  “I keep hearing how you solve mysteries that other people have.” He gestured with his pistol into the air. “Well, if she did not kill Huang, then who did? Seems to me that is what you have to find out.” He looked smug as he talked. “Meantime I already got me a witchy killer to hand who I do believe murdered Huang. It will take a lot of proving to convince me otherwise.”

  “You cannot mean this!” Mike exploded. “I can fight you!”

  Jimmy’s face took on a hard look at hearing this. “You can try,” he said in a dangerous voice that belied his obvious youth. He pointed his pistol at Mary’s head. “The first casualty will be the doxy.”

  “There is no need of that,” Owen said wearily. “I can investigate the boy’s death.” He held up a hand. “But I will not promise that I can find the killer. You need to release Mary.”

  Jimmy shook his head, pistol not moving from Mary’s head. “No, you need to find the killer if it is not her, and convince me of their guilt.”

  “That may be rather difficult as you seem to have your mind resolved on this matter already.” Owen observed dryly. The youth named Jo stirred at this.

  “Jimmy always judges fair,” he growled, pointing his gun at Owen. “You just want the witchy whore to not get killed.”

  “Well of course I do not wish to see her killed,” Owen agreed amicably. “I will say though, that if you do not get that pop gun out of my face, I will make you eat it.”

  “Jo!” Jimmy snapped. “Put it in a basket.” He gestured towards Owen. “You—mister fancy talking, you have until sundown on Fourth Star Day to bring me Huang’s killer—if it really is someone else.” Jimmy looked around at his followers. ‘That seem fair?”

  At that moment, Jinhao chose to make her entrance. To the consternation of Jimmy and his bodyguards, she dropped onto the floor of the reception area, a masked figure in black with short swords harnessed over her back. To Owens surprise, Jimmy the Horse choked up, and dropped to the floor, his forehead touching it, his pistol laid at his side. He ordered his guards to do likewise. Soon Owen was left standing in bemusement along with Mike while the blood-thirsty gangers all kept bowing like waves of the ocean. Owen noticed that Jinhao did not seem surprised at this treatment, but took it in stride as seemingly her due. He caught Jimmy mutter something about the ‘Claw’ but had no idea what he was referring to. Jinhao, masked, strode towards the bowing young man, standing over him, her hands on her hips.

  “Release the woman to me,” she ordered Jimmy. “I will guarantee that justice will be done your fallen man.” Jimmy remained facing the floor.

  “I saw you many years ago when you visited my fore-brother, the one who led us in those days. With respect I must ask, is this the guarantee of the Dragon?”

  “You dare to question me?” Jinhao responded archly. “Do you believe that the Dragon has time for the likes of you?”

  Jimmy looked up at her defiantly. “He does if your words are true, and if you value the life of this woman. Otherwise, it has been many years since any have seen the Dragon’s Claw, and I will not be moved for less.”

  Owen imagined that he could see Jinhao sigh, although she kept her attention fixed on the kneeling gang leader. He decided that as he had not a clue what was going on, his wisest course was to say nothing.

  “Very well,” Jinhao allowed. “Release the girl, allow the Englishman to question who he wishes and go where he wishes to find the murderer. The Dragon will sit in judgment.”

  “In two days,” Jimmy pressed, “no more. And the witch woman must stay here until the day comes.” Jinhao hesitated, then nodded.

  “Very well, agreed,” She said. Jimmy slowly rose to his feet, looking at Jinhao.

  “Agreed,” he answered. “Untie the witch,” he ordered.

  Mary fell into Mikes’ waiting arms sobbing. Owen watched the touching scene for a few moments, then slid up to Jinhao. Jimmy was just getting to his feet, his minions still on their knees.

  “What have you done,” Owen asked Jinhao sotto voce.

  “Gained you two days to find the killer,” Jinhao replied in the same low tones. She continued to look at Jimmy impassively behind her mask. Owen sighed.

  “And how is it that the sadistic delinquent listens to you as if you are royalty?” he asked mildly.

  “It is a legacy from a former time,” she replied shortly. “You needed the
woman alive clearly. I simply made that possible. What shall we do now?”

  “I suppose we should look at the banquet room and hopefully the body,” Owen said. “That is if it hasn’t been disturbed yet.”

  “No it hasn’t,” Jimmy said quietly. He glanced over at Mike and Mary with a look of pure hatred. “I wanted Mike to see just what his killer had done.”

  “Well, let us be about it then,” Owen said, cheerily looking around at the occupants of the room. He spied the older woman who had been present last night hovering near the doorway and looking even more anxious than she had if that were possible. Owen walked over to where she stood.

  “Hello,” Owen said to her with a smile. “And how are you?” The woman looked at the floor, saying nothing.

  Jimmy spoke up from where he stood. “That is the owner of the restaurant. She is of no consequence.” Owen turned where he stood to regard Jimmy.

  “Then I believe that being the owner of this place makes her of much consequence,” Owen said. He looked back to the restaurant owner. “It is all right,” he said, “No harm shall come to you. What is your name?” The woman looked up at him like a frightened deer. She scampered across the floor to stand behind Jimmy the Horse, who glared at Owen. Owen looked across at Jinhao who only shrugged wordlessly. Owen returned the gesture ruefully. He looked over at Mike and Mary.

  “Mike will you be a dear and bring Mary along,” Owen asked in a breezy tone.

  “Is that really necessary,” Mike asked him in cold tones.

  “Oh, I believe that I really must insist,” Owen replied in the same cheery manner. He looked at Mary, his voice changing to a gentler tone. “You can bear this can you not? I would not ask if it were not important.” Mary nodded silently, still clutching Mike close.

  “Very well,” Owen said. He looked at Jimmy and his henchman Jo, “Lead on please.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Jinhao had never seen the banquet room before. It was a large well-appointed room with a large statue of Fu-Shoji in one corner to bring luck and harmony to the dinners. The smells of the room told her a tale of pain and death however. Her gaze came to rest on what appeared to be a forlorn pile of burnt offerings on the floor near the head seat of the long banquet table. Jimmy the Horse stood over it.

  “There,” Jimmy said in a hoarse voice, hands clenching into fists, then unclenching them. “There,” he repeated. “Now you see what that Witch has done.” Owen came up beside him.

  “I am sorry for your loss.” Owen said quietly. Jimmy spun on him as if stung.

  “Huang was a good soldier,” Jimmy said gruffly.

  “Of course,” Owen murmured soothingly. He wondered why the gang leader seemed so touchy about feeling bad about the death of a trusted lieutenant, then dismissed the thought. How could he possibly know anything about these strange waifs of the streets? Owen gestured behind them.

  “Would you mind standing back so that I can examine him please?” Jimmy nodded jerkily, and stepped back. Owen knelt beside the corpse, looking at the burnt remains intensely. Then clicking his tongue in thought he glanced down the length of the room. He raised his cane, passing it over the body which became covered in a faint violet haze. Jimmy started towards him, only to be stopped by a masked Jinhao quickly stepping in front of him.

  “What are you doing to him?” Jimmy demanded. Owen replied without looking up, his face a study in concentration.

  “Every Magia emanation leaves its mark,” Owen explained absently. “I am currently attempting to follow this one back to its source. Would you mind standing back?” he repeated. The violet haze drifted up like smoke in a strong breeze. Jinhao pushed the gang leader back, his eyes showing their whites in amazement as the haze moved almost lazily down the length of the hall. It came to stop in front of Mary who was still holding onto Mike, both of their faces showing amazement and fear.

  “I told you that the witch killed him!” John exclaimed excitedly. He pulled his pistol hastily aiming it at her.

  “Would everyone please calm down,” Owen said. “Mike, Mary would you please step to the left.” The hostile gangers paused, their weapons out, confused. Mike pulled an equally confused Mary to the left of where they stood. The violet haze drifted past them both and stopped at the wall. Owen gave a small sound of triumph. Carefully, he stood up, walking the length of the banquet room to stand facing the far wall. He tapped the wall with a fist.

  “I say, there appears to be something of a hidden doorway here,” He said drily. The older woman stirred at word of Owen’s discovery. “Jinhao,” he said lazily, “do not let our hostess leave. It seems to be no surprise to her.” Jimmy the Horse stepped between a fearsome and masked Jinhao and the old proprietor of the restaurant.

  “Leave her alone,” he said. “She has nothing to do with this!”

  “Indeed,” Owen purred from his place by the wall, “And how do you know this?”

  “Because she is my mother! Her name is Zhang. Zhang Woo.” Jimmy awkwardly placed an arm around her. The woman looked surprised at his action, then gave in and leaned into her son’s embrace. Owen continued to face the wall.

  “I see, that is very touching,” he replied in a sharp tone. “I assume that you know about this hidden doorway as well.”

  “It is an old servant’s way,” Jimmy replied. “It leads to the kitchen.”

  “Yes, yes,” Owen said testily. “How do you open it, man?”

  “Oh, that.” Jimmy walked over to the statue of the Buddha. With his back to the room so that no one could see what he was doing, he worked. Eventually there was a click and a section of wall swung inward. The violet haze raced into the dark of the revealed passageway like a hound chasing its quarry. Owen peered after it.

  “I believe that we will need some torches here,” He called out.

  Once some open bowls with wicks and oil in them were brought forth, a strange procession made its way down the narrow corridor illuminated by the smoky light of the bowls. The violet haze stretched out to a pencil thinness before them. Eventually the haze came to stop over a slumped body.

  “Hello,” said Owen. He knelt at the body’s side. “Help me turn it over,” He ordered Jimmy. The ganger knelt beside Owen and the two of them turned the body over revealing a tall man of European features dressed in what for in this district would be considered fine clothes. A pistol underneath him was covered in Owen’s violet haze. He picked up the weapon carefully.

  “Well Jimmy,” Owen said easily. He held it out the pistol to the ganger. “Here is the murderer of your man.”

  “What is it?” Jimmy breathed, not reaching out to touch it.

  “We call it an ‘aether gun’, Owen explained. “They are made by alchemists. Very expensive, and very, very deadly.” He pointed to the clear tube on the end of it. “This holds what they call an alchemical fluid. Although this one is empty, I would wager that it held a fire fluid. The weapon is capable of shooting fire, or some other elemental energy the same as a Sorcerer can with his power, instead of bullets like your air pistols.” Jimmy looked at the weapon in Owen’s hand as if it were a venomous snake.

  “I have heard of such things,” He said hoarsely. “Western abominations.”

  “I can but agree with you,” Owen said. Jinhao had ghosted up beside them, kneeling to examine the body.

  “This one is still alive,” she said calmly.

  Chapter 17

  They carried the mysterious stranger up the stairs. Upon examining him, it was discovered that he had suffered a blow to the head that had rendered him unconscious. Despite this, he had been tied to a chair while Jinhao ministered to his head wound. The man muttered as she worked.

  “What is that he is saying?” Mike asked. Owen stood by the doorway watching Jinhao at work.

  “It is Germanic,” Owen replied. At Mike’s blank look, Owen amplified his statement. “That is the language used by most of the Austrian Empire.” Mike nodded.

  “I have heard of them,” he said, looking at the b
ound man. “They tried to invade the city last summer.” Owen who along with Jinhao had stopped said invasion merely nodded in agreement.

  “Yes,” Owen said gravely, “They are definitely bad eggs.”

  “What is he doing here?” Mike wondered aloud.

  “Perhaps we may ask him when he regains consciousness,” Jinhao said drily, as she tossed a bloody rag into a basin. She carefully wrapped his head in a makeshift bandage.

  “Then he will recover,” Owen asked. Jinhao raised her hands palms up in reply.

  “It is always uncertain with head wounds,” she said. “However I see no reason why he should not.”

  “There is no need for that,” Jimmy the Horse said grimly. “He killed Huang with his devil-science gun, this is clear.” Jimmy turned towards Mike who still held Mary close to him. He bowed at the rival gang leader.

  “It seems that I may owe you and the woman an apology,” he said briefly. Mike retuned the bow.

  “It is very kind of you to say so,” Mike replied with equal brevity.

  “Of course,” Jimmy said stiffly, “We will have to question the culprit before I am completely satisfied.”

  Mike bowed again. “Of course,” he agreed calmly. While the two of them were talking, Owen had slid over to the tied-up captive. He pulled back the man’s shirt-sleeve to reveal the tattoo of a skull on his arm.

  “Tokenkoff,” Owen hissed in surprise.

  “What’s that?” Mike asked Owen.

  “Deaths-Head,” Owen translated. “Our friend here is an agent of the Austrian Secret Service. A rather elite agent come to that,” Owen mused. “Does anyone recognize him?” At the chorus of no’s Owen turned back to the unconscious man

  “Waken Sie,” he murmured. The man moaned and opened his eyes.

  “Ja,” he said groggily. His head snapped back and his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he realized that he was tied to the chair. “Was ist loss?” he exclaimed angrily.

  “Sorry old man,” Owen said in English. “But we have you red-handed. It will go much easier on you if you cooperate. You do speak English do you not? It would make it easier for our friends here if you speak either that or Mandarin.”