Tallow Jones: Wizard Detective (The Tallow Novels Book 1)

by Trevor H. Cooley

  Ross’ phone went off, his ringtone blaring Star Wars’ Imperial March. That meant the call was coming from the officer at the front desk downstairs. Ross picked it up and Douglas remembered that he had ignored that earlier call in the chief’s office.

  Douglas pulled out his phone and saw that he had a new voicemail. He tapped on the blinking icon. He had a voicemail-to-text app on his phone and read what it had to say. The transcription that the app came up with was odd as usual, but he got the gist.

  “Okay, Chuck, bring her up to the eighth floor,” Ross said and ended the call. “You won’t guess who just showed up.”

  “Aarin?” Douglas said, turning the screen of his phone towards him. “She was the one who called my phone earlier. Evidently something freaked her out.”

  Tallow leaned over and squinted at the badly transcribed message on the screen. “She wants police ‘conception’?”

  “I’m pretty sure she meant protection,” Douglas said.

  Ross’ chair let out a screech of relief as he stood. “I suggest we talk to her in an interview room. Chuck says she’s pretty hysterical.”

  “Wait here, Aggie,” said Douglas and the three men headed to the elevator.

  They arrived just as it dinged and opened. Portly Officer Chuck who had been manning the front desk stood next to a pale and disheveled young woman.

  Aarin looked quite different from the girl Douglas and Tallow had interviewed at the mall. She wore pajama bottoms and a baggy t-shirt and it looked like she had been interrupted while applying her makeup. Her lips were bare and only one of her red-rimmed eyes was surrounded by eyeshadow. The knitted cap that Agatha had made her sat atop her head.

  Aarin’s shoulders slumped with relief when she saw them standing there. “I tried to call you on the way here,” she said accusingly.

  “Sorry. I was in a meeting,” Douglas replied. “Thanks, Chuck, we’ll take her from here.”

  They took Aarin to an empty interview room. Douglas placed a hand on her back as he gestured for her to sit down. He could feel the girl trembling.

  “What’s going on, Aarin?” Tallow asked.

  “I’m here to demand police protection,” she declared.

  “What happened?” Douglas asked.

  “I heard about Polly’s dad,” she said. “The cop cars were still there when I came home from work.”

  Douglas groaned inwardly and shared a look with Tallow. Both of them had forgotten that she lived just across the street from the Roberts.

  “Then this morning, I was sitting at my desk getting ready and . . .” Aarin shuddered, her gaze haunted. “It was that receptionist lady with the big teeth. She was standing right outside my bedroom window.”

  Chapter 16: Arrangements

  “You saw this woman outside your window?” Tallow asked, intrigued. “On the street?”

  “No! Like right at my window. Her face was right next to the glass. She was smiling at me . . .” Aarin’s face was pale, her expression terrified. “That smile. It isn’t right. No one’s mouth is that wide.” She swallowed. “I screamed and she started prying at the bottom of the window, trying to open it.”

  “That must have given you a fright,” Tallow said, a hand on his chest.

  Douglas agreed, thinking of the odd expression on the receptionist’s face when he had seen her. “Did she have a gun? Or a knife?”

  “That would have been less scary. I had this horrible feeling that she was going to bite me,” Aarin said.

  “What time was this?” asked Ross, flipping open a notebook that he had withdrawn from his pocket. If he was at all unnerved by her story, he wasn’t showing it. He had gone into full cop mode. He readied a pen.

  “Uh, a little after eight. That’s when my alarm went off. I was getting ready when it happened.”

  Ross nodded, making a note. “Did this woman say anything to you? Make any threats?”

  “No! She just grinned wider and pried at the window,” Aarin said. “And I wasn’t going to sit there and find out her intentions. I ran through the house and out the front door and right to my car. I-I was so freaked. I didn’t dare look back to see if she was running behind me.”

  “Wow,” said Tallow. “You must have been terrified.”

  Ross shot him a frown, but Aarin didn’t see it. Her eyes were focused on Tallow, the person in the room who seemed the most believing of her story.

  “It was like I was in one of those horror movies, you know? Where the stupid girl gets in her car and fumbles with the keys while the killer’s coming. Whenever I see those movies I always make fun of the girl like, ‘watch her drop the keys.’”

  “They always do,” Tallow agreed encouragingly. “But not you, right? You’re not one of those girls.”

  The laugh she gave him in response was a nervous titter. “I never thought I was, but as soon I got in the car I was thinking, ‘Don’t drop the keys. Don’t drop the keys!’ Luckily I didn’t. The car started right up.” She swallowed. “And it was a good thing too, because as I drove off I saw her standing by the curb just watching me. That same grin on her face. A few seconds longer and she would’ve caught up to me.”

  “What about your parents?” Douglas asked. Aarin had graduated high school that summer, but she still lived in her parents’ house. Surely she wouldn’t have just left them behind.

  “I was home alone,” she said. “They’re both up and gone to work by seven.”

  “Have you told them what happened?” Ross said.

  She shook her head bitterly. “They haven’t believed me from the beginning. Dad says I watch too many scary movies and it’s gone to my head. No, I called you right away, Detective Jones, and drove straight here. I didn’t even call my work.” She put her head in her hands. “Crap, I’m fired! I was supposed to start at nine. My new boss told me that I was gone if I was ever late again.”

  “Maybe we could call your boss for you?” Douglas suggested.

  “And say what? That I’m late because I’m at the police station freaking out?” Aarin snorted. “Besides, there’s no way I’m going back to the mall. That lady has seen me there. She would know where to find me. That’s why you’ve gotta put me in protective custody.”

  Ross shut his notebook. “Sorry, kid, but-.”

  “Or witness protection!” she added, getting excited. “I’ll tell the court everything I saw and you can send me to Wyoming or wherever and I can start a new life. Maybe I’ll cut my hair.”

  “There’s no need for all that,” Tallow said. “I’m sure we could-.”

  Ross interrupted him. “Listen, Aarin. We don’t have enough evidence to justify putting a protective detail on you.”

  Her eyes widened. She looked pleadingly at Douglas and Tallow. “But I’m a witness in Polly’s kidnapping. And Asher’s!”

  “What you saw was mostly circumstantial,” Ross pointed out. “And though you feel threatened by this woman you saw, technically she’s done nothing but smile at you. That’s not a crime.”

  “She tried to open my window!” Aarin shouted.

  “But she didn’t go in,” Ross pointed out. “I’m sorry, but we don’t have the manpower available to place a protective detail on your place.”

  Aarin stared at Ross, her mouth open, and Douglas sighed. His partner was right. There was no proof that this admittedly creepy woman was attempting to attack her. “I’ll tell you what. We can make sure an officer drives by the house every few hours for the next couple days. And if that woman comes back, you call me.”

  “But . . .” The girl was trembling again.

  “I may have a better solution,” Tallow said thoughtfully, “Aarin, it sounds like you are out of a job. Have you ever done any babysitting?”

  “Tons,” she said. “Well, I used to anyway. Before I got a real job.”

  “Did you like it?” Tallow asked.

  Aarin shrugged. “I get along with kids. I was good at it, I guess.”

  “Tallow,” Douglas said warningly.


  A smile spread his uncle’s lips. “Have you ever considered becoming a nanny?”

  “A nanny? Do people still have those?” Aarin asked.

  “Sure they do,” Tallow replied. “People often have situations where their jobs keep them away from their children for most of the day. Oftentimes nannies stay at their employer’s homes so that they are available to help with children at any time.”

  Aarin gave him a bewildered look. “Okay, but I haven’t been to nanny school or whatever. Why are you bringing this up? You know someone who’s desperate enough to hire me?”

  Douglas saw where this was going. “Tallow, I can’t afford to-.”

  “I can,” Tallow told him. “Detective Jones here needs someone to watch his daughter. How does $100 a day sound?”

  “Seriously?” said Ross.

  Aarin blinked. “To watch that cute little squirt? That’s better money than what I made at the Sell Phone kiosk.”

  Douglas cleared his throat. “Just a minute, Aarin. I’d like to talk to Tallow in private,” He grabbed Tallow’s arm and pulled out of the room. The moment the door shut behind them he turned on his uncle. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m solving two problems at once,” Tallow said grinning while he tapped his temple with one finger. “You need someone to watch Aggie and, though I understand why the department can’t help her, Aarin really does need protection. Surely you feel it too.”

  Douglas bit his lip. Ross had been right when he had said that this receptionist woman hadn’t broken any laws. And for all they knew, Aarin was just paranoid. But he couldn’t deny the feeling of unease that he’d had when she described the situation. The receptionist’s presence the one time he had met her had been disturbing. There had been a sense of quiet menace about her.

  “But you paying her? $100 a day?” Douglas said.

  “Don’t worry about the money,” Tallow said. “I don’t need it and since the Atlanta PD is willing to pay it, why not put it to good use?”

  “But . . . I don’t really know this girl,” Douglas said.

  “Come on,” Tallow replied. “You already looked into her past when you were interviewing her for Asher’s case. Did you find anything?”

  “Well, no, but it’s not all about background checks. She’s a teenager and teenagers are unreliable. I would be leaving her alone with Agatha all day,” Douglas pressed.

  “And all night,” Tallow added. “She’s going to need to stay with you. We can’t let her go home. Not after what happened to Polly’s father.” Douglas grimaced and Tallow placed a hand on his shoulder. “Think about it this way. Asher knew her. They were friends. That’s enough for a start, isn’t it? Besides, this is Aggie. If there’s anything wrong with Aarin, you’ll hear about it.”

  “True,” Douglas admitted.

  “And if it doesn’t work out, this will at least have bought you time to figure out something else,” Tallow replied.

  “I’m a single man. People will talk if I have an underage girl staying at my house.”

  “She’s eighteen,” Tallow pointed out. “Her birthday was at the end of May. And she would be your employee. Not some houseguest.”

  “People would still talk,” Douglas said.

  “So?” Tallow said. “You live in a small neighborhood. Doesn’t everyone talk already?”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’m not home enough to waste time listening to gossip.” Douglas reached up and ran a resigned hand through his hair. “There would have to be stiff rules in place.”

  “As there should be,” Tallow agreed. “Tell Aarin about them. If she doesn’t agree to your terms we won’t hire her.”

  Douglas blinked at his uncle, noting his use of the word ‘we’. Then something else occurred to him. “Tallow, if your instincts are right and Aarin really does need protection, is putting her with Agatha really a smart move?”

  Tallow gave him a reassuring smile. “Did Aggie tell you about the elemental I gave her?”

  Douglas raised an eyebrow at him. “You mean the pet rock? Yeah, she told me.”

  “I know it seems funny on the surface, but I told her the truth about him,” Tallow said with all seriousness. “Reginald is very powerful, one of the most powerful magics I have ever owned and now he belongs to her. He will not allow anything to happen to Aggie. If you add that to the magical wards and protections I set around the house, believe me, there is no safer place for both of those girls to be.”

  “You put what around the house?” Douglas said.

  “Magical protections,” Tallow said. “If anyone approaches the house, I’ll know it. If anyone tries to get in, they’ll get a nasty shock.”

  “When did you do this?” Douglas asked.

  “Last night. Before I went back to the hotel,” Tallow replied. He gestured towards the door. “Now why don’t you go back in and tell Aarin your rules. I’ll get Aggie and bring her in so that you can tell her the plan.”

  “Right,” Douglas said hesitantly as he watched his uncle walk towards his desk where Agatha sat knitting. Tallow sure had a habit of taking charge. He could see why Ross was so rankled by the man. Letting out a slow breath, he opened the door to the interview room and stepped inside. Hopefully Ross was helping Aarin to calm down.

  “Are you kidding?” Aarin was saying with an amused scoff. “The Hobbit trilogy might not be as good as the Lord of the Rings movies, but Bilbo was definitely the best hobbit. He bested Gollum, bested Smaug, and he lived with the One Ring for decades without being driven mad. Frodo was fried after what? A year with it?”

  Ross shook his head. “I can tell that you haven’t read the books. Frodo had the ring for 17 years before Gandalf came back to send him on his journey. The only reason Bilbo lasted longer is because he stayed far away from Mordor. He wouldn’t have been strong enough to destroy the ring. He always wanted to keep it for himself.”

  “Both of you nerds are wrong,” Douglas interrupted. “Samwise was the best hobbit. He was the most loyal and without him Frodo would never have made it to the end. Also, he was the only person who was able to handle the ring and not be taken over by its powers.” Both Ross and Aarin looked at him like he’d grown a third arm. He frowned at them. “What?”

  Aarin shrugged. “I guess you got a good point.”

  “I was just wondering who you are and what you did with my partner,” said Ross with a chuckle.

  “Come on, Bob. I’ve seen those movies a dozen times. Both Asher and Agatha loved them,” Douglas replied. “The only reason I never said anything to you about it is because I knew you’d try to make me read the books.”

  The door opened and Tallow and Agatha stepped in. The wizard must have told Agatha about the plan because her eyes immediately fell on Aarin and a slight frown twisted her lips. “At least she’s still wearing the hat I made her.”

  Douglas focused on Aarin. “Okay, so I’m seriously considering offering you the nanny job that Tallow was talking about. I’m really busy and with school out Agatha spends too much time alone. So . . . if things work out, you could stay at my house while we complete this investigation.”

  Ross’ forehead wrinkled in concern at this offer, but he said nothing.

  Aarin clasped her hands together, a look of gratitude blossoming on her face. “Oh, thank you, Mister Jones! That would be amazing!” The corners of her eyes tightened. “That $100 a day thing is still part of the deal, right?”

  “A hundred bucks?” Agatha said incredulously.

  Douglas flinched. His daughter knew how tight he was with money and he was sure that this sounded like an outlandish sum to her. “I’ll explain that later,” he assured her before returning his attention to Aarin. “That amount is correct, but it would be only on days that I’m away from home.”

  “That makes sense,” she said, grinning. “I don’t expect to get paid if I don’t work.”

  “Listen carefully though,” Douglas added. “I have some rules if you’re gonna take this job.”

 
; “Yes sir,” Aarin said dutifully. “I’m pretty sure I know what you’re gonna say. No friends or boys over. Don’t worry, I don’t have a boyfriend and I won’t even tell anyone where I am. Safer if they don’t know anything.”

  “That’s good, but I’m talking more about house rules,” Douglas replied.

  She nodded. “Of course. I know how messy kids are. We’ll have fun together, but I’ll make sure she cleans up after herself.”

  “You don’t know me,” Agatha protested with a scowl. “I keep things clean.”

  Which was true. Agatha made her bed every morning and knew how to do dishes and start her own laundry. She even vacuumed twice a week.

  Aarin gave her a sinister smile. “Oh, you got no idea what clean is. With me in charge, your house is gonna be spotless every day when your dad gets home.”

  Agatha’s scowl faded to a worried frown. “Spotless within reason, right?”

  Aarin laughed. “I like the way you talk, kid. But that don’t mean I’m gonna show you mercy.”

  “That’s not what my dad meant, though,” Agatha said, looking to Douglas for help. “He was going to tell you stuff like my bedtime is nine on weekdays or that I’m not allowed to watch unapproved channels on Youtube, or any movies pg-13 or higher unless he says it’s okay first. Right, Dad?”

  Douglas nodded cautiously. “That’s part of it.”

  “No PG-13s?” Aarin said with a hint of disappointment.

  “I’m eight, dummy,” Agatha replied pointedly.

  Ross snorted. “Well, this is a great start, Doug.”

  “I think these girls are going to be fine together,” Tallow said with a grin.

  “I’ll type you up a list,” Douglas decided.

  Agatha knew the rules, but he was fairly certain that she broke some of them when she didn’t think he would find out. She never did anything terrible, but she was a kid after all. All kids broke the rules. He couldn’t count on her to tell Aarin everything.

  Tallow clapped his hands together and smiled at Douglas. “Sounds like it’s settled. Why don’t we go ahead and take Aarin back home to gather the things she needs and then drop the two of them back at your house.”