by Jaye Wells
“What did you say to her?” Rufus asked.
“I asked her where she got it. Said her mama gave it to her because she wasn’t losing her baby fat fast enough.”
“How does dealing with these kinds of cases make you feel?”
“Frustrated. Angry.” Pen sighed. “Powerless.”
Rufus leaned forward. “Sometimes you got to fight the good fight even if you’ll probably lose the war.”
Pen nodded. “I have a call in to CPS, but they’re so backlogged it’ll be a long time until a social worker gets over there.”
“Did you talk to the principal?” I asked.
“Yeah.” She grimaced. “He said as long as the diet potion is clean magic, we can’t get involved. But you ask me, he’s just worried about losing that family’s fat fund-raising checks.”
“Pen, we’ve talked about this before—” Rufus began.
She waved a hand. “Yeah, yeah, I know—I can’t control other people’s behavior.”
“I was going to say that you can’t save everyone.”
Pen laughed bitterly. “You just said I had to fight the fight even if I’d lose.”
Rufus shook his head. “Sometimes the fight’s not even worth starting.”
My best friend went silent. Rufus had just poked her most sensitive bruise. She raised her chin. “Maybe not, but at least I have to try to save them.”
Rufus winked. “Just be sure you’re doing it for them and not because your savior complex has replaced your old addiction to energy potions.”
Pen had been addicted to potions that helped her stay awake and energized during her rigorous master’s-level work in psychology. She’d purchased the potion patches from some two-bit cook on campus, who put God-knows-what in the formula. After using the potion for six months, she’d had a minor heart attack that almost ended her life and her future career and definitely ended her love affair with dirty magic.
Instead of being angry for being called out on her issues, Pen simply nodded. She’d put enough people through the psychotherapy wringer to know Rufus was not only justified, but also right in his assessment.
“Kate?” Rufus said.
I jerked my head up. Usually I didn’t talk much at group. I wasn’t mad he’d called on me, just surprised. “Don’t have much to report,” I lied.
Beside me, Pen leveled me with a look. “Mmm-hmm.”
I swiveled to stare at her. She raised her brows. When I looked at Rufus, he had a knowing look on his face. “What?”
Pen nudged me with her elbow. “Your anniversary.”
My first reaction was relief. For some reason, I’d been expecting Pen to call me on lying about my problems. But then I remembered she’d have no idea about my fight with Danny or the fact that my first love was now a suspect in the most important investigation of my career.
My second reaction was frustration. “How many times do I have to tell you guys I don’t feel right celebrating anniversaries?”
All these years I’d resisted because I was never actually addicted to using magic. I’d never taken a token or anniversary pin because I felt it was disrespectful to those who’d been through hell to kick their dependencies. I’d just showed up to a meeting one day with Pen and kept coming because it helped me remember why I didn’t cook anymore.
“But this is ten years,” Rufus said.
“It’s still a couple months away,” I added loudly over the round of applause from the group. I’d stopped cooking the day my mother died. The anniversary Pen was referring to was of my first time attending a meeting. After I’d started working at the restaurant where she was already a waitress, it had taken a few weeks for us to feel each other out, and even longer for her to convince me to come to a meeting with her.
“Ten years?” the new girl asked. “How did you do that?” Her eyes were wide, as if the answer to this question would dictate her own failure or success on the road to sobriety.
I looked at Ru for help, but he simply raised a brow and smiled. “One day at a time, baby girl. One day at a time.” To me he said, “We’ll talk about it later, okay?”
With a nod, I crossed my arms and slid down in my seat. Part of me was kicking myself for not using the opportunity to talk about my shit, but the rational part reminded that part that I couldn’t discuss a case in front of these people. And I simply wasn’t ready to talk about Danny’s sudden interest in magic because it brought up too much shit.
“Kate?” Rufus was saying.
I looked up. “Hmm?”
“Will you lead us in the pledge?”
Inside, my sense of irony laughed and laughed. On the outside, though, I rose and said the words I’d memorized and repeated more times than my own name in the last decade. “Magic is a tool. If I am unable to use it responsibly, I will not use magic at all. I am responsible for my own actions, and I pledge to act with compassion for myself and others, always.”
* * *
At the top of the steps leading up from the basement, Rufus stood by the door to say good-bye to everyone. When he saw me coming, he smiled, showing a full mouth of strong, white teeth. “What’s shaking, white girl?”
I smiled and went in for a hug. The familiar, pungent-sweet scent of Mary Jane clung to his clothes like cologne. Rufus might be a magic-recovery counselor who met with addicts in a Catholic church, but he worshipped at the altar of Mother Ganja. He’d overcome a pretty devastating addiction to performance-enhancing, dirty magic potions that ruined his career as a pro baller in the early ’90s. Now he worked at a gas station by day and led junkies toward salvation at night.
“Can’t complain,” I said. “How about you?”
“Oh, you know, SSDD.” Same shit, different day. He laughed. “So about this anniversary.”
I was shaking my head before he finished the last word. “Don’t start on me.”
“I know, it’s just—” He reached into his pocket. “Your success gives the newer ones hope.”
He nodded toward the new girl, who scurried out of the basement and sped by without looking up to see Ru’s wave.
“Think she’ll be back?” I asked, watching her retreat.
“We’ll see.” He shrugged. “Look, just think about it. If you don’t do something here, at least do something privately to mark the occasion. Rituals matter, Kate.”
I nodded because I didn’t want to lie to him. I’d think about it, all right. About how the anniversary brought up all sorts of complicated shit for me. Like guilt that I hadn’t visited my mother’s grave since her funeral. About how my little brother was poking his nose into magic because I’d been such a hard-ass about keeping him away from it. About how after ten years I should have been able to relax, but instead John Volos was sniffing around the edges of my life again.
“Hey,” Rufus said, “you okay?”
I smiled quickly. “Yeah. I’m good.”
“You ready to go grab that drink?” Pen asked, approaching us. “Great talk tonight, Ru.”
He smiled and gave her a hug. She’d been coming to group longer than I had. Her ten-year anniversary had been a couple of years earlier.
“You know,” I said, “I think I’m gonna pass tonight. I’ve got some work to do.” I still had some files to review for Shadi. “I’ll call you tomorrow, though, okay?”
Once we’d said our good-byes, I walked away feeling relieved. I felt guilty for not wanting to hang out with Pen, but part of that decision had been self-preservation. No way could I get through one beer with her without spilling my guts about the case, and I really needed not to be analyzed right then. I knew I was taking risks, but I also knew the possible benefits outweighed any of the risks. If I could make this case, I’d make the team and then Danny and I would be set. And if John Volos had to go down to make that happen, I’d do whatever it took.
Chapter Thirteen
When I pulled into work the next morning, I was determined to make it go smoother than the day before. Sure, Danny hadn’t spoken to me over br
eakfast, but the sun was shining, I found a new penny in the parking lot, and I’d brought coffee and a box of bagels for the team. No bad days begin with free money, good coffee, and warm carbs.
When I reached the top of the stairs, I found the team huddled around Gardner’s open office door. Male shouting came from inside the small room. Tension filled the air like smog.
“What’s up?” I whispered to the others. Shadi made a pained grimace and shook her head. Mez, whose dreads had turned an inexplicable blue overnight, looked disgusted by the outburst, and Morales leaned against the ring with a smirk that said he was enjoying the fireworks.
Captain Eldritch’s back was to the open door. The way his hands were flapping he was capable of taking flight any second. Standing across from him at her desk, Gardner looked cool and calm, like she was used to having police captains chew her ass out before breakfast.
Closer now, I could make out the captain’s words. “—explain to me why I got the mayor’s office breathing down my fucking neck?”
I slowly slid down into a seat. “I brought bagels,” I whispered.
The other three perked up and dug into the box like a bunch of hyenas. Shadi and Mez retreated to their listening posts to enjoy the refreshments while they watched the show. Morales stayed near me. “He stormed through about five minutes before you got here.”
I nodded and took a sip from my coffee, suddenly wishing it were bourbon instead.
“Can’t say that I do,” Gardner replied in a calm tone. “But I’m guessing you have an idea.”
“Seems a good friend of the mayor’s is being harassed by this task force.”
“Who?”
“John Volos.”
I cringed. Had Volos seen me the other day outside his building?
“Shit,” Morales said under his breath. “I thought we were more careful.”
I relaxed instantly. I’d forgotten that Gardner had him and Shadi tail Volos the day before.
Gardner shot a quick, hard glance in Morales’s direction. “Harassed?” she said. “I highly doubt that, Captain. My agents know better.”
“According to Mr. Volos, members of this task force followed him for four hours yesterday and then sat outside a fund-raiser at the mayor’s own campaign manager’s house last night.”
“Maybe you should remind the mayor that his biggest backer was and probably still is a major player in the Cauldron’s potion trade.”
“I’d be happy to if you can hand me one piece of evidence that backs up that accusation.”
“As it happens, Agent Pruitt found some manifests from Volos Transport’s freighters yesterday. Mr. Volos has been receiving shipments of alchemical materials from Canada for the last five weeks.”
He laughed. “As an Adept, he’s allowed to use alchemical materials for his own purposes.”
“What do you suppose a solitary practitioner would need barrels full of oil of rose quartz for, Captain?” Mez challenged.
“It’s well known Mr. Volos does consulting work for Sortilege, Inc. Maybe it’s for a project with them.” Eldritch crossed his arms. “So far I have only heard conjecture.”
“We’re working on it,” Gardner snapped.
Eldritch’s mustache twitched. “John Volos isn’t just bankrolling for the mayor, he’s also a goddamned hero in this city. If you’re going to go after him, you better be sure you can back up your accusations with evidence that’s more watertight than a frog’s ass.”
“I’m sorry the mayor’s on your case,” she said. “But Mr. Volos is involved in this investigation whether any of us like it. How are we supposed to do our job properly if all the mayor’s cronies are off-limits?”
“Gee, Gardner, I don’t know. Maybe with police work? Finding hard evidence, instead of guesswork? Or does the MEA only know how to harass city leaders and get informants killed?”
His comment lay on the ground between them like a tossed gauntlet. Gardner’s jaw tightened.
“I can promise you that my team”—she shot a weighted look at Morales and Shadi—“will be more careful moving forward.”
Message heard loud and clear if the stiff postures of my teammates were any indication.
“However, I’m not here to play politics,” she continued. “I’m here to catch the criminal whose handiwork has already gotten two people killed and potentially more wounded. The evidence you respect so much is telling me Volos is involved somehow, so he will continue to be monitored.”
“Good luck with that.”
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I’m meeting with the mayor later to discuss options.” He crossed his arms. “He’s considering pulling the plug on this case altogether.”
“Shit,” I breathed and shared a worried look with Morales.
Gardner grew very still. “You’re going to tell him not to, right? Because there will be more violence, guaranteed. A spike in violent crimes won’t look too good to the voters right before the election.”
“Not so sure it’s the wrong move. We only have one confirmed crime connected to this potion.”
“I found five in the files that could be tied as well,” I said quietly.
“Then we’ll raid the Arteries and any known potion houses. The BPD can handle that without the MEA’s assistance.”
“Unacceptable,” Gardner said. “We simply need more time. Regardless of who is responsible for this potion, we’re looking at federal charges and I won’t let cronyism prevent us from doing our job.”
“If you can show me one piece of solid evidence tying Volos to Gray Wolf, I’ll go to bat for you with Mayor Owens.”
Gardner and Morales shared a weighted look. Finally, my partner shook his head a fraction to either side.
“That’s what I thought,” Eldritch said.
“Imagine what it will do for the mayor’s reelection if we can bring down one of the biggest coven leaders in the city. Imagine how grateful he’ll be to you for making it possible.”
He sucked on his teeth for a moment. Finally, he said, “I’ll see what I can do to buy you some time, but you need to watch your ass around Volos.”
Morales and I shared relieved glances. Gardner smiled at the captain. “You made the right choice.”
“We’ll see,” he said. He turned to me and raised his brows. “Prospero? A word?”
I glanced at Gardner. She tipped her chin down, but shot Eldritch a warning look. He looked offended that I’d even silently asked my new boss for the go-ahead. Jesus, this was getting more complicated every second.
He stormed back down the stairs without waiting to see if I’d follow. I dragged myself after him. As I descended the stairs, I heard Gardner talking rapidly to the team. No doubt they were hatching some sort of Hail Mary play.
Eldritch was waiting for me on the sidewalk. The instant the door shut behind me, he started in. “I didn’t get you a place on this team so you could betray your entire unit, Prospero.”
I jerked my chin back as if he’d struck me. “First of all, sir,” I said with sarcastic emphasis, “you couldn’t get me out of your hair fast enough, so enough with the bullshit about doing me a favor.” He shrugged—as close to a “You’re right” as I was getting. “Furthermore, I don’t control Gardner. Neither does the mayor, for that matter. And as for Volos, you know damned well he’s probably playing the mayor to knock us off his scent.”
“Do you really think he’s behind this?”
I threw up my hands. “I don’t know. I hope not, but I do know that not investigating him because he threw some money at the mayor is a huge mistake.”
He crossed his arms and pierced me with the old laser eye. “I could revoke the exception I made to allow a suspended officer to consult on a federal investigation.”
“No offense, sir, but that’s not gonna happen. Gardner needs my insider knowledge of the Cauldron to make this case. Especially since my childhood friend John Volos looks to be the lead suspect.” This far I’d managed to av
oid letting Eldritch know about the real nature of my relationship with Volos, but I wouldn’t be so lucky with Gardner, whom I’d have to tell before the day was out. I was gambling that she’d see the connection as an advantage.
“Don’t get cocky, girl. Gardner will only like you as long as you keep producing results. What happens when your luck runs out? Or if the MEA pulls this team out of the Cauldron? Where are you going to go then if you burn all your bridges with the BPD?”
I squinted up at him. “Haven’t you ever imagined what it would be like to shut all this down?” I motioned to the trash-strewn street, the broken-down buildings, and the disenfranchised junkies who scrambled through this part of the city like rats in a dead-end maze. “What if we could clean up these streets and run the wizards out of town?”
Eldritch laughed bitterly. “I was arresting potion cookers before you were born, Prospero. Have I imagined a world free of dirty magic? Shit, yeah. But then I grew up and realized that the minute you get rid of one asshole, another one takes its place. Usually worse than the last one. Face it: In order to get rid of dirty magic, you’d have to figure out how to rid all humans of their greed, vanity, and fear of pain.” He took a deep breath, as if resigning himself to something. “The best we can do is try to help the victims and minimize the impact of the dirty potion trade on innocent people. That means making it as tough as possible for the corner guys to ply their wares and chasing down the bad guys after they victimize the innocent to feed their habits. It’s good, honest work.”
“So you think the MEA’s wasting their time going after the covens?”
“I’m saying I’m terrified of what would take their place once they’re gone. Better the assholes you know, right?”
I shook my head at the jaded bastard. “I’m sorry you think I’m choosing sides, but I’m just trying to do my job.”
“Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Prospero.” His eye twinkled like he was in on some joke I didn’t catch. Finally, with a sigh, he said, “I’ll buy us some time with the mayor. But you tell Gardner that if you guys take Volos down, I want some camera time.” His phone started chirping during the middle of his speech. He ignored it until he was done and then pulled it out to check the screen.
