Night of the Unicorn (The Federal Witch Book 5)

by T S Paul

  I'd felt the power in that house of horrors, and it was twisted.

  I stepped out of my hotel room and into the night air. Montana nights felt a bit like the valley at my home in Maine. Cold and comforting is what Grandmother would call it. I was tempted to give her and mom a call just to check in, but the time zones were so different. Let them sleep.

  This really was a crappy hotel, but it was much better than some of the ones I stayed in during my probi year. There is only so much RV living one can do. You need a real shower once in a while.

  I could hear the compressor kick over just as I stepped out. Looking out at the parking lot I noticed Anastasia's bus took up a large portion of the space. That was one Vampire that would die without air conditioning. She was spoiled by technology.

  The Big Horn Hotel, which wasn't anywhere near Little Big Horn, sat in the middle of a field. There was a tiny general store across the street with a one pump gas station up the road. Other than that, we were alone. We had to fuel up the bus at the tractor supply store a town away.

  I stepped off the hotel's porch and walked the little dog trail they had off to the side. A small picnic table sat by itself in the moonlight. Leaving the path, I hiked over to it. The view was beautiful as the light from the moon glistened off the native grasses and distant farm fields.

  Suddenly a voice spoke startling me. "Nice isn't it? You should have seen it before they build this place. A paradise."

  A very old woman stood next to me. So much for my shield or even my Pack enhanced hearing alerting me. "Has this hotel been here long?" I felt like an idiot for asking, but the buildings looked older than dirt.

  "A short while. What is time? You need to be careful. Old Man is watching you." The woman was staring up at the moon.

  Not understanding I glanced at her. "Your husband? Is that what you mean?"

  She barked a short laugh. "Yes. In a way. He wants you to succeed but wants you to fail too. Beware those that help too much for they will betray you in the end."

  "Uh, OK. Who did you say you were?" She sounded like she was on something.

  "I didn't." The woman turned to face me. "They must be protected. A storm is coming, Agatha Blackmore. It will be here before you know it. Watch your back and trust only those that deserve trust."

  My mouth dropped open. How did this woman know who I was? "Who in the hell are you?"

  A coyote howled in the night suddenly.

  The old woman spoke again. "He's coming." She pointed toward the fields.

  "Where?" I followed her arm. At her silence, I looked back. She was gone. There wasn't even one trace of Magick to show she had been there.

  Too many thoughts filled my head as I walked back to the room. Who was the woman? Why did she warn me? Was it about this case? To pop in and out like that without a Magickal trace meant she was either a ghost or a God. I was thinking the latter. Several Gods of different denominations had been showing up in my life over the past few years. A friend of my grandmother is a God named Emesh. I had to look him up on Boogle to figure out who he really was. He actually had a job as a farm produce delivery man of sorts. When she first introduced me to him, I remember laughing. Of course, I was only eight at the time.

  "Come, Agatha, I want you to meet someone." Grandmother took me into The Garden with her. She had explained on more than one occasion that I wasn't supposed to go into the main part alone. There was a small pond with a seating area alongside the household herb and veggies area that Minerva used and where I played. While I had stared at the gate, I never tried to go through it alone. It was always a Magickal adventure when we did go inside. According to Grams, the Garden was alive. It was aware of things like a real person. Good and bad at the same time without all the emotion was how Minerva described it to me. At night monsters roamed the rows.

  I could feel what I thought was a tremble when I set foot inside the fence. Almost as if by Magick the landscape changed. Like summertime heat ripples, hills and small valleys were revealed to me. Dozens of townspeople could be seen in the distance working the fields. None of this was visible from our side of the fence.

  "How?" I pointed.

  Grandmother smiled at me. "That, my dear, is a secret. When you are older, I will explain it to you. For now, enjoy this beautiful day we are having here!"

  She was right about the nice day. It was much like looking at the fields here in Montana. The Garden's air was filled with the sweet, musky smell of turned earth and growing things. Even the sky itself was brighter. I was only eight, so what was I to know about the possible and the impossibilities of Magick?

  The path she led me down took me to a bench overlooking the vegetable fields. Who knew there was so much in here? "Come child. Sit. I have a friend I want you to meet."

  Sitting, I remember watching the people work as I swung my legs back and forth on the bench. I've always been short. It was the sudden nickering of the horses that made me pay attention. A large, unbelievably large wagon, pulled by what I later learned were horses called Brabant's was slowly coming up the hill toward us.

  "Can I pet the horses?" It sounds dumb now, but that was my only goal then.

  "Wait for them to stop dear. The driver up there is who wishes to meet you. If you ask nicely, he may allow it." Grandmother gave a little wave at the man riding atop the wagon.

  "Is he your boyfriend?"

  Grandmother turned a shocked expression toward me. "Agatha! Where did that come from?"

  Pinching my lips together I looked down at the ground.

  "Please tell me?" Grams leaned over and looked at my face.

  "Minerva. She said you just needed to go out with that man and get it over with. I'm sorry I tattled!" I could feel my cheeks heating up in embarrassment.

  "I see. Minerva and I will have to have a chat then. Not your fault dear. He is not my boyfriend, but he is a dear friend. A very old one." We both watched as a swarthy, well-built man climbed down off the wagon.

  The man approached, and Grandmother smiled at him. She stood and gave him a big hug. He might not be her boyfriend, but he was close to her. "This Agatha is Emesh. He is a deliveryman of sorts."

  "Hello, Agatha! Do you like my chariot? It's much larger than the one I grew up with. The horses are much much bigger too." The man spoke with an accent I had never heard before. It wasn't surprising since no one in living memory had heard it before either.

  "May I pet them?"

  "Of course. While they are very gentle, be careful of their hooves. They are bigger than you think they are."

  Thanking him, I jumped up and ran to the horses. They were just as soft as I hoped they'd be. Fergus and Zeus were all well and good, but these were horses! Emesh and Grandmother talked as I petted each horse. I heard my name, as well as that of Kassandra, mentioned more than once. She was a nice old lady, but kinda pushy.

  "Do you like them, Agatha?" I turned to see this Emesh man kneeling behind me.

  "What are their names?"

  He blinked at me and then laughed. "You know, I don't know? I suppose we can ask them or you may name them if you like. They have served me well for many years."

  Quickly, I gave each of them names. Strangely, each horse bowed its head as I spoke the words to them. Emesh only watched me, never speaking.

  "You will be a great Witch one day Agatha. Remember to always walk in the light and keep the sun on your face. If you are in Summer, you may always call upon me, and I will be there." He patted my head as he climbed back on board his wagon. Grandmother pulled me back away from the horses as he snapped the reins and the wagon began to move.

  "Where is he going, Grandmother?"

  "He takes vegetable to those who are in need. He'll be back soon. Let's walk a bit." I remember we walked the rows and picked vegetables for dinner. I would see Emesh again several times in my life. Most recently, during my summer vacation. Gods are handy to have around when you might need them if you can trust them.

  Now I had yet another to worry about.
Was this old woman an enemy or a friend? Minerva gave the best advice about the Gods. "Be wary of Gods as humans are fragile."

  They were the ultimate users and abusers. How do you defeat a god?

  <<<>>>

  Fergus didn't like it, but we went to the neighboring ranch house first thing the next day. Something was seriously wrong at the Magus ranch, but none of the people on it seemed to be causing it. Instead of looking inward, we needed to look outward.

  "Bill, what did you say this guy's name was?" We were on our way to see one, of the two closest neighbors, to the Magnus Ranch.

  "Warner. Wally Warner. They farm wheat and sugar beets. According to our contact in the Agriculture department, this guy has been making claims of Magickal tampering to them for more than twenty-five years. Their records do show his crops have been affected by something. Each year his crop yield is down a fraction more. The statewide average for wheat is thirty-one bushels per acre. He's getting maybe twenty this year." Bill held up his tablet.

  "That could just be his soil or not enough fertilizer. We would have to test for tampering to be sure." Cat pointed out.

  "True, but they tested for that twice. Nothing showed up. The Warner's did experiments of their own, under the supervision of the local extension office that show it's the land, not the soil."

  "What sort of experiments?" Anastasia chimed in using the ear-bud communication system.

  "They built raised beds using wood and soil from the land they live on. Same fertilizer, water, and seeds were used as on the fields. The fields yielded less, but the raised beds grew markedly more."

  "Bill, can you send me those figures? I can run my own analysis from here." There was a pause. "Forget it. Chuck found them for me. Thanks anyway."

  I had to smile to myself. As a team, they were all working in unison. It made me very happy to be a part of it. "Bill, if the evidence shows that, why didn't they investigate or report the problem?"

  Bill shook his head. "Politics, payoffs, ignorance could all be the reasons. I've forwarded this report to both Washington and the local office to look into, but I suspect the authorities were paid to look the other way. I think I'll send a copy to the state's attorney general too. Better safe than sorry."

  "Keep digging. We need results on this one. Do we know anything else about the Warner family?"

  "Uh, tax records show his wife Connie, two kids, Zack and Rebecca, as well as his father living on the ranch. And someone named Fred, no last name given. He might be the daughter's husband." Bill had his head down as he typed.

  "Good work, Bill. At least we know what we are about to walk into. Check out the other ranches in the area too. Go out about a hundred miles. It takes a powerful Witch to cast that far." I glanced at Cat.

  "Cat, Bill and I will do the main interview. These are country folk that may relate more to an older masculine agent rather than a younger pretty one. You will be our back-up and the cavalry if we run into trouble. OK?"

  Cat was concentrating on driving, but she nodded. "Sure Agatha, whatever you like. We should be there in a few minutes."

  "OK, then. Everyone get your game faces on. These folks are not going to be overjoyed to answer questions. Especially if the local government has been ignoring them for this long time."

  Chapter 8

  "You people have some nerve coming here after all this time!"

  Wally Warren wasn't as happy to see us as I hoped he might be. In fact, he was downright belligerent about it. Bill and I never got off the front porch. Walter Warren was in his front doorway shouting at us.

  "Mr. Warren, please calm down. We are here now. Can you answer some questions for us or not? I promise you that we will get to the bottom of the situation regardless of politics or influence." I was smiling so hard I thought my teeth might break.

  The older man stopped yelling and gave me a sharp look. Bill had broached the subject with him initially, but I had to intervene.

  "Who are you then to make such a promise?"

  Letting out a breath I pulled out my Federal Creds and opened them up. Showing the badge first then the shield that read Federal Agent. "Special Agent in Charge, Agatha Blackmore. I'm in charge of Magical Crimes for the FBI."

  "So where the hell have you been? This has been going on for years!"

  "I know you don't want any excuses, but we are the only agents that deal with Magical crimes for the entire United States. Before us, there was only one man who did the work. Most investigations were left to the locals to do. We are usually only called in when there is a serious crime committed. And I'm sorry to say that your problem is not specifically why we are here. But, we will include it in the investigation." I held up my hands to try to prevent him from yelling again.

  "What are you investigating?" Warren looked at me.

  "There have been deaths, and mutilations of several Unicorns reported to us. Since they are Magical creatures, we were called." While that isn't the entire truth, he didn't need to know the Spagyric Corporation issue at this time.

  "Unicorns? Our crops dry up, and the land dies, and it's Unicorns that bring you here? I should have been killing Unicorns then."

  Once again I held up my hands. Time to throw him a bone. "Please. I promise we will hear your complaints. My forensics team has already investigated the report filed on your behalf with the Montana Department of Agriculture citing the soil issue. They want to see the raised beds you used. Do you still have them?"

  "This is a farm. Of course we still have them. Why are you taking that report seriously? Montana didn't."

  "Mr. Warren, may we come inside? This sort of thing is better discussed sitting down." I motioned toward the house.

  "Sure." He stepped out of the way of the door.

  "Connie! We have company!" Warren yelled to his wife.

  The house was an older ranch style. The entryway opened up into a huge main room complete with fireplace. I could see an open door off to the left for the kitchen and other doors on the right. There was the sound of singing coming from the kitchen, a woman's voice sang in time to a popular song on the radio.

  Bill sat in the chair closest to the front door with a line of sight on me and all of the doors in front of us. This wasn't a tactical situation, but it was good to know we were still thinking. I sat facing him with access to my left and right. I could see the front door as well as what I assumed to be the door to the garage.

  "So why take it seriously?" Mr. Warren sat down on the couch. He was joined by an older blond woman I assumed was his wife, Connie.

  "I'm a Witch. I have to be, to direct this group. It's hard to not feel the Earth screaming out in pain. Someone has used a significant amount of Magick around here. Before you jump to conclusions, we don't know who and we don't know why. Dead Unicorns brought us here. We won't leave without figuring this out either. Magickal misuse is our job. I cannot comment on an open case, but I can say that the state didn't ignore you completely. They did file the report and record the results. Action on it was killed higher up the food chain. I have already sent our initial findings to your State's Attorney General, as well as my supervisors in Washington. We came to you to ask about the Unicorns and a history of the land. Can you help us?"

  Warren pursed his lips and looked at his wife. She nodded and motioned with her chin. You have to love a long time married couple. They can have entire conversations without ever speaking to one another.

  "What do you want to know?"

  That simple question opened up a floodgate of information. The Warren family had farmed the land here for four generations. They were old-school ranchers and wheat farmers. Using a rotational system, they swapped both crops and the land they allowed the livestock on. When the Magnus Ranch was purchased and started, there weren't any problems. The Unicorns were a novelty that brought tourist dollars and new blood to the area. Local papers, as well as residents, praised Magnus for boosting the economy. Five years later they were protesting it. That was the year that Robert Magnus
took control of the operation.

  "I don't understand. What did he do?" I looked at the older couple.

  Connie Warren shook her head at me. "What didn't he do? We had a friendly relationship with the Petersons. They were the ones running the Ranch at that time. According to them, they were sent to get the operation off the ground before one of the family members could get here to run it. Things were fine until he got here. Robert Magnus was a nightmare. He and his family rolled into town and destroyed all the good will in less than a single day. We didn't know what had hit us."

  Wally Warren leaned forward. "They started at the feed store. The Petersons had a nice contract to provide manure to those who wanted it in exchange for a twenty percent discount on supplies. I'm not sure if you know farm products, but that is huge for a small town. Magnus wanted a deeper discount, he wanted forty percent. They said no, and he canceled the contract they had with him. That wasn't all of it though. He demanded that the town stop advertising his ranch by saying there were Unicorns here and that they pay him for the use of any Unicorn pictures they had."