by Martha Carr
"None taken. Witches might be offended but you'd have to ask one. Show me the video again." Leira watched it more closely, taking the tablet from Cohen's hands, playing it again and again. Leira shook her head. Something about this wasn't adding up to magical sticky fingers. The thieves are lifting the sculpture and walking away. Straining under the effort. “Back up," she said, lifting her arm to get them to step back against the tall hedges.
She turned her back to the agents, facing the empty base and centered herself, letting the energy flow through her. The symbols started to glow on her hands, spreading up her arms. She could hear the gasps behind her but let it go. Best to just get it over with and do her job. Let it be their problem. I have enough feelings to deal with already.
She sent the magic out ahead of her, searching for remnants of magic. Thought so, place is clean. Wait a minute. That's interesting.
There was a trail of frantic energy, the human variety. Harder to detect than magical remnants but it was there. Leira looked again at the tape but this time let the energy tell her what she was really looking at.
"Who was here when the statue was stolen?" Leira let the energy subside and turned around to face the agents. Most of them were doing their best to look casual but they were clustered together. Only Cohen was closer to normal, his hands on his hips.
"The security guard who works in the control room most of the night. He checked out and the cameras inside show him at his post the whole time. He's here now if you want to meet him."
"Lead the way. I have a theory."
The security room was in the back of the house off the original kitchen in what was the butler's pantry. The young security guard was sitting at his post, making a point of looking busy scanning the screens. Leira went and stood next to him but he didn't look up.
"You already know I have it figured out, don't you?" she asked.
"What?" He looked up doing his best blank look.
"That's not a very good poker face. You'll need to work on that. You know, funny thing. A while back I read this really cool article about LED lights and the different things they can be used for like messing with security cameras."
Leira watched his hand slip off the keyboard and shake a little as he tried to go back to what he was doing. "Can make an infrared mask on a baseball cap. All it takes. Now, I wonder if they looked in your place if that's what they'd find because you don't strike me as an evil genius. I'll bet there are clues lying right out in the open." Leira tilted her head to the side. "You thought no one would guess in time before you could slip away." She shook her head. "It never goes exactly as planned. Sit there quietly if you like but it's all starting to unravel. You obviously had help. Cooperating to find them and bring back that pricey fish is all you have left."
The young man's hands stopped moving over the keyboard. "I want a lawyer."
"You're gonna need one," she said.
"Not paranormal," she said in a low voice to Cohen. "Ordinary greedy human."
"I'll walk you out. Perkins, escort the suspect outside and call the local law enforcement." Cohen walked her around to her car. "You still made this all come together pretty quickly. And I can't say I'm sorry it was just clever technology this time. That black fog didn't roll in this time." He gave off a shudder.
"I still appreciate what you did that time."
"But it'd be nice if everyone else on your team weren't such fucking bitches. I get it," he said. "Fair enough."
Leira opened the car door. "Something like that."
"Well, Fischer's probably a terminal asshole. The rest, they'll get there. They don't know what to make of it all. I know I said all of this before. We grow on you, eventually."
"You seem to be rolling with it okay."
"I gave up a long time ago trying to control the world or predict the future. I just roll with whatever comes next."
"See you later Casper!" Fischer was walking the security guard around to the front, his hands behind him in handcuffs.
Fuck, I miss the sound of handcuffs. Leira watched him pull the man over toward the black SUV.
"Fischer, I swear to God, I will knock you into fucking Tuesday of next week." A vein was showing on Cohen's forehead and he was clenching a fist. Fischer was too far away and knew it. He snickered and kept walking, dragging the reluctant guard.
"Casper was a friendly ghost, motherfucker," said Leira evenly, letting her eyes glow for just a moment, sending out a stream of energy only she could see that gave Fischer a hard push in the center of his chest. Fischer's legs trembled and he stumbled over a rock, falling to one knee as he let go of the guard. The man took off running, his arms pinned behind him as two other agents easily ran him down, pulling him to the ground. Fischer picked himself up off, spitting on the ground as he sneered at Leira.
"Thank you for that. Not sure what you did, but thank you. That guy is a pain in my ass all day, every day. I think I owe you a beer." Cohen smiled at her.
"That one was on the house," said Leira sliding into her car. "Till we meet again."
"Bring your jacket next time. Protocol."
"I'll work on that," she said, starting the engine and easily gliding away. She rolled down the window and let her eyes glow one more time as she rolled past Fischer. "Boo," she said, just loud enough for him to hear. He started and jumped back. Leira smiled as she peeled down the road.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Leira rushed to the hangar as soon as she got the word that the next phase was ready to go. It was already getting later in the day. She wanted the delivery completed ahead of schedule and to have what the Willen needed as quickly as possible. The black mist was looking for her. She was determined to meet up with it on her terms the next time and with plenty of magical firepower. The sooner the better.
The five Jersey Willens were at the airport just outside of Austin clustered close together eyeing the humans around them. The youngest peered out from behind his mother. They were awaiting transport to the underground city of Hilldale. "They look anxious," said Leira to the guard who walked her inside. He rolled his eyes but didn't comment.
She watched the Willens start to separate and wander around the hangar. "Guess not. Clever cover." She shook her head. "No way to watch them all at the same time that way. Divide and steal blind."
Eireka was standing in the brightly lit large space, right next to the plane looking a little disheveled but still smiling, flanked by special agents. Everyone looked a little worn out.
"It was an interesting flight," said Eireka with a tired shrug. "Willens move around a lot," she said, meaningfully. One of the agents looked over at the female Willen, scowling. "She stole his wallet a few times. Kept having to get it back. I think he wanted to shoot her." Eireka let out a hiccup. "Oh damn, I get these..."
"When you're tired, I remember."
Eireka looked at Leira and gave a crooked smile. Takes time, Eireka reminded herself, and bit by bit we find our way back.
"That the missus?" Leira noticed something dangling out of the folds of the Willen's skin.
"That's the grandmother. See the long streak of gray hair down her back. That's apparently typical when they age. She talked a blue streak on the plane. Should have seen the agents. They were doing their best to take it all in. Can't be easy for a human. The missus is just behind her." Eireka nodded to the left of the older female Willen.
Leira walked over to the grandmother and put out her hand. "This will go better if you don't take anything from the people who are still trying to help you. Turn it over." She said it evenly, giving her best dead fish look.
The Willen looked at Leira, giving her a sidelong glance, sizing her up coolly. It was the same look she had gotten from a hundred different felons just before they cooperated. Only difference was this time it was coming from a rat the size of a dog who was looking her straight in the eye.
That's a little different. Good thing I'm growing comfortable with different as the new fucking normal. "I have time to wait. Do y
ou?" It was a lie. The clock was ticking. But Leira was playing the odds that the Willen in front of her didn't know that part of the deal, yet.
The Willen gave an irritated high-pitched bark but slowly pulled the wallet out from deep inside a front fold, her claws scraping against the leather. She dropped it into Leira's open palm, letting a nail leave a thin, white scratch as she smiled at Leira. Leira just waited, not giving the oversized rodent the satisfaction. If you don't want to play their games, you have to not play. Another Hagan lesson. Fuck, this was always more fun with Hagan.
"This belong to someone? Don't be shy. A clever magical giant rat is brand new for all of us. Can't be expected to know what to do, especially when you're supposed to be watching them. Not locking them up." She held her arm out straight as an agent walked briskly over, his face reddening and took the wallet just as his badge fell out of another fold, clattering against the ground. Leira rolled her eyes. "Just kick it in his direction."
The Willen kept her eyes on Leira but picked the badge up with her foot and tossed it in the direction of the agent. He let it fall to the ground before he picked it up.
Just as the Willen put her foot back down, a service Glock slid out, falling to the ground. As the butt slammed against the concrete the Willen wrapped her claws around it, accidentally firing it. The bullet zinged through the air, passing by Leira's shoulder and lodging in the metal outer wall yards away. Leira barely flinched as her eyes opened a little wider.
"Son of a bitch!" someone yelled as guns were drawn pointing at the Willens. Leira kept her eyes on the mother in front of her.
"Take your foot slowly off the gun... and gently... slowly... nudge it this way. Everyone else, take a deep breath. Anyone shoots and you will have a big problem with me. I imagine someone has filled you in on my misadventures with dark mists and black holes. Breathe people." Doesn't matter that I didn't cause that gaping hole.
Eireka moved to the side of the Willen so she was blocking the view of some of the agents, staring them down. "Not today. There's too much at stake. You're going to let this one go," she said.
The Willen toed the gun over toward Leira and cautiously stepped back, giving Leira enough room to pick it up by the butt and hold it out in front of her. "Someone missing something?" The whole thing was finally pissing her off. Not everyone was lowering their gun and a few were looking like they had hit their limit of frustration.
Just as Leira was about to call on the energy and do something about it, her mother started to light up, her eyes glowing, her energy reaching out toward Leira for a boost.
Some of the guns pivoted toward Eireka.
Leira heard a few gasps. That gets old quickly. "We're on the same team people. You're not supposed to aim at us." Fear and exhaustion makes the stupid come out. She sensed her mother's request, could feel it in her chest and pulled in even more energy, flowing it out toward her mother.
"Never was, never will be," said Eireka, as she used the combined energy, sending it out as a pulsing wave over the room, erasing the last few minutes. Only the Willens remembered what had just happened. Leira and Eireka moved fast, rearranging everyone in the room to a more casual pose, putting away their guns and adjusting their faces into something less stern.
"A Silver Griffin said this would help." Leira curled up the corners of her mouth. Maybe this can change the mood of the room. Fuck me, I'm supposed to work with these people. It'd be nice if they weren't so afraid of me.
She looked over her shoulder at the Willens who were starting to move toward the still figures.
"Move a goddamn muscle and I'll forget all about this arrangement and send you underground myself. Only there won't be a city where you're going." She glared at the female who was clearly in charge. The female flicked her paw and they all moved closer together. "I've had enough," said Leira. "You aren't the only game in town. Fuck with me again and we will have a problem that you'll regret." She wasn't sure she meant it even if the thin stream of anger running through her wasn't leaving her with a whole lot of doubt. No one does something to threaten my mother.
The agents started to move again, looking around as if they were trying to remember what they were supposed to be doing, quickly getting back to standing guard. A large white van drove up, pulling into the hangar and two agents got out.
"Cohen, you are everywhere. New partner?" Fischer was nowhere to be seen. Leira was relieved. One less pain in her ass.
"Let's just say I convinced him to transfer," he said, frowning. "Are we ready to load everyone in?" He nodded at the Jersey Willens. Leira noticed he was doing his best to act like this was a normal mission.
"Ready as we'll ever be." Eireka walked toward the Willens, shooing them with her arms toward the van like she was trying to keep a small flock of sheep together.
"We understand what you're saying," said a male Willen. "You just have to ask."
"A talking rat that walks on two legs." Cohen shook his head. "And those live here on Earth?"
"For thousands of years."
"Great." He watched them lumber toward the van before turning back toward Leira. "We'll be driving you to Lavender Rock but I'm told we go as far as the parking lot and then wait. That what you want?"
Sounded just like something Hagan would say.
"We can take it from there. Humans are not exactly welcome where we go after that."
"Look, we got off on the wrong foot. Some of that is my fault. Getting used to magic being a real thing was harder than I expected. Can we start over? Most of these guys are good agents who want to do a good job. It's just a lot to take in, especially when things are going haywire."
Leira felt the hard piece of anger that had settled into her chest dissolve. "Fair enough."
"It's not an excuse but you had to know this wasn't going to be an easy adjustment. It's like a giant mind fuck frankly."
"We can start over. No one actually shot me. That shows a lot of restraint under the circumstances." She gave him a crooked smile.
"The general actually mentioned not pulling out our guns the first time something woo-woo happens." He ducked his chin down and looked up at her.
Leira looked at the agents nearby. Someone should tell them, she thought. Still, no one pulled the trigger. Not ratting out a fellow agent. Not for something like this. "We should go. Sooner we get this over with, the better. The clock is ticking."
They started walking toward the van as the oldest of the Willens, a male with grey around his whiskers pulled himself into the van as an agent pushed from behind. "I can do it," snarled the rat. The agent lifted his hands and backed up. "Pushing on my rear end like I was fresh bread. All handsy. And call me Uncle Flipper, everybody does."
"Not sure I'm gonna get used to that," said the agent, sweat across his brow. "Talking rats. Okay if I ride up front?"
Leira gave a quick nod. "That's probably best." He walked around and climbed in the passenger seat up front.
"You want to tell me what kind of deal you made with some rats?" asked Cohen.
"Way too complicated and not something I'm willing to do in range of the Willens. Everything is a bargaining chip for them. Loyalty is not their thing."
"Understood. Another time."
Leira turned to get in the van and noticed her mother was watching the two of them, her eyebrows raised.
"Lower your antennae, Mom. He's a coworker. You don't pee in the pool you swim in."
"I didn't say a thing." Eireka settled into a seat toward the front, helping the Willen next to her into a seatbelt.
Leira put her hand briefly on her shoulder and sent a short pulse of energy into her mother just like Correk had done for her at times. Her mother looked up and smiled. "Okay, I was thinking that."
Leira arched an eyebrow and kept moving toward the back. She took the middle seat in the last row where she could see everyone else and keep an eye on the crafty Willens. Being someone's daughter will take as much getting used to as magic. She let out a sigh and clicked her se
atbelt. The younger female Willen looked first at Cohen and then at Leira and winked. "Great. Universal maternal meddling across the cosmos," muttered Leira as she settled in for the long ride to the outskirts of Austin and Lavender Rock.
***
Once they got out of the van and left the agents behind, the Willens gave up on walking and got down on all fours, scurrying across the rocks. Leira shined a flashlight over the rocks but the Willens raced ahead, trying to get out of the light. Their eyes did better in the darkness under the dim light of the starry sky.
"Do they know where they're headed?" asked Eireka
"They must. That's some pretty focused movement." Leira moved easily from rock to rock, keeping an eye on her mother. She was tempted to slow down to give her mother a chance to move more slowly over the uneven ground. Treat her like a partner. I'd run ahead of Hagan and trust he'd find his way. Not quite there yet. "There's maps in the magical world of all these places. I imagine the Willen who lives here sent them the coordinates."
"You think they send mail?" Eireka leaped from one rock to another. The Willens were barely in sight in front of them.
"All new to me too, Mom."
"You're doing your best to keep the snark to a minimum, aren't you."
"And it's killing me. There's a whole string of words I have kept to myself."
Eireka laughed as she leapt across another small divide and took off at a jog, getting ahead of Leira.
Leira was surprised as she watched the light from the flashlight bob in the distance, her mother easily closing the gap between them and the Willens. "Something else I have in common with you." She took off at a run, glad to finally be able to move faster, feel the muscles in her legs responding easily.
