No More Black Magic

by A. L. Kessler

  I nodded. “I will. Don’t worry. I’m thinking somewhere warm and sunny, with an ocean.” I hugged her. “I have to go. Thank you, I know you didn’t want to talk.”

  “I’m willing to do anything. If it’s not the Cult, the killer needs to be caught.”

  I thought that was a strange way of saying it. “And if it is the Cult?”

  “Then Abby, may the Goddess have mercy on your soul, because anyone who goes after them ends up dead.” She gave me a sad look and touched my shoulder. “I hope it’s not them.”

  So did I, but either way they were out to kill me. “Thanks. I’ll call and check in on you.”

  I walked back into the main part of the store and saw Simon pull up. I waved bye to Clarissa and walked out.

  Simon got out and let me get in the driver’s seat. I got in and adjusted my seat. My head was leaned back as he got into the passenger side.

  “Learn anything new?”

  I nodded. “Michele wants me to meet her for dinner at nine tonight back down here. My victim was a teacher whose parents died twenty years ago and she received paperwork stating she was the beneficiary. Clarissa said she never claimed it because she thought it was a hoax.”

  “Which means?”

  “I think she was a researcher, but I won’t know for sure until I run a check on her.” I rubbed my eyes. “Either her or her parents were involved in the research though, that’s what my gut is telling me. If it’s not the Cult, it’s someone who’s got something staked on that research.”

  “So the next step?”

  “To get a new phone so I can talk to people without having to worry about it being bugged.” I muttered. “So shopping, for now. Then I’ll talk to Mason.”

  Simon nodded and I backed out of the parking space and took us back to the main part of town.

  After a few minutes of driving Simon let out a sigh. “Do you really think your uncle bugged your phone?”

  “The man has been stalking me for twenty years, I’m pretty sure bugging my phone isn’t out of the question.” I laughed. “Precautions, that’s all. They’ll be able to transfer my number and contacts. It’ll be quick and easy.”

  Simon laughed. “You sound like Levi, precautions. Not everyone is out to get you.”

  “You’re right, not everyone is out to get me, just a lot of people.” I clicked my blinker on and switched lanes. “It happens in my line of work.”

  “When do you retire again?” He asked.

  I could tell he was joking by the tone in his voice, but I still shook my head. “This isn’t really a job one retires from.”

  “Ah, a until–death-do-we-part kind of deal. No wonder you don’t date.” He turned to look out the window.

  I tried not to roll my eyes. “Yeah, something like that.” He was right, I just didn’t really have the time between working for the state and working for Levi. Besides, most men turned out to be assholes.

  I pulled into the parking lot for my cell phone service and threw the car into park. “Let’s get this over with.”

  Two hours later I had a new phone, transferred numbers and photos and the same phone number I had before. I made sure to keep the old phone so the store wouldn’t have any chance of getting at the info there. They tried to up-sell me on everything possible, but by the end of it I got just what I wanted. The first call I made was to Mason, who didn’t answer. I left him a brief message about what I learned and told him that I was heading to the office.

  Simon decided to continue tagging along despite the fact that he still thought I was crazy for switching cell phones. We got to the office without issue and walked into the building.

  Our daytime receptionist looked at Simon. “Oh, he’s back?”

  “Long story, I just need a visitor's badge for him.” I shrugged and Simon handed her his ID.

  She clicked her tongue and looked at him. “Your boyfriend is going to be jealous.”

  “Boyfriend?” Simon and I asked at the same time.

  “Yeah, the guy who I just sent to your office. He said his name was Nicolas, wanted to leave you some flowers.”

  What the hell? I glanced at Simon. “About Simon’s height, dark hair, dressed in a snazzy suit?”

  “Yeah, and the most gorgeous green eyes I’ve ever seen.” She batted her eyes and I swore that Simon made a noise of disgust.

  I guess I was going to have to deal with him sooner rather than later and find out why he came to visit my office again. “Okay, thanks. Has he come back down yet?”

  “No, I figured he was just going to drop the flowers off and come back. It’s not like he can get in the office.”

  That was true, not unless he had a copy of my magnetic badge. My mind drifted to the fact that I had the badge when Oliver kidnapped me. I didn’t think he had the equipment to copy it, but I wouldn’t put it past him. “Do me a favor and order me another key badge? I’ll need it recoded too.”

  “Paranoid.” I heard Simon whisper and I rolled my eyes.

  “Of course. Oh, Kathy said to give this to you. It came back from the lab.” She handed me a folder and the evidence bag with the shard of glass in it.

  The bottle fragment from the vampire selling Thrills. “Thanks. We’ll see you when we get back down.” I smiled and went to the elevator. I didn’t like the fact that the man had shown up twice now. This time there would be no avoiding him so it was best to just deal with him. It wasn’t a coincidence that he was here two different times when I was and now I had this evidence to deal with. We went down the hall to the elevator and Simon put a hand at the small of my back. I instantly tensed when he touched me, my nerves still high.

  “It’s really bothering you, isn’t it? Getting kidnapped? All these steps you’re taking after it happened.”

  I nodded. “Yes, I don’t normally let people that close to me, but the ME got close enough to drug me. With something strong enough that I was out for an hour car ride and a few hours afterwards.”

  “Okay, fair enough, but do you think he would have copied your key card?”

  I nodded. “I think he’d do anything to keep me safe, or his version of safe anyways.”

  “I wonder what it’s like being in your mind, always having to think that people are around you just to hurt you.”

  It was the second time he brought it up. I turned to him as the elevator started going up. “I was four when my parents were murdered and I was taken into a world of supernatural creatures. A world that the public was barely able to understand. All my life I’ve had to learn how to control my abilities and told to limit them or I would attract unwanted attention.”

  He kept my gaze even as the elevator dinged.

  “When I was offered the spot on the PIB I knew that I wouldn’t have much of a choice in life. It was either take the job or hide behind Levi my whole life and work only for him. In my life, paranoia has saved me. Many times.” I stepped out of the elevator, not giving him a chance to apologize or explain.

  He followed me and grabbed my wrist. “Look, Abby—“

  “You didn’t know, you’re sorry, yeah I know. But if you want to be part in my life, be it drinking buddies or to one day date me, then you need to understand that.” I met his gaze. “Got it?”

  “Abigail, is this man bothering you?” The male voice that broke the tension wasn’t one that I knew.

  Simon had the same look of confusion that I was sure was on my face. I turned to the man that stood in front of my office door. He held a vase of roses and looked like he stepped out of the CK model lineup.

  “Um, no.” I met that incredible green gaze and had to refocus my thoughts. “Simon’s not a bother. Who are you?”

  He frowned. “You don’t remember me? I used to come to your house all the time. I’m Nick Averin.”

  The last name struck a cord with me, the name of the man in the picture, and my hand went to the small of my back where the gun was hidden under my jacket. “I’m sorry, the only person I know with that last name is dead.”


  “Um, my father?” He guessed and ran a hand through his hair. It fell back down perfectly and it made me want to shoot it off. “Yeah, no, I used to come play at your house after that. My mom would bring me over because you were my only friend at the time.”

  “I had to have been under four.” I looked at Simon, who shrugged. “Do you see what I’m talking about now?”

  He nodded and motioned to Nick. “Out of the woodwork.”

  “My timing is that bad? It’s taken me forever to figure out how to get a hold of you. I would have called, but your number isn’t listed.”

  Did anyone actually list their numbers anymore? I shook my head. “I don’t make it public for a number of reasons.” I crossed my arms. “So why, after all these years, would you hunt me down now?”

  “Because I heard about the murders and that you were in charge of the investigation. My mother and I left town after your parents were murdered.” He sighed and held up the vase. “I normally leave flowers on their grave every year, I have some company do it. But I’m back in town for business and finally got some idea of where you were.”

  “My parents’ anniversary isn’t until next month.” I shook my head. “This is all too weird. Okay gentlemen, into the office so while we talk this all out, I can run a name.” I grumbled and swiped my badge. The light flashed green and I walked in, holding the door for the two men who seemed to be locked in a death stare.

  They walked in and I let the door shut. I went to my desk and booted up the computer. I twisted in the chair while I stared at the two men. This was an unusual situation for me. Never had someone actually come seeking me out for friendly reasons. Who remembered friends from twenty years ago, from early childhood?

  Clearly not me. Of course trauma would do that to a person. “Okay, Nick. So you came to drop flowers off in condolences for a twenty year old murder.”

  “Pretty much.” He shrugged. “I always wondered what happened to you.”

  “Forgive my paranoia, but do you realize that the Cult of Ra is in town?”

  He paled a little bit. That gave me all the answers I needed to know. “Good to know, means you aren’t with them.” I muttered and Simon crossed his arms. He leaned back in the chair and had this stupid smirk on his face.

  “Why would I show up with them? I told you, I’m in town for business.” Nick cleared his throat. “Your guardian kept in touch with my mother. She never told me where to find you or how to contact you, but he sent her pictures of you as you grew up.”

  Weird, Levi rarely took pictures of me. Of course there were school pictures somewhere. He did try to seem somewhat normal. “That’s creepy.”

  “Your mother was close to my mom.”

  “I’m sorry, I really don’t remember. I didn’t have a lot of contact with people that my parents knew.” The computer finally booted up and I typed in the name of my teacher victim and waited for the search to run. I gave the screen my attention because I didn’t want to see the pity in Nick’s eyes that often came with the mention of my parents’ murder.

  Nick cleared his throat. “I don’t think I would have either, but I wanted to meet and catch up with you.” I looked up in time to see his gaze slide to Simon. “Maybe meet for coffee.”

  “You told the receptionist that you were my boyfriend, you also talked the night receptionist into letting you past the desk. Why?”

  “Because everyone I talked to said you were married to your work. What better place to find you than your office. With the murders, I assumed you were working late that night.” He shrugged and I decided it was time to rethink my habits.

  Simon snorted. “Abby, I think you need a hobby.”

  My thoughts exactly. I turned my gaze back to the screen and couldn’t believe what I saw. The victim hadn’t been just any teacher, she taught one of the paranormal classes at the college. I scribbled down some notes and then closed the program. “Okay. Well, Nick. Give me your number and I’ll call you once the murders are done and the Cult is out of town.”

  “Those are taking up all your time right now?” He asked and reached for a pen off my desk.

  I nodded and then opened the folder for the results from the lab. I tossed him a blank piece of paper. “As the rumors say, I’m married to my work.” I looked at the toxins that came back from it. Heroin was one of them. Lovely. It looked like it had been enhanced by magic too. Thrills indeed.

  “Abby?” Simon asked and I looked up from the papers. “What’s on your mind?”

  I shut the folder and leaned back in my chair. “I have to go hunting tonight.” I said simply and I knew Simon would catch on. “So it looks like I’m staying in town tonight.”

  “Fantastic.” He grumbled and I knew now he was being the paranoid one.

  Nick put his number and the vase on my desk. “I’m moving back for good. I’ve bought a house on the north side of town. I wrote the address down too if you want to stop by.”

  I’d be running his name as soon as he left, but with my luck he’d turn out to be just like his father and have no history in the system. I had to focus on the case first though. “I’ll call once the case is over.” I said honestly. I wanted to bury the past, but maybe reconnecting to people in it was a way of moving on. If he checked out, I didn’t see harm in being friends.

  “Thanks, I’ll see you around, Abigail.” He let himself out of the office and Simon shook his head.

  “I don’t like him.”

  I raised a brow. “Really? Why?”

  “Just something about him feels off.” He sighed. “Stay away from him Abby, he’s trouble.”

  I laughed. “Who’s being paranoid now?”

  “Abby...”

  I nodded. “Don’t worry, that’s why I told him I’d contact him after the case was over. If he’s connected, he’ll either be long gone, or he’ll be arrested.” Wouldn’t that give me satisfaction? I gave a happy sigh, but then snapped out of it. “Okay, we need to head to the college.”

  “Teacher victim?” He asked and I nodded.

  “She taught a paranormal class there and I’m hoping someone can shed some light on things for us.”

  I grabbed my papers and put them in my bag before heading out. Simon followed and we headed towards the elevator, but we both slowed when we realized that Nick was still waiting for it.

  My phone rang and both Simon and I stopped completely. I picked it up. “Agent Collins.”

  “Abby, I got a warrant and got into the safety deposit box.” Mason’s voice sounded shaky. “You’ll want to get down here.”

  “I was on my way to check out another lead, but I’ll head there. Wait, where is there?” I asked and met Simon’s gaze. I mouthed ‘something’s wrong with Mason.’

  “First National bank, Fifth and Main.”

  I wasn’t far away. “Great, I’ll be there in just a few minutes.” I disconnected the phone and saw Nick staring at us. I grabbed Simon’s arm and led him to the stairs.

  We took them two at a time. “What did you mean something was wrong with Mason?”

  “He was shook up. I can’t imagine what he found in a safety deposit box that would affect him that much.” We came out of the stairwell, dropped his badge off at the desk, and ran to the car.

  I wasn’t sure why we were running, maybe we both didn’t want to get distracted by Nick. Apparently I’d rather face a mysterious box than a boy from the past. Hell, I was four, there was no past there.

  We got into the car and I gunned it to the bank.

  There were no cop cars around the bank like I expected, so I assumed that Mason wanted to keep it quiet. I looked at Simon and he nodded. “Yeah, I know. I’ll stay here.” He cranked the radio up and leaned the seat back.

  I jumped out of the car and moved my agent badge to the front of my pants so it was no longer hidden. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to make myself look a little more appropriate and then walked into the bank. The security guard’s eyes went straight to my badge and then to my
face.

  “Right this way, Agent Collins.” He led me to the backroom where I found Detective Mason and a man in a three piece suit standing over a metal box.

  The security guard didn’t come in, but he shut the door behind me. I crossed my arms and looked at them. “You’re both pale, please don’t tell me it’s another body part.”

  “No, no more body parts.” Mason motioned to the box.

  I walked around the little square table in the room and looked down. In it was a picture of a little boy. I looked closer and saw the clear residue over the picture, the rune of a binding spell. They were all trained to see it, know it, in all languages if they were going to be anywhere near paranormal investigations.

  My heart sank. I had no way of telling who this child was, how old the picture was. A binding spell was dangerous; it locked away the magic of a particular person. Normally you had to have something special to the person or a piece of them. And if left active too long it could cut the life of the person short.

  There was just one thing about this spell. “It’s not active.”

  “What?” Mason asked and he sounded relieved. I nodded.

  “Whatever they used to draw the rune, it faded away, leaving just the residue behind. It was meant almost like a time release capsule.” I bit my lip and pulled the picture up out of the box. It came up with a sound that made us all cringe. The photo had stuck to the metal.

  “Is there any history on this box? How long it’s been here? How often someone came to visit it?”

  “I can get it for you.” The bank manager said and disappeared out of the room.

  I looked at Mason. “You thought it was an active one.”

  He nodded. “I did, we’re just taught what they look like and told not to touch it until someone from PIB came.”

  “Yeah, luckily for us, this one wasn’t active. We need to know who the child in the picture is and then we need to find them.” My mind spun with the possibilities of what this could mean. “Figure out if they have any connections with our other victims.”

  “What are you thinking, Abby?”