Magic and the Shinigami Detective

by Honor Raconteur

“A breakfast burrito and you’re going to love it. Eat, and I’ll explain my thoughts.”

  Not being one to turn down food, especially not when she’d made it, I dug in heartily. Ahh, better than the pastry. My body craved real food, not sugar this morning.

  With me situated, she launched in. “I noticed something odd in interrogations last night. Did you catch it? Not one man used a pronoun to describe their magician. I walked away from each interrogation without knowing if the magician was even a man or woman.”

  I paused mid-chew and frowned. No, surely they had said man. Hadn’t they?

  “I can read that look on your face and you’re wrong,” Edwards denied with a shake of the head. “We kept saying he. Him. The man. They never did. I scanned the reports this morning with Penny’s help and not once did they say man. I think it’s a woman.”

  Swallowing my bite, I cleared my mouth to be able to speak. “Keep going.”

  “Remember what Hardy said? He said someone in the group brought Wallace on. That Wallace was a brother. But none of the last names of the men we’ve caught match. Hardy, Kuberski, Vogelsang, Burtchaell, Hinks. None of these guys are related to each other. What if the magician is the one that brought a brother on?”

  Feeling the need to play devil’s advocate, I pointed out, “There could still be another member that we haven’t accounted for. Someone who isn’t the magician. We’re not clear on the size of this group.”

  “I know, I know,” she said in irritation, flapping a hand as if to accept and dismiss this. “But what if they’re related to the magician in the group?”

  I paused, swallowed what was in my mouth, and carefully framed the words before launching them. “None of the men we’ve caught are magicians.”

  “I know.” Animated and excited, she nearly bounced in her chair. “You see where I’m going with this?”

  “You think Eda Robbins is the magician?”

  “I do. She’s the only one we haven’t caught, and we know for a fact that Eda Robbins is just a name she’s using. It’s not her real name. Is any part of what I’m saying wrong?”

  “I don’t see a logical fallacy yet,” I allowed. “And?”

  “I’ve been going through our list of rogue magicians, the ones that we couldn’t pin down, and there’s an interesting name on here. A name that matches at least in part with one of our thieves. Sydney Hinks.”

  Leaning in sideways, I stared at the name she pointed to, mind whirling. “Such as Wallace Hinks? Sydney is a gender-neutral name. I’ve known both males and females with that name.”

  “Exactly!” she said triumphantly.

  “You think Sydney Hinks is Eda Robbins?” I had to admit the pieces did seem to fit.

  “There’s something that always bothered me,” Edwards admitted frankly. “Something about Eda Robbins going in to do the scouting alone. We can confirm she did that twice, once here and again at the Conservatory. But wouldn’t it take a magician to properly scout the place? She wasn’t just looking to see where the goods were located so they could do a fast smash and grab. They also had to properly examine the wards on the building.”

  I sat there stunned as the obvious smacked me in the face. Was this how Sanderson felt all of the time? What a revolting feeling.

  A growing smile took over my partner’s face. “You think I’m right.”

  “You’re right and I’m an imbecile.” Standing up abruptly, I charged for our captain’s door and flung it open without even attempting to knock. “Gregson. We’re morons. Except Jamie, she’s a genius.”

  Gregson looked as if he had caught a cat nap at his desk and nothing more. His dark circles had circles, scruff on his jaw, and the look he shot me suggested that it had better be good or he would rip a strip off my hide for my appalling lack of manners. “What?”

  “Eda Robbins. We know who Eda Robbins is.”

  Half of his growl disappeared in an instant. “Who?”

  “Sydney Hinks. Brother of Wallace Hinks, one of the thieves. We had her listed as a possibly rogue magician, but of course didn’t connect her to Eda.”

  Gregson swore aloud, half admiring. “And Edwards figured this out?”

  My partner popped half-inside the doorway, leaning casually on one shoulder, a smug smile on her face. “Just now. I swear my brain works better when I’m sleep deprived.”

  “Good job,” Gregson praised, heartfelt. “Get an updated warrant out for her arrest immediately. I’ll update the wanted posters myself. Davenforth, by any chance, can you use her brother’s blood in order to find her?”

  “You know that’s an old wives’ tale,” I complained to him, clutching my breakfast burrito in my hand. I dearly wanted to finish eating it. Edwards had been correct, I loved it. “Even though family shares certain attributes in their blood, the spell doesn’t recognize similarities, it will find the exact match to itself and nothing else.”

  Holding up a hand, Gregson stayed me before I launched into a more comprehensive lecture on the topic. “I know, I know, I keep hoping for a different answer. Deities, I wish we could. Even though we have a name now, it doesn’t help us locate her.”

  Edwards fully stepped into the room, nudging me inside as she went, then closed the door. “Gentlemen. I want to try something that’s a little hinky.”

  “Hinky?” we parroted back to her in confused unison.

  “You’re both aware that my senses are a little enhanced? I noticed some interesting smells yesterday. I think if I can get a good whiff of them, I can narrow it down to a neighborhood at least. With enough manpower, we might be able to find her.”

  Gregson stared at her long and hard, eyes narrowed in a speculative manner. “That sounds just crazy enough to work. Do it.”

  With a casual salute to him, she nearly skipped out of his office.

  I had a feeling, with the way things were going, that if I didn’t eat now I wouldn’t see another meal until late this afternoon. I didn’t ask my partner any questions as we walked, just focused on eating as quickly as possible.

  Edwards went straight into the holding cells, gathering up Donelson as she moved so that he could open the cell door for her. Donelson did so with a questioning look at me, which I couldn’t answer, as I had my mouth full.

  “Hinks, stand up,” Edwards commanded.

  When he didn’t move quickly enough, she grabbed him by an arm and pulled him upright, then motioned with her hands to stand still. Hinks stared at her warily, leery of whatever she wanted now, but obediently stood still.

  Closing her eyes to half-mast, Edwards leaned in so that her nose barely had two inches of clearance, and she breathed in deeply. “Sea brine. Gas.” Another deep breath. “Mead. Opium smoke but it’s very faint, he didn’t come in direct contact with it. Sulfide, ammonia, smells like a paper mill.”

  I’d lived in Kingston my entire life. I knew every inch of this city even if I didn’t frequent parts of it that often. My mind absorbed the information that she handed to me, each piece of the puzzle spinning and interlocking until it formed a picture. “I know where she is. Dockside, near the factory district. There’s a street of abandoned buildings there slated for demolition in two months. Sunrise Avenue.”

  “No!” Wallace blurted out, taking a half-step toward me before checking himself.

  “Got her,” Edwards purred, eyes flashing in victory. “Henri, done with breakfast? Good. Let’s go catch a thief.”

  I alerted Seaton before we even left the precinct. Part of my rationale was that we would need manpower that could combat a rogue magician, and the police force was not trained up to that. Partially, as well, rogue magicians fell under the Royal Mages’ jurisdiction. They were responsible for finding and prosecuting such individuals. Despite her crimes, Kingston’s Magical Council took precedence in such matters.

  Seaton met us just at the edge of Sunset Avenue, right as the street began, a smile on his face and the brightest purple coat I’d ever seen on an individual. He had a wrapped turban on his
head, his mustache had been teased up into circles on either side of his mouth, and he looked unjustifiably well rested. Unlike the rest of us.

  “I have a containing ward set and ready to put up,” he greeted as soon as Edwards parked the car.

  I felt so grateful for the thing to have stopped that I didn’t point out to her that she had half-parked on the sidewalk. Getting out was my top priority.

  Slinging herself out smoothly, Edwards took in the street in all directions. This early in the morning, most had left for work, and what few shops were on this street had their doors firmly closed against the stench. I put a filter spell over my nose in order to combat it, as the odor was strong enough to induce vomiting. I want to keep the contents of my stomach where they were, thank you.

  Taking a close look around, Edwards gave a slow nod of the head. “I can see why they’re slated for demolition. These houses are barely standing.”

  “Originally these were built as row houses for the factory workers,” Seaton explained, leading us to the edge of the street corner. “They’re at least a hundred years old and weren’t constructed well to begin with. Kingston City Council made KS Paper Company agree to tear them down next month and rebuild them, although I understand they whined mightily about the costs. Anyway, I have eight magicians stationed all up this side of the street and two blocks over. Even if she’s not precisely in this street, we should have her. I did a quick locating spell, and we have a number of squatters in this area, so I’m not sure where she is, precisely.”

  That didn’t surprise me. Kingston unfortunately had its share of homeless. “Then what is your plan? Raise the shield and smoke her out?”

  “Raise the shield and go in after her, if need be.” Seaton rubbed his hands in anticipation and I was reminded, sharply, that despite his carefree mannerisms and costumes, this man held the title of Royal Mage. No university dropout would be able to get the better of him one-on-one. But.

  “You realize,” where I found the patience to keep my tone level, I didn’t know, “that Eda Robbins was the one that likely performed the distraction at the palace? That she did so with a Ghost Gun, which she likely still has?”

  “That’s a lot of likely’s from you, old chap.”

  I rolled my eyes to the heavens and prayed for patience.

  “We’re going in with you,” Edwards informed him levelly.

  “Of course, wouldn’t suggest otherwise.” Seaton raised a whistle from around his neck and gave it a sharp blow, the sound high and piercing.

  It must have been a prearranged signal as a barrier snapped into place almost instantly with us inside. Fortunate, that, as I would not have been able to muscle my way through it. It was nigh impenetrable.

  Pointing a wand at his throat, Seaton announced in a booming voice, “THERE IS A ROGUE MAGE IN THIS AREA. WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF JAILING ANYONE SQUATTING HERE. COME OUT TO THE STREET AND SIT PEACEFULLY AND WE WILL NOT PROSECUTE YOU.”

  Several seconds ticked by before one door tentatively opened a crack. A small voice creaked out, “Who ye be?”

  “Royal Mage Seaton, at your service.” Seaton gave an elaborate bow. “Who might you be?”

  “Annie’s me name.” The door opened a little wider, revealing a woman well advanced in years. She barely had a hair on her head, just white wisps, mouth curved in from lack of teeth, and a distinct hitch to her gait as she took two cautious steps out onto the porch. “Ye not here for us? Truly?”

  “Just the rogue magician,” Seaton promised her with the kindest tone I’d ever heard from him. “But Miss Annie, I can take you to a much safer place. A home for people who need a roof over their heads.”

  Wearily, shoulders hunched, she shook her head sadly. “Those places cost money.”

  “Not this one, I promise you. I support it myself.” Seaton went directly to her, extending a hand. “Come. Let me take you from this place. It doesn’t have much longer before its torn down.”

  Annie didn’t know what to make of this strange man in purple, but she saw something that made her believe him. She took the hand and let Seaton help her down the rickety stairs and to where we stood.

  “Wait right here while we search for her, alright?” Seaton gave her a smile as he retrieved his hand. “I’ll escort you properly to your new home afterwards.”

  Perhaps only half-believing him, Annie gave him a doubtful nod. “I’ll wait.”

  Seaton gave her another smile before turning to go up the street, repeating his words before. I moved to follow him, but noticed that Edwards paused and leaned in to whisper something to the old woman. Whatever she said put a smile on the elderly face.

  I waited until she caught up with us before asking, “What did you say?”

  “That she could believe him. That I had been homeless too, not that long ago, and Sherard helped me.”

  This made little sense to me. “Edwards, surely your circumstances are entirely different from hers.”

  She gave me a sad smile before focusing dead ahead. “Trust me, Henri, we all have different circumstances. It doesn’t change the outcome. Homeless is homeless. The pain of that is universal.”

  Those words shut me up, as I had never once known the lack of anything. I didn’t know how to empathize with what she said. I glanced back at Annie, waiting hopefully on the corner, trusting in two strangers that she’d only just met a moment ago. I didn’t understand that kind of hope and despair, but perhaps it was time that I tried. Perhaps a police officer, of all people, needed to understand it.

  Seaton boomed out his message once more, cajoling this time. A half dozen heeded the call and came out, very tentatively, and ready to bolt at the slightest provocation. Seaton met them with smiles, encouraged them to come further out still. I heard clatter as someone escaped out the back and tried to run for it.

  Alert, I tracked the movement with my ears, my head swiveling that direction. “Is that Hinks, do you think?”

  “Possibly,” Edwards allowed. “Let’s get the innocents out of the way first.”

  My nerves stretched out to a painful level as I watched Seaton charm people out of the houses. Finally, he stopped, did a headcount, and signaled to us. “That’s all, I think.”

  Relieved, I raised my own wand and did a scan. “The runner went directly west.”

  The words barely left my mouth before the ward around us visibly flinched and faltered. Alarmed, I looked sharply about but it only lasted a few seconds before the ward snapped back up with an audible hum.

  “Sherard.” Edwards looked about with wide eyes. “What was that?”

  A wolfish smile on Seaton’s face, he strode directly for an opening between two of the houses. “It appears you were right, Davenforth. She does, indeed, still have a Ghost Gun.”

  “She fired it at the ward?!” Edwards exclaimed, jogging after him. “Why didn’t it go completely down?”

  “Because this isn’t a static ward,” I explained, hustling after them, wand up and at the ready. “It’s a living thing, being held by continuous sustenance. She can break the flow temporarily but not destroy it.”

  We cleared the back row of the houses, the yards choked with weeds, and fought our way to the other side of the street. Turning the corner of one dilapidated house, Seaton stopped dead, wand casually held at his side. I stepped beside him, ready to shove Edwards back at the first sign of that gun.

  Finally, Sydney Hinks, aka Eda Robbins, came into view. As described, she was a pretty woman with a highbrow, dark hair, and almond shaped eyes. She looked rather the worse for wear, and I would venture a guess that she had not been able to bathe in at least a week. She turned sharply at our entrance the gun swinging up and toward us as she moved.

  Several things happened all at once. I realized she meant to fire at us and raised my wand, readying a shielding spell. I had no real faith that it would work, but it was the only thing I could think to do to protect the woman behind me.

  Seaton made to rush her, moving directly in front of m
e, his wand lifting sharply as he started a spell. Edwards spat out a curse and moved, which direction, I wasn’t sure, as I didn’t dare turn my head to look.

  All of it happened in seconds, barely enough time for any of us to react, and then the beam of the gun rushed toward us in a haze of light green energy.

  Seaton’s spell shattered before it could even form and he cut his losses, throwing himself to the ground to avoid the worst of it. I grimly held on as the spectral energy hit me straight on. My shield didn’t hold, shattering like glass, and the energy sparked and flowed about me in a strangely soul-shivering manner. I understood well the meaning of the phrase ‘like someone walked over your grave’ as it felt exactly like that.

  While my shield did break, it did not fail completely. The force of it knocked me backwards a few inches, stumbling and out of balance, but the energy seemed to dissipate some as well. I’d anchored the shielding spell in four corners, praying it would at least slow the tide, and apparently had half-succeeded.

  But had I protected my partner?

  Hinks didn’t wait for us to gather our wits again. As soon as she’d fired the gun, she took off running once more, dropping the gun behind her. I whirled, looking for Edwards, only to realize that she wasn’t behind me. Alarmed, I called out, “Edwards?!”

  “Busy!” she called back. “Don’t worry, boys, I got this!”

  I finally caught sight of her, running straight down the row of houses, using that inhuman speed of hers. Swearing, I cast a stamina boost on myself, intending to chase after her. I could hear Seaton doing the same.

  Edwards turned sharply, changing the angle of pursuit as Hinks ducked and swerved, throwing random spells at the detective chasing after her. I saw the trajectory of Edwards’ route and shouted an inarticulate noise of alarm, as it would mean a direct impact into one of the houses at that speed. I knew Edwards wouldn’t be able to slow down enough to maneuver around it.

  So she didn’t.

  With a whoop, my insane partner crashed right through the houses, demolishing several walls in the process, sending the already fragile house caving in on itself.