by S. C. Stokes
“Lead the way,” Kasey answered, shifting Simeon to her hip so she could carry him more easily.
Sarah strolled down East 5th Street. “So, sis, what has you all worked up? Not often I get an S.O.S text from you these days. Come to think of it, I can only remember one of them, and that was way back in the Academy.”
Kasey sighed. “I don’t know where to begin.”
“How about why you are at the NYPD instead of the OCME?” Sarah answered. “The OCME was your goal for years. I was shocked when I heard you’d transferred.”
“Very well,” Kasey said. “I really loved working at the OCME, but unfortunately one of my colleagues was a bit of a pig. He asked me out repeatedly, even after I’d said no and then one day when I was looking in the refrigerator…he spanked me.”
“He spanked you?” Sarah asked, aghast.
“Yeah,” Kasey answered, a little embarrassed.
Sarah stopped at the crosswalk and turned to face Kasey. “Did you report him?”
“I didn’t get the chance.”
“What do you mean, you didn’t get the chance? That is clear cut sexual harassment, Kasey,” Sarah replied, shaking her hand for emphasis.
“I snapped. I hit him and broke three of his ribs. There wasn’t a lot of point to reporting him after that. The Chief Medical Examiner was gracious enough to get me a transfer rather than fire me outright, and the pig dropped the assault charges when it was clear his harassment was common knowledge. If I pushed any harder, I might have lost my license.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Kasey. That sucks.”
The signal on the crosswalk changed to green and they stepped onto the street.
“I was pretty mad about it at first,” Kasey began, “but over the last two weeks I’ve really enjoyed working at the Ninth Precinct.”
“Really?” Sarah said, seemingly unconvinced.
“Yeah, I feel like my work here is making a difference. The work I do can solve a case and put a killer behind bars. It’s not quite the bag and tag routine I was used to, but turns out I enjoy being a little closer to the front lines.”
Sarah continued walking down First Avenue “So, if you’re enjoying it here, what has you in such a panic, Kasey? It’s not like you.”
“It has to do with the case I’m working at the moment,” Kasey answered, slowly working up the courage to spill the details. “We’re hunting a serial killer operating in Manhattan. He’s killed three people, that we know of, and that is just this week.”
Sarah’s face fell. “Three this week? How is that not in the news, Kasey? That’s horrible.”
“We only connected the dots last night and Chief West has been trying to avoid a panic. Besides, we got lucky. We found a list of his targets so there is no need to panic the rest of the city.”
“What about the targets, Kasey? Surely they deserve to know,” Sarah insisted.
“Of course, they do,” Kasey said, “but that is where it gets a little complicated.”
“How so?” Sarah replied, her tone reflecting her growing skepticism.
“Well, we rounded up the targets and we have them in police protection. The killer won’t be able to reach them without going through an entire precinct. Not a healthy proposition.”
“But Kasey, these sorts aren’t often in their right mind. It’s the crazy ones you have to watch out for. I’m not sure I like the sound of your new job.”
“It gets worse,” Kasey replied reluctantly.
“How is that even possible?”
“Oh, that’s easy,” Kasey responded almost flippantly. “You know that list of targets I mentioned…”
“Yeah…”
“I’m on it,” Kasey answered flatly.
Sarah stopped mid stride as she whirled to face her. “What do you mean, you’re on the list? Are you crazy? Why are we outside the station?”
“Easy, Sarah. We’re not in danger. It’s mid-morning in one of the busiest cities on Earth. We’ll be fine.”
“How can you know that? He’s a nut job and a killer, Kasey. Who knows what he’s capable of.”
“I’m getting to that part. You should know I’d never put you or Simeon at risk.”
Sarah didn’t look convinced.
Kasey nodded toward the street. “Mind if we keep walking? He’s getting a little heavier than I expected.”
“Sure,” Sarah replied, still looking a little white with shock.
Kasey continued her story. “When I found out I was a target, I thought about camping out at the station, but Sarah, my visions are helping us find this guy.”
“You’re still seeing those?” Sarah asked. The gift of prescience wasn’t hereditary. “I thought those stopped after you left the Academy.”
“They certainly became rarer. It seems the presence of other witches and wizards strengthens my gift. The Academy was an overwhelming environment. I couldn’t cope with such a concentrated number of magical beings. Here it is far easier for me. The visions are less frequent but often they help us solve a case. They helped us find the killer’s lair and locate his list of targets. Without it, we’d still be scurrying around blindly. I wouldn’t even know I was in danger.”
Sarah shook her head. “How do you explain your gift to the police? You know how the Council feels about discovery. You need to be careful.”
“I am!” Kasey responded sharply. As Sarah recoiled, Kasey flushed red. “Sorry, I’m a little on edge. I am careful not to give them too much. Mostly they figure I’m just good at my job. I just have to be careful not to be too good.”
“It’s a fine line, Kasey,” Sarah replied as they turned down St Marks Place.
“You’re telling me,” Kasey said. “I’m still getting the hang of it.”
“So, do you have any idea who the killer is?” Sarah asked. “Have you seen them in a vision?”
“No, I did one better. I saw them in the flesh. He’s the one responsible for most of this,” Kasey answered as she pointed to her scrapes and cuts. “He tossed me through a window.”
Sarah grabbed Kasey by the arm. “Have you lost your mind Kasey? What were you doing that close to a serial killer?”
“Well, truth be told, I wasn’t expecting him to be there. We thought he’d fled town. I worked out where he’d been laying low and searched the place. It’s how we found the list.”
Sarah’s eyes were wide. “What did he look like Kasey? Surely the precinct can send out an alert.
“That’s where it gets complicated,” Kasey answered.
“How is that complicated Kasey? Did you see him or not?”
Kasey pulled away from Sarah’s grip. “I did. The problem is, when I saw him, he was a giant hulking wolf.” Kasey paused as Sarah caught up. “The killer is one of us, Sarah. He’s a creature of magic, definitely a shifter, most likely a Werewolf.”
Sarah did the math. “So, you don’t know what he looks like in his human form and you can’t go telling your colleagues that they are hunting a Werewolf. Doing so will surely anger the ADI and for what? It’s not like they will believe your serial killer is a Werewolf. Let’s face it, they are going to think you’re crazy.”
“Exactly. So you see why I can’t sit on the sidelines. If I do nothing, more innocent people will die. What chance does a police officer stand against a Werewolf? If that wasn’t motivation enough, I have strict orders from the Council. I have to stop this killer, and I have to do it without outing our community, or else.”
“How do they even know you exist, Kasey? I thought you never registered.”
“I didn’t. Unfortunately, I caught their attention by accident.”
“How did you manage that?” Sarah asked, her tone dire.
“You know the pig I mentioned at the OCME?” Kasey prompted.
Sarah answered. “Yeah, what about him?”
“Did I mention his name was John Ainsley, son of Arthur Ainsley?”
Sarah’s eyes went wide. She’d graduated from the Academy and grown up in t
he world of magic, unlike Kasey. “What?”
“Yeah, I had no idea who he was. Not like he was wearing a badge that said, ‘Hi, I’m a wizard…and a sexist pig.’ Turns out, it got their attention.”
“You assaulted the son of a sitting Councilor, Kasey. You’ve gone off the deep end.”
“Hey, I said I didn’t know!” Kasey replied. “Between assaulting his son and using my magic without registering with the Council, he has me in a tough spot.”
“He’s blackmailing you?” Sarah answered in disgust.
Kasey replied, “Well, he didn’t use those exact words, but it was certainly the theme of his visit. If I can make this killer go away quietly, they’ll drop it and leave me alone. If our community is discovered, they plan to use me as a scapegoat.”
“That’s awful. I’m starting to see why you sent that text. I don’t know how you are managing to hold things together this well. Do Mom and Dad know about this?”
“No,” Kasey answered as they reached the cafe, “and they aren’t going to.”
“You’re mad, Kasey.” Sarah opened the door and the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans wafted out to meet them. “If they find out…”
“They aren’t going to find out, Sarah, because I’m not going to tell them and you are the only other person who knows anything.”
Kasey stepped inside. The morning rush was over and there were only a few other patrons waiting to be served.
Kasey went straight for the counter, Sarah trailing behind her. Talking to the barista, Kasey began, “I’ll grab two bagels with cream cheese and…one sec.” She turned to Sarah. “What are you having?”
“I’ll grab a cream cheese bagel and a cappuccino,” Sarah said, coming up behind her and kissing the top of Simeon’s head.
“Anything for our big boy?” Kasey asked.
Sarah shook her head. “No thanks, I’ll share a little of mine with him.”
Turning back to the barista, Kasey continued, “Make that three cream cheese bagels and two cappuccinos, please.”
Kasey paid for breakfast and stepped away from the counter just in time to prevent Simeon from pulling the tip jar off the counter.
Sarah approached her younger sister. “So, what is your plan exactly? Are you planning to use yourself as bait to catch this guy?”
“I dunno.” Kasey shrugged. “Still working that part out. I’ve only known Werewolves exist for about an hour so I’m playing catch-up.”
Sarah nodded. “You missed a lot when you left the Academy.”
“Starting to feel that pretty keenly, sis,” Kasey replied.
“I think we’ll skip the park today, Kasey. You need some help or you are going to get yourself killed.”
“I don’t think we’ll find many volunteers, Sarah.”
“Not that sort of help, Kasey. You might do well in a ring but you’re going to need more than your mixed martial arts to best a beast like that. You’re going to need the right tool for the job…You’re going to need The Emporium.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kasey cocked her head. “The Emporium?”
“Oh, yes,” Sarah answered. “If you are going to run into the jaws of death, let us make sure you are suitably armed.”
“I’ve never even heard of it,” Kasey answered.
Sarah shook her head. “Come on, Kasey. You can’t keep living with one foot in each world. If you are going to dabble in the arcane, you need to know what you are dealing with. The Emporium is the Convenience Co. of Magic. If a witch or wizard may need it, you’ll find it at the Emporium…”
The barista’s voice interrupted Sarah’s explanation. “Two cappucinos and three cream cheese bagels.”
Sarah slipped over to the counter and picked up the coffee and bagels.
“Thanks!” she called to the barista who was already bustling away on the next order. She turned to Kasey to find Simeon trying to climb over her shoulder. “Here, let me swap you, breakfast for my baby.”
Kasey eyed the bagel, her famished stomach groaning in protest. “Fine, but I’m going to want another cuddle when I’m done.”
Sarah replied, “Absolutely, but first, we’re going shopping!”
Kasey handed Simeon to his mother in exchange for the scrumptious-looking breakfast.
“Let’s talk and walk. It’ll take us a few minutes to get there,” Sarah said as she made her way to the cafe’s door.
Kasey nodded as she grabbed the handle and opened it. Holding it with her foot, she pulled her bagel out of its paper bag and took a bite. A muffled, “Mmm,” escaped her lips.
“That hits the spot,” she said as she grabbed the second bagel and handed it to her sister.
Sarah led Kasey through Tompkins Square Park and down East 9th Street, eating and gossiping as they went.
After a few minutes, Sarah reached out to stop Kasey. “Here we are.”
Kasey looked up at what seemed to be an old brick apartment building with a shopfront built into its ground floor. A set of concrete stairs led into the store. Small white vinyl letters in the window read, ‘Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space’.
Kasey raised her eyebrow as she fixed her sister with a dubious expression. “This is The Emporium? Certainly looks like it has seen better days.”
“Looks can be deceiving, Kasey,” Sarah replied. “In the 80’s, these buildings were at the heart of a dispute between the city and squatters who had taken up residence here. After decades of disputes, Ernesto Thompson, in conjunction with the Mayor’s office, granted ownership of the buildings to the Urban Homesteading and Assistance Board. In exchange for his aid in ending the conflict, Ernesto was allowed to purchase the building, C-Squat. He now runs tours promoting the cultural history of the area.”
“I’m not sure what that has to do with The Emporium,” Kasey replied.
“Well, after getting rid of a few punk rockers and a half pipe in the basement, C-Squat gave him the perfect home for his growing enterprise—the purveying of magical goods. He erected the museum as a tribute to both the cultural heritage and his sense of humor.”
“Sense of humour?”
“Oh, you’ll see soon enough,” Sarah said, ascending the stone stairs.
A woman in uniform greeted them as they entered the Museum, “Hello, and welcome to the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, or MORUS for short. Are you here for the tour?”
“Not today, dear. We’ll be needing the gift shop,” Sarah said.
The woman nodded. “Very well, would you like me to show you the way?”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ve known Ernesto for years,” Sarah replied heading deeper into the store.
The woman smiled. “Very well. Have a wonderful day.”
“Thanks,” Sarah replied as she dragged Kasey through the small museum. Rounding a corner, they entered a narrow corridor. On the left stood a set of restrooms. On the right, a small closet marked, ‘Cleaning’.
“Ah, here we are!” Sarah exclaimed as she reached out and grabbed the handle of the cleaning closet.
“A closet?” Kasey asked. Sarah had to be messing with her.
Sarah pulled open the door and gestured onward. “Precisely. Now in you go.”
Kasey shrugged and stepped into the cramped space. Her foot bumped something on the floor. Reaching down, she picked up a fallen mop and leaned it against the wall to make more room. She turned to face Sarah.
Sarah squeezed in next to her, pulling the closet door shut. Darkness concealed them.
“Disgyn,” Sarah chanted.
Kasey wracked her brain for the meaning of the Welsh phrase.
The entire room shuddered. Kasey gripped the shelves to stay on her feet, but began to experience the same weightless sensation she loathed on roller-coasters.
It’s an elevator.
The entire closet was descending at incredible speed. Her full stomach felt a little queasy.
“Sarah, you… could… have… warned… me,” she said between breaths.
&
nbsp; “Don’t fret, we’re almost there,” Sarah said.
As if on cue, the elevator slowed its descent. A purple orb of light flickered to life where the closet door had been, pale at first but increasing in intensity.
Without warning, it began to flit about, leaving a shimmering trail of purple behind it in the air. Kasey watched spellbound as the light moved as if borne by an invisible hand. With precision, it worked until the word ‘Welcome’ shimmered in the air before them.
The closet door swung open. Kasey’s jaw dropped. Rich timber walls met elegant marble floors in a display of cleanly-styled affluence. Opposite the elevator, a large information counter occupied most of the store front, filling the space on either side were a dozen checkouts manned by cashiers. Each wore a pinstripe suit or pantsuit that reminded Kasey of the mob era movies of the 1920s and 30s.
Sarah made straight for the counter. It bore an immense engraved placard bearing the store’s name in bold script.
“Sarah, how nice to see you again,” a voice boomed across the lobby. The voice belonged to a sharply-dressed man in an Italian suit standing behind the counter.
Sarah beamed. “Ernesto, how are you?”
Ernesto walked around the counter as he replied, “I am exceptional, thank you for asking. Is that Simeon? How he has grown! Tell me, did he enjoy his little birthday present?”
“Loves it to death,” Sarah answered. “He chases that little pixie around the nursery for hours. He named her Bella.”
Ernesto beamed. “Ah, Bella, I love it. Portland Pixies, capricious little creatures but full of energy. Perfect for tiring the little ones out before bed.”
Portland Pixies? Kasey had never heard of such creatures.
“Indeed, it’s worked like a charm,” Sarah continued. “Paul, on the other hand, not as big a fan. Bella has a habit of hiding his keys. She thinks it’s a game, but enough about me. How are Elvira and William?”
“Elvira is ecstatic. William is engaged to a charming young witch from Surrey. His mother will be thrilled to have him out of the house.”
“Congratulations!” Sarah exclaimed, throwing one arm around him while she clutched Simeon with the other. “When is the big day?”
