by T S Paul
“What if I fail to choose?” Bill asked.
“I offer Valhalla, but there are other realities. The Summerlands if you like or Heaven if that is your persuasion. All are one depending on your belief. I also offer a chance at justice and servitude to something much greater,” Gen told him.
“Justice for me?” Bill pointed at his body.
“No. That task lies with others. What is your choice?” The Valkyrie known as Gen asked.
“Will I see my wife again?” Bill asked.
“That I cannot see. If you join us, we will exist in this world, but not. Those that you knew won’t see us as we are,” Gen explained.
Bill looked past Gen to watch his wife. She still sat upon the ground crying. Orderlies were loading his body onto a stretcher as police units looked on. The bus sat at the end of the drive, still half up on the curb.
“Do I get a sword?” Bill asked.
Chapter 7
The pain that hit me was sharp, quick, and crushing. I grabbed my chest and for just a moment thought I might be having a heart attack.
Cat reacted immediately, spinning off her chair and running over to me. “What’s wrong?”
The effect was cumulative upon all of us. Chuck’s head snapped up, and Fergus let out a yell inside his barn. Concentrating I dropped into mage vision to see what was causing the pain. Tears came to my eyes as I ascertained the cause.
On her knees, in front of me, Cat started to cry. “It’s Bill, isn’t it?”
I nodded. “He has died. I don’t know how or why, but the charm I laid upon all of you links us together. Grandmother said I would feel it if any of you were in trouble, but I had no idea.”
A phone started to ring somewhere in the midst of us. It was joined by another and then another. Chimes of death and destruction are what it sounded like to me. Information was what they represented.
Chuck answered first. “Magical Division, how may I help you, Sir or Ma’am?”
“That has to be the Director. Who else would call all the numbers at once?” I asked Cat.
Cat cocked her head to one side and then nodded. “She’s asking for you, Aggy.”
Freaky Were hearing is what that is. But it gave me a minute to compose myself. I nodded to Cat and picked up the phone in front of me. “Hello, Madeline.”
“From Chuck’s reaction, I’m going to say you know. May I ask how you know?” The Director sounded somber.
I sighed. “A spell. I put charms on everyone when the team was formed. Before you ask, Anastasia removed hers when she ran. If it was still on her, we could have tracked her every movement easily. The charm allows me to feel when someone is in trouble or hurt. This was its first real test. We all felt the effect of his death. What happened to him?”
“It’s still under investigation by both the FBI and local police. He was shot. We think it was a sniper across the street. There was a city bus involved as well. Like I said, still under investigation. It’s a real mess. His wife witnessed the whole thing, Agatha. I’ve assigned Melissa to take care of any arrangements, and I’ve got the Bs watching over our side of the investigation. We will find out who did this. That is a promise!” The Director was very angry.
“Do you need us there?” Agatha asked.
The Director sighed audibly before she replied to Agatha. “No. Stay the course and work your case. I’ve got everyone available on this. Bill was one of ours. I know you are all just starting to grieve, but I’ve got that temporary replacement on his way to you. He’s coming from the California office so it may take him a day or two to get to you.”
“What’s this guy’s background? Can he keep up with us?” I asked.
Madeline paused for a moment. I could hear pages ruffling. “He’s got a good reputation with the Bureau out west. He was part of that sea hag op the Sea Scouts got involved in. Ever since then he’s been the Mer liaison agent.”
“Can he work on land as well?” I asked.
“I hope so. Believe it or not, he requested to work with you and your team. He has ambition, which in this sort of work can be very rare. At least on our side of things. Let me know how he works out. I can always use a new agent I can dump tons of work on. Sorry again about Bill.” The Director hung up her end of the call.
“You guys hear that?” If I wanted privacy, I would have taken the call in Ana’s room. It was the only secure area on this bus.
Both Cat and Chuck nodded. “Either of you knows him?”
“No, not me. We could have Chuck call the Mer sisters. He used to party with them, remember?” Cat smiled at me.
“Thanks a lot. Do I have to?” Chuck made a face at the two of us.
“Not right now buddy. Maybe after he gets here. Are you guys OK with working right now? I mean with Bill’s death and all. We still have to catch this serial killer.” I asked the two of them.
Cat nodded and glanced in Chuck’s direction. I could see sorrow in his eyes, but he nodded too. “OK, then let’s get this show back on the road. We need to link up with the sheriff. The city of Jackson has its own police force, but Sheriff Bowen will be acting as an intermediary for them. Adam Moon’s pack controls a section of the county by treaty.”
“Treaty?” Chuck asked.
“That’s what Bowen calls it. What I think happened is they moved in and took over. Somewhere along the way, they made a deal. Humans don’t last long against Weres. You know it, and I know it. Finding out more about the ‘treaty’ is one of your jobs, Chuck. Cat and I will drop into investigative mode. When the new guy shows up, he can help with forensics and information processing. We need to see what he can do first.”
The meeting over, we got back on the road. Jackson was only a couple of hours away, and I wanted for us to be in the sheriff’s parking lot by morning. We were down two team members now. This was our first rogue hunt, and we might not have a moment to ourselves this time. Time to check on the beast and see to his needs.
I heard the music as I stepped into my quarters. The barn was almost glowing as flashing lights and what sounded like disco music blared out of the small windows. Carefully lifting the lid, I looked down at my unicorn.
Fergus was dancing. Not just dancing, he was boogying! He was wearing a white suit coat with wide collars and what looked like gold chains. The floor of his barn lit up in colored squares as he strutted to the music.
“What the hell?” It just slipped out of my mouth.
Music still blaring, Fergus wiggled as he looked up at me. He raised a hoof in the air and strutted in a circle. A classic disco move.
Looking up to the heavens I muttered, “why me?”
I looked back down and leaned to one side. His phone was secured to the wall, and I could see the face of John Travolta as he danced in a similar suit to Fergus’s. “Where did you get all of this stuff?”
Fergus stopped dancing and looked up at me again. Crossing the floor, he nosed a small electronic panel. The lights swiveled upward and switched off as the music died. The movie continued to play in the background.
“What stuff?” Fergus asked me.
I pointed downward. “The lights, the music, all of it, where did you find all this stuff?”
“I know how to order things with my phone. You said I could dance when people were awake,” Fergus replied.
The little guy had a point. “Why disco?”
“John’s got good moves.” Fergus nodded toward the man in white dancing on his phone’s screen.
My face scrunched up as I watched the tiny little screen. “If you say so.”
I looked away and then dropped my eyes back to him. “Fergus, Bill isn’t coming back to us.”
The tiny unicorn took a couple of steps forward and nosed off his phone. “I know that.”
“Do you know why?” I asked him.
“Yes. Humans are fragile creatures.” Fergus replied, continuing to look down at the floor.
“They are. Someone who didn’t like him killed him. Beatrice and Betsy are goin
g to find out who did it.” I told him. They were special friends of his.
Fergus looked up at me with a gleam in his eye. “Are they coming here?”
“I don’t think so. We’re getting another human investigator, though. Do you understand our mission out here?” I asked him.
Fergus snorted. “Chasing puppies. Just send the stinky cat-people after them. Can I have some hay?”
“You have a whole loft full of hay right there.” I pointed my finger at the right corner of his little barn.
“Not the fun stuff. I want the fun stuff. I’m in mourning.” Fergus bowed his head.
“Uh, huh. Sure you are.” I told him. I doubted he even remembered Bill’s name unless I mentioned it.
Tapping my finger against my lips, I watched my best friend in action. Devious didn’t even begin to describe him. “I’ll make you a deal.”
Ever since his Magickal abilities were exposed, he’d been getting much surlier and actually picking fights with Cat and Chuck. I remembered the argument he had with Cat just yesterday. If something didn’t change soon, someone was going to get more than their feelings hurt. Cat’s tussle with him was proof of that.
Fergus looked warily up at me. “What sort of deal?”
“I’ve got a small stash of Magick hay in my battle herbs. If, and I do mean if, you play nice with the team and do something to help with this current assignment I will allow you to have it,” I replied to him.
Cocking his head to one side, Fergus thought for a moment. “What sort of help?”
I chuckled to myself and smiled at him. Food was the only language he understood. “You’re a Wizard, think of something. Do we have a deal?”
Fergus looked up at me and then back down to the floor. He made a weird sort of neighing noise that made me look sharply at him. “You are tricksy.”
Shaking my head, I replied to him. “Been watching those ring’s movies with Chuck again? You do know he’s a cat person, right?”
My unicorn gave what I knew to be a dirty look. “Fine. Deal. Where’s the hay?”
I laughed at him. “Fergus, you know I love you, right?”
“I don’t see any hay? Where is it?” The tiny unicorn spun in a circle.
“You have to go apologize to Cat first. Then I’ll get some of it for you.” I told him with a smile.
“Apologize? For what? Those stinky cat people are evil.” Fergus glared at me.
“Gotcha. That attitude right there is why I feel I have to bribe you. What have Cat and Chuck done to you that is so bad?” I asked.
“Cats are evil. That monster Zeus tried to eat me!” Fergus yelled up at me.
I nodded. “And did he do it after he found out you were intelligent and my friend?”
Fergus thought for a moment. “No… But he still tossed me around!”
“We were kids, if you can remember back to when we both went to live with Grandmother. Zeus just wanted to play. He did ask you.” I pointed out. “What did Dascha say to you about familiars? Aren’t we supposed to be a team?”
If a Unicorn could blush, that might describe what Fergus was doing. I had a very clear memory of Dascha having several long heart-to-heart conversations with him.
“Besides. You and Chuck are buddies. Don’t tell me you didn’t like the pizza parties and game nights you spent together. Do you really want him to stop hanging out with you?” I pushed the point across to him.
“But…” Fergus started to reply.
I gave him my stern look. The same look I gave the Marine guards that tried to hold my mail. Fergus twitched his tail and bowed his head.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“Out in the team room. She does like you, you know. Both Cat and Chuck spent hours trying to track down another barn for you. They wanted you to have the best available,” I replied.
Fergus looked around at the opulent barn he was in. The old one had farm scenes painted on the walls and went ‘Moo’ when the door opened. This new one lacked the ‘Moo’ but was ten times bigger. Shag carpet didn’t grow on trees. He tried to imagine what he would be without it. “I’m sorry. The conflict with my herd and having my Magick exposed and…”
“Fergus, I do understand. We’ve all had issues the past year or so. Now with Bill dying… None of us has had time to slow down. I promise you that as soon as this rogue hunt is over, we will take a vacation for a week. Deal?” I asked.
“Can we go back to the beach?” Fergus asked.
I had several beach shots of Fergus in my camera. It had taken several hours for Anastasia to pack when we found her in Pensacola. It surprised me that he like it so much. “Sure. We can do that. Now about that apology?”
“I will apologize.” Fergus stepped out of his barn and jumped down to the floor.
Watching him, I wondered when the next shoe would drop. Getting Fergus to do something like this was similar to watching a porcine air force demonstration.
Chapter 8
The Madison County Sheriff's office was right in the middle of what looked like a former industrial area. I could see an active rail line as well as run-down warehouses and loading docks. The building itself gave the appearance of a school or hospital, very blocky with sealed windows and a flat roof.
“The lot looks full. Where do you want me to put it?” Chuck asked.
I craned my neck around and looked out of the window. There were a half-dozen or so official vehicles as well as civilian cars. “Just pull up out front. Half on the sidewalk if you have to.”
Some signs said ‘No Parking’ primarily because College Street was only two lanes with no center median.
“If they give us a ticket, we’ll pay it, but I don’t want to clog up the whole place. We may want to set up on that cleared space over there. That will be the first thing I ask about.” I pointed at the big field next to the station.
“Things might get tense once we get inside. We still have no idea if these boys are working for the Blood Moon Pack.” I reminded my team as we prepared to get off the bus.
The bus shook a little as Chuck parked it half on the sidewalk. I leaned down and peered out the door. A local officer had just stepped out the main entrance and did a double-take when he saw our massive bus. I watched as he almost drew his sidearm which was disconcerting. He froze for a moment then removed his hand and went back inside. I let out the breath I’d been holding and turned to my team. “OK. Let’s go. Hold the fort, Chuck.”
Stepping off the climate-controlled bus, I felt the heat of the sun and the slight humidity of Tennessee in the spring. Cool mornings and warm afternoons. Looking skyward, I could see clouds moving in. No need to check my phone for a weather report. It was going to rain at some point today. The patrolman that saw us earlier was now standing at the door, and several other faces were peering out at us. I knew at that moment that painting the Division’s logo on the sides of the bus was a good idea.
“You can’t park that there.” The officer at the door told me as I approached him.
Smiling I replied, “Tell me where to put it, and my agent will move it.” I pointed over my shoulder at Chuck, who waved.
While the officer was distracted, I whipped out my badge. “FBI, Magickal Division, I’m here to see Sheriff Bowen.”
Cat stepped up next to me. Her badge at her hip, she smiled at the befuddled man.
“She’s with me,” I pointed out.
“Uh, the sheriff, uh…” He peered at my badge and looked past me at our large bus.
“Let the ladies in, Jenkins. You have a patrol to get to so you better get moving.” The man was soft-spoken, but clearly in charge.
Officer Jenkins twisted around almost stumbling over his feet. Seeing his boss, he straightened up and walked toward the small parking lot.
“Agent Blackmore, I assume?” the Sheriff asked.
“Yes. May we come in?” I asked.
“Of course. Excuse my officer, please. He doesn’t see…” the sheriff waved his hands at us and the bus
, “this sort of thing often. Usually, the FBI stays in Memphis and rarely comes out this way.”
I smiled at the man. “That I can believe. We aren’t quite the same as the regular FBI.”
The sheriff preceded us into the building. He mumbled a phrase to himself that both Cat and I heard. “You can say that again.”
Glancing back at Cat, I could see her smile. This might be fun.
Several other officers and workers were huddled in the main lobby as we entered. Sheriff Bowen frowned at them and started yelling. “Get back to work! It’s just the FBI, we’ve all seen them before. Move it, people.”
Keeping my face straight I followed the man through a small gate. The front lobby was protected by thick plexiglass and what looked like cubicles. Many of the office workers were ‘prairie dogging’ over the walls.
The sheriff’s office looked like just about every law enforcement office I’ve ever been in. The desk at one end was surrounded by ‘I love me’ walls. His entrance had large windows on either side of the door overlooking the outer office. There were pictures of the Sheriff with politicians and a few recognizable celebrities. One, in particular, caught my eye. I pursed my lips as I studied the shot of Adam Moon with his arm around the sheriff.
“It was a charity event,” Sheriff Bowen remarked as he followed my eyes.
Turning I smiled at him. “A friend?”
“Not particularly.” Bowen held up his hands. “You have to understand something about Jackson and Adam Moon. He and his people have been here for years. They built this town into what it is today. Good or evil, they are the founders here.”
I looked at Cat, and she nodded. Her father, Robert Moore, was on the Were Council and a Consul for the World Council. In his report about Moon, he had laid out what history was known about the Pack and their involvement in human politics.
“That jives with what we already know about him. Adam Moon and his Pack are one of the very few groups that were not interned after exposure in 1914. They stayed under the government’s radar and didn’t come clean publicly as part of the paranormal community until after the restrictions were lifted,” Cat replied for me.