The other woman laughed again and looked ready to offer another counterargument, but the core’s main door opened and saved her from having to reply.
Oh, I’ll get you, my pretty. And your little dog, too.
Diana turned to Bryant and Taggart. “Howdy, gents.”
Bryant smirked at her. “Howdy yourself, Special Agent in Charge Sheen.”
She grinned.
It does have a nice ring to it.
Taggart ignored them both and addressed Kayleigh. “Can I see the chart in one half and the coins in the other?” She nodded and activated some buttons on the display table.
“Coins?” The happy note in Diana’s voice had been replaced by concern. Taggart gestured to the display where front and back images of two matching coins appeared on the screen. She peered closer. “They’re truly identical, not merely similar, aren’t they?”
He nodded. “They are. The tiny hope that we might be facing solo actors—or at most, a very small group—seems to have been put to rest.”
She frowned. “Why is that?”
Bryant answered. “One person with the coin would be strange since it’s a lot of work to go to for whatever they wanted to accomplish. There would be easier ways. If there were only a small number, we’d expect some differences in them to indicate that a limited amount of effort went into making them. I mean, if you only make a handful, the motivation to strive for perfect uniformity is minimal.”
“Unless the uniformity is necessary to make the spell or mechanism or whatever work,” Kayleigh chimed in.
“Granted. But we can’t afford to think best case, right?” Everyone nodded in response. “So, it’s likely there are more of these floating around.”
Diana stared at the image but no answers came. “Where was this one?”
“On the dwarf who went kaboom.” Bryant mimicked an explosion with his hands. “Despite being at the origin of that destruction, the coin was completely unharmed.”
She released a sigh to relieve the tension inside her. “Okay, so in practical terms, what does this mean for us?”
Taggart shrugged. “Well, by itself, nothing. But in the context of the rest of our discoveries, probably a great deal.” He swiveled his head to Kayleigh. “Can we see the Twisted Lizard, please?”
An image of a building that was more charcoal than actual structure displayed. “This bar burst into flame immediately after the incident at the hotel. It burned exceptionally fast and hot, so the fire department is calling it arson. Our teams went through after the blaze was out and found everything in the place destroyed except for a single pristine desk drawer.”
“A fireproof desk drawer? Is that a real thing?” Diana asked.
Bryant chuckled. “Probably not, but a heavily warded and protected one apparently is.”
Taggart nodded. “It took the magic techs a while to undo its defenses, but when they did, this was inside.” He gestured, and an image of a metal spiral supporting a gemstone replaced the destroyed bar. The golden twists were attached to a dark wooden base.
She stared at the gem, which was unharmed and happily aglow despite having been through the destruction of the building around it. “What is it?
The SAC sounded worried. “We’re not positive and are sticking with passive tests at the moment. Frankly, we’re not yet desperate enough to try putting it together with the coin to see what happens. Our best guess is that it’s for communication, or perhaps it’s a sensing tool.”
Bryant sounded equally worried. “Or maybe it’s a doomsday device. I hope you keep the coins in a different part of the building from the stand. Hell, in a different building altogether.”
Taggart chuckled. “We have it under control. Don’t get your boxers in a twist.”
“Boxer briefs, actually,” the agent snarked.
Diana waved her hands in front of her eyes. “Entirely too much information. How about we talk about what the symbol means instead?”
Taggart looked uncomfortable, an expression she’d never seen him wear before. “There’s no exact match to it in any records. Not ours or the other planet’s. However, it does have resonance with an important icon from the past.” Without being asked, Kayleigh called up another image.
“An infinity symbol? The number eight? What?”
He didn’t laugh at Diana’s comedy. “That symbol was used by the followers of Rhazdon, an evil leader who tried to create a power base in opposition to the rightful rulers of Oriceran. She is directly responsible for the creation and dissemination of any number of artifacts that have appeared on Earth.”
“Two hundred and eight artifacts,” Kayleigh interrupted. Taggart held a palm up in acknowledgment.
Diana frowned. “So, she’s our target?”
Bryant shook his head. “You need to brush up on your Oriceran history, Sheen. Rhazdon and her followers were finally defeated a couple of decades ago.”
“So, what are we worried about then? Ghosts?”
Taggart sounded uncomfortable, too. “We think it’s too similar to be a coincidence. Whoever is in charge of this group is invoking her memory for some reason. Whatever that is, it’s unlikely to be good for us.”
“Well, at least we can sweat the Kilomea for details once he gets to the Cube.”
The SAC nodded. “You can take care of it personally since you’ve developed such a rapport with him.” She snorted. “Next week, you’re on your way to your new gig.”
Diana grinned. “You mean I won’t get to see Bryant every day anymore? That’s truly a sad, sad moment.”
Bryant smirked and put his hand on his heart. “Diana, I didn’t know you cared.”
“For him,” she finished. She received the expected laughs and beamed at her comrades.
That’s Special Agent in Charge Diana to you, pal.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The Legal Beagle was packed, even more than usual for a Friday night. Nonetheless, they’d been able to claim their favorite pair of seats at the end of the bar, and the trio of bartenders kept their drinks fresh without the need for instruction.
Diana wrapped up the tale of the fight at the hotel and the rescue of the ambassador. “So, that worked out okay.”
Lisa nodded, her eyes a little wide. “So Rath protected you? Not the other way around?”
She laughed. “We’re a team. We look out for each other. Exactly like you and me.”
Her friend chided her with a tsk. “I’m not sure how you’ll manage that from Pittsburgh.”
The agent rolled her eyes. Lisa had poked her about the impending relocation all evening, even though she understood the situation perfectly. “There will be eyes on you. And I’ll be back whenever I can to make sure you don’t destroy my house.”
Lisa laughed. “Hopefully, you’re a better landlord than you are a friend. Or a home renovator. Or, really, better than you are at most things, I guess.”
“Maybe we should discuss some sweat equity.”
“Please. Construction is not my bag, baby.”
They shared a laugh and paused to sip their drinks. Diana had ordered a thick double IPA, and the other woman drank a seasonal ginger cider she claimed to love. Lisa lowered her voice. “Why didn’t you bring Rath?”
Diana shook her head in exasperation. “I offered but he refused to come. Apparently, Max ‘must train.’ Frankly, I fear whatever the two of them get up to at home. There may not be a place left for you to move into.”
Lisa’s reply was preempted by a harsh slur from beside her. “Well, if it isn’t the tramp and her frumpy friend.”
They turned together to face Steve, who was clearly drunk and visibly angry. Lisa had confided to her earlier in the week that they’d broken up, but she’d played it off like it was amicable. The man’s attitude offered a different version of that parting.
Diana twitched and her mouth opened to tell him exactly what he could do with his inebriated idiocy, but Lisa stopped her with a hand on her arm. Her voice was chilled but reasona
ble. “Steve, we discussed this. I’m not ready for the level of commitment you seem to want, and we’re far from a perfect match, anyway.”
He pointed a finger, and Diana resisted the urge to break it and use it to slam his face into the bar. The pictures in her head were momentarily pleasing, though. His words emerged in an accusing snarl. “You were never honest with me. You lied.”
Lisa frowned. “You heard what you wanted to hear and saw what you wanted to see. We had some fun dates. Don’t ruin it with this nonsense.” Her voice hardened. “Now go away, or you’ll get yourself thrown out.”
The third bartender—who doubled as the Beagle’s bouncer on the rare occasions it was necessary—hovering nearby. Steve recognized his presence with a visible recoil, and he backed off with a parting, “Yeah right. Whatever.” The name he muttered under his breath made Diana want to continue the discussion with her fist.
Lisa turned back to the bar. “I thought it was the female of the species who was supposed to be all possessive. Every man I date wants to marry me within a week, it seems.”
Diana laughed. “That’s really not a problem for me. I guess there is a benefit to not being the shining star after all.”
Her friend sighed and Diana watched her banish the incident from her mind. “So, I can move in next week?”
“Yep. Rath, Max, and I will head up Monday. Bryant will meet us and show us around. On Tuesday, the real fun begins.”
Lisa leaned back as if seeing her for the first time. “Special Agent in Charge. Bah. You don’t look the part.”
She ordered one more round of drinks. “I will probably have to dress up more often for the new gig, so if you think I’ll wear anything other than jeans and sweatshirts between now and then, you don’t know me as well as I thought you did.”
Well, and the boots Kayleigh gave me, anyway. I guess I’ll need to find a good shine spot in Pittsburgh.
They spent the next forty-five minutes in quiet conversation, as comfortable and easy together as always. Her imminent departure wouldn’t stop them from texting and talking, and they’d committed to getting together at least a couple of times a month. Diana wasn’t willing to lose her connection to DC, even though she eagerly anticipated the move north and all the challenges it would bring.
As they finished their drinks, a still-seething Steve stormed through the crowd and slammed the front door behind him. The women exchanged glances and Diana asked, “do you think he’ll let it go?”
“Before tonight, I would’ve said yes. Now, I’m less sure.”
“I can hang out with you until your lift gets here and make sure you get away safely.”
“You can’t watch me forever. If he sees us together, he’ll wait for another opportunity—assuming he plans to do something, anyway. We’re probably worrying for nothing. Steve’s a talker.”
“You never know, though.” Diana thought for a minute, then nodded, her decision made. She gestured for the tab. “Okay, let’s find out if he’s up to anything or not. Here’s what we’ll do.”
Fifteen minutes later, Lisa left the building by the front door. She turned toward the pickup spot she always used when carless, far enough away from the front door to avoid the second-hand smoke. As she passed the small alley that ran beside the bar, Steve’s voice called to her and sounded remorseful. “Lisa, I only want to talk to you.” He slurred half the words, and she shook her head in sadness at his stupidity.
Why can’t people treat one another better?
She turned into the alley as Diana had instructed her. They had correctly concluded he wouldn’t be bold enough to confront her on the street.
Steve stood about six feet in, his back against the right wall and his hands in the pockets of his peacoat. He spoke before she could and his breath misted in the cold air. “I’m sorry for how I behaved inside. Sometimes, I get a little too invested, I know. It’s just…I’m sure we could be good together. It’s hard to let go.”
Lisa nodded. “I accept your apology, Steve. I hope you find the right person for you. Truly.” She turned to leave, and his hand immediately grabbed her wrist.
“I already have, Lisa. Give me another chance.” He smiled as his arm encircled her waist from behind. “I know I can make you happy.”
One last try.
“I’ve made my decision, Steve, and won’t change my mind. Now please, let go of me.” He tightened his grasp, and she sighed. With a rotation of her arm and a quick yank against the place where his index finger and thumb met, she broke his hold and stepped away.
His eyes betrayed his surprise, and he took a couple of staggering steps to put himself squarely in her path to the street. “No, Lisa—look, let’s talk about this rationally.”
From behind her, Diana’s voice rang out over the sound of the back door to the bar slamming shut. “I believe the lady asked you to leave her alone, Steve. Walk away before you find yourself in cuffs.”
His face twisted with anger and dislike as he looked past her at Diana. He bumped her shoulder as he strode by, apparently having made the incredibly foolish decision to confront her friend. Lisa sighed again. Idiot. You’ll wish you’d left.
Diana leaned against the bar’s outer wall, one leg crossed in front of the other, and watched him approach. It was cold, and she kept her hands tucked into the pockets of her leather jacket. There was no reason to think he was carrying, and she had no fear of his ability to fight unarmed given his alcohol intake. He appeared angrier with every step and clearly built himself up to confront her. She’d seen that particular routine before many times.
When he got within skip-sidekick range and opened his mouth to speak, she held a hand up and snapped, “Shut it.” She straightened as he blinked in surprise. “I trounce people twice as big and three times as smart as you on a regular basis. You do not want to do this. What you do want to do is turn around, walk out of this alley without so much as making eye contact with Lisa, and go home to sleep it off and never bother either of us again. Any other choice will end badly for you.”
He frowned. She watched the emotions whip across his face—first fear, then anger, then defiance as he convinced himself he could handle her.
Predictable.
His voice was condescending. “You think you’re tough because you have a gun.” He searched for what to say next, and she laughed inside.
And a knife, and two other knives, asshole, but who’s counting?
He finally came up with it. “Only a coward hides behind weapons.” She gave a lazy grin. He’d made his choice, and she was more than ready to deliver his reward. “I know all about you, former FBI Agent Diana Sheen,” he sneered But you’re not with the FBI anymore, are you? So all your posturing is a lie. You have no more authority than any other random bitch.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she made an internal note to have his business checked out more thoroughly. He shouldn't know that, and Lisa wouldn't have told him. On the outside, though, she merely widened the smile. The perfect quote for the situation popped into her head. “Are you gonna bark all day, little doggy, or are you gonna bite?”
You can never go wrong with Mr. Blond.
He bit. After a quick step forward and a feint with his left, he swung a drunken right hook at her head. She took a step back and swept her right arm across her body and outward in a circle block. Her hand slid down to grab his wrist and she used her left palm to lock his elbow. She put pressure on the joint and he squealed in pain as she forced him to his knees. Diana shook her head. “Even if you weren’t drunk, you couldn’t connect with that punch—too slow and too obvious. To quote a friend of mine, you ‘must train.’” She gave the elbow one more push to emphasize her point. “I’ll release you, and you’ll walk away. If you don’t, I’ll call the police.”
She stepped out of range, and he staggered to his feet and brushed his pants off. He wore regret on his face, but it was so overdone that she knew it was a lie.
Save us all from drunks with delusions of competence.
At a slight movement over his shoulder, the corner of her mouth twitched up. He saw it and immediately took offense. “I’ll teach you to laugh at me, you—”
Whatever he was about to say turned into a choked gasp as Lisa’s foot rocketed up between his legs from behind and dispelled the illusion that he was in any way equal to the moment. He fell hard, curled up protectively, and keened pathetically.
The two women looked at him and Lisa said, “I’d better never see you again, Steve. Not at my work, not at my home, not at a restaurant, and not at the Beagle. If you see me on the street, you run the other way. In fact, you should consider moving.”
Diana nodded. “Because if she does see you again, you’ll go down for assault. I’ll write it up today. How will your company react once you have a criminal record?”
He only whimpered as they walked away. Lisa talked animatedly about how she could’ve made the kick better. Diana reassured her it was just fine.
Chapter Thirty
The doorbell rang and Diana checked to ensure it wasn’t a miscreant. Bryant was on her landing again and stared at the camera with a goofy grin.
So, kind of a miscreant.
“Rath, Max, let Bryant in.” The pair were in motion before Rath realized the implications of the request. He looked around guiltily and Diana laughed. “Teeth marks on the door handle. Plus, the camera records people going in and out. Once I noticed the scratches, I checked.”
The troll cackled. “Training is important.”
She shook her head. “I have decided it’s beyond useless to try to stop you. At least you can look out for each other. And it’s not like you couldn’t simply grow bigger and open it yourself.” The doorbell rang again, and she waved her hand. “Go.” Moments later, Bryant entered. He was dressed for comfort in jeans and a Captain America T-shirt. She laughed. “If only Lisa could see you now.”
“Right?” He grinned and tipped his head to the side to indicate Rath and Max. “Nice concierge service.”
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