Federal Agents of Magic Boxed Set

by T. R. Cameron

  Sometimes, it’s handy having a five-inch-tall partner. It ensures the element of surprise, anyway.

  With a smile of greeting, she slid into the booth opposite Bryant and set the big leather purse gently between them. He was in business casual today—a simple pair of khakis and a light blue button-down shirt. “Cara should be here in a few minutes. She had a call to make.”

  He nodded. “Cool. It gives us a minute to talk about her behind her back. How was the first run?”

  Diana shook her head. “That guy was a jerk.”

  Bryant laughed. “Seriously. You would think they’d simply go quietly, given our collective awesomeness.”

  “Exactly. Idiots.” She grinned. “We learned a couple of things. Cara is as good as we thought she’d be. She kept it together during the whole scenario and delivered the blow that took him out of the fight.”

  “It’s nice when reality matches the file, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, she’s gonna work out fine. I saw no obvious magic talent, but it could be she reserved it. Either way, Cara Binot is a keeper.”

  He seemed suddenly uncomfortable, and it wasn’t a good look on him. She frowned. “What?”

  He shrugged. “This is probably something I should have asked a while ago. You know your magic has to come from somewhere, right? It doesn’t develop at random.”

  A ripple of remembered fear disturbed her peace, but it was nowhere near as bad as it would have been if he’d asked when she first joined BAM in DC. She took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes. I’m aware. Yours, too. Everyone’s.”

  Bryant nodded. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I’d be interested to know both personally and professionally.”

  Diana sighed, laid her elbows heavily on the table, and shook her head in one of her hands. “Elf. I’m part elf.”

  He made a point of staring at her ears. She rolled her eyes and laughed helplessly as she shrugged. “My mom told me after an…incident when I was a kid. She had power but chose not to embrace it, and she taught me how to keep mine in check.”

  He frowned. “She decided you shouldn’t use it?”

  She shook her head before he even finished. “Nothing like that. But she wanted me to have a choice. It’s one of the reasons I shadowed the squad that was destroyed by the magic attack—to see if that was a useful place for me to bring it all together.”

  Bryant grinned, and a hint of the smirking chucklehead she remembered from their first days together broke through. “Now, don’t you feel better with that out in the open, pointy?”

  “Bite me, Bryant. Now, it’s your turn.”

  He shook his head. “I’m gonna maintain the mystery and keep you interested.”

  She groaned. “Honestly, you are an idiot.” She sighed and tried to remember what they were talking about.

  Oh yeah, that’s right.

  “The bounty capture did point out one glaring issue, though. We’ll need better intel on…well, everything. Trying to take Harold in the body shop was a really stupid choice on my part. We should have watched him for a while and approached him somewhere less crowded, but I didn’t have anyone to put on it or any systems for recon.”

  Her companion grimaced. “That makes sense. Spooling up is always a challenge. Full demands with limited resources. I’ll see if I can at least get you some tech to help.”

  “Speaking of which…” she began but was interrupted by Cara’s arrival. Her idea of casual was identical to Diana’s—a pair of black jeans and a colorful untucked blouse, although hers was in deep scarlet rather than electric blue.

  The newest member of the team slipped into the booth beside her boss and reached a hand across the table while Diana dodged the long ponytail that circled into her vision. Cara’s voice was playful. "Bryant, I’ve heard so much about you.”

  Diana couldn’t help but smirk.

  She sounds like a veteran BAM Agent already.

  He looked uncomfortable for a moment. “What, and from whom?”

  Cara smirked wickedly. “It’s all good. Well, most of it. And a smart investigator never reveals her sources.”

  Bryant rolled his eyes. “Oh, you’ll fit right in.”

  Diana laughed, and so did her purse. The other woman’s eyes darted down and Diana grinned. “I thought it was time for you to meet the other part of the team.” She pulled the sides of her bag apart. “Rath, pop the lid.”

  The top of the canister swung open, and the troll launched himself into a somersault and onto the table. He landed cleanly beside her arm and waved at Cara. “Hi. Rath.”

  The marshal laughed and sounded unexpectedly young for an instant, and a grin spread across her face. “Hi, Rath. Cara.” She reached out a closed fist, and he bumped it with his own.

  The server arrived at that moment to take their drink order, a twenty-something boy with tattooed sleeves and plugs in his ears. A hoop hung from each of the expanded holes. Rath released a small, “Oooh,” and Diana’s brain conjured a picture of the troll with piercings, spacers, and tattoos.

  It wouldn’t be a bad look, actually, but would set a minimum size for him.

  The server turned to him as if magical creatures were part of his nightly routine. “For you, tiny dude?”

  Rath gave a toothy grin. “Pineapple juice.”

  “Right on.” The server departed, his attention already drawn to a nearby table with four well-dressed young professional women who looked like they’d been celebrating for a while. Diana felt Cara’s eyes and turned to meet the new recruit’s gaze.

  The other woman shook her head slowly. “So, this is merely everyday stuff for your organization, is it?”

  Diana exchanged a glance with Bryant, and they nodded as one. He answered, “Yep, basically. And it’s our organization now since you’re one of us.”

  “One of us, one of us,” Diana added. Bryant caught the reference and smiled, but Cara didn’t seem to. “This is nothing. Remind me to tell you about the tentacle jerk someday. Now that guy really sucked.”

  “They all suck,” he said with a small smile.

  She grinned. “That should be our official motto.”

  He spoke again. “So, Cara, I hear that you’ve been in any number of magical scrapes, so don’t pretend otherwise.”

  The marshal laughed. “I’ve had a little more than my fair share, probably, but I wouldn’t say it’s a common occurrence.”

  Diana quipped, “So this will be better, then.”

  Cara nodded. A determined expression set her grin aside. “All jokes aside, I think so. I’m looking forward to it more than I did when I landed here.”

  Approving nods accompanied the arrival of their drinks and the placing of their dinner orders. Rath decided to branch out beyond fruit and cheese and ordered Caribbean nachos, which were apparently regular ones with jerk sauce on them. Diana shrugged.

  It’s your stomach, buddy.

  She took a slow pull on her beer, a double IPA with the unlikely moniker of Sleighwrecker. It was divine.

  “So, what’s the long-term strategy here?” Cara asked.

  Bryant laughed. “Protect Pittsburgh, defend the Northeast, and eventually, rule the world.”

  “That’s a plan I can get behind.”

  Diana rolled her eyes. “In a slightly shorter timeframe, the goal is to get our locations up and running, add some support staff to the security agency, and find ourselves an experienced investigator who knows the town.”

  Cara nodded. “I can put feelers out through the Marshals, but I don’t have any direct contacts here. It’ll probably be expensive to identify the right person, much less convince him or her to join.”

  “Everything’s expensive.” Diana heaved a sigh.

  They both turned to Bryant. He grinned back at them. “It’s always pleasant to be gazed upon with such desire, even if it’s only for the budget I supposedly control.”

  Diana laughed. “You’ll always be my favorite moneyman.”

  Rath
echoed, “Moneyman,” and giggled happily as he sipped his juice through the tiny straw the server had thoughtfully provided. Diana had noted a little extra traffic near their table, doubtless hoping for a better look at the troll.

  Even in this day and age, five-inch-tall magical creatures aren’t an everyday occurrence at your favorite restaurant.

  She pinched the bridge of her nose as the first symptoms of an impending paperwork headache stirred to life. “I have a thought on the investigator. I’ll be in DC for a week for a whole slew of bureaucratic nonsense, but I have a meeting with my FBI mentor while I’m there. If anyone should have a line on a good candidate or can put us in touch with someone who does, it’s him.”

  The other two nodded. Bryant took a sip of his drink—a local stout that looked more like ink than a beverage—and sighed happily. “Okay, here’s the deal. While Diana’s away, our construction teams will be in town and work on both facilities. We’ll prioritize the security agency because she thinks we need the training space quickly, and I agree. We can’t do all our practice in the field.”

  Cara frowned and gave an exaggerated pout. “But why?” Everyone laughed on cue except Rath, who no doubt believed in live-action training, Rambo-style.

  Diana took over the conversation. “Anyway, within a week, we should have the agency ready—physically, at least, with the core set up in the main building.”

  Bryant nodded. “That’s the plan.”

  The other woman looked pointedly at Diana’s wrists, and she shifted the gaze to the bracelet on her right hand and the smartwatch on her left. She said, “So, let’s talk about gear. I’ve noticed mine is less impressive than yours.”

  Bryant barely managed to swallow his drink before he burst out laughing, and Cara raised an eyebrow at him. Diana shook her head. “You’re such a child.” She turned back to their newest recruit. “Don’t worry. I’m sure to return from DC with presents. But this points to a bigger issue. After the investigator, our first priority has to be to add a tech to the team and get the labs up and running. Using rental cars as a quartermaster will not fly indefinitely, and logistics are very much not my bag, baby.” The shared phrase brought Lisa to her mind, and she smiled. Seeing her best friend was one of the things she looked forward to most in her upcoming trip.

  He inclined his head as if in agreement. “Well, you’ll be with the big boss. Maybe you can convince him.”

  They paused for the arrival of the food, and each sampled their plate and judged it good. Rath was particularly excited by the new experience as he munched a fried plantain that had been intended as a garnish. Judging from his dreamy smile, it was the best thing he’d ever tasted. The sweet and spicy scents whirled around the table to add the aromatic layer that completed a fine dining experience and set the atmosphere for a positive outing.

  Cara smiled innocently. “So, Bryant, you’ll leave soon, right?”

  He smiled as the troll and two women laughed. Then, the movement deliberately casual, he dabbed at his lips with a napkin. “That is correct. I have other cities to do initial reviews on and people to meet along the way. I don’t imagine I’ll be back for a few weeks, assuming nothing blows up here.”

  Diana growled. “Speaking of blowing up, how did the press get all that information about the Cube?”

  Bryant grumbled, “Your guess is as good as mine. Still, it was bound to come out eventually, I suppose. As far as the public knows, it’s merely a second Ultramax inconveniently located in their backyard. There’s nothing to indicate that they know it belongs to us, or even that they’ve heard of ARES.”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t feel like a coincidence.”

  Cara set her glass down with a small thump. “There’s no such thing as coincidence.”

  The others nodded in agreement. Rath’s bushy hair waved like a paintbrush with the sheer vigor of his agreement. “There are no coincidences. Only the illusion of coincidence.”

  Diana frowned at his tone. “English accent?”

  Rath smiled. “V for Vendetta. Excellent knives.”

  Cara leaned and lowered her tone. “So, neither of you has mentioned the Kemana. Is there a reason for that?”

  Bryant’s face slipped into an impression of theatrical shock. “My, my. You have done your homework.”

  She shrugged. “The Marshals have access to a lot, including the known sites.”

  Diana silently applauded the fact that the woman didn’t assume that they knew about all the locations. “We’ll have to connect, eventually. I’d like to be a little more established before we do, so we have something to bring to the table in any discussion. But they’re definitely in our plans.”

  With the meal over, the dishes cleared away, and coffees delivered for everyone except Rath—who topped his fruit juice up and devoted his energy to more fried plantains—they discussed the future of ARES in Pittsburgh and beyond, and what the constantly growing number of magical bad actors meant for the world. They exited the restaurant bound by their common agreement that the unique position the agency held, comparatively unhampered by layers of governmental bureaucracy, would prove vital as the worlds moved ever closer.

  Chapter Six

  It was beyond strange to return to her old bureau office, given all that had happened in the short time since Diana had left to join BAM. The clean walls, bright lights, and shining linoleum floors brought a smile to her face that widened as she passed through the open door into Tyson Samuels' office.

  He came around from behind the desk, dressed as always for a job that paid much more than his did. Today’s choice of fashion was a solid navy suit that fit his trim form to perfection. The gray at his temples seemed to have taken more territory from the brown hair that covered his head since she’d last seen him. He shook her hand and gave it an extra pat before he released it. Samuels was by-the-book, and any more expressive physical contact, like a hug, was reserved for outside the office. He was an excellent hugger, though.

  She sat in the familiar chair across his desk and marveled at the complete lack of change in everything other than herself. “So, did you find someone decent to replace me?”

  Samuels nodded. “Fresh out of the Academy. She jumped through all the low-level stuff to Special Agent on her first day.” He delivered it with a perfectly straight face.

  Diana looked at him in momentary confusion. “Really?”

  He laughed. “Of course not. We’re still using temps like I said we would, searching for someone who’s the right fit. You left difficult shoes to fill."

  “But fashionable ones, I hope.” She stroked the well-repaired boot at the bottom of her crossed denim-clad leg.

  “As stylish as can be. How are things with you? I hear rumblings from up north.”

  Diana sighed. “It looks like it’ll be as much of a hotspot as everyone thought.” He nodded. “Anyway, that’s part of the reason I’m here.”

  He grinned. “And the rest?”

  “I need a reason to visit with my Rabbi?”

  He waved his hand. “Never. You’re always welcome in this office.”

  She frowned. “The guards at the front didn’t seem to agree.”

  “Being off the books has its advantages but also comes with a few disadvantages.” He shrugged.

  Her tone conveyed her frustrations only too well. “More disadvantages, so far. I know the FBI has constantly been budget-challenged and even more so since Homeland came online, but ARES isn’t much better at the moment.”

  “Starting a number of new locations will do that to an organization. Growing pains. Give it a while, and you’ll be outfitted like James Bond.”

  She grinned. “I’ll hold you to that. If it doesn’t happen, I demand at least an exploding pen from your people. Oh, and one of those Lotus submarine cars.”

  “Done and done.”

  Diana sobered. “Witty banter aside, I need to find someone who knows Pittsburgh and understands investigation—ideally, police procedures rather than a private i
nvestigator or something. It would also be good to have a person who speaks the language of the local PD.”

  Samuels leaned back in his chair and tapped his chin with a thin finger. “Any other requirements?”

  She shrugged. “She or he should be in shape and have at least some combat training. We can improve on their skills, but it would be best if they had a set we could evaluate before we accept them. I guess amazing investigative abilities might balance that out, but we all have to be ready to do everything, and a dead investigator isn’t much use.”

  He raised an eyebrow curiously. “Are you gonna make ʼem run the gauntlet?”

  She rolled her eyes. “How the hell did you hear about that? Oh, wait, never mind. Bryant.” Exasperation colored his name.

  Samuels nodded. “He said it was a storm followed by a rainbow but wouldn’t explain further.”

  Diana groaned. “Anyway, about that investigator.”

  Her mentor laughed and leaned forward to tap the laptop keys on his desk. “It just so happens I do know someone. He did six years as an Army MP before being RIFed. Currently, he works in homicide for Cleveland PD but has only been there a year. Before that, he was in Pittsburgh for five, with three spent as a detective.”

  “That sounds great so far. Any magical experience?”

  He shrugged. “The file doesn’t say, and I haven’t heard.”

  “But he’s good?”

  The man inclined his head. “He’s trusted by the people I trust.”

  “That’s solid enough for me.” She stood and moved toward the door, then stopped and turned. “Lisa’s having a small gathering at my place—well, her place—tonight. Do you want to come?”

  Samuels shook his head. “We have tickets. Hamilton.”

  Diana whistled. “Those are hard to get.”