by Alex Siegel
Tonya's bitterness surprised Andrew. He had thought she was a good soldier who didn't mind working with the BPI. As usual, she had fooled him.
"But sorcery is scientific at some level," he said. "We can control it, after all."
"No. It's anti-science. The seams allow the chaos to leak in and destroy all rationality. As sorcerers, we fool ourselves into thinking we can master it, but eventually, it always masters us. That's why every attempt to use sorcery as a technology has failed. It's sand in the gears. It's termites in the woodwork. We're addicted to the power though. We can't stop messing with it like children playing with firecrackers."
Andrew looked to Charley for help, but she had a lost expression. He knew intuitively Tonya was right, and sorcery was a self-destructive art, but quitting wasn't an option. He was hopelessly addicted.
Tonya climbed down from the tractor. "And unfortunately, I love it as much as anybody. The last few days have been hard. Life away from my seam is worse than being chained up in a prison cell. I can't do anything out here. As risky as it is, I have to go back."
She started trudging through the dirt towards the helicopter.
"No," Andrew said, "wait. To hell with the BPI. You need to stay on this farm until you're completely sane again."
Tonya snorted. "That's never going to happen. Come on."
Andrew and Charley followed her reluctantly back to the helicopter. He felt like he had failed but not because he hadn't completed his assignment. Tonya was going home for the wrong reasons. She had fatalistically accepted a life at the border of insanity rather than trying to find a real fix.
Andrew's opinion about sorcery in general had just taken a big hit. Instead of a thrilling adventure into the unknown, it was a high-risk business with murky, selfish goals. There has to be a way to make it better for everybody, he thought.
When the sorcerers reached the helicopter, Dan said, "Nice job, guys. Tonya, it will be good to have you back. We missed you."
Tonya gave him a hostile look but kept quiet.
Everybody climbed into the helicopter. If she was impressed by the transportation, she didn't show it.
Once they were in the air, Tonya turned to Charley and said, "Tell me exactly what happened while I was gone."
"A sorcerer was trying to sneak into the building," Charley said. "I didn't recognize him." She went into the details.
Tonya was thoughtful for a long moment. "A number of years ago, I had an apprentice. He lacked mental discipline and was never able to pass the sorcerer's exam. Eventually, he quit in frustration. He joined the military and served a couple of tours of duty. I was hopeful he had found a life outside of sorcery, but I should've known better. One day, he snuck away from his base and was never seen again. The BPI searched for him unsuccessfully. I'm guessing that was him the other night."
"He was desperate to get to the seam," Andrew said.
"I'm sure."
Nobody spoke for a few minutes. Andrew imagined himself in the same situation as that apprentice. How far would he go to get back the feeling of power he had when performing sorcery?
"My parents saw the body," he said. "My mother kind of guessed what had happened. She had seen BPI agents hanging around my grandfather."
"That's unfortunate," Tonya said.
"This mess really screwed up my Thanksgiving break."
"I'm sorry about that."
Andrew shrugged. "I don't blame you. It's not like you wanted to go crazy."
He looked out the window. The checkerboard of farms below was endless. The sight was impressive but a little sad at the same time. Mankind had conquered the land completely and had left no room for nature.
"At least I still have Christmas break," he added. "That's the big one."
"Not quite," Tonya said.
He turned to her. "Why not?"
She looked back and forth between Andrew and Charley. "I'm afraid you two have a job to do. The BPI needs sorcerers to search for new seams. When school is out, it's the perfect time for you to go."
"But we're just apprentices."
"You're sensitive enough to detect a seam, and that's the only requirement. The BPI will escort you, of course. All expenses paid and first-class transportation. It's a business trip."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But I want to go home!"
"You can visit your parents," Tonya said, "but don't plan on spending much time there. The BPI will have a long list of places for you to investigate. I can't go because I have to guard my own seam."
He clenched his jaw.
"Andrew and I will be together?" Charley said.
"Yes," Tonya said. "This time, at least. You'll watch each other's back."
Andrew looked at Charley's pretty face. A long vacation with her didn't sound so bad. It would be an opportunity for him to move their relationship to the next level, and he liked the idea of the BPI paying for everything. He wasn't sure how he would break the news to his parents though.
Chapter Ten
Andrew looked out the window of the limousine. There was nothing but farmland outside, and he sighed with boredom. He had a portable video game, but tired thumbs and lack of interest had forced him to take a break.
Charley was also riding in the back of the limousine, and she was reading a book on a tablet. Agent Dan was driving.
The limousine was nice. White bench seats provided plenty of room to stretch out. There was a wet bar, but it was stocked with soft drinks and juice instead of alcohol. The heating system could be configured to make some areas warmer than others. The stereo had eight speakers and enough power to hurt his ears. Tinted windows kept the bright sunlight out.
Despite the pleasant accommodations, Andrew would be glad when the trip was over. They had been on the road for three days, stopping every few hours. The routine was getting tedious.
"Want to play truth or dare?" he said.
"Now?" Charley said. "Not really."
"Then maybe just truth. I'm curious about your, uh, former relationships."
"We're not even officially dating, and you're already jealous about by ex's? How typically male."
Andrew's face grew warm.
"I already told you I never had much luck with guys," she added. "They usually liked my body but not my brain. I was almost raped once by a football jock who didn't appreciate being called an idiot."
"What?!"
She shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it. It's in the past."
He frowned.
"Five minute warning," Dan yelled from the front seat.
Everybody put aside their devices. Andrew pulled on a green winter coat, a black ski cap, and gloves. Charley was wearing a white parka and a cute pink winter hat. Flaps with tassels covered her ears. She grabbed an expensive camera from an adjacent seat.
"Where is the next stop?" Andrew asked.
Dan glanced at the display on the navigation system. "Boonville."
"Never heard of it. What state?"
"Indiana."
Andrew nodded. They had gone back and forth across the Midwest so many times, he had completely lost track of their location.
The limousine drove into a small town. The largest building was a county courthouse located in a park. It was surrounded by restaurants, a hardware store, an antique store, a beauty salon, and other small businesses. The rest of the town seemed to be residential.
Dan made several turns before finding the right address. He parked on a narrow street with cracked pavement. Only one side had a sidewalk, and it also needed repairs. The very plain homes were made of wood with just a few bricks used decoratively. A snarl of overhead power and telephone lines looked like something from a slum.
Everybody got out of the car. It was cold outside, and patches of icy snow decorated the ground. Andrew made sure his coat was zipped up all the way.
Dan checked a clipboard in his hand and then pointed to a gray house at the end of the block. "Two months ago, a bungled robbery turned into a hosta
ge situation and a stand-off with the police. In the end, the robber, a cop, and a family of four got killed. Go."
Andrew and Charley walked down the block towards the house.
"Remember," she said, "project innocent enthusiasm."
"I know that," he said.
"Your performance wasn't so great on the last one."
"You're giving me notes?" He gave her a sharp look. "As long as we're on the topic, you're overusing that camera as a prop. You don't have to take pictures of everything."
The two of them walked up to the house. It was small and needed a fresh coat of paint. The windows were tall, narrow, and dirty. Andrew knocked on the door, causing it to rattle in the frame.
After a minute, the door opened, and an old woman peered out. She was wearing a long blue nightgown with puffy shoulders.
"Can I help you?" she said.
Charley smiled. "Yes," she said with innocent enthusiasm. "We're journalism students from Indianapolis University. Our professor sent us down here to do a story on the murders."
"But they happened two months ago."
"It's just a class project. May we come in, please?"
Andrew gave the old woman his most innocent smile.
She frowned. "I suppose you kids look alright." She opened the door.
Andrew and Charley walked in. The front room contained an old couch and a television. There was no other furniture and nothing on the walls.
"I'm Emily." Charley cheerfully offered her hand.
The old woman shook her hand. "I'm Ruth."
"Did you know the victims?"
"No. The probate court appointed me as caretaker of the home."
"Oh," Charley said. "Then I suppose we don't need to interview you. Can you show us where the murders occurred? I need to take some pictures." She held up her camera.
Ruth led the apprentices through the sparsely furnished house to the kitchen. She pulled open a narrow door which led to a large pantry. The white shelves were bare. A tiny, high window allowed a little natural light to spill in.
"The hostages were tied up in here," Ruth said. "That's where they died."
Andrew saw dark splotches on the wooden floor, and he recognized them as old blood stains. He had seen similar stains several times over the last three days.
Charley took a number of pictures, paying extra attention to the stains.
Andrew stepped back, closed his eyes, and used his inner sight. It was possible the violent deaths had left a seam behind, particularly if a latent sorcerer had been a victim. He sensed absolutely no energy though. The walls of reality were solid and strong here.
Andrew opened his eyes and tapped Ruth on the shoulder. She turned to him.
"Must be scary living alone in a murder house," he said.
She shrugged. "Not really."
While Ruth was distracted, Charley closed her eyes and relaxed.
"You're not worried about ghosts?" Andrew said.
Ruth smiled a little. "No such thing."
Charley opened her eyes and shook her head. She had also sensed nothing.
"We should probably get going," Andrew said. "The pictures were all we really needed. Thanks."
Ruth showed them out. She seemed disappointed about the very short visit, and Andrew speculated she was lonely.
He and Charley trotted back to the limousine.
"Anything?" Dan said.
"No," Andrew said. "It's clean in there."
Charley nodded in agreement.
"Good," Dan said. "The Warrick County Sheriff Office is next. There is some evidence you need to look at. It's just across town."
Everybody returned to their places inside the limousine. Andrew was too warm in his winter coat, but he kept it on. He expected to be outside again shortly.
"After we're done in this town," he said, "can we visit my parents?"
Dan checked his clipboard. "I don't know. We still have a long list of places to go."
"You promised."
"I suppose we can afford to take a day off. We're ahead of schedule."
"Thanks." Andrew smiled.
The trip across Boonville took only a few minutes. The Sheriff Office was a collection of green and white buildings on the edge of town. They looked more like big metal sheds than a center of law enforcement. A white picket fence surrounded the building in front.
"You're just going to walk in there and demand to see evidence?" Andrew said.
"Why not?" Dan said. "We're federal agents."
Andrew realized he was a federal agent, technically, but he didn't feel like one.
Dan parked in front of the building, and everybody got out again. He led the group into a small lobby. Deputies and clerks in brown uniforms looked at the visitors curiously.
"Stay here," Dan said. "I'll go talk to the sheriff first." He walked off.
Andrew turned to Charley. They had spent three days together, but Dan had given them little private time. He had acted like a fussy and suspicious mother more often than not. Charley had slept in her own hotel room every night.
"This vacation hasn't been a lot of fun," he said.
She nodded. "I never thought I'd get sick of riding in a fancy limousine, but looking at all the crime scenes is depressing. I've had enough."
"I agree. People are sick. If I never hear about another murder, it will be fine."
She sighed.
"Hey," he said with a wry smile, "at least we have each other for company."
"Yeah. I'm a little nervous about visiting your home." She furrowed her brow.
"Why? My parents liked you last time."
"You're sure? Your mother was judging me the whole time."
"She's deciding if you're good enough to be my girlfriend." Andrew winked.
"Exactly." Charley didn't sound amused. "And it will be hard to tell her we're 'just friends' when I'm travelling with you."
"I'm ready to be more than just friends."
"I know, but I'm still not sure that's a smart move. We have to work together. Business and sex don't mix well."
He wasn't going to argue with her. He was counting on patience and charm to eventually win her heart.
Dan returned with a female deputy. She was a stout woman wearing glasses with thick frames. Ruddy skin made Andrew think she had been exercising, but she wasn't out of breath.
The deputy led everybody to a big room in the back of the building. It was full of lockers and cages of all sizes. Cardboard boxes were stacked high and deep inside the cages, and in some cases, the boxes on the bottom were being crushed. Bigger evidence was placed on shelves, and Andrew saw a couple of rifles and several shotguns.
"I can't believe you're showing this evidence to kids." The deputy gave Andrew and Charley a funny look.
"We have our reasons," Dan said. "Just pull it out for us."
The deputy unlocked a cage and retrieved some boxes. She placed them on a heavy steel table in the center of the room.
Andrew reached for one of the boxes. Dan nodded, giving his permission, and Andrew pulled off a lid.
The box was full of items, each tagged and stored in a separate plastic bag. He found rope with blood stains, rusty handcuffs, a wooden mallet, three guns, a coil of barbed wire, safety goggles, a sex toy, wire cutters, and other disturbing artifacts. He didn't know the story behind the evidence, and he didn't want to know. His imagination was bad enough.
There were four boxes. Andrew sifted through two of them, and Charley examined the other two. It was solemn, depressing work until Andrew came across a dagger.
The polished blade was a foot long, and the edges were slightly serrated. Thin lines were etched into the surface, and the intricate pattern reminded him of the rings in a tree. Steel wire and leather cords were wrapped tightly around the hilt.
He picked up the dagger in its plastic bag and sensed energy flickering inside. The seam was tiny but unmistakable.
A portable seam, he thought. He handed the dagger to Charley.
; Her eyes widened as she examined it closely. "Amazing," she whispered.
"Found something?" Dan said.
Andrew nodded. "Yes."
"Give it to me."
Charley gave the dagger to Dan, and he slipped it into a pocket inside his jacket. He covered it with his arms protectively.
"Hey!" the deputy said. "You can't take that. It's evidence."
Dan opened up his wallet, took out a business card, and handed it to her.
"Call my office in Washington," he said. "Ask for the director, and he'll explain the situation to you. Or you can file an official complaint. It will be given all the attention it's due."
The deputy stared at the card with an expression of disbelief.
Dan turned to Andrew. "Check the rest of it."
Andrew and Charley finished picking through the evidence but found no more seams. Then they and Dan left the Sheriff Office.
Dan looked very nervous as they walked outside. He kept a hand near his gun, and his eyes were constantly moving.
"How rare are portable seams?" Andrew said.
"Very," Dan said. "This is the first one I've seen in the wild."
He opened the trunk of the limousine and pushed aside the luggage inside. A safe was mounted in the well where a spare tire would normally be. He used his body as a shield as he opened the combination lock. Andrew caught a glimpse of the empty interior of the safe. Dan placed the knife inside, closed the door, and wiggled the handle to confirm it was locked.
"But you've seen them before?" Andrew said.
"During my training," Dan said. "The BPI keeps them in a secret vault. That's where this one is going. A courier will pick it up." He closed the trunk of the limousine.
"Where is the vault?"
"I don't know, and just asking the question can get us into trouble. Don't do it again. A separate department is responsible for vault security."
Everybody climbed back into the vehicle. The interior was still warm, and Andrew unzipped his coat.
"Can we go to my parents now?" he said.
Dan frowned and checked his clipboard. After a long moment, he said, "I suppose you've earned it. Where do they live?"