by T S Paul
Boom! Boom! Boom! We both jumped. Someone was pounding on the stage door. Madeleine jumped up and stepped over to the door. She stepped to one side and opened it.
“Yes?”
“Director Mills?”
“Yes? And you are?”
“FBI Internal Security. We need you and the Witch to come with us.”
“Under whose authority? I’m the Director here. She is one of my students.”
“Ma’am, this comes straight from the top.”
I was watching the ‘Security’ and his associates. None of them made any movement toward the door or attempted to push past the Director. “Madeleine. Invite them inside.”
She turned and looked at me. I made a both a swirling, and a come here motion with my hands.
She nodded to me and turned back to the supposed Security officer. “Step inside and we will discuss it, please.” Madeleine stepped back from the door. The Officer started to step forward and stopped like he hit an invisible wall.
“Who are you and who sent you?” She had her cell phone out, she took his picture and was calling the security detail.
The man cursed and kicked at my ward. “You haven’t heard the last of this!” He and his associates stormed off and disappeared into the milling crowd of Agents. The real security showed up seconds later and were able to step inside the room.
“You called for us, Ma’am?” The Director looked at me and shook her head.
“Yes, is the area secured? I would like for Miss Blackmore to be able to return to her dorm in peace.”
“The assailant is under arrest and he is being transported to a holding cell downtown. We still need to finish taking statements including yours and hers. But as far as we can tell he was alone. Do you know who he was?”
“Yes, he is Director Lansing. He works out of the Pentagon. You should call the transport group and request they call in more backup. He may try to escape.” She pulled the man aside and explained about the men that came to the door. She showed her cell pictures as proof.
I stood up and walked across the room to talk to Fergus. He was still in the company of the B’s. They were subdued and very quiet. “Fergus, you don’t look well?”
“Did someone try to kill you, Agatha?”
“They did. But as you can see I’m unhurt. How about you? Have the B’s kept you entertained?”
“Are you sure you are alright? They aren’t coming in here are they? I’m not one of those sneaky cats! I only have one life, not nine. Is there a place for me to hide?”
“Fergus, they are not after you. You are perfectly safe.” I looked at the two pretty girls sitting in the corner. “Are you OK? It was a lone shooter and they have him in custody. Has Fergus been a pain?”
“Oh, he’s been great. He told us a story about field mice and purple squirrels. Did you really turn all of them in town Purple?”
“I did. I was four so I don’t really remember doing it. Was he the hero of the field mice story? Because he’s scared of them. They think he’s a God or something and try to worship him. Don’t let him kid you. They really freak him out.”
The two cute blondes were not as quiet now and began to tease Fergus. I stepped back over to the officers just as the Director turned to me.
“Agatha can you give a statement to the security officers? They just need to know anything you can remember.”
“Of course, Director. Don’t forget about the cameras out there, too. Especially those other ones. They are in here too but they weren’t working at the time.”
They sent men to track them down and trace the signals. The cameras in here were all little molten balls of plastic.
“Director, may I send a text to my roommate and tell her I’m OK? She will be worried.” The Director remembered Cat and told me it was OK. I sat down at one of the tables and sent a quick text.
“Ready when you are, Officer.”
The interrogation took over an hour. They asked me the same questions over a dozen times. Each phrased differently to try to trip me up. Finally the Director had to step in. “You do realize that she is an FBI student, and she is aware of interrogation techniques? I think you have enough. She is available here on campus any time you might need her.”
The security men pried several of the melted cameras from the walls and stepped out of the room. “Sorry about the cameras. I thought they were yours.”
“It’s OK. I do understand. I was able to watch the footage from last year. Our Agents did open fire first. You shouldn’t have tried to walk away, but they seriously underestimated you. Do you have any clue why these people want you?”
“I have no idea. Maybe they don’t want the truth to leak out about paranormal relations? Almost every Para has the same info that I do. I just have permission to speak about it. I’m sure somebody will figure it out. Can I go home now?”
“Sure. I will escort you. You better get your Unicorn. The B’s will have him on their work desks before you know it. They love small creatures. Especially the cute ones.”
“I could use a few new Unicorn sitters. He can be real trouble sometimes.” I scooped up the troublemaker in question and placed him in my pocket.
“Thanks girls! Anytime you want to play with him give me a yell.” They both smiled at me.
We were on government property so there was no news media or helicopters. That was a no-go on a Marine base. I suspected they would cover the whole thing up. While it was a short walk to the dorm, they gave me a security escort. I thanked them and entered the dorm.
“There she is!” I looked up at the room full of Weres and other paranormal students.
“Agatha, are you alright?”
I smiled at Cat. “I’m fine. No new holes.”
“What happened? We heard there were shots fired and that the campus was in lockdown. Even the base was on alert.”
I waved everyone into the TV room. The TV was centered on the wall and instead of chairs there was this large tiered wooden structure covered in carpet. It was multifunction so there was room for everyone.
“I gave the first part of my lecture about the true history of the Purge and relations afterward. A government employee pulled a gun, told me I was under arrest and shot at me. Twice.” I proceeded to tell them about his arrest and my statements to security.
“Did they arrest him?” this came from one of the first-year students.
“Of course they did. Remember where you are. This is the FBI. Now I’m safe and so are you. If something threatens any of you, I will help to defend this dorm and others. Para’s help each other, remember? Thanks for worrying, guys.” Being the only witch on campus was both a good and bad thing. The others tended to follow my lead in many things.
Cat and Chuck gave me a big hug. “We were so worried for you, Aggy!”
I tapped my wrist where they could see and tossed my head in the direction of the stairs. We quickly went upstairs and into our room. Once inside I relaxed for the first time in hours. I sagged against the closed door and sighed. “Thanks guys. This has been a hell of a long day so far.”
Plopping down on my bed I laid down flat and stared up at the ceiling. I spoke my suspicions bluntly. “Someone or something wants me dead or out of commission.”
“What? Agatha what are you talking about?” I explained about the mysterious Director and the fake security guards.
“But he’s under arrest right?”
“He is but I will bet you a pizza that he either escapes or is let go by the government. Someone doesn’t want me to explain things. It can’t be the Council. They could have just said no to the class in the first place. It has to be a government entity. We need to be more careful from now on.”
“Is there anything you can do?” I had to think on that. I didn’t know the bullet bounce spell. Grams refused to teach it to me.
“I can ward Chuck’s car so no one will mess with it or bug it. This room is already taken care of. Chuck, do you want me to ward your room too?”
&
nbsp; The big Were cocked his head to one side and thought about it for a moment. He was more analytical than we were. “I don’t think so at this time. My roommate would freak I think. He’s not wound real tight, but he’s a nice guy. I don’t want to scare him. If bad things happen, I will just crash here.” Cat nodded that that was OK with her.
“OK. That is your choice and I respect it. I’m going to make up a few protection amulets and you will wear them. Understood? Both of you will get one.” They both nodded.
Cat came over and sat down on my bed. I sat up and gave her a big hug. “I was fine; I wore Grandmother’s bracelet. For once my foresight gave me a clear sign. I was very nervous inside that building. One good thing that came of it: the Director asked me to call her by her given name. She has become a friend to me at least. She is a good resource for us.” I pointed to the three of us. If we were going to be a Pack we needed to act like one. “That reminds me. I’m a Witch in a Shifter pack. Is there some way for me to feel the pack bond?”
“I… have no idea? I guess I can ask Daddy. What do you think, Chuck?”
He made a funny face by scrunching his up. “I’ve read some of the pack histories. Many of the packs are diverse. My father’s has cats, wolves, and even a couple of the rare ones like snake shifters in it. Most of the wolves prefer wild, wide-open spaces which is why so few of them are in the service. I have heard that the Alaska packs have allowed other para’s to come under their umbrellas of protection, but not inside the actual pack. I can research it some if you like?”
“Why don’t you do that. I will email Grams and ask her. She might know a way to connect us together. It would really help if one of you were in danger.” They both agreed that was a good idea.
Chuck went back to his room: he wanted to study. The restlessness was making me crazy, so I pulled out some of my supplies and my sewing kit. Most of what I needed for the protection bands I envisioned was here in my room. I only needed a couple of things from my lab and hair from Cat and Chuck to make it work.
Finally, too tired to work anymore, I crawled into bed. My dreams were filled with panic and terror. Small child-like screams echoed through my brain. I woke with a splitting headache and more questions than answers. My foresight was raising its ugly little head again. I would need to call Grams and tell her. All active foresight users needed to be reported to the Council.
My classes were very subdued for the rest of the week. I was informed that the man that shot at me disappeared from police lockup before he could be identified or interrogated. All evidence including the video images vanished as well. My second Witchcraft class was moved to the following week. I was thankful for that. I think we all needed a weekend to relax and cool off.
My dreams were getting worse each night. I wondered if they were coming to me because of the mystery man or something else. Grandmother informed me that her mother had been one of the most powerful seers in her generation. Even though my potential for constructive use was very low, she thought I might be receiving something. She told me to check with the Director. Maybe there was something happening locally that was causing it. She said nothing was in the National news. One bright piece of news though was she knew of a way for me to tap into the Pack magic. Grams said she would research it further and send it to me.
Monday mornings Police Procedures class was actually interesting for a change. It was on arresting procedures and practice. I thought back to the events of the previous week and could pick out what was done incorrectly and what was right. Many of my favorite TV crime shows were nothing but fantasy from what our instructor just taught us. Maybe it wasn’t so boring after all.
I showed up for Martial Arts class dressed out but was told to go to the Administration building. The Director wanted to see me. I quickly redressed into my uniform and hustled to the main building. Unlike the previous week it didn’t give me that feeling of dread. The same mousy blonde was still behind the desk. She must have a cot or something back there.
“You again?”
“Yes? I was told the Director wants me.”
“She does. There are visitors from Washington with her so don’t start a war.” She pointed down the hall. “Go on.”
That was more words than she had spoken to me at one time since I first walked through the doors over a year ago. Briskly walking, I hurried to the Director’s office. Four very large and obviously Russian bodyguards stood in the middle of the room. They looked me up and down as I entered the room and dismissed me as no threat. I glanced at the new secretary. The old one didn’t pass the new HR tests. “The Director sent for me?”
The harried looking secretary glanced at me and perked up immediately. “Miss Blackmore! She has been waiting for you. Let me tell her.” He picked up the desk phone and called a number.
“Director? Miss Blackmore is here. Yes, Ma’am. I will send her right in.”
He looked at me and smiled. “Good luck. I think you know the way.”
I stepped over to the door, knocked and then opened it. Madeleine was at her desk. In front of her were two men in suits and a police Captain.
“Ma’am, you called for me?”
“Agatha, thank you for coming. Have a seat please.” I sat in the chair next to her desk, facing toward the three men.
“This is her? She’s a kid! How is she supposed to help us find them? Director I protest. We need to be doing something, not playing with toys.”
“Senator Payne, calm down. I said she could help, and I meant it.” She looked over at me and smiled.
“Agatha. This is Senator Payne from Georgia and Senator Owen from Massachusetts. The Captain is from the DC police. They are here to see if you can help them.”
“Help them how?”
The police Captain was the goat. He baited the trap for them. “Over a week ago there was a couple of high profile kidnappings in the DC area. Two children were taken from the homes of a Senator and the Mayor of Alexandria. Two days ago these two gentlemen's children also disappeared. We involved the FBI soon after.”
I looked toward the Director. “Because of the nature of the case the media hasn’t been told. They know something is going on but secrecy has held for now. The bureau has committed all of our resources to this. Including you. Can you help us?”
“Of course I can. What has been done so far?”
“Standard procedural forensics and they brought in several of the Russian teams.”
I groaned and rubbed my forehead. “They should have called me earlier. Those idiots will only mess up the crime scenes and blur the evidence.”
“Agatha, it’s political. The Witches’ Council hasn’t made any friends lately.”
I shook my head. “Once again, you don’t understand. It’s children. If you had told them, they would have helped. We do not sacrifice innocents. Ever.”
“Just who in the hell do you think you are, girly? I paid good money for some of those Russians! They do good work.”
I looked at the Senator from Georgia. “What do you pay them to do? What does the contract say?”
“I pay them to protect my house and act as bodyguards for me when I’m out in public.”
So stupid. “Then that is what they do for you. Exactly that. They protect your house. Not what is inside but the house itself? If you ask them directly I will bet they allowed the kidnappers to enter as long as they didn’t harm the house. That is the problem with Mercenaries. They are very literal.”
“The hell you say!” The Senator jumped up and stepped out of the office. I followed along with the others. This should be fun.
“Sergie, what do I pay you for?”
The large Russian looked down at the pudgy man from the peach state. “I protect the house and you when you are in public.”
“Did you let the kidnappers just break in and take my little Marcie?”
“Nyet. They didn’t break in. We protect for that. The house was not harmed.”
“I asked you to run scans and try to find my da
ughter! DId you even do that? You said you did!”
“Senator we did as you asked in the contract you had us sign. We ran the scans, but need a new contract to share the information. It is rules.”
“How much to tell the Senator what happened to his child?” I hated to interrupt, but I wanted to know.
The four bodyguards reacted at the same time. They had forgotten I was in the room. “Is small thing. Say five hundred American dollars. Up front.”
“OK, Senator, I know you must have some money on you. Cough it up. We need five hundred dollars to give the Russian man you hired.”
The money appeared and was given to the merc.
“Give.”