by Jamie Davis
“Fine,” Artos said, pushing back from the table and standing. “You may work uninterrupted in here. Ring the bell when you’re done and Mr. Gunderson will see you out. I’m off to my next engagement. We must meet up again, soon. We will have much to discuss after tonight. By all means, finish your dinner before getting started. I hate working on an empty stomach.”
Artos departed, leaving Mr. Gunderson standing by the far side of the table. He nodded at Winnie. “I will be just outside. Ring the bell when you are ready to leave.”
The dapper assistant left and pulled the doors closed behind him. Winnie hadn’t even had time to bring up Joey’s situation or bargain for anything. Artos Merrilyn had controlled — no, he had steered the conversation from the moment she entered. She looked around the room, alone with her thoughts. Well, her thoughts and a fabulous dinner, maybe the best of her life. She’d deal with Joey’s problems later.
She dove back into her meal, savoring every bite as she nearly licked her plate clean.
CHAPTER 15
Winnie wiped the sweat from her brow and returned the glasses to the wooden box’s velvet-lined interior. It had taken a full hour to invert the flows. There was a significant amount of magic laid upon the wire-rimmed lenses. Some of the charms were unknown to her; others were common. Their combination in this object made it possibly the most powerful charmed item she’d ever seen in person.
Closing the lid, she picked up the small silver bell and shook it. The doors behind her opened and Mr. Gunderson entered the room.
“Is the task completed?”
“It is. The glasses are in the box.”
“Very well. There is one more thing Mr. Merrilyn wishes before your debt to him is paid.”
“He didn’t say anything about another task. He said I only had to change the magical charm on the glasses.” Winnie shifted on her feet. This was getting to be more than she’d bargained for.
“Mr. Merrilyn was quite adamant. You are to take the box and deliver it to its owner. Once safe delivery is complete, your obligation will be repaid.” The assistant held out a slip of paper. “Here is the address.”
“I’m no charm runner. Why would he ever think I would do this?”
“I do not ask Mr. Merrilyn why he gives his instructions. I find it best to do as he asks.”
Winnie shook her head then reached out and took the paper, glancing down before looking up in alarm. “This is all the way across town. I’ll be out of the Enclave past curfew. Does he have a pass?”
“Not to my knowledge, but the man on the other end will provide transportation back to your home once you deliver the box if you desire it. That is part of his arrangement with Mr. Merrilyn.”
Winnie looked at the box then back at Mr. Gunderson. She could take the item to its destination, but she would definitely stand out like a weed in a clean brick path in a neighborhood like that. She didn’t have the clothing required to pull this off. She would surely be stopped by police, or worse, Red Legs. Winnie needed some way to be sure that she’d get by without losing the package in the process.
“Mr. Gunderson, I need your glasses.” Winnie held out her hand. After a brief pause, the assistant removed his glasses and set them in her hand. A quick viewing spell told her that that they were mundane, free of any charms — perfect for what she had in mind.
Winnie picked up the box and followed the older man to the lobby. Once there, she flipped up the hoodie and started walking to the bus stop. She could use public transportation to get close, but would have to walk the final ten blocks or so once she reached the right part of town.
Focused on her task, Winnie didn’t see the strange man step away from where he was leaning against the wall, nor did she see him follow her out of the building.
The bus stop was a block away in the cold rain. Winnie pulled her hoodie closer, tightening her grip on the box tucked under her arm. This was a terrible idea: Artos had tricked her. He had fooled her into magically altering an item with dark Sable magic. That made her feel dirty enough. During her manipulation of the glasses to invert the flows, she discovered that they not only revealed the truth or lies of the people viewed through the glasses, they also gave some limited control over anyone who lied to the wearer. Not exactly mind control, more like the planting of a light post-hypnotic suggestion, but it was there.
Artos had imagined that Winnie would feel beholden, and want to discharge that obligation enough to deliver the glasses. In doing so, he’d turned her into a Sable trader like himself. She was angry at him for getting her to agree, and at herself for falling for his scheme. The longer she waited, the angrier she got. She had arrived seeking to find a solution to Joey’s problems and left with a whole set of new problems of her own.
When the bus arrived, Winnie was thinking of ways to get back at Artos. She climbed on board, paid the fare, and walked all the way to the rear where she could see the other occupants. She didn’t trust any of them. Each of them had the potential to be a Red Legs informant.
Winnie scanned the other passengers as the bus pulled away from the curb. Most were service employees working in the upscale businesses and offices in this part of town. None looked threatening, and a few appeared downright pitiful. This disparity between the people on the bus — like her — and people like Artos angered Winnie even more.
By the time she reached her stop, Winnie was so absorbed by her anger that she didn’t hear the car behind the bus pull over and park, or notice the man in the overcoat and wide-brimmed hat get out and watch her start a ten-block walk through the rain.
The streets here were broad and Winnie supposed the tree-lined avenues were beautiful during the day. Now they represented all she didn’t have. Residents of this place forced chanters to live in the Enclave “for their protection.” People like this stood on the Assembly, passing laws that restricted her livelihood and kept her Mom from getting her medicine.
Winnie was so wrapped up in her thoughts as she headed to the address on the paper that she barely noticed the heavy rain slow to a sprinkle, the footsteps approaching from behind, or the voice calling her name until it was too late.
Someone grabbed her arm and spun her around.
Winnie cried out, and was about to strike out with magic that should never be used by anyone when she recognized the face in before her.
She relaxed her spell, seeing who it was. “Are you crazy, sneaking up on a girl in the dark like that?”
Danny Barber let go of her arm and fell a step back. “Hey, I didn’t sneak up on you. I called out your name, but you just kept going. The way you were walking and the look on your face made me think you were in some sort of trouble. I was concerned for you.”
She looked at his face, saw nothing duplicitous in his expression, and relaxed. “I’m sorry. I had a late delivery to make and I was angry at having to come here this late in the evening. What are you doing out here on a dreary night like this?”
“I live a few blocks away. I was walking back from a friend’s house. We were playing video games and it got too late so I had to leave.”
Winnie looked around, seeing the expensive homes and apartments lining the street. She’d figured him for a rich kid, but now that she had seen his neighborhood in person, he was better off than she had thought.
He looked at the box under her arm. “If you tell me where you’re going, I could walk you there. It’s risky for an attractive girl like you to be out walking at this hour alone, even in this part of town.”
Winnie considered his offer for a moment before digging the paper from her pocket and handing it over. Danny looked at the name and address, then pursed his lips in a silent whistle.
“The senator, huh?” He looked up at Winnie with a raised eyebrow.
She hadn’t known who it was until Danny added the title. “Do you know where this address is or not?”
“I know. He’s a neighbor. He lives just down the street from me. Come on, I’ll show you. It’s only a few more blocks.�
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Winnie nodded and together the two of them started off down the street together. Danny occasionally pointed out a home and told her which famous, rich, or powerful person lived there. This neighborhood was full of the most influential people in the city, or in some cases, the entire United Americas.
The two of them were about a half a block from their destination when a car rounded the corner ahead. Red and blue lights on the dashboard strobed on and off and a side-mounted spotlight served to blind her. Two men in overcoats got out, telling them both to hold still and not make any sudden moves.
Winnie froze, afraid to do anything that might antagonize the Red Legs, for that was who it had to be. She shivered, panicked. A familiar voice spoke from a shadowy form she could barely see, still blinded by the lights.
“Miss Durham, I’m alarmed to see you out so late after curfew in this neighborhood.” Victor Holmes stepped forward, blocking the dashboard lights. His grin was ugly and cruel. “I can think of only a few reasons you’d be skulking around in this neighborhood so late at night. None of them are legal.”
Danny raised a hand in protest but the other officer punched him in the gut with the butt of his baton. The boy doubled over, groaning.
Winnie looked to Danny in alarm then back at the constable. She was frightened for herself, but he’d done nothing more than offer to walk with her in his own neighborhood. She forgot her panic in lieu of her rage.
“I was making a delivery for Mr. Barber here. He was good enough to agree to accompany me since it was after dark. I know it’s late and after curfew, but I wanted to make sure the senator got his glasses.”
“Glasses, huh?” Victor held out his hand, pointing to the wooden box tucked under her arm. “Show me the case.”
Winnie handed over the wooden box then watched the constable open it to inspect the plain, black-framed glasses inside. He snapped his fingers and held out his other hand. The other Red Leg pulled out one of the hand-held video scanners she’d seen used in her shop. He keyed the screen and aimed the camera at the glasses. The screen lit the constable’s face in an azure glow. His brows furrowed. He turned the camera on Winnie, scanning her from head to toe before turning back to reexamine the box and glasses.
With an angry, muttered curse, Constable Holmes looked from Winnie to Danny to the box.
“I’m afraid your story doesn’t make much sense to me, Miss Durham. I’m going to have to take you down to the station and do some digging until I get to the bottom of this.”
Danny had regained some of his composure, though he was still bent at the waist, hands resting on his knees. “I think that’s an excellent idea, Constable. I want to call my father from the station and explain why a pair of Red Legs assaulted me so close to home, detaining me and my friend for walking down the street.” Danny straightened with a groan and continued. “He’ll be most interested, especially since the mayor and his wife are over for dinner this evening. It is Constable Holmes, right? I want to make sure I get the name right.”
“I don’t see any reason to detain you, Mr. Barber. I apologize for the actions of my officer here. You are free to go.” The constable gestured to the other officer, who released Danny’s arm.
“And my friend?” Danny stepped forward and stood next to Winnie.
“She is out of the Enclave after curfew without a pass, and suspected of engaging in illegal behavior. She will be thoroughly questioned at the station.”
“She has a pass. It was my oversight that I forgot to bring it. If you’ll walk with me down the block to my home, I’ll fetch it from my father’s office. Hopefully he’s not in there, drinking brandy with the mayor. I’d hate to interrupt them. Still, if you won’t take my word for it, I’ll have to get the pass and have my father or perhaps the mayor’s driver bring me to the station to deliver it to you. I assure you, it isn’t Miss Durham’s fault that she doesn’t have it.”
Danny met the constable’s glare with a measured stare. The Red Leg flinched first. He looked away, dismissing Winnie as unworthy of notice as he returned to her the box. She took it from him, closing the lid and tucking it back under her arm. Holmes and the other officer paused, standing awkwardly in front of their car before the constable turned with a snarl and headed back to the patrol car. The second officer followed and killed the flashing lights once inside.
The unmarked squad car backed up and Winnie could see Constable Victor Holmes glaring her way through the windshield. He was boiling mad. This was the second time Danny had forced him to back down, and it had to hurt the man’s pride. The car finished backing away from the curb and the wheel turned as the car accelerated away, racing down the street. It turned a few hundred yards down at a crossroad, and left Winnie and Danny alone on the corner.
Winnie sighed, and realized she’d been holding her breath for a minute or so. She looked at Danny. “Are you alright? I’m sorry this happened. I didn’t know anyone would be following me.”
“I’m fine,” Danny said, rubbing his stomach. “I think it’s going to leave a bruise for a while, though. He doesn’t like you, does he?”
“I don’t think so, but I’ve no idea why.” Winnie looked at Danny in the dim glow of the overhead street lamp. “Did your father really have the mayor over for dinner?”
“I don’t know. The mayor has come over before, so he could have been there tonight.” He grinned, much too wide for it to be the truth, and Winnie noticed again how his smile made a terrible situation seem so much better. She felt a flush creep across her face and was glad the overhead light wasn’t brighter.
“The senator’s home is just down the street,” Danny pointed in the direction they’d been heading before being interrupted by the Red Legs. “Shall we continue and finish this important delivery?”
“If it’s that close, I can continue on my own. I’d hate to cause you any more trouble.”
“That’s crazy. What are you expecting that could be worse than running into those two goons?”
“It’s just that, well, this delivery isn’t technically legal. If something else were to happen, you could get dragged into it with me. Plus, the senator will link you to this. He’ll think you’re in the Sable trade.”
“Sable trade, hm? Sounds exciting to me. I think I’ll join you, but thank you for being concerned. You know, if you’re looking for business, maybe I can connect you with other people in the neighborhood. Aside from my parents and a few other crazy Temperance movement types, most of the people here use magical charms of one sort or another. Everyone likes to keep up with the Joneses, you know. It could boost your business.”
“I don’t have a business. I’m not a charm runner. This is a one-time favor for someone. And believe me, I’m sorry I took the job.”
“All the more reason to have someone along with you. I promise to keep your secret. And besides, the senator is a creepy old man. He has a thing for younger women and might try something if you show up alone. It’ll be much better if I’m there with you.”
Winnie thought about it for a moment then finally surrendered. She wasn’t sure how much was simple expediency and how much was her attraction to Danny. In the end, it didn’t matter. It made sense to bring him along.
She nodded at her new friend and they continued up the street together.
CHAPTER 16
Danny’s abs still ached from the baton, but he ignored the pain, hiding it with his smile and a joke. Same as he handled most tender situations in his life. It had worked for him so far. Girls liked it when he smiled at them and Winnie was no different. He even caught a hint of her blushing in the dim streetlight back on the corner.
This was the most excitement he’d had in a long while — two of the past week’s most exciting moments had both involved this girl and that Red Leg constable. He was intrigued to see where this all would end up and — if he allowed himself to admit it — he welcomed the interruption in his boring, privileged life. And this chanter was pretty, too.
There was also t
he chance to get under his father’s skin. The man barely paid attention to him and Danny wanted to prove he could become a man of power and influence without leaning on the crutch of his name. This meeting with the senator was one way to do it. He didn’t like Danny’s father. The legislator had opposed the Temperance movement at every turn and, based on his father’s gloating about it when he came home from the club, the senator had been unsuccessfully attempting to get a new measure through the Senate that would dilute any power the Assembly had over magical control.
The senator’s brownstone row house was close. There was an iron gate across the bottom of the stairs leading up to the main entrance. Danny held it open for Winnie as she entered and started up the steps to the Senator’s front door. He noticed her smile and grateful nod as she passed through. Danny smiled back.
Winnie rapped the large polished brass knocker on the metal plate three times, then stepped back and waited.
The door opened to a woman wearing a gray servant’s dress and a white apron. “Yes, how may I help you?”
“I have a delivery for the senator.” Winnie help up the box.
“You may give it to me and I’ll ensure that he gets it in the morning.” The woman reached for the box but Winnie pulled it back out of reach.
“I’m sorry.” Winnie tucked the box back under her arm. “But we must deliver it directly to him.”
Danny stepped forward. “I don’t know if you recognize me. I’m Danny Barber. I live down the street from here. The senator is waiting for this delivery. He’ll be angry if he doesn’t receive it tonight. Please tell him we’re here.”
The woman looked at Danny as if working to recognize him, then opened the door wider and gestured for them to come inside. The woman had them stop at a small entry hallway and closed the door behind them.
“I’ll tell the senator you are here,” she said. “What are your names?”