by Booth, John
Two policemen walked into the kitchen and grabbed hold of my arms bending me forwards. It would have been easy for me to have smashed them to the walls using nothing more than a trickle of magical power. It was tempting, but in the end, all I did was use enough power to stop them hurting me.
"Jake Morrissey, I am arresting you on suspicion of kidnapping and grievous bodily harm. You have the right to remain silent…"
I ignored the rest of Sergeant Jones' speech as he read me my rights. I was waiting for him to finish so I could ask him more about the GBH charge.
"Haven't you arrested me once already for kidnapping? I don't remember anybody getting hurt when Bronwyn went missing."
"I am not arresting you for the previous disappearance of Bronwyn Mathews. I am arresting you for her current disappearance. Her parents were found in comas by the Mathews' housekeeper and the girl was gone."
"Jake, you didn't have anything to do with it, did you?"
I gave Mum a sorrowful look and she had the grace to look embarrassed. "It's just that you're always going off. We never know where you are."
The two policemen managed to get a set of handcuffs on me, pinning my hands behind my back. I allowed my wrists to move closer together or they would have been trying all day.
"I would like to make a statement."
The two policemen stepped back from me and I straightened up.
"I have been in my bed all night. You may have knocked on my door but you never entered my room. You've had policemen following me night and day who saw me enter this house and no one has seen me leave, despite your men putting the house under continuous surveillance. I shall look forward to calling you all as witnesses in court."
I didn't like to do it, but I used my power to change their memories to match exactly what I said. The search of my room they made became simply a knock and a shout for me to get up. I could see a puzzled look flit over Sergeant Jones' face as his memories flowed and changed.
"What's your answer to that?" my Dad asked triumphantly. I smiled. My Dad isn't a strong minded man but he does care a great deal about me.
"We can keep your son imprisoned for up to seventy two hours without charge. He knows where Bronwyn Mathews was the last time she disappeared and she might have gone there again."
"She isn't," I said bleakly. "If I was to tell you she'd been held by religious fanatics who were taking her to be burnt at the stake, you wouldn't believe me, would you?"
Sergeant Jones snorted in derision. Things like that didn't happen in Wales.
"Just checking. Bronwyn Mathews has a history of vanishing without trace. Perhaps you should accept that."
"So do you Jake," Mum put in.
"The girl is only eleven years old!" Sergeant Jones exploded. "We'll discuss this further at the station. Take him away, lads."
I wasn't worried as they took me to the police car. The police would have to let me go eventually, as they had nothing against me remotely resembling evidence. I was more worried about what Bronwyn had done to her parents. I could probably undo it if I could get to them, but that wasn't likely to happen while the police held me prisoner.
There was something else to worry about. Being found in a coma didn't create a charge of GBH unless there were physical injuries along with it. I suspected the police were referring to something else entirely. What had Bronwyn done to her parents apart from putting them to sleep?
Bronwyn was rapidly becoming a significant problem and I worried about her roaming the palace in Salice. Who knew what she might do to Esmeralda or a servant if they did something she didn't like. Perhaps I should have taken more notice of her after her rape. I healed her body but I did nothing to try and heal her mind. The truth was I hadn't wanted to think about it, and I had the excuse with rescuing the other children not to bother.
My life kept getting more complicated. Who would want to be a wizard?
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Booth does not live in Wales and is not a wizard. However, he has always wanted to own a dragon and once owned a green lizard that taught him a lot about the attitude a dragon might take on the subject of being owned. John is happily married with grown up children. It's always wonderful when your kids manage things you didn't.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Firstly to my wonderful wife Rosie, who has to put up with a lot.
To my perfect publisher and editor Diane Nelson who made this book possible.
And finally to Sessha Bassho for her delightful cover.
Contact email: [email protected]
OTHER WORKS BY JOHN BOOTH
The Inspector Monde Mysteries
The City of Lights has a twilight world that only
Inspector Monde dares to see.
He walks the dark side of Paris where the supernatural can be found. Every police force has an Inspector Monde though they try to deny it. When the blood chills and the hairs on the back of the neck rise, they send for him and don't look too closely at what he does. For the Inspector does not particularly believe in the Law but he will fight for Justice to his last breath.
Explore the City of Lights when those lights dim and your blood pounds and the echo you hear is a scream in the night...
“Told with dry precision and underlying quirkiness, John Booth swiftly draws the reader into the underbelly of Paris and keeps you enthralled to the last word.” —Elaina J. Davidson
Available from Amazon and other fine retailers
House of Silver Magic (Book One of the Magic Series)
It's never easy to move from the house you grew up in, but when the cause is the death of your father, it's much, much worse. The new house turns out to be haunted by strange beings defending something called the Source.
Enemies are already nipping at their heels and the neighbours are under the mind control of the evil Mrs Constance. What can three kids do against someone who can order people to cut their own throats, and the woman who has already killed their father? Now it's up to Mandy, William, and Jenny to somehow save the day
But can they save their neighbours from certain death and protect the Source from those who seek to wield its power?
Available from Amazon and other fine retailers
The Spellbinder (Book One of the Tom & Laura Series)
It is an age of adventure and daring heroes. The British Empire is growing, helped by the power of Military Magic. When enemies gather to strike at London, Tom and Laura find themselves enlisted and sent to an academy of spies. But danger is waiting at every move they make.
Available from Amazon and other fine retailers