Magic Rising

by Jennifer Cloud

  “I don’t know.” His voice was a shrill mix of pain and regret. “Somehow Shope got out of his cuffs. We were at a red light and there he was, getting out of the car. I don’t know how he did it.”

  “Your car doesn’t have working handles in the backseat.”

  “Maybe we didn’t close the door tightly. I don’t know.” His crotch hurt all the way up to his stomach. “All I know is he started running. I got out of the car in pursuit. He went down an alley carrying a gun when a motorcycle cop nailed him.”

  Another woman had finished his job, another failure except this time there were no witnesses. He’d never gotten the woman’s name. She’d simply saluted him while wearing her helmet and rejoined traffic.

  Deirdre shook her head. “How did he get another gun? We disarmed him before you arrived. He couldn’t have gotten a gun because he didn’t leave our sight until one of your men handcuffed him.”

  “I don’t know.” He heard the weakness in his voice and hated it. There was no way to stop it though. She wouldn’t get off of him, wouldn’t let him go. “Please, Deirdre.”

  “This doesn’t make sense. For your story to be plausible, he had to have a pistol hidden on him, pick his cuffs, open a disabled handle, and run into an alley.”

  “It’s the truth I swear.”

  “Who did you write up as being the shooter?”

  He squirmed again. He didn’t want to go down this road, didn’t want to confess to this bitch who constantly held herself superior to him. When she reached back, bound to take hold of him again, his confession continued.

  “I told them that I’d shot him.” He closed his eyes. “It’s all in the report. I listed myself as the shooter.”

  “Why?”

  Ryan shook his head no. Telling her the truth would cause him pain and he was tired of pain. This wasn’t how the situation was supposed to happen. He should’ve been in control; she should be on the verge of tears.

  “Tell me, Farmer.”

  Instead of grabbing his balls, she jammed a bony finger into his ribs. Brutal pain surged through his body, down his leg. It felt like she worked to separate the ribs, break them in his skin.

  “Because it was another damn woman. I was being shown up by another woman.” This time he did cry and he stopped caring. “I’m tired of women acting like they’re better than me.”

  Deirdre rose and stood over him. He lay there, afraid to move, but wanting to run for the door. She hadn’t even broken a sweat, her hair looked coiffed, and her clothes not rumpled while he felt like he’d been hit by a truck.

  “Would you like some tea?” Her voice held civility, as if nothing had happened.

  “I just want to go.”

  “Good idea.”

  Deirdre threw open the door but he couldn’t find the strength to stand yet. For a moment he hoped a witness would be at the door, a neighbor, someone to help him. Only a lone white cat pranced through the doorway.

  “Snowball, you’re not allowed inside.”

  The cat came over to him. For a minute he thought the cat would purr or do any number of stupid things cats did. Instead the damned thing squatted and pissed on his shirt. He was in too much shock to hit it until he felt the warm, wet liquid in his shirt. He swatted but the cat was too fast, running back out the door.

  “I guess the cat doesn’t like you either.” She grabbed his arm and helped him up. “Don’t come back here again. I won’t play as nice next time.”

  * * * *

  There were times that Deirdre feared Stone House had made her evil, frightened that her strengths would make her as crazy as the leaders had been, so she took precautions. Her entire life had been one of strict discipline, until tonight. Farmer had pushed her, and she’d gone too far. She’d hurt him and worse, enjoyed it.

  It was shameful, but she felt better. For years he’d been at her, but she’d managed. The last twenty-four hours had pushed her to her breaking point and she’d released all her fury on him.

  With darkness coming, she knew she’d have to move fast. It was time for damage control. That also meant adding insult to injury, but despite regretting the violence, she didn’t like Ryan Farmer.

  Deirdre gave him a minute to get out of the driveway. He looked shaky, something she wasn’t proud of. It was never pleasant to break a man, watch them reduced to the thing they wished didn’t exist. She imagined Farmer wanted to be a good cop, a decent man, but something kept getting in the way.

  She ran a brush through her hair. There wasn’t time to eat, although her belly growled angrily. Farmer had become a wounded animal and he would retreat to lick his wounds only to come after her again. Her only hope to remain in good standing with the police would be to beat him to the punch.

  With keys in hand, she opened her front door, only to find Tech standing there. She had no idea how long he’d been there. A few minutes had passed since Farmer left but Tech looked like he’d been waiting, trying to work up his nerve to knock.

  “You got something for me.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  “Can we talk?” His voice was meek, mild in the little scrawny frame. His appearance made it harder to be angry at him. Tech would be the eternal child. Even when he’d turned old and gray, she bet that he would look small, childlike with hopeful eyes and hair that he could never quite get brushed.

  “Let’s talk on the road. I have a stop to make and no time to waste.”

  Tech followed her to the car, silently getting into the passenger’s seat. She gunned the engine, burning rubber as she pulled out of her little subdivision and joined the main bunch of traffic heading out for the night.

  “So, tell me what you know about me. I dug around once but couldn’t find a damn thing. I don’t have your special touch though.”

  From the corner of her eye, she saw his head lower, ashamed over his actions. That was good. She wanted him to regret digging into her past, but she was also curious what could be found by a clever boy like Tech.

  “I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have done it.”

  She took a left, taking the turn too fast and causing Tech to slide against his seatbelt. “I asked what you’d found out. It could be pertinent later.”

  He didn’t want to talk but she coaxed him, letting him take over the conversation while she listened. Never had she been so vulnerable and so impressed at the same time. Tech was impressive and annoying. With all her skills, she’d never match his ability to dig where other’s eyes couldn’t go and come up with gold.

  Tech said things about her mother that Deirdre had never known. Aidena Flye, an FBI agent, the idea was surreal. She never thought her mother had belonged at Stone House. Most of them were violent followers with no will of their own. Scorpion had never been that way. Something else brought her there and made her stay.

  Scorpion had never threatened her life. From the dates, Deirdre would’ve been a baby and unable to remember any event if one had occurred. She knew her mother loved her when no one else had.

  “I wonder what made Scorpion, I mean my mother, stay.”

  Tech looked at her and she saw that expression when he was in deep thought. “Do you want my opinion? It’s just a guess.”

  “Give it to me.”

  “I don’t know what brought her to Stone House but I think someone made her stay by using you. The state doesn’t just drop attempted murder charges for no reason. She must’ve cut a deal. I just don’t know who she cut the deal with.”

  It was a logical assumption, although one she didn’t want to think about. She’d believed that she’d caused her mother’s death, then found her body implying that Scorpion faked the incident. Everything made sense, especially if Deirdre’s existence had caused them to be trapped in that hell hole. Scorpion couldn’t handle it anymore, and had to cut her ties the only way she could.

  She shook away the thought of her mother. Nothing would right that wrong tonight. The dead were gone and it was time to worry about the living and the connection
to a little girl named Lora Shope.

  “The most surprising thing was Tamara Haas’ connection to Stone House.” Tech rubbed the back of his neck. “Does any of that make sense to you?”

  “No, but it puts an interesting spin on things. After this little stop, keep digging. Make Tamara Haas and her father, the focus. I want to know their connection to Stone House.”

  Tech didn’t argue or complain. That was unusual. His grumbling remained a natural part of his personality, something she’d grown accustomed to over the years. She pulled into the parking lot of the police station, when she finally heard him utter a sound.

  “Deirdre?”

  “What?”

  He shrugged nervously, staring at his hands, and refusing to look her in the eye. “It would help me if I knew exactly what Stone House was.”

  That was a loaded statement. Stone House was many things and nothing at the same time. She’d learned everything there, from her first steps to what a sword could do to a man. As for its true function, she knew no more than a soldier going to war. She had a few ideas but not what the ultimate objective was.

  “Let me get this finished first. We’ll talk later.” She opened her car door then stopped. “I think you and Sabrine need to know about this. I’ve got a feeling that something from Stone House isn’t finished with me and I know Farmer isn’t.”

  “Whenever you’re ready.” He nodded. “Do you want me to come inside?”

  “Sure. Observe. I could always use an extra set of eyes, but we have to hurry.”

  “Why?”

  “We have to beat Farmer here.”

  Deirdre walked into the station with Tech on her heels. Most smiled and waved, business as usual. A few turned their backs to her, but much of the department stayed friendly during her visits.

  Noah Smythe was the first to come up to her, nearly hugging her, before protocol kicked in and he left it at a smile. She loved his smile, so warm and full of life. For a cop, he was an optimist. It was an endearing trait that would no doubt later get him killed in the line of duty.

  “Deirdre, this is a pleasant surprise.” His eyes lit up. “I can spare a few minutes if you’d like to get something to eat.”

  “Hi, Noah. I’m afraid that I’m here on official business.” For a split second she wished she was visiting him, just because he wanted her to. “It’s rather unpleasant, I’m afraid.”

  “What’s up?”

  She couldn’t find her voice. Cops stuck together and whatever alliances she’d formed could shatter over her allegations. She had to do something though. Farmer had come into her home, threatened her, stalked her, and whatever game he was playing had to end. There were bigger troubles than a petty detective.

  “I need to file a complaint against Detective Ryan Farmer.”

  The station seemed to fall silent but that had to be her imagination. Noah, led her to a back room and had Tech sit at the table next to her while he went after a supervisor. This would have to be handled delicately.

  “What happened tonight?” Tech glanced back at the door.

  “Let’s just say I got a nasty surprise when I got home.”

  Noah brought in a burly, angry gentleman who Deirdre had met before. He’d been involved briefly in another job she’d done a few months ago. At the time, he made little impression on her, now she hoped he wasn’t in the same state of mind as Farmer. Not everyone in the force appreciated her business or the fact that her clients held little faith in the police department.

  “Ms. Flye, Smythe tells me that you need to register a complaint against one of our officers.”

  He didn’t introduce himself. His name tag read Tim Merchant and she got the impression that he was more irritated by her raising a problem for one of the officers than by her profession.

  “I don’t mean to cause any trouble. It’s just that Detective Farmer seems to have a problem with me. He was waiting outside my home today. When he saw me pull into my driveway, he came inside, and tried to threaten me.” She let emotion fill her voice, it was fake but necessary. Merchant would only respond appropriately if she showed fear. “He accused me of starting a fire at an old school I attended and told me to get out of town or he’d come after me.”

  “Now why would Detective Farmer do that?” Merchant put his hands on his hips, disbelief coloring his face.

  “He said that I was a thorn in his side and had caused him trouble on the force. He thinks I’m some sort of vigilante.”

  She lowered her head, not wanting to see the expression on Tech or Noah’s face. Playing the damsel in distress never fit her but if she didn’t do this now, she would be in distress when Farmer decided to press charges. She had assaulted him.

  “How do I know anything you’re saying is true?” His voice kept a patronizing tone, his smile, a sad smirk.

  Deirdre looked up at him. “I suppose there are missing periods of time when he was at a place called Stone House. You could check his computer for any searches he’s done on me.” She waited then looked up as if the last part had just occurred to her. “There’s something else. I don’t know how important this is but it demonstrates how strange he’s become.” She hesitated, just a beat, enough to let her words sink in. “The detective also said that he hadn’t shot Jack Shope. Some female officer on a motorcycle had. You could check the bullet taken from his body against Ryan Farmer’s weapon. He told me that he didn’t want another woman showing him up, so he claimed to have shot the perp.”

  Tim Merchant looked at Noah. “All of you stay right here.”

  As soon as the door closed, Noah and Tech looked at her, holding a mix of shock and concern in their wide eyes and open mouths. They knew better than to accuse her of lying. She would stretch the truth or omit parts when necessary but lying was something only to be done as a last ditch approach to survival.

  “When did this happen?” asked Noah, choosing his words carefully.

  “He confronted me right before I came here. I didn’t know how far he’d gone until then.” She turned and looked at Tech. “Did you see Detective Farmer leaving?”

  His brows knitted a moment. “Oh, shit. Now that you mention it, I saw a brown sedan pulling out when I turned onto your road. I was too nervous to notice the driver but it looked like Farmer’s car.”

  At once, they all stopped talking. The silence held physical weight, and she wished someone would say something. Noah only glanced between his watch and the shine on his shoes while Tech picked at his fingernails.

  “You two are fun tonight.”

  Noah and Tech both looked at each other. She supposed they were in awkward situations. Tech felt like a shit for investigating her. Noah had an entirely different problem. He was interested in her but her report would put a rift in any relationship, or whatever he worked toward having with her.

  She nearly laughed at the idea. A simple home life wasn’t possible, her playing some Susie Homemaker while waiting for her big bad cop husband to get home. She could see their two children coming home from school. Sure she could. Deirdre knew she wouldn’t fit in on a PTA or at little league. Maternal instincts had probably been beaten out of her at Stone House.

  “Ms. Flye.” Another officer came into the room, this one carrying papers. She’d seen him before and at least he’d always been friendly. “Merchant is doing some work and wanted me to take your complaint.”

  “Really?” This could mean that Merchant didn’t believe a word she’d said. “That’s wonderful. Would you mind if I used the little girls’ room before we get started?”

  “Sure. It’s down the hall on the right.”

  Tech gave her an odd look but kept his mouth shut. Noah didn’t catch the cutesy way she spoke to throw off the officer who had been sent to do the paperwork, but Tech knew how she operated.

  She stood from the straight backed chair and left the room, careful to close the door behind her. Instead of traveling to the restroom, she turned left where the detectives’ cubicles filled one room near t
he coffeemaker and bottled water.

  From the corner of the room she could see Merchant looking through Farmer’s computer. She might’ve gone up and helped him but on the opposite end Farmer entered. His face was still red and he wasn’t walking very quickly. It was time for her to retreat.

  Around the corner she hesitated, hearing Farmer ranting, screaming at Merchant for being at his desk. Then she heard her name, it echoed through the room, reverberating until all the other voices went quiet to listen in on the commotion.

  “I’m telling you that she assaulted me. I want a warrant issued. I want two squad cars to go to her house and arrest her at gunpoint. She’s dangerous and needs to be taken down…brought in.”

  “Just what were you doing at her house tonight, Ryan?”

  Deirdre went back down the hall to the room where an officer sat talking to Noah. She shut the door behind her and took her seat. It was tricky to prove wrongdoing by a cop. They stuck together for the most part. It was forgivable considering the stress of the job, however, causing her grief was something she couldn’t overlook.

  Noah was asked to leave, then the session began, taking longer than she’d expected. Usually someone else gave the statements, with her only getting involved when the officer insisted they had to speak with her. This ordeal made her glad her information wasn’t required for every case.

  An hour after the paperwork began she finished retelling her story and was permitted to leave. For whatever reason they didn’t grill her over the charges. She expected the department to put up a fight, even thought they might arrest her and do a full booking. Perhaps her story had already been dismissed.

  There was no sign of Merchant or Farmer as she left the station. Even Smythe had managed to disappear. A few officers whispered as she passed but none spoke to her. Apparently their minds hadn’t been made up yet. At least she wasn’t in jail. Deirdre never felt so glad to leave the station and step into the cool night air.

  “So, what’s Farmer’s problem?” Tech fell into step behind her in the parking lot.

  “I have an idea, but it seems petty.” Deirdre stopped in mid thought. The world seemed darker, something bad felt close. She looked around, wondering what lurked in the surrounding darkness, as an arrow swished through the air, hitting the small decorative Dogwood tree at the side of the parking lot. “Well, it seems I’ve been followed.”