by C P Sennett
“Starting at the obvious Fern, have you checked her room?”
She nodded.
“Find anything there?”
“No, I didn’t go through her things.”
“You didn’t” I could have cried. “What the fuck did you do. Did you just open the door and look?”
“Yeah, I didn’t want to go through her private things.”
“How are you meant to find anything out if you don’t look?”
“I swear Fern, people often leave clues around.” I raged. “People don’t leave tidy notes on top of books. The only time you find them is when they have taken their own life.”
“Oh, she isn’t like that.” stammered the mephit. “She might be with Beckett.”
“Becket, who is this man and why am I only hearing of it now. You’re not meant to have any friends let alone for her to be out with them. It’s not safe, we’ve discussed this, a lot. Who is Beckett?”
“He’s her boyfriend I think.”
“WHAT THE FUCK!” I screamed at her.
****
We left the house in the darkness and headed back out into the cold. It didn’t bother Fern but it did me. There was an icy chill in the air now and Ipswich was due some bad weather soon.
Fern eventually spilled the whole story after I had gone off at her. She told me that Tabitha has been seeing a man for about a week. Apparently, seeing him and speaking to him when I wasn’t home. Granted, I hadn’t been about much and when I was, I was engrossed in the basement.
Beckett was apparently this guy’s first name. He was about twenty Fern thought and she said he was a nice looking, straight laced young man. He lived nearby, in a flat a few streets away and she didn’t know what he did for a living.
Tabitha, I was told, was putting the washing out a few days back although why when I have a tumble dryer would she be doing that, Fern didn’t know. Then I was told some crap about Beckett’s hat blowing over the fence as he was walking by. He tried to hop over the fence to get it and saw Tabitha hanging out the washing. She gave him the hat back and they talked. Then, it progressed and he would wait outside for her and then the two of them would chat.
None of this, and I kid you not, none of this, seemed a bit suspect to either Fern or Tabitha. Some good-looking guy just happens on them over a big fence and chats for a bit. Then, he comes back at specific times, times when normal people are at work or college. Fern tried to tell me that is what guys do nowadays, I had other ideas.
I needed to bring this to a close quickly. It would hurt Tabitha’s feelings and piss off Fern even more, nothing new there but I didn’t have time for Cupid to work his magic. I had an invasion of lycanthropes to stop. I drove a few streets down the road and parked up around where Fern thought Tabitha’s gentlemen caller lived.
“Fern, go knock on the door, find her and get her to come back here.”
“I don’t know which flat it is?”
“What, you know the block but not which number is his?” Granted there wasn’t many to choose from but she seemed remarkably uninterested in gathering facts.
The building was an old converted house by the looks of it, converted into bedsits or other small apartments.
“He didn’t say and neither did Tabitha.”
“There’s a surprise. Well, we can’t go and wake everyone up as the crack of dawn as it will attract trouble.”
Fern added. “Also, you can’t just go looking into windows as your jeep looks like a drug dealer’s car and people will call the police.”
“Thanks Sherlock.” I snapped in annoyance.
“Did he say anything, anything at all. Did she say anything of note, think here? Did she mention anything telling during one of your girly chats?”
“Girly chats?”
“Yes.” I barked. “I know they are going on and I’m ok with it. She’s gone through a lot but she could be in some real danger here Fern.”
“I don’t think so, he seemed a nice kid.”
“They always do, that’s what they say about serial killers. Ok what did he look like, anything at all?”
“He is about six feet tall, short neat dark hair, well-spoken and well dressed. He sounded very posh and is a local.”
“With that description it could be anyone Fern, anyone, you know that. I need specifics.”
“Yes, he could equally be a nobody.”
“Nobody, a nobody doesn’t keep a 16 year old girl out from 10pm to gone 4am and think it’s cool.”
“Ah, well Tabitha said she was 21 and was living here whilst at uni.”
“I hit my dashboard in anger. Great, just great. We’ve got find her though, somehow we’ve got to find her.”
“You think maybe...” she said in a dumb American TV show accent. “One of us is a wizard you know. Can’t you just do something to find her.”
“Yes ya dumb blonde.” I snapped. “However, one of us can float around as an intangible mist so how about you go and do YOUR thing. It would make sense as you lost her.”
The look on her face was one I remember well. It was the ‘I am about to lose my shit and have a full on meltdown’. It didn’t come though, instead she looked sharply away and out of the Beast’s window. She pulled some faces at me in the dark glass of the side window. She tensed her delicate jaw and then composed herself. Then, she turned to me.
“Ok.” was all she said before she got out of the door and walked up to the building. It was still dark but she walked around the back of the building and I sat and waited. I waited a long time, enough that I looked at the clock and realised that Fern had been gone 35 minutes. It wouldn’t be long till it was 6am. The time people would be getting up for work and streetlights would be coming on.
Then, Fern appeared. She came walking back from where she had disappeared from view and she gave me a thumbs up. I was assuming that meant it went well but there was no sign of Tabitha.
Fern opened the Beast’s door and spoke. “Tabitha is asleep on the sofa in flat five.”
“Is she?”
“Yes.” she replied looking smug. “See, I do have my uses.”
I resisted the urge to list her one or two but I kept quiet and got out of the Beast myself. I locked it and approached the flat door. There was a selection of buzzers and one had a flat 5 written on it.
“What are you doing?” screeched Fern as quietly as she could.
“Getting her back.”
“You can’t do that. You’re not her Dad you know.”
“I know but I’m getting her back nonetheless. I need to be sure she is safe and I don’t have time to play games.”
“Eddie, she is asleep on the sofa. She is covered with a quilt. The guy isn’t there.”
“What, he’s not in the flat?”
“Oh no, he is but he’s in his room, I checked.”
I shrugged, in for a penny and all. I pushed and held down the buzzer as it rang out.
“It was so quiet out that even I thought I could hear it ringing inside the flat.”
About thirty seconds later a male’s voice spoke up. “Er…hello, you’ve got the wrong number man.”
“No I haven’t, can I speak to Tabitha please?”
“Er, what, who are you?” I could then hear murmuring at the other end.
I spoke again into the intercom. “Tabitha dipshit, the sixteen year old girl you’ve got in there. Hurry it up!”
A moment later Tabitha spoke with a tired voice. “Is that you Eddie?”
“Yes.” was all I said.
“Ok, I’m coming out.” she mumbled.
I then took my hand off the intercom button and waited. Fern looked nervous. “Are you going to hit him?”
“No.” I laughed. “She’s ok, which is good. It shows he isn’t a problem, it’s just some young guy hoping to get lucky. That’s normal and I can live with normal right now. Who she dates is her choice, when and only when I know she’s safe.”
“How do we know she isn’t safe now?”
&nbs
p; “I guess I don’t” I replied. “Let’s see what she says.”
By now Fern and I were back at the Beast as I saw Tabitha appear in the building’s main hallway. She was leaving a blue door and walking towards the main, mostly glass fronted door. She looked fine and wearing what I had last seen her in before I left earlier. A black t-shirt, blue jeans and with her hair all to the side. Right now though she was suffering a bit with bed hair. She even had the same neck scarf on which she had been wearing before I left.
She came up and opened the rear, driver’s side door to the Beast as the young male appeared from around the doorway in the building. He looked at me for a second, trying to work out if I was likely to punch him I guess.
As Tabitha opened the door she sheepishly spoke. “I’m ok Eddie, you didn’t need to come find me.”
“I know I didn’t, but I didn’t know where you were. Are you ok?”
“Yeah. Beckett, he’s nice you know.” she said sleepily.
I then looked past her at Beckett as he came out. He looked like a normal guy for his age. In good shape, warm smile etc. All the normal stuff apart from he wasn’t dressed for company. His black jeans and crumpled t-shirt wasn’t set right on him. It was obviously put on with haste as he had no socks on and the tiled floor he was walking towards us on looked cold.
Tabitha got out of the car with a “let me say goodbye” and with that she walked down the concrete steps towards him. I got out as well, I wanted to be nice, I really did but I didn’t have the time or patience for it.
Beckett embraced her, they exchanged a word or two and she turned towards me as I approached the young man. He stood behind Tabitha at the open door to the building complex. “Hi, Eddie is it?” he stumbled on the words.
I made sure I wasn’t giving him Dad evils as it wasn’t my place to do so.
“Yes, you’re Beckett. Nice to meet you.” I said, offering him my hand.
He shook his head. “Sorry, I’ve not washed my hands and I was in the toilet a moment ago.”
“I don’t mind.” I replied. “You can tell a lot about a man by his handshake or lack of.” I said with a little barb.
Fern was now with me and the young man smiled at her but Tabitha and Fern didn’t see where this was going. They both seemed a little uncomfortable by the awkward pause and feeling in the air between the two of us…
…then Beckett spoke. “Can I pop over later, I’m hardly dressed?” he asked, and put a hand on Tabitha’s shoulder reassuringly.
“Manners cost nothing son.” I stated, as Fern promptly slapped me on the shoulder.
“Don’t be rude.” she demanded. “Give the young man a chance.”
“I am…” I said, glaring at him as time stood still between us. Like some old gunslingers from the past. “A handshake, is still customary among men isn’t it. It’s still a bonding symbol of trust isn’t it Beckett?”
He nodded.
“Then shake my hand Beckett, if you want to spend time with my friends just simply shake my hand.”
“Why are you so hung up on a handshake.” asked Fern.
Beckett then tried to brush it off. “I’ll shake your hand later, when I’ve washed mine if it’s all the same to you. Hygiene costs nothing.”
“It’s not the same with me.” I stated. “Now shake it…Fern, Tabitha, get in the car please?”
Fern stood rooted to the spot in defiance at my side. She was looking at me with revulsion, bloody creature, and Tabitha was no better. She just glared at me as though I was speaking Greek.
“Please girls, I need to speak to Beckett here for a moment.”
Fern defended him. “Then we should be able to listen.”
Tabitha though moved more firmly between us as if to shield each of us from one another. She stood sideways on and actually did the right thing. She turned to Beckett “Beckett, could you please shake the hand of my friend and guardian, Eddie. He won’t hurt you, he’s a good guy and you have my word.” She looked at me during the use of ‘word’ to make sure I understood the meaning of the assurance she had given young Beckett.
“I…” mumbled Beckett.
“Do it for me.” she asked reassuringly and as she did she took a hold of his hand and raised it gingerly up towards me.
Smart girl I thought.
As she did I could see how uncomfortable Beckett was with the idea but begrudgingly he relented.
Our hands shook, and I felt the short shock which is exchanged between arcane practitioners, gotcha!
“See, that wasn’t so hard was it Beckett.”
The boy grimaced.
****
Eventually we headed back to my place. Beckett or Ben Beckett as he is actually called was due to meet us shortly. Naturally I had a lot of questions to field from Fern and Tabitha but I told them they would have to wait, I just confirmed that I knew the kid.
What I did tell them is Beckett was actually a newly appointed member of the Order. Naturally, this made Fern freak out again with her saying she couldn’t be seen by the Order. That then resurrected all her fears that the Order wants to harm mephitis, which again I refuted.
Being honest, I couldn’t care if she remained upstairs or downstairs. I just needed to speak with this guy and find out what he was doing here. Their problems would have to wait.
As the doorbell rang and they were both going off at me on things, Fern scurried upstairs genuinely scared which left Tabitha and me to greet Ben Beckett.
Tabitha let him in and as he entered the front room I was ready. A little on edge in case there was anything sinister about him. I was fairly sure it was Ben but I didn’t want to let my guard down. There is a possession expert around in Norfolk and a host of other shapeshifters which can assume another’s identity. Something I wanted to be ready for.
Ben came in holding hands with Tabitha and they looked every bit the young couple. She of all things seemed to be acting as a shield to him, always just a little nearer to me, putting Ben further from my reach. Inwardly I grumbled.
“Hi Ben.” I said as I shook his hand again. The energy transfer between us wasn’t there this time which also was to be expected. Nobody really understands why this happens, lots of ideas exist and in most cases we don’t know why the feeling seldom appears a second time.
“Hello Sentinel Holt.” said Ben, addressing me correctly. “Apologies for any confusion.”
Tabitha was now looking at him and looking very pissed as her eyes looked as if she would like to slap the both of us at this point and I could almost sympathise with her. She knew she wasn’t being told what was really going on and she didn’t like it.
“Take a seat Ben and you Tabitha.” I offered, as I sat down myself.
The pair of them sat down on the leather sofa together as Ben started to speak. “Sentinel Holt, I…”
I interrupted him. “No need for anything at this point.” I said inviting no discussion on it. Then I turned to Tabitha. “Is there anything you want to say to Beckett here or, can it wait as I would like to have a chat with him in private? About twenty minutes worth. Nobody is in trouble, I just need to ask him some pressing things?”
It was obvious Tabitha was pretty pissed, I just wasn’t sure if it was just at me or both me and Ben. Then, she finally managed some words. “Eddie, do you know Beckett, er Ben, then?”
“We’ve never met.” I said warmly.
“Then how did you know he is called Ben.”
“Come on now, one of us is a wizard.” I said being deliberately dishonest.
She looked at me hard, as if wanting me to crack under the pressure of her gaze. Then, as expected teen angst kicked in. She caved, got up in a huff and walked out fast muttering to herself but thankfully without slamming the door.
“She will be fine.” said Ben.
“I know.” I replied coldly.
Ben looked at me as we waited for a few seconds. In my mind I counted to ten and then waited with my left leg crossed over my right for Ben to talk.
“Sentinel Holt.” he began, formally at least, I guess that’s half a mark. “I’m sorry I am here unannounced in Suffolk. I should, and protocol dictates, that I contact you before or at least on my arrival.”
“Correct.” I said, sarcastically, interrupting him and visibly seeing him squirm.
“Well, I was here observing things.”
“I guessed that, but time is ticking Ben, we’ve got about twenty minutes.”
“Well, Sentinel I am here observing you. A few months ago, you spoke to the Norfolk Sentinel Amanda Hewton about a large problem you had here.”
I paused considering the big snake man problem which was quietly festering in Essex, still I was pissed that Amanda had flagged up my work. “Go on.”
“Well Amanda was worried and she raised it with the Elect Enid Rivers.”
Enid Rivers is not my boss as such but she kind of is. I have to report anything to the wider Order if it is of significance and she is the one who I call. She oversees the whole of the East of England. She is also bloody good, an older wizard I think. You see, some of us can be hard to age but she is very powerful indeed. In truth, I am more a middle weight compared to her heavy weight knowledge. She is also the most gifted illusionist I know. Thankfully, the few times I’ve met her she is also very friendly and well, nice. So, for Ben to be here I guess she was worried about me and that wasn’t good. I don’t want people poking around in what I do.
“Well, I am flattered that one of the Elected is showing concern for me but I am quite well as you can see.”
“Sentinel Holt...” he protested.
“For heaven’s sake Ben, call me Eddie whilst we’re here or this conversation is going to take a lot longer.”
He nodded and almost called me Sentinel again but he caught himself for a moment and then behaved. “Eddie, how did you know who I was?”
“I’m a few tiers up from you son, it’s my job to know.”
“But how?”
“I’ll tell you when I can trust you.”
The kid looked shocked. “So, you don’t trust me?”
“No, you snuck in here, started hanging around with someone in my care and now you are in my home. We’ve never met before and I want to know, WHY you are here?”
“I…I am here as I was asked to be here. The Elected Rivers asked me to come and see what was going on. It is a worrying time for us all.”