by D. A. Smith
“What’s said by those who want it to stay?”
“They see it, as the warning it is, to stay vigilant about the monstrous activities of some people. It’s also seen as a place, to give kids something to make up stories about that help them learn to be vigilant against harmful behavior. Some like the small amount of fame that comes to the immediate area. They think it makes us special in some way.”
“And those who want to see it gone?”
“About what you’d expect I guess. It’s dangerous to the kids who aren’t very gifted at listening to their parents when told to stay away. The story creeps some out and many feel the house and its memories keep property values down on this street. As I said, it’s a mixed bag of emotions.”
“Now, what is your opinion, since you have to stare at every day?”
“I wouldn’t be heartbroken if it were gone. I think something else besides a home should go there though. I know this street is zoned for residential housing but I think, something else could be built there, even if it was just a small park. A park would ensure no one had to stare at the house but also, give us a place to put a small memorial to the tragedy, so it doesn’t get forgotten.”
“We’ll take all that into consideration. Your idea does provide a public service in many ways and reduces risk to the children. Maybe, after I talk to my boss, you could help come up with the memorial. My name, by the way, is Deborah Holton.”
“Ernest Greenwald; Ernie to those who like me enough. I’ll give it some thought and have an answer for you, when and if, you purchase the land.”
“Thank you for your time.”
I walked back over and as Doriane was still inside, I looked over the outside.
The house was falling apart and I could see many holes, where the kids in the area had been making secret forays inside. That worried me and, after looking around to ensure I had no eyes on me, I tapped my power to sense dark magic.
Just as I was about to declare the property clean, I sensed a small bit, buried near the corner of house in the back.
Moving that way, I saw a broken piece of pottery, with an active symbol on it. I didn’t touch it. I moved to the door to go inside, when I saw it was creating instability in the foundation.
I found Doriane in the living room discussing the price of the house.
Apparently, the bank was trying to recover some of the losses for the years of taxes, and asking for a higher price than the place warranted. The only thing of value was the land itself. The expense of tearing down the house and repairing the yard, would equal at least half of what they were asking for. They also seemed to be trying to trade on the semi-famous nature of the place.
Then the man made his mistake.
Larry Caulder said as I was entering, “We might be able to come to an arrangement. I could probably talk the bank down another fifty thousand but I want something in return. Just one time, you and me.”
I saw Doriane’s eyes flash fire, “I think you’re going to work the price down close to what I’m offering. I just recorded you asking for sexual favors, in trade for your services, and in this day and age that is a crime. I will go to the police with it, and do so publically, so the bank gets embarrassed. They’ll have no choice but to take what I’m offering or walk away and still be paying the taxes on this place.”
I cleared my throat to announce my presence, when I saw him raise his hand to strike, letting him know there was a witness.
His eyes went from dangerous and oily to scared, in a moment.
I said, ‘I believe you have some negotiating to do on our behalf. Shall I be the one to tell the bank, they may have a public relations nightmare brewing, or do you think you can find the will to bargain in our favor?”
“I’ll bring them down,” he said as he ran for the door.
Doriane said as soon as we heard him speeding away, “He has my cell-phone number. I may get a call from a representative for the bank before too long. What did you discover?”
I inspired her to walk out the backdoor with me, as I recounted what Ernie told me, then pointed out the old piece of pottery, “You can see how it’s weakening the foundation and even weeds won’t grow near it. It isn’t enough to spread everywhere but the holes in the sides of the house show kids break in to explore. I’m worried the foundation will give way, when one of them is snooping around.”
“Let’s be very careful but we need to check for anymore pieces in the basement. I’ve looked the casting room over. Nothing’s left in there but with Larry sniffing my rear with every step, I couldn’t risk checking everything.”
In the basement, we found four more pieces but nothing else. Doriane took the chance to dissolve the dark energy on the pieces then placed them inside a silk pouch, to look up the symbols later.
We locked up and decided to get something to eat. We found a close restaurant that sold very good fresh meals.
As we were eating, I discussed with her Ernie’s idea for the park, “It’s useful and will make the people, who want to see the place gone happy, but the memorial, might appease those who want the reminder.”
“We’ll see. We may have to walk away, as we found what we could, that’s of priority to us. We can’t get caught up in lengthy negotiations on the price or battles with the zoning people. As much as the idea appeals to me, because a park would provide a little more of the natural world here, we can’t make it a fight. Larry’s little attempt to curry sexual favors might work or it might not. I’m willing to buy it but not at the price they’re pitching. I have a lot of resources but they’re mostly for guardian business.”
“I’d just like to spread a little more positive influence around, before more negative enters my life. The young officer is hard enough to think about.”
An hour later, as we were getting ready to leave, Doriane’s phone rang, “Kimberly Daniels.”
“Ms. Daniels; my name is Bernard Wainwright. I’m the manager of the bank that owns the Compton property. Mr. Caulder shared with us the price you‘re offering and I’m afraid, we just can’t absorb that much more of a loss.”
“Mr. Wainwright; the cost of renovating the property alone, is almost half what you’re asking for. Did Mr. Caulder share with you the reason, he was so passionate about delivering my counter-offer?”
“No. He just became very persistent, this was the best he could get from you.”
“I don’t know, if you care what kind of people represent you in your dealings, but Larry Caulder is the type, to ask for sexual favors in exchange for his effort. I have his words on tape if you’d care to listen.”
“That won’t be necessary and I thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll be looking for a new real estate agency to promote our interests. As far as the house, I can bring the price down another sixty thousand but that will literally, make it a wash for us. What’s left, will cover the taxes paid over the years but garner no profit.”
“Since you seem to have an honorable nature, Mr. Wainwright, I’ll make you another offer. If you can get the city of Aurora to buy the land from you, and turn it into a small park, I’ll pay for the renovations and put up a small memorial to the victims, so those that want the reminders will have it.”
“That sounds like an excellent plan. I’ll see if our bank’s president has any sway in Aurora and get back to you if the deal can be arranged.”
“Have a good day, Mr. Wainwright.”
After she relayed the comments by the bank manager, I said, “So, you got him to do the fighting for you.”
“There’s a good chance he’ll pull it off. Memorials are good for public relations and any bright spot for this city will be strongly desired by the mayor and the council. After the discoveries in recent months, they’ll be salivating for a chance at even a small bit of positive spin for the city.”
My next opportunity to prove my worth as a guardian, came shortly after that.
Doriane received an urgent call from Barbara Kingsley, one of the new owners of
The Dragon’s Den. Some issue had arisen and she was begging for a little help.
At the same time, she felt the presence of dark magic in the direction of the Compton house. The dark magic was her priority but she did care for the store and wanted to help.
I said when she informed me of both occurrences, “Let me handle the situation at the house. I know how to get myself home, or to the store, if it takes that long. If it’s Ryan, I want to know, if I’m ready to face him alone. I have enough defensive spells on me to stop a giant if need be.”
“Just be aware as fighting is not in your nature. You know how but aggression doesn’t come naturally to you, the way it does with Ryan.”
“I understand but to a small extent, I’m ready to take the fight to my enemy, or any enemy. I have the spell to get me away in a hurry if I have to.”
“Be well, don’t expose us and find out what it’s about. Call me when you’re done and I’ll tell you where to meet me.”
We hugged then I stepped nervously from the car.
I steadied my nerve, checked that my things were hidden but accessible then began walking back to the house. When I could do so without being seen, I cast out for the dark magic Doriane had felt.
I actually felt two sources.
The first was coming from the Compton property.
The second scared me because it was coming from Ernie’s house.
I was torn but the stronger source was at the empty house and I had to check that out first. My essence was shielded but the active use, might tip off someone, a guardian was close by.
I moved onto the property slowly and went to the backyard, where I sensed the dark magic. I didn’t see anything so cast a quick spell to detect the invisible.
My vision shifted a little and I saw a blonde man quickly get to his feet, as he was looking at the space where I found the pottery.
His wand came up but I was quicker.
I had him bound by invisible ropes that prevented him from accessing his power. This caused him to become visible immediately and I walked to him.
I had a feeling I knew who he was. He matched the description of the younger man living at the Gilpatrick house.
“You’ll pay for this guardian!”
“Watch your mouth or I’ll shove something in it that won’t agree with your nature. I am taking it, you’re Robert Vincent.”
“How the hell did you know?”
“My teacher is very good at her job and is training me very well. What were you doing here?”
“The teacher who took me in, sensed guardian power near this house, and sent me to ensure nothing was left that could tie the house to me.”
“Who is your teacher?”
“You must be kidding. You have to have learned by now, foul things bring about our deaths, if we attempt to share that information. It’s your job to discover that. Do whatever you’re going to do because you’ll get nothing from me. My teacher will do far worse than anything you have the stomach to do, when my teacher finds out, I failed to carry out the commands and got caught.”
“Will you tell me what happen here thirty years ago?”
“The man who offered to awaken my power; I can’t even share his name; said he’d do it for a price. Regina had being getting careless with her magic use. She would perform spells on the children that left enough signs that the schools and the state were taking notice. I wasn’t particularly concerned but he said, it would bring him problems he didn’t need. For the reward of having my power awakened, and his effort to hook me up with a different teacher, as he wanted a clean break from this situation, I had to kill Regina. I was seventeen. I managed to kill her quietly but one of the other children saw, and that was the screaming heard, as I was forced to kill everyone. I just managed to get to the man’s house and inside his casting room before the police arrived.”
“I hope you know, I plan to make you pay for each life you took. You may think I’m gentler but may find, what I have planned to be the worst thing you could imagine. I have a friend who could use your help and I’m going to make sure you provide it.”
Robert tried to struggle but I kicked his wand out of his hand then put my hands on the sides of his head.
This spell was a little tricky but not beyond me.
Concentrating on my power, I said the four word phrase that granted me access to his mind. It was hard but I found the part of the brain that allows a human to access magic and pierced it.
I felt the change occurring as I tiredly came back to myself. I looked around first, to make sure I hadn’t been seen, then watched the result of my work.
Robert Vincent aged before my eyes, until he was the forty-seven year old man, he was supposed to be. He guessed from there what my intentions were but as he tried to fight, I put him into a sleep, he wouldn’t wake from, until I released him, then had to sit and rest a bit.
I was drenched in sweat and needed time to let my clothes dry before checking on Ernie. I was hoping Robert hadn’t harmed him.
Before walking across the street, I used a bit more strength to ensure, I didn’t sense the arrival of any backup for Robert. This didn’t mean much, as Robert’s teacher, who was more experienced than me, could shield the essence without me picking it up.
I was duty bound to take the risk though and walked across the street.
I rang the doorbell a few times and was growing concerned, until Ernie finally came to the door. He’d been in his workshop and hadn’t heard the bell until the last one.
Ernie’s said with surprise, “I wasn’t expecting to hear back from you so soon. What have you been doing that you look a mess now?”
“I was dropped back off by my employer. She wanted me to do something about the holes in the house, to try to keep the kids out. I came to let you know, the manager of the bank that owns the house, is going to find out, if the city of Aurora would buy the land for a park. If they agree to purchase the land then my employer will pay for the renovations and put up the memorial. If you decide you want to design the memorial, I thought to give you the time, to think of a few ideas.”
“Thank you and I’ll give it serious thought. Would you like a glass of water? You look like you could use it.”
I stepped into his house, grateful he thought of it first.
As he went to get the water, I noticed his workshop door was open and sensed the dark magic was coming from there.
I quickly slipped in and felt it coming from a tiny symbol, on a piece of unused wood. It was a disintegrate spell set to activate when Ernie placed his hand on it.
I think Robert recognized the man and was worried about being recognized himself, especially since Robert looked the same age as he did when he committed the murders.
I had a small block of pine setup with a spell that cancelled dark magic.
Slipping it into my hand, it just finished being absorbed, when I heard, “What are you doing in here?”
“Sorry. I was just curious. I have a cousin who’s into woodworking and makes beautiful pieces. I wanted to see some of your work.”
He smiled while handing me the water. I was grateful for it, though tap water had a tang to it that was hard not to react to.
The water in Doriane’s house had better filters than science produced. The water was good to replenish me then I said goodbye and hoped, I wasn’t setting myself up for another lecture. I knew I took a severe risk but didn’t want Ernie dying so soon after our presence at the house.
I was hoping my prisoner was still snoozing away in the back of the house because I had to take another risk, to cover for what I told Ernie.
I walked up to the biggest hole in the wall and thought hard. I needed it to look like a hurried repair.
I found a rock and a few of the broken boards. With a few rusty nails that I had to risk a bit of magic to straighten, I used the rock as a hammer. The boards would probably fall off in a stiff wind but it gave the appearance I tried to close it off.
I walked around back and
breathed a sigh of relief that he was alive and sleeping. I was afraid his teacher would activate some devilish spell and obliterate him. If his teacher was aware of what was happening at all, whoever it was, was washing their hands of him. If they weren’t, they were about to get a big shock.
I called Harold, “You’ve reached Lieutenant Cramer.”
“Your greeting is getting better but still needs some work.”
It hurt a little that his voice sounded hesitant to hear from me. I understood, as most of the time when I called, all I had was bad news.
He responded, “For you, I’ll make the effort. Please don’t tell me, you have a new body for me to collect.”
“I have one but this time, he’s alive and well and waiting to be arrested. During our investigations, we came across someone, who’s been on the wanted list for a while. He may have a connection to Ryan, or not, but he’s connected to a thirty year old case that’s still on the books. Come out, look for yourself then decide the best way to handle it.”
“I want details when I get there.”
I gave him the address, called Doriane to let her know, told her I was being careful then used the time to think of what to tell my uncle.