by T S Paul
"Ha! You first Miss Witch! I'll bet you twenty bucks right now that you are the first to be bitten by the love bug." She pulled a twenty out of her pocket and laid it on the dashboard.
Looking at it, I wavered a bit. I was in the same literal boat as was she. Too much power. "I'll take that bet."
"Done and done. I'll hold on to this for later." She put the money away.
It was an almost seventeen-hour drive to Fort Smith. So far, we were about halfway there. "Do me a favor and call Bill. We should stop outside of Memphis to rest and get something to eat."
"OK. Should I tell Bill where?"
I thought for a moment. When I came through here a few days ago, I bypassed Memphis. "Ask him if he knows anywhere. I haven't been this way before."
Tapping the brakes, I disengaged the cruise control. Up ahead I could see road workers on the bridge, so I wasn't paying attention to Cat as she talked to Bill.
"Agatha, Bill says to take the Jackson, Tennessee exit. He knows of a barbecue place he says has 'the best ribs in the South.' They have a huge parking lot and cater to law enforcement." Cat was licking her lips.
"I take it you want some ribs now?"
Cat looked up into the passenger seat mirror. "Am I that obvious?"
"Yup. You're drooling." Subconsciously I noticed a sign for Jackson.
"Sorry. I haven't had a good feed since before I got back to Quantico. Agent Nixon took us all out for a celebration dinner."
"How was that experience, we haven't talked about it except on the phone?" We had talked at least once a week, but sometimes it was brief.
Cat stared at me for just a moment. "It was hard at first. Magick makes you special so your place in the grand scheme of things is assured. Regular Agents go into a pool of people. Sometimes, they stay there for years slowly working their way up and out. Every dirty job and task are suddenly theirs. It's expected of them. I was lucky. Someone wanted me assigned to a team. They couldn't get rid of me, so I stuck my neck out and demanded to be read into the case they were working."
"They couldn't get rid of you?" I could see the exit up ahead, so I began slowing down.
"No. I overheard a conversation about it" Cat touched her ears. "The lead Agent was bitching about it."
"The lead Agent? Agent Nixon?"
"Yes. I read everything the Agents had and noticed some inconsistencies. I took one step onto the crime scene and knew it was a WereWolf that did the crime. All I had to do was make Agent Nixon believe me after that. Working with the locals, we blocked off the town, and he came to us."
"I assume he didn't do it quietly," I guessed. There was a line of traffic on the off-ramp and the sign with a howling wolf proclaiming 'Blood Moon Barbecue, Best Ribs in the South.' A large blinking sign pointed off toward the right. Fortunately, I was already in the proper lane.
"No. I had to shift and take the WereWolf down. If I wasn't unpopular before, I was after doing that!"
"But, you said they threw you a party?" I looked questionably at Cat.
"It was more of a 'we caught the guy' sort of party. The pool Agents were glad to see me go. Less competition. I think at least Agent Nixon was sincere about it." Cat stared out the side window.
I felt for her. "Cat, look at me."
She turned her head. "You are the leader of my Pack, the best friend I've ever had and I love you for it. Forget the past. Let's make our future with Magical Crimes."
Cat smiled and nodded her head. I could tell that she was still hurting a tiny bit. Rejection is painful and something I knew a lot about.
"This must be the place!" I pulled the RV into the side lot parking at the very end. There was a truck turn-around area in the rear of the building. Bill parked behind me off to the right. The smell of cooking meat was almost overpowering.
"You OK, Cat?" Her eyes were glazing over, getting a yellow cast to them and saliva was forming at the edges of her mouth. "Cat?"
She didn't answer me, but I could see the panic in her eyes. Not wanting a four or five hundred pound enormous cat in the RV, I thought super fast and cast a spell blindly. There was a bright flash of light. To me, it seemed like time stopped. It was as if a camera was taking pictures in reverse. I could see Cat reversing her change, and a very faint blue glow appeared around her entire body. I blinked a few times. Cat was staring at me with wide eyes.
"What the flaming hell was that? Agatha, what did you do to me?" She was patting herself down.
"You were changing very quickly. I could see that you were losing control."
"I know. My cat was pushing through all my controls. We were hungry, and the smell of the meat pushed her over the edge. She broke through all my defenses as if they were paper. Suddenly everything reversed itself. I could feel her being locked away and she is not happy about it at all. Now when I look inside of myself, I see what looks like a giant blue cage. The key is floating just out of her reach. What did you do?"
Feeling my cheeks heat up, I stuttered out an answer. "Not sure... I reacted to your change and cast blindly. Verity's bracelet helped I think."
"I have total control for the first time in forever. If it even lasts for only a little while, thank you. You didn't turn me purple like those squirrels did you?"
"No. I'm saving that spell for when you really piss me off." I gave her a wry look.
"Good, I'm safe then." There was a knock on the RV door. It startled both of us.
Chuck and Bill were outside. "Hey, you ladies ready for what Bill calls the world's best barbecue?" Chuck stared at the mirrored glass.
"Let's go then." Cat opened the door since she was closer.
"Fergus be good!" I yelled toward the rear of the RV. He didn't acknowledge my remark, but he was pretty unhappy with Cat being here with me.
The meat smell was ten times stronger when we stepped outside into the chill night air. I glanced at Cat, but she was smiling. "Is this a good place Bill?"
The growing dusk made my new facilitator look old. Something about the way, the shadows hit him. I scanned him when we first met, but he wasn't a para at all. His file, what I could read of it, marked him as very old school.
"My wife and I have stopped here more than once on our way west. Forget Memphis, the best barbecue is here in Jackson. This place has been a local landmark for more than forty years. Family run, they raise all their own meat too."
"Sounds profitable." I smiled at Bill. He like, just the others looked hungry. "Let's go inside."
From the side, the building looked to be built from rough-hewn pine. Everything had a Western look to it, from the kitschy wagon wheels to the boots and saddles on the walls. The front doors were solid oak, making it look more like a fortress than a restaurant to me. I felt the wards hit me as soon as I opened the door.
Cat noticed my expression and stayed back as the others went inside. "What's wrong?"
"Can't you feel them? Extremely strong Wards protect this place." I reinforced my own shields and did a light scan of my own.
Cat cocked her head to one side and concentrated. Ever since we had our joining ceremony, I could feel her as if she was a part of me. I wasn't sure what she got in return.
"I can sort of feel them. Sort of like a magnetic field?"
"Exactly. That is a good analogy. Concentrate on that. You might see it as a color or shimmer. Every Magick user sees something different." I placed my hand on her arm to give support and provide a direct connection.
"That is so cool! Is it because of the bond?"
"I think so. Grandmother told me we might gain something from each other. I've noticed increased strength and feel a closeness with both you and Chuck that I didn't have before. Sensing wards and Magick might be your benefit as Alpha. We need to go inside." I motioned to the oak doors.
Bracing myself, I opened the doors, and we went inside. Chuck and Bill were standing by the host station laughing. They motioned us over.
"Agatha, this is Gundi Moon. Her family owns the Blood Moon." Bill motioned to
the very blond woman standing next to him. She was of an indeterminate age and very attractive. As soon as I touched her I knew what she was and her I.
"Pleased to meet you Gundi. This is Catherine Moore, my chief investigator." Gundi glanced at Cat without moving her head.
"Charmed." She kept her eyes on me the entire time. Most Witches don't voluntarily enter a Den of Wolves.
"Did Bill tell you we were just passing through? We have a case to get to in Arkansas and will get back on the road immediately after eating."
The now obvious WereWolf glanced in Cat's direction. She nodded to the Cat, sending the same message as I. Under established Pack rules, FBI and other Government Agents were to be considered neutral in all things Pack. However, not every Pack followed the rules.
"In that case, let me get you a table." Gundi grabbed menus and silverware without turning her back to us once. Trust is an earned thing.
At her signal, one of the other servers sat us near the rear of the place. I could sense the tension in the room as the diners began to notice us.
"Why did the place get so quiet?" Chuck looked at all three of us. He could be a smart guy but, for someone in forensics, he could be blind to the world at large.
Bill looked at my face and repeated what Chuck said.
"Bill, how well do you know the Moon family?" I looked at him trying to ignore the stares I was getting.
He looked from my face to Cat's. "Just a bit. Like I said outside. My wife and I always stop here. They have always been pleasant people in the past. I don't see what's wrong."
Knowing that everyone could hear me, I answered him. "I think this is the public face of the local Wolf Pack. There are very specific rules that are to be followed when a strange Pack comes into another's territory. As FBI Agents, we are considered Neutral parties. Besides, we are just passing through. Aren't we?"
Bill froze when I said the word, Wolf. He nodded and tried to smile. "We are. We have to be in Arkansas as soon as possible, so we won't be staying."
I could sense, as well as feel, the room stand down. Several kitchen staff, as well as someone who could only be the Alpha, had been watching us from the kitchen. The Alpha made a motion, and the room settled. He spoke sharply to someone next to him and started in our direction.
Carefully I laid my hand on Cat's leg. She needed to keep her inner self-calm.
"Welcome to the Blood Moon. Bill, it's good to see you. You never told us you were in law enforcement."
"It never came up. Jacob, this is Agatha Blackmore. She's my boss at the moment. We are with the Magical Crimes Unit of the FBI." Bill apparently knew the man.
"Blackmore. Any relation to Marcella Blackmore?" He looked at me with piercing green eyes.
"My Grandmother. Do you know her?"
"Only her reputation. Is this all of you?" Technically, I didn't have to answer his questions, but I was in the middle of his territory.
"Our forensic tech is sleeping in the larger RV. She doesn't eat meat."
"Go round her up. We can put together some veggies or something." His voice took on a deeper tone. A more sinister one.
My shields automatically snapped into place around both the entire table and me. "I think not. We do not answer to you. Courtesy requires we inform you of our intentions. We have done that."
The Alpha began to laugh. So did many of the diners as well. "Little girl, it's just you, two cats, and a human. This is my territory. I make the rules here!"
A fireball burst into being in both of my hands. At first, they were small, but they grew in size as I spoke. "And if I burn this place to the ground with you in it, what then? The conventions are there for a purpose. As Government Agents, we are exempt from any little games you want to think up. Let's dance." I stood up from my chair the fireballs were now basketball sized.
"Do you think I'm foolish? This entire place is warded. I've dealt with your kind before." The Alpha was on the edge of losing control.
I let out the breath I was holding and tossed one of my fireballs at the wall behind me. The ward over the building shattered as the wall began to burn. "Fur has such a delightful smell. Want to go for two?" I held up the other flaming ball.
The Alpha stared in shock at the burning wall. "How?"
"Magick of course. As a businessperson, even you should know you only get what you pay for. Let me guess, you paid a Russian to ward the place for you?" He only nodded.
The crackling of the flames was growing louder as the fire began to spread. I could feel the heat and smell the smoke. I could sense Chuck and Cat preparing to shift if they needed to. Bill was quiet.
"What will it be? We are leaving now. Shall I let that continue or do we get to leave in peace?" Mimicking Grandmother's best glare, I stared the Alpha down.
"Peace. Please stop, this is our livelihood!"
I gave the fire a wave, and the flames shrank down and disappeared. I drew the small bit of heat energy back into my body. The wall was blackened and scorched, but mostly unharmed.
"Come along. We'll stop at a Robbie Burger and get some food along the way." I motioned to my team to get up.
Looking back at the Alpha I frowned at him. "Let this be a lesson to you. Neutral means neutral. I had better not hear of you doing this crap again. Next time I'll just let it burn."
Several of the pack members tried to block our path out. I used my telekinesis and moved them. This nonsense had gone on long enough. Gundi Moon motioned to the others to get out of our way.
"I need to apologize for my brother..." I cut her off.
"No, you don't. My warning was real. We are the people they call when a Wolf or other Were goes rogue. I wasn't kidding. We can legally burn this place to the ground if I declare him a rogue. None of us wants that. Just follow the rules. Now, I have two hungry Weres to feed. So if you will excuse me?"
She moved out of the way, as I pushed past her followed by my team. There was a fire truck as well as the local police outside waiting for us. None of them stopped us as we climbed back into our vehicles. I hoped that Anastasia was still on board hers. This did not look like an ideal place to leave a Vampire all alone.
"Look at the bright side guys. The next place we stop at can't get much worse than this." They all laughed at me.
Chapter 8
Compared to Jackson, Tennessee, the rest of the trip was uneventful. Fort Smith, Arkansas, sits right on the border of Arkansas and Oklahoma. It is a very historic river town and to my eyes a nice place to live. Lots of commercial development and attractive homes. The GPS unit in the RV found the FBI office easily. Parking was another matter.
"This place is tiny! Can you even get into that parking lot?" Cat pointed to the ten-space lot. There was only one way into the lot. My RV would fit but not Ana's.
"What about over there? Can you see the entrance?" Across the street was a large grassy field next to what appeared to be a large parking lot.
"Over there Aggy." Cat pointed to my left. There was both an entrance and an exit with plenty of space for both rigs.
"Do you think we can leave these here while we investigate?" Cat looked at the field as we pulled in. The lot looked to be part of the Fort Smith National Cemetery grounds.
"I doubt it. Let's find out the status of the investigation and pick up our promised vehicle. I can see their official car lot from here and that better not be our car in there." I pointed to the fenced in area to the rear of the building.
Bill had Chuck driving so he could navigate and rest, so he was the first off.
"Any problems Bill?"
Bill smiled at me. "Chuck drives pretty well. He told me he's driven the other forensics RV a few times. He'll do."
"Good. We all need to be able to drive the RV's. At least those of us that can reach the pedals." I looked pointedly at Cat.
"I'm not all that short!" Cat stamped her foot.
"No, you're not."
"Well, good then. Stop messing with me."
"I will just as soon as you
tie my shoe for me. It's too far to reach down and get." I pointed down at my dress shoes that didn't have laces.
"I'll get you for that one Agatha. You won't be expecting it."
I chuckled, and she laughed with me. The boys only smiled at us.
We must have looked a sight as we tromped into the FBI office. Immediately the front door alarm went off. All of us were armed.
"Freeze! Stop right where you are and raise your hands!" The woman behind the front desk hit a button, and several Agents popped out of a closed door.
"I'm Special Agent Agatha Blackmore from the Magical Crimes Division. These others are my team." I had my hands half raised, but my badge and credentials were out in the open.