Magic Thief

by C C Sommerly

  “Why are you so quiet?” he asked. “Are you going to tell me what this is about?”

  “I already did.”

  “Marty, you and I both know that is a lie.”

  “I told you. I’m worried about her and her employer is being weird.”

  “So, we’re the middle of a case that has more twists and turns than the Broken Ridge Mountain road, but you had to check on her now?”

  “Yep.”

  “Okay, if that’s how you want to play it. I will get answers out of you. You can only put me off for so long.”

  “Since you’re so worried about the case, let’s review what we know.”

  “You first, Marty. And quit holding back on me. If you are so anxious to get rid of me, the fastest way to do that is by solving this case.”

  He was right about both of those. I did want to get rid of him, and Julia Huntington for that matter. It was a hard choice which of the two had complicated my life more.

  “Fine. Jasper, the one we thought was dead, but isn’t. He’s mixed in with Julia Huntington and her missing necklace. He threatened her when she didn’t have it. He also stole his family grimoire and gave it to a mage. Based on my sources, a mage was asking the street people to keep an eye out for any necklaces. That mage may or may not be the same one that Jasper is involved with. And, we know the necklace could be an amplifier and there are some destructive spells in the grimoire.”

  “I’ve had cases with less to go on and still managed to close them.”

  “As have I.”

  “We need to see what Eveline has to say. She didn’t want her mom and brother to know she spoke with us.”

  “We also need to chat with Julia. She knows more than she’s told me.”

  We were both interrupted by a knock at the window. I may have jumped, just a little.

  A dark hair man, in a starched and pressed enforcers’ uniform, stood outside the car. He wore sunglasses and was lean, but the kind that hides strength rather than being unmanly skinny. He was not a man to underestimate.

  Lochlan rolled down the window.

  “Miles, good to see you.”

  “Same. I’ve got news,” said Miles, who paused to watch me.

  “Who is your friend?” asked Miles.

  “A partner on a case. Nothing more interesting than that.”

  He looked at me. His sunglasses hid his eyes, so I couldn’t get a read on him. But if he was any good, he’d have noticed everything about me from the knife strapped to my thigh and down to my torn and chipped finger nails.

  “What was the news?” asked Lochlan, drawing Miles’ attention away from me.

  “The woman you had me check out, Jennica Birchwood. She left unexpectedly and without word. She’s been gone for three days now.”

  “Did they say where she went or when she’d be back?” I asked.

  “No, they didn’t. Mrs. Richardson said she was a good employee and it wasn’t like her to take off.”

  “Thank you,” said Lochlan.

  “I’ll see about getting assigned to the case. Someone should investigate, someone who has authority. This is the fifth missing woman in the past month.”

  Nice little dig. Someone didn’t care for PIs. We did just fine without an enforcer’s “authority”. Why did Lochlan ask for this guy’s help? I’d love to hear the story behind how he became friends with someone who thought so poorly of PIs. Wait, why do I want to know anything about the fae? No, bad Marty. Keep your focus.

  “That’s not necessary,” I said.

  “Why don’t you want it looked into?” Miles asked, eyeing at me once again.

  Way to call attention to yourself, Marty.

  “It’s not that. I’m surprised by the news and worried. I’m sorry it came across that way.”

  “I didn’t catch your friend’s name, Lochlan,” said Miles.

  “Friend, right here,” I said.

  “Easy, both of you. Thanks for the details. We even now?” asked Lochlan.

  “Sure are.”

  The enforcer left and so did my restraint. Jennica was missing. She’d been gone for days and I hadn’t made the time to see her. Guilt swamped me like a tsunami.

  “God, you are as prickly as a hedgehog. How do you successfully interview anyone with your manner?”

  “It’s done just fine for me so far.”

  Lochlan changed tactics.

  “Are you okay? About your friend?”

  “No, but I will be. Listen, part of what happened at Julia Huntington’s house was that I overheard her talking about missing staff. She’s lost two maids.”

  “And now your friend has gone missing,” he said. “I’ll see what Miles can tell me about the case. You won’t be able to come with me, but I can meet up with you later.”

  “That works.”

  “Dinner. I will take you to a Mexican place I know.”

  “Okay, but it’s a business dinner, not a date.

  “You keep telling yourself that.”

  Lochlan couldn’t be interested in me. He was just being friendly, but a small voice in the back of my mind said otherwise.

  There wasn’t much time until we reached the agency. Lochlan dropped me off.

  “I’ll be back this evening. Dress nice.”

  “You’re already getting dinner, don’t push your luck with the clothing requests.”

  Now, that I was back to the Agency, I could check out some of my other cases. I needed the distraction from the news about Jennica, otherwise I was going to tear off to search for her.

  “Hey Callie, have there been any calls for me or visitors?

  “Actually, a young woman called for you. She sounded a bit panicked. I tried to get more information out of her, but she hung up on me. We weren’t able to trace the call.”

  “Did you get her name?” I asked.

  “Livie or Lily. I couldn’t tell. She was whispering and I could barely hear her.”

  Chills raced down my spine. It could be anyone, but something told me it was Eveline.

  “When did she call?”

  “Shortly after you departed.”

  “Thanks. Anything else? Messages?”

  “You got a call from Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company. They want a status update.”

  “Thanks, I’ll reach out to them.”

  So much of my day was spent doing mundane tasks. When I’d first met Zander and heard what he did, I envisioned a life on the edge – one full of excitement and adventures. What I got instead was interviewing, chasing after people who didn’t want to help me solve the cases I was hired for, and paperwork.

  I grabbed someone’s leftovers. It was pasta with veggies and chicken – breakfast of champions. I also found some partially stale bread rolls and our stash of protein bars. I collected them for my stakeout and headed back out.

  For now, I’d let Lochlan follow-up with his enforcer buddy. But, if they weren’t making progress in finding out what happened with Jennica, then I would. No matter Sterling’s thoughts on this or worries about money. Jennica came before money and any of these cases.

  “Already leaving?” asked Callie.

  “Yes, no rest for the wicked.”

  “Then you must never sleep.”

  “So funny.”

  Staying busy would help keep me from going crazy. I needed the distraction, otherwise I’d start freaking out about Jennica missing.

  Seeing how it was still early, if I hurried, I could do a stakeout of Mr. Smith’s residence. Although, there was no guarantee that I’d see him out. Chances were, I’d need to do multiple stakeouts before I could wrap up this case.

  Mr. Smith claimed that he was completely disabled from some special herbs and ingredients he was mixing. Evidently, they created a magical explosion. He couldn’t walk, could barely talk and was pretty much an invalid. Mr. Smith was fighting to get millions from the company and so-far, it was a shoe-in case for the man. No one would deny him that compensation. And, like most major companies, this o
ne was about self-preservation and unwilling to part with its money.

  The owner and CEO of Rare Herbs and Medicinals Company hired me for this case. This was one of the major sellers of herbs and other potions for everyday and non-magical citizens as well as ingredients for magic users. He thought Mr. Smith’s injuries were too severe for what he was working with. Although, they never said what Mr. Smith had been working with or what he was creating with them. And, they didn’t say why he wasn’t healed or if they tried bringing in a healer. There were a lot of unknowns about this case.

  Betty honked when I hopped in. The car seemed to be more and more alive every day and I’m not sure that is a good thing. Yet another thing to look into. I just didn’t have the space in my brain to worry about this. I’d go as close to Mr. Smith’s house as I could, but there was no parking in this part of town.

  Mr. Smith lived close to the Midline. His house was nestled in one of my favorite sections of the town, The Rivers. It was our version of Venice. It had canals running through it and was a popular destination for dates.

  The water always smelled like fish and had a brownish cast to it. I avoided getting in the water at all costs and so did most people. While it wasn’t good for swimming, it was excellent for boating. Even at this time of the day, there are boats navigating the canal. Getting through the area was sometimes faster on a boat.

  It had boho shops, tattoo parlors, smoke shops, bakeries and other businesses clustered together. There were lots of apartments over the shops. It was a cozy set up that bordered on claustrophobic depending on your comfort level.

  I left Betty at a park and walked towards The Rivers. Mr. Smith’s apartment was squeezed between a restaurant, Harborside Hamburger, and a shop. Who had a hamburger place near the water with all the seafood restaurants? It boasted “the freshest burger anywhere” on its front window.

  On the other side of Mr. Smith’s house was a second-hand clothing store. The mannequins were draped in satin brocade dresses with flowing trains and tiaras. Despite its location, I had no doubt that nearly everything in it cost much more than what I could afford.

  I walked passed his house to get a feel for the location. It was relatively quiet at this time of the day, which meant I’d stand out – something that wasn’t so great and to be avoided if at all possible.

  I needed a location close to the house to spend hours at undetected by Mr. Smith. It also needed to be busy enough that I wouldn’t draw attention to myself. There weren’t any parks or open areas here. Every bit of land was crammed with some sort of building, but it had a charm of its own.

  The max exodus from a nearby brothel caught my eye. Men, fae, and other assorted supernaturals weaving slightly. Many of them blinked back at the morning’s brightness after time spent in darkness and debauchery at Madame and Masters.

  It was a known kink club that catered to every perversion out there. Not my thing, but it was interesting to see who might come out and it made for an entertaining diversion during my stakeout. Pleasures of the flesh knew no societal boundaries and given how many people were staggering out of the brothel, it was a popular activity.

  A flower seller’s shop was close as well and might be open. I knew exactly where I was going. And, it was the last place someone expected a stakeout to be done from. I walked lazily along the sidewalk to give the impression I was just out seeing the shops and restaurants. Once I noticed the men had cleared out and were no longer coming out of Madame and Masters, I made my way over.

  I rang the doorbell and waited, but casually searched for anyone lurking nearby. I didn’t want to look anxious or uncomfortable. That just screamed “guilty” or implied I was doing something wrong.

  A stunning lingerie-clad female fae opened the door. Her hair fell down her back in a cascade of crimson curls. She carried a whip and stood on five-inch high stilettos.

  “It’s a bit early for some fun,” she said with a yawn.

  “It’s never too early for some fun,” I said.

  “Come in, we can talk price and find out how to satisfy your needs.”

  She let me in and I followed behind her. Her robe fell off one shoulder in what was probably a practiced gesture. She glanced back at me with a coy glance.

  She escorted me into a posh sitting room filled with delicate velvet chairs and antique wooden side tables. The walls were damask wall paper and the carpet was plusher that my mattress.

  “Please, take a seat.”

  I complied and before I could speak, she rang a hand bell.

  A servant appeared almost instantly. He was a brute of a man with a bullish build and was undoubtable a shifter of some kind. I’m thinking grizzly or lion – both of which tended to be huge even in their animal form. I also doubted he was a servant. You didn’t use men like that as servants.

  He placed biscuits on delicate porcelain plates and then poured us tea. His movements were surprising smooth and gentle despite his size. Being such a strong supernatural it took a significant amount of control to limit how much strength you used.

  “Sugar?” he asked me in a gravelly voice. It was the sound of a heavy smoker or someone with a severely injured throat.

  “Yes, two cubes, please.”

  He poured the madam a cup and I stirred my tea, watching them both. I remained quiet, waiting to what the madam would do or say next. So far, I’d been comfortable letting her lead. It was always smart to let someone think they had an advantage over you. Doing so put them at ease and brought their defenses down.

  After a few sips of my tea, I paused, setting my cup down on the plate next to my uneaten biscuit. Taking my cue, the lady began speaking.

  “Tell me what brings you to our establishment, so I know how to best meet your needs,” she said in a flirty voice.

  “As you said it’s a bit early for fun. I need an east-facing room with a window, preferably the top floor.”

  “We do have several rooms that meet those requirements. We have the play room with all manner of restraints and toys for your use. And of course, the rubber room where every surface can be easily sprayed off should your adventures get messy.”

  Neither of those sounded appealing to spend hours in.

  “Do you have any standard bedrooms that don’t have the extra accessories?”

  “Yes, perhaps if you told me more of what you are seeking, I can be of some assistance.”

  “I just need a room by myself facing East for the next eight hours. I do not require accessories, partners or anything of that nature. Just a room to spend time in.”

  “Oh, I see. You require some alone time.” The way she said alone time made it sound seedy and perverse. “Well then, the cost for that is $250.”

  “That’s too much for a room without any of your girls or guys. $100.”

  “You need my location, I’ll take $200, but that’s my final offer.”

  She wasn’t going to budge on this. But, she’d be discrete and wouldn’t press me for answers. Those traits were a rare commodity these days.

  “Fine,” I pulled the money out of my pouch.

  “If you will follow me.”

  She rose and strutted across the room. I followed and the servant/bodyguard walked behind me. It was unsettling having an unknown fighter at my back.

  I was escorted upstairs.

  “This room should do. Please check it because I won’t be interrupting my people from their slumber because you changed your mind.”

  The room was pastel pink and had lace curtains. A canopy bed with a frilly comforter and enough pillows to suffocate a person. Centered on the bed was a teddy bear.

  I went to the window and sure enough, I had the perfect view.

  “What about being seen?”

  “All the windows here are spelled to be looked out of, but no one can see in.”

  “This will do.”

  I’d recommend you don’t wander about. Brutus will be stationed outside your locked door. Knock when you are ready to leave. He will see you out.
”

  “That works.”

  They both left and the key turning in the lock sounded louder than normal, but it could be my nerves. This room was decorated like something a little girl would use. I didn’t even want to know why they had a room like this. I’d be keeping a distance from the bed as well.

  I pulled a white chair away from the vanity. It had a soft cushion and would make the hours less uncomfortable. Why didn’t I negotiate for food? I never ate biscuits. They brought back unpleasant memories from my youth. I’d starve before I ate one.

  The lace curtains were just for decoration since they were pointless for blocking the light. Heavy satin drapes were tied back at the edges of the window.

  God what a creepy room.

  It was going to be a long day. I leaned on the window sill. How much did it cost to get this kind of window spell? Having one that spell would be a great addition to our house. We could give Zander more freedom during the hours we were closed. No one would see him roaming the house. Being a hermit in the basement wasn’t healthy for anyone.

  In the hours that passed, I saw couples, children racing along the canals, and countless boats. There was nothing out of the ordinary. It was a typical day here in The Rivers. Just as I had that thought, I saw someone approaching Mr. Smith’s house. He was a young man about my age. From here, I couldn’t tell whether he was human or supernatural. I needed to get down there fast.

  I knocked on the door. The servant/bodyguard, Brutus, jerked it open.

  “I’d like to leave.”

  “Very well. You won’t get a refund for the time you didn’t spend in the room. Once you leave, you cannot come back. We don’t usually entertain during the day, but the Madame made an exception for you.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “I think she’s hoping you’ll come back.”

  I’d make it a point to avoid a return trip. I’d taken her being flirty as a part of her role, but sounds like she was interested in more than my money.

  I didn’t see anyone as I left. I checked that no one was watching, and left. The flower shop was across from Mr. Smith’s house. I went into the shop. At the counter was a nymph, who was putting together flower arrangements in tall, glass vases.