by Logan Byrne
“But he’s my arrest, and I’m not done interrogating him,” I said.
“It doesn’t matter, officer, we have the orders and authority to transport this prisoner. We’re only doing our job,” one of the men said.
“And I’m trying to do mine, but you’re the ones obstructing me from doing so,” I said.
“Lexa, let them pass,” Mirian said.
“No, I won’t, I won’t let them until I have the chance to get the information I need. I tracked this suspect for close to two weeks and I deserve the chance to talk to him,” I argued passionately, raising my voice.
The two men came forward, obviously annoyed with my passionate show, and pushed me aside to get into the interrogation room. “Lexa, give it up. This goes beyond you and me, and stopping them from doing their jobs could result in disciplinary action against you. They’re cops, just like us, and they’re just acting out orders that they got the same way you would in their situation. Calm down,” Mirian said, pulling me off to the side.
I watched as they escorted Tulson out, the smug look on his face burning into my memory. I wished I could’ve slapped it off him. I wouldn’t stop until I got to the bottom of this.
•••
“Are you ready to do this?” Charlie asked as he stepped up next to me.
“We have to go see if we can find him, Charlie. He was trading with that naga, and he fled from me when he was under arrest. We need to bring him in,” I said, pulling out my wand.
We stretched and slid our way back into the magical district in London as the sound of raindrops tapped on the cobblestone road. There was still a shopkeeper at large who did break the law, and I wanted to get to the bottom of it. Mirian didn’t want me to press, he wanted to keep everything secret, but I couldn’t let it go. I knew I needed to trust my instincts, and I was going to do just that.
The shopkeeper was a bit frazzled when we walked in the door, looking nervous as he started to sidle towards his counter. “Stop,” I said, pointing my wand at him and signaling him to come back over. He nodded and walked back, the other customers in the shop confused as to what was going on.
“It’s okay, everybody, this is a M.A.G.I.C. investigation. Apparently this guy has been selling some bad goods,” I said loudly.
The people shook their heads, most of them fleeing, the shopkeeper moaning and obviously not happy about the loss of potential sales. “You didn’t need to do that,” he said.
“And you didn’t need to run when I ordered you to freeze, did you?” I asked.
“Listen, I don’t know what more you want from me, really. You caught Tulson, so what else do you need from me?” he asked.
“Well, you evaded arrest and a direct order from a M.A.G.I.C. officer. I need to take you in and book you,” I said, before he started to fidget and look concerned.
“Well, wait, surely we can make an arrangement or something,” he said.
“Bribes are against policy, you know. Would hate to tack that onto your list.”
“No, no, not a bribe, but maybe I can help you somehow. I know a lot of information about a lot of bad creatures all over the world. Surely I could give you a lead that would be much more promising for both of your careers than wasting your time with me,” he said.
Charlie and I looked at one another and he raised his left eyebrow, looking intrigued. We nonverbally agreed it was a good proposition. “How do we know you’d be telling the truth?” I asked.
“Well, you know where my shop is, and it’s not like I’m not going to be here. Besides, getting some of these guys off the street is good for my business. There are a lot of creatures who sell counterfeit and illegal goods without a license, and for less than I do. Like that damned elf I told you about before,” he said, getting agitated towards the end.
“Yeah, you won’t have to worry about him bothering you again. For us to forget about you and take on something else, you’d have to bring us something good. Something far more valuable than your crimes,” Charlie said.
“I can take you one level up from Tulson,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked, leaning closer.
“Well, he wasn’t working alone, or rather, he wasn’t a lone wolf. He was taking orders just like you guys are, but his bosses are a bit more, well, unsavory, if you will,” he said.
This was the break I was hoping for. I knew that things went further up than Tulson, much further up, and the next people in line might take me all the way up to Kiren. It was worth a shot to take him out, and besides, I knew where this guy was if his tips didn’t pan out. “How high up are we talking?” I asked.
“All the way up,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows up and down.
“Like, Kiren Nightstorm?” I asked.
“Lexa,” Charlie said, putting his hand on my shoulder and pushing me back gently.
“Ya girl is smart, shifter. I’m not stupid, though, and I’m not saying any names and risking my life and prosperity. I’d suggest you don’t punch too much higher, though, or you’ll find out those people punch back, and they do it much harder than you,” he said.
“Just give us our lead and we’ll get out of here,” Charlie said.
“The guy who was Tulson’s main boss is running a club in the mortal realm in New York City. They’re kidnapping mortals, both men and women, and either giving them to vampires as food, as slave labor, or a lot of other bad things. It would be very hard to infiltrate and expose, but if you could, man, I bet you’d get a big promotion,” he said.
That was a good lead, and one I knew I could count on. The casino bust made me an auditor, and a bust like this would ensure Charlie and I got commendations and some of the best cases out there. It would be easier for sure. “We’ll come back if we need anything else. By the way, where’s this club?” I asked.
“It’s in the Meatpacking District, Club Dynamo,” he said, smiling.
6
I smelled an underlying scent of incense as I knocked on Xelia’s office door. It had been a while since I’d seen her, let alone worked with her; vampires were known to be somewhat reclusive. Besides, graduating to an auditor and working this never-ending case with Charlie was proving to be very cumbersome and long.
“Enter,” she said, and I opened her door. Candles were lit as Xelia meditated in her chair, wearing a black robe.
“Channeling somebody?” I asked. Vampires weren’t known for channeling spirits per se, but Xelia was a bit of a wildcard when it came to the occult and supernatural.
“Just relaxing. I had to put away a goblin accused of smuggling purple rubies into the country. Never a fun task. What’s up with you? It’s been a while,” she said, getting up from her chair and hugging me.
“I actually need your expertise on something, if you wouldn’t mind,” I said.
“And what might that be?” she asked.
“We’re following a new lead on our never-ending case. First we took down a naga shifter—” I said.
“I heard about that from Mirian. Great job, by the way. I’m glad my perfect training is helping,” she said, smiling.
“We took him down, but then we went back to arrest the shop owner he was in cahoots with, and he offered us a chance to go up the ladder and take down their boss in exchange for not arresting him,” I said.
“Always a good tactic. Usually it’s worthwhile to take down somebody further up the chain, and besides, those people won’t realize you’re coming if their men were let go. Their guard lowers,” she said. “But what do you need me for?”
“Well, he’s telling us there’s a club in the Meatpacking District here in New York that’s doing a few illegal things, including with vampires. One of the things they’re doing is kidnapping mortals who come to the club, maybe a few every so often, and either using them for food or transforming them and using them for slave labor. I’m not sure which of those they’re doing, or if they’re doing all of it, but it needs to be stopped,” I said.
“And you want to know
if I know anything, or how to stop them,” she said.
“Exactly,” I said.
“Well, first you have to decide if you want to take them in, or eradicate them,” she said.
“Eradicate them? I’m not a murderer, Xelia,” I said, shocked.
“Well, vampires are a menace. I know that’s weird, considering I am one and all, but they’re highly dangerous in more ways than one,” she said.
“I just want to arrest them and shut down the club operation they have going. Not only to take them off the street, but also to really hurt the pockets of whoever is in charge,” I said.
“By the way, who is in charge? Do you know?” she asked.
“I’m not sure I know who’s running the club, but I suspect Kiren is the top boss,” I said, whispering his name in confidence.
“Lexa, are you going mad? You can’t take on something like this. Does Mirian know, because I’m sure if he did—”
“No, Mirian doesn’t know about that, and he can’t find out. I know Kiren’s up to something, Xelia, I just know it, and I have to push further. He has to go, and if this is the way it has to go down, then this is the way. I thought the casino would be it, but that was just a stepping-stone. Sure, this is probably another stone to another stone to him, but I’ll take as many steps as I have to take to ensure the prosperity and safety of the magical realm,” I said.
“I don’t know, I think you’re playing with fire. If you want to take down the club for the abhorrent practices they’re doing, not to mention the illegal ones, then I support that and will even help wherever I can, but not if you’re doing this to go higher. The resistance is taking care of the bigger picture, so I think you should leave it to them instead of enacting some one-woman attack against forces you cannot even begin to fathom,” she said.
I knew Xelia was only talking from a place of care and concern. She was a maverick of an auditor herself, and she wanted Kiren gone probably as much as I did, but I still thought she was wrong. I know that taking down this club would get Kiren where it hurt, and I know that somebody in there knew about his involvement and would be a crucial turning point for the entire sting operation.
“I think if you went with me, or us if I get Charlie on board with this plan, then you would be an asset. I’ll focus on just taking out the club for what it is, for now, and I think you being a vampire would give us safe passage. Vampires aren’t known for betraying their own kind, at least physically,” I said.
“You’re going to have to shield yourselves, then. You know we’re capable of mind manipulation and influence. I don’t want you or Charlie giving away the fact we’re auditors to them, or else it won’t be pretty and I suspect we’d be in for the fight of our lives,” she said.
“I’ll make sure we’re shielded. Thank you, Xelia. I appreciate it,” I said before leaving her office. I was going to make a difference. I was sure of it.
•••
“Is this what’s passing as mortal entertainment these days?” Xelia asked as we approached the club that night. The club was lined with neon lights that added a harsh pink glow to the entirety of the outside. Charlie, Xelia, and I were doing a light reconnaissance mission to get the lay of the land in the club and see what we were dealing with. We really knew nothing going in, and a raid or arrest wouldn’t be smart without doing our research first. We did it with the casino and people were still congratulating me on that mission.
All I knew was that, according to our informant, they were abducting mortals and transforming them, which was a Class I offense. That alone was punishable by life in prison, depending on the amount of mortals stolen, and vampires could live quite a long time, making sure they would feel the pain they inflicted against both realms.
“Right, do you have a shield for us?” Xelia asked, as we stood obscured across the street.
“These are garnet necklaces that should shield against any and all vampiric suggestion and penetration. We won’t have to worry with these around our necks. Faus and his lab have been working on them. He said they won’t fail, and I trust him,” I said, handing out the necklaces and putting mine on.
“Do they work?” Charlie asked, looking at Xelia.
“I can’t sense anything with you guys, so I’m going to say yes. Great, we have our in, but try to keep the necklaces hidden. We don’t want them to know that we’re on to them, and necklaces that repulse vampires would definitely do that,” she said.
The line to get in the club was long, but Xelia said she had an idea to get around it. The bouncer was definitely not a vampire, more like a troll hybrid who looked like a large mortal oaf more than any kind of magical creature. A perfect guise for any magical club that was operating without wanting anybody who wasn’t invited to get in.
“The line is that way,” he grunted, pointing his fat finger towards the back of the line.
“You want to let my friends and I in your amazing club to dance the night away,” Xelia said, her eyes glowing faintly red. The bouncer looked puzzled, and his mouth hung open, his noxious breath enough to wilt even the prettiest flowers.
“I want to let you and your friends in. Have a good time at Club Dynamo,” he said, unclasping the velvet rope from its stand.
“Great job,” I said, patting Xelia on the back.
“This necklace might stop anybody from reading me, but it definitely doesn’t stop me from reading them,” she said, smiling.
The club was shrouded with a light mist from fog machines that were working overtime up above. Lights and lasers shot beams in every direction, with a loud rumbling of house music that made my organs vibrate. I had my wand on me, hidden in the side of my boot, though I was hoping not to have to even touch it tonight. I needed to keep my head in the game and stay strong, no matter what I saw.
“Split up?” Xelia asked, trying not to yell though we could barely hear one another even inches away.
“Split up and see what you can find out. Meet back here in thirty?” I asked.
“Sounds good,” Charlie said, walking towards the bar.
Xelia went left and I went right past a large, industrial staircase leading down to the main dance floor where the party was raging the hardest. I walked past tables where morbidly drunk half-dressed women were slung over the bodies of disgusting sweaty men who were flourishing them with champagne and attention. I shook my head, wondering if they would be so keen to give themselves away if they were sober and with it.
For all intents and purposes, the club seemed mostly normal, if not a little disgusting. There were no obvious signs of malpractice or illegal activity, though I knew they wouldn’t keep those things out in the open for everybody to see. “Hey,” I heard, and I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I turned to see a man, maybe around my age, with fair skin and dark hair. It was spiked in the front, swept to the side, and his plunging V-neck shirt screamed overcompensation. “Hello,” I said, with a friendly tone.
“Are you here alone?” he asked.
“I came with a friend, but I don’t know where she went,” I said, smiling.
I knew he was a vampire, his tell was far too obvious for a woman who chased criminals and magical beings for a living. I had to wonder if he were trying to influence me, but his tricks weren’t working and his conscience was likely brimming with confusion as he tried to flex a muscle that wouldn’t work on me. I liked the idea of him squirming as he failed miserably.
“Well, that’s no good. Maybe I could keep you company while you wait for her,” he said.
“That would be great. Do you come here often?” I asked.
“I actually work here, so yes, I do. I have to say, though, we usually don’t get women as beautiful as you in here,” he said, smiling and gently touching my shoulder.
I shuddered, wanting to vomit, both because I thought of Blake and the fact that he would shift and rip this guy’s throat out, but also because I knew this guy was doing the same thing to all the women who came in here. How many poor girls w
ere seduced by him, not having the garnet like I did to protect them, and left here either drained of blood in a body bag, or transformed and destined to live out a miserable eternity working jobs to pay off a debt they never took out themselves? I wanted nothing more than to see this scumbag in handcuffs, with me being the one to take him in.
“That’s so sweet of you,” I said, lying through my clenched smile.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked.
“No, that’s okay, I already had a few and should pace myself,” I said.
“Come on, just one more drink won’t hurt, will it?” he asked, smiling, as if trying to flex a charm and influence that wouldn’t work on this girl tonight.
“How about a rain check?” I asked.
“A rain check, huh? Does that mean I’ll get to see you again?” he asked.
“I’m sure I could come back here and see you again,” I said.
“I’d like that. Maybe you could be my special guest and we could go in the back and have a more private talk,” he said.
“And what would that entail, exactly?” I asked.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out,” he said, giving me a little wink.
A man came up behind my friend and caught his attention. “The boss needs you,” he said.
“I have to get going, work calls, but next time you come back, ask for Antony. I’ll be looking forward to seeing you again,” he said, smiling, before walking off with the man.
Antony was at least something to go by, assuming it was his real name. I could search the database when I got back to the precinct and see if there was a known vampire in the city with that name. I peered over the balcony, seeing Charlie dancing up on some women who seemed to be loving every inch of him they could get.
Xelia was across the way, talking to a man who looked eerily like Antony, the same demeanor and character. It must be their thing, to send these types of guys out to seduce women and get them to come in the back, but why? What were they gaining by taking these women? Men I could understand, as vampiric men usually possessed higher strength, though women had more speed. They could use the men as muscle, both in clubs and during robberies, but the motive for taking the women wasn’t quite as clear yet.