Portals (22 page)

“You see, Agent Brown,” I said, as I leaned forward. “I think you want proof of something, but what proof can we offer you? Magic doesn’t work like that, and we are dealing with magical beings. The supernatural, by its very nature, is almost impossible to prove, unless you witness it first-hand.

“I can’t prove to you that the pile of dust you found was once a Light One. It was, but I can’t prove it. My family all gave statements that it was. Yet, you seem to be teetering on the edge between science and the supernatural and they aren’t always compatible. The science proves that dust is organic. I wish I had DNA from a Light One, but I suspect that any scraping would immediately turn to dust. So, we can’t help you close the case if you can’t accept the reports and statements you’ve already been given.”

I paused, but dove ahead. “The thing is, with the beings of magic back among us, there are going to be many unexplained things happening. You will either accept them or have one hell of a lot of open cases. If I were you, I’d stop trying to solve cases that are already solved and spend your efforts saving those who can be saved.”

I leaned back, as Brown watched me, processing what I’d said.

Thulu spoke up. “Like that kidnapping case you mentioned.”

Brown leaned forward. “I never said it was a kidnapping case. I said it was a missing person’s case.”

“Ah, my mistake. One assumes that if the police are involved in an adult woman’s disappearance that kidnapping is suspected. Since she made the news, we figured you must think she’s still alive. I guess kidnapping was the logical assumption. If you thought she was having margaritas in Acapulco, I doubt the police would be working so diligently on the case.” Smooth.  My husband was smooth.

“I ask you again, Special Agent Brown, what is it you think my wife and I can do for you?”

The agent’s shoulders slumped and he sat back in the chair. “I don’t know. Confirmation maybe. Something that would prove that there are things beyond our understanding.”

“But, Agent Brown, you already know this,” I said gently. “I could tell you I sprout wings and fly,” he looked up and I quickly added, “I can’t, but even if I did. Even if I showed you. What would it really mean? At the end of the day, not much. You wouldn’t be able to fly yourself.”

“Does it bother you that all these magical people can do these things and we can’t?” Brown asked.

“Nope. Oh sure, we’d all love to fly and do amazing things, but we are what we are.” I explained about the Light Ones and how thousands of years hadn’t gained them any more wisdom in some areas than humans had achieved in a much shorter time span.

“I tell you what, Agent Brown, let me see if some of our magical friends will meet you. That’s the best we can do, I’m afraid.” Thulu’s offer was kind, and I honestly thought Brown was looking for the kind of validation we couldn’t give him, but if it got him off trying to prove we could do things, then maybe it was worthwhile.

Brown thought that over for a few seconds. “Is it possible to get some of those who witnessed what happened at the barbeque?”

“Yeah, I think it is, Agent Brown. In fact, I’ll see if Aela is available. I’m not sure how much good it will do to know this, but fairies can’t lie. They are universally respected for this. So, that might help set your mind at ease some.” It was probably the best I could do, but he seemed a bit happier anyway, I wasn’t sure what sort of crisis he was in, but he seemed sad. I’d bring Sloane in, too. Have him do some perking up vibes.

Brown left shortly after and Carter was coming down the stairs from his nap as we closed the door and locked it. I looked at the clock and realized it was time for Carter’s learning games. Thulu and I spent an hour on those and the rest of the afternoon outside helping Carter build a castle in his sandbox. Sculpting walls and turrets was relaxing, and the afternoon passed uneventfully. I couldn’t help the twinges of impatience that cropped up.

We were both too distracted to cook, so we decided it was a pizza night and ordered in. We had another glass of wine with dinner and that helped some. I kept my phone with me, checking to see if I’d missed a call, even though there’d been no singing ringtone. Thulu finally pulled it out of my hands and set in on the coffee table when I checked it twice within five minutes.

Carter was in bed, Thulu was in the kitchen and I was at my computer in the study when it occurred to me that I hadn’t seen Parker or Jenna all day. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen any of our other dead that day. The dead did that at times. Going into some zone that they couldn’t explain, but time passed very quickly for them. I called for Parker and Jenna.

They popped in quickly, with Sophie in tow.

“You guys all right?” I asked.

“Yeah, La Fi. Is everything okay here?” answered Parker.

“A lot going on, but mostly yeah.” I looked at Jenna. “Hey, Jenna, could you stay upstairs with Carter for me a few moments? I want to talk to Parker a sec.”

She gave me her sweet smile and nodded as she popped out.

I smiled at Parker. “Hey, sweetie, is everything okay with you?” No sense beating around the bush.

Parker tilted his head to one side as he looked at me thoughtfully. “Yeah, La Fi, why?”

I shrugged. “You seem - preoccupied? Something, anyway. I was worried about you. Did you remember anything about your death? Is there something else going on you want to share with me?” I paused, not wanting to ask the next question but knowing I had to. “Are you getting ready to go into the light?”

Parker shook his head emphatically. “No way! And miss all this stuff that’s going on?”

“Okay, but then what?”

He ducked his head and looked at me out of the corner of his eye, his scent became a big stronger with a touch of vinegar. He opened his mouth to answer, but shook his head and gave me a sheepish smile. “I’m fine, honest, La Fi. I’d give you a hug if I could. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Worrying about my dead kids had become second nature though, and I frowned at Parker, who grinned at me.

“Really, I don’t have anything definite to share, La Fi. I will tell you when I know something more, though. I promise.” He tilted his head to one side and smiled. “Thanks for caring, La Fi.”

“Of course, sweetie.”

“So what happened with that lady?” he asked as Thulu joined us.

I filled him in on Lilia and her missing sister.

“You know, I could do a house to house. So could the rest of the dead.”

I raised my eyebrows in surprise. It was a great idea, and we called in all the rest of our dead family and friends. Nana Fae, Mama Deb and Evan thought it was an awesome idea. Thulu pulled the map of the city from a drawer in his desk.

We all moved into the family room where he could lay the map out on the coffee table. Former clients Emily and Devon showed up, as well as Jane and her grandson Robin. Before long they had rounded up others I had never seen before and a few I recognized, but who had never been clients. We had a pretty good posse of the dead in our family room. They were very polite and kept their scents in check. It could get overpowering for me and Thulu when they let their emotions run free or when there was a large group of them.

We divided the map up into areas and gave each ghost a section to search, starting out on the fringes and working their way in.

Thulu worked quickly in marking off the areas. Each ghost materialized his or her own copy and made sure their area corresponded to Thulu’s map.

Before they left, Thulu gave them a detailed description of the room. They were to report back here if they found Daria. He also gave them a description of the man who shot Reo. There was some anger when they heard about the shooting, and we let them know that we thought there was a possibility that the two cases were connected.

“Please use caution because we also think these people have at least one supe with them. We have no idea what kind of abilities he has, but he recognized an elf through a disguise. If you see them, just come to us, okay? And check every room in every building. I wish I could give you a better idea of location, but I think the supe is blocking me.” Thulu added. He filled them in on what Reo and Sloane had seen.

Because I loved the idea, I made sure we gave credit to Parker for thinking of it. The other dead were suitably impressed. With that we released them out into the night. Our own little detective force.

Thulu sat down with a self -satisfied air and sipped his wine. “For the first time, I feel we aren’t running as fast as we can to stay behind this guy.”

“Even the dead will take a while to make the search, but this is much better than feeling like we contribute nothing,” I said, some of the weight lifting off me.

They hadn’t been gone long when we heard a knock at the back door. The enclosed porch was usually the spot for supernatural guests who could teleport in and not be seen by neighbors. Thulu got up to see who it was and returned with Sloane.

“We have historians going through the archives,” he said, after accepting a glass of wine. “I didn’t get a look at him and can only go by the way the creature made me feel.”

“Creature? As in animal and not intelligent being?”

“Creature as in cold, cruel and without remorse,” he replied. “Aurelia and Belus also felt the barrier Reo and I encountered and they could not pass it either. They felt the same thing I did, and we are investigating.” He smiled mirthlessly. “We do not like having beings around that we are unfamiliar with. Especially on a world we are fond of and feel protective of.”

Well, that was comforting anyway.

“Does Jones have any ideas?” he asked.

“We haven’t heard back from him, yet,” I answered, somewhat piqued. “I guess he’s back on Phaete.”

Sloane took another sip of his wine. “That I might be able to do something about. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” He rose and popped out.

Thulu and I looked at each other and laughed.

“Well,” he said, “at least our lives aren’t boring.”

We clinked our glasses in a silent toast. Thulu turned on the TV and found a movie we hadn’t seen. It was a light comedy, something that didn’t take much concentration to follow. It wasn’t particularly funny, but it did pass the time.

Sloane popped in after being gone for about an hour.

“Jones will return as soon as possible,” he informed us, as he settled back into his previous chair.

“Thank you, Sloane, that was very kind of you,” I said, with a smile.

He nodded. Thulu turned off the TV, and we filled Sloane in on our ghost army. He raised his eyebrows appreciatively.

“Parker is one clever being.”

“Yeah, Sloane, he really is,” I agreed. “Such a shame he only lived to be fourteen. I bet he would have done awesome things had he lived.”

“I cannot comment on that, but he does awesome things while he’s dead,” retorted Sloane.

I had to agree with that, too.

My phone sang to me. I put it on speaker.

“Hi, Jones, I’ve got you on speaker so we don’t have to repeat everything.”

“Do you and Thulu always have so much going on? I was not even gone one day.” Jones’s tone was admonishing.

“So what is going on back on Phaete?” I asked, ignoring his comment.

“May I join you by portal?”

I shrugged. “Sure, Jones, come on over.”

I hung up as the portal began to form in what had become its usual spot. Jones stepped through. He seemed preoccupied, but smiled slightly.

Thulu retrieved another bottle of wine, and he poured a glass for Jones.

“Do you want something to snack on?” I asked. “I can put together some cheese and crackers.”

“Thanks, I ate in Phaete, but that was some time ago. Food would be appreciated.” Even Jones’s voice sounded distracted.

“Thulu, why don’t you fill him in on our end while I go get something.”

In the kitchen, I quickly pulled out several boxes of crackers and arranged them on some plates. We usually had several kinds of cheeses, and I took different blocks from the fridge and sliced off some healthy chunks. There was still a bit of Brie left too, and I added that as an afterthought. Balancing everything on a tray, I returned and listened as Thulu filled them in on our day.

Sloane added in his impressions of the creature that he’d felt. Jones frowned when he heard that even Aurelia and Belus had not been familiar with its mental touch.