“Why? Does this involve some sleeping alien god or something?”
“Maybe.”
Shay blinked. “Maybe?”
“I’ll be honest—I don’t know yet. Many odd things have happened on Oriceran throughout the millennia that can’t be explained, even with appeals to magic. When odd things have happened on Earth it’s been easy to assume that someone from Oriceran was responsible, but the converse is a bit more difficult to justify.”
“So you’re saying E.T. showed up not just on Earth but on Oriceran?”
“’E.T.?’”
“Yeah, like, E.T. the Extraterrestrial from the old movie.”
Correk shrugged. “Haven’t seen it.”
Shay smirked. “Bet you haven’t seen a lot of movies.”
“You might be surprised, but that’s beside the point. You’ve stumbled upon something important, but there’s a more pressing question here. Why should I tell you anything more about this?”
“Not impressed by my super-wand recovery?”
Correk chuckled. “Not enough. You gave me some information, and I’ve given you some information, but that doesn’t mean I trust you, nor should you trust me.”
Shay ran her tongue inside her cheek as she thought that over. “I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately.”
“Always a good hobby.”
Guess it’s time to drop the bomb on him and see how he reacts.
“And it’s led me to some interesting things. Things you might find interesting.”
Correk leaned against the column and crossed his arms. “Such as?”
“A very important being known as the Fixer.”
“Oh? Isn’t that a criminal who helps criminals find things or something like that?” Correk grinned. “It’s hard to keep track of human culture at times, let alone American culture.”
Shay shrugged. “It’s just kind of funny.”
“I agree. Human culture is often amusing.”
“No, it’s just there’s a similar title for Light Elves.” She held up a hand. “I know, I know. It’s some ridiculous music-sounding thing, but translated, it’s ‘the Fixer.’”
“Oh? Do tell.”
Shay gave the Light Elf a feral grin. It was time to prove she wasn’t just a badass.
“The Fixer is a Light Elf chosen about every eight to nine hundred years. The Fixer has access to a library of spell books and books on magic.”
“A lot of elves have access to spell books and books on magic. What’s so special about the Fixer?”
“Yeah, but this isn’t a normal library. The whole point is this Fixer has special access to special knowledge, things the average Light Elf or even the average magical being won’t have access to.”
Correk uncrossed his arms. “And what does this Fixer do with it?”
“Help magical beings on Earth. Not just Light Elves, but all magical beings.” Shay chuckled, her mercenary heart making it hard to get the words out. “It’s an honored position and very respected. Revered, even, by people in the know in the magical community. There has been a Fixer on Earth for thousands of years. Maybe longer.”
“What a fascinating tale. Very educational. And what does it have to do with me?”
Shay took a deep breath. Time to cross the Rubicon. “The Fixer was Turner Underwood.” She laughed. “Which explains a lot about the School of Necessary Magic, but you are now the Fixer. Both Light Elves.”
Correk stared at her, his expression unreadable for what felt like an agonizing eternity before he raised a brow. “Impressive, Miz Carson. I’ll be honest—you’re more resourceful than I gave you credit for.”
“A lot of people underestimate me. Don’t feel too bad.”
“You already know my background.” He pushed off the column, all the ease gone from his stance. “I did my homework, too.”
Shay smirked. “Did you now? What did you find out?”
“For one thing, you’re looking rather well for a dead woman.”
Shay’s jaw tightened.
Correk gave a broad smile. “But I can see why you’d want to leave such a vicious and self-serving life behind, and you were right about the Scepter. You’ve gathered several dangerous artifacts and could have passed them along to less than scrupulous people, but you’ve kept your word.”
“Don’t get me wrong…I’m not a good person. I just believe in the value of maintaining positive relationships that lead to mutual benefit.”
Correk let out a weary sigh. “I’m far, far older than you and I’ve dealt with evil you couldn’t possibly imagine, so excuse me if I’m not overly impressed by your jaded act. So what’s it to be, Miz Carson?”
“Nothing special. I just want to know more about the alien stones. It’s both a professional and personal matter. I figure we can swap information.”
"I can see value in us working together." Correk turned and stepped away.
“Where you going?”
“We both now know where we’re coming from and what the other knows, and someone is waiting for me.” The elf waved. “When you get in your car, you’ll see that my number is in your phone.”
The silence gripping their small slice of the Lincoln Memorial vanished, and the chatter of tourists and excited school children broke over Shay. Correk walked down the steps, his hands in his pockets.
The Professor acts like he knows my background too, but he keeps working with me. This might bite him and his elf buddy in the ass in the end. I’m not the good person they seem to think I am.
Shay waited until Correk had disappeared into the nearby crowds to make her way down the steps and back toward the parking lot and her rental car.
Hanging around a guy like Correk might get me targeted by some dangerous assholes. Maybe it’s not worth it.
Shay spun, a frown on her face. She couldn’t shake the feeling of someone’s eyes on her. There were plenty of people on the street, but no one she could pick out as a spy. She sighed and turned back around. A quick check under the car didn’t reveal any evidence of tampering or explosives. Everything looked fine.
She pulled off her purse and set it on the passenger seat. It fell over, and a tiny ball of light rolled onto the seat. She reached into the car to grab the ball.
“Son of a bitch. Is this a tracking spell?”
Shay snatched her phone and checked her contacts list. There was a new entry: NOT UNDERWOOD.
She snorted and texted
