It took a massive amount of restraint to comply with his demands, but throwing a fit with someone who was new on the job wouldn’t get me very far. Instead, I decided on a different tactic.
“How long have you been here?” I asked, adding a little honey to my tone. Inspecting his appearance, especially his long beard, I guessed he might be a gnome like Flint or maybe a dwarf. Asking him outright might be perceived as an insult.
The guard opened the backdoor of my car and stuck his head inside while running the wand over every surface, his long, peppered beard brushing against the seat. “My shift started first thing this morning, so about five hours so far.”
His literal take on my question amused me but I stifled a giggle. “No, I meant how long has it been since you moved here.”
“Oh. My brother Findril and I arrived maybe a couple of weeks ago. He got employment working at the local pub. The back is clear,” he declared.
Bagan disappeared around the back of my car and I pictured him tilting his entire body into the trunk to run the wand all the way to the back crevice of it. The heat of the day increased with every additional minute, and I waved a hand in front of my sweaty face, jealous of the strands of Spanish moss hanging above us waving in the slight breeze.
An approaching car from the other direction pulled into the little parking area nearby. Flint jumped out of the driver’s side and I sighed in relief. I waited for him to come over and reprimand his new employee, but the stern expression on his face riled up my nerves again.
Instead of stopping to talk to me, he stormed past my unrolled window and addressed Bagan at the back of my car. The opened trunk blocked my view, but I could hear their conversation.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Flint asked without holding back.
The new guard responded with confusion. “Sir, I don’t understand.”
Flint pushed, “I asked you what you’re doing, Bagan! And where did you get that uniform?”
“It was given to me to wear as part of the new security team. And I was only acting on the instructions I was given by the head lady,” the new guard replied.
Flint slammed the trunk hard enough that it rocked my car a little. “Help me understand because what you’re saying doesn’t make sense. I’m the head of security.”
“I know, sir,” Bagan replied, standing straighter to the point where I thought he might salute the gnome. “I thought the new instructions were sanctioned by you.”
Flint pursed his lips for a moment and rubbed his forehead. “Show them to me.”
Bagan hustled to the guardhouse and grabbed the clipboard, running it back to his boss and flipping through the pages until he pointed out what must be the new instructions.
Taking his time, Flint read each point out loud. “‘Uniforms will be expected of all security personnel. Name or facial recognition alone will not be accepted as a form of entry. An identification scan will be required of all entrants. Residents will have their names matched with the approved list. Visitors must be registered no less than twenty-four hours prior in advance of visitation. All vehicles will be checked and scanned. All encounters shall be recorded and reported after both day and night shifts.’”
“Did you come up with all of those new procedures?” I asked Flint.
The gnome snorted. “As the supposed head of the whole operation, all of this should have gone through me, but it sounds like someone else stuck their nose in my business.”
“Who?” I asked, curious to know who would dare to go over Flint’s head. Besides my grandmother, I considered him one of the most important people who helped keep our supernatural haven running smoothly.
Bagan piped up, “The lady who’s in charge.”
His answer caught me off guard. Nana would never approve of such formality. The guards at the entrance were there to help keep out any mortals who managed to slip through the protective charms and to record those who visited our town.
As if reading my mind, Flint approached my window. “You’d better head on into town. I’m going to need more time to straighten things out here.” He poked his thumb in the poor new guy’s direction. Patting my arm, he backed away and waited for me to restart my car.
“Good luck. He waved at me with a strange expression. “Oh, and congratulations,” he called out as I pulled away.
Confused, I drove down the road under the canopy of live oaks with Spanish moss dripping off their long reaching branches. When I reached the edge of Main Street, my eyes darted back and forth for any clues that might explain such a weird encounter at the gate, but nothing seemed out of place or abnormal. The sign outside of the town hall announced a meeting for all permanent residents with the date only two days away. I didn’t remember a meeting being scheduled, and the unusual distinction of requested attendants niggled at the back of my mind.
Although every particle of my being desired to go home for a quick snack, a shower, and a nap in my own bed, I turned down the street that led to Nana’s house. Parking in between Matt’s car and Doc Andrew’s, I bolted out of my vehicle and rushed into the house without knocking.
Ada popped out of the kitchen and intercepted me. “Oh, honey. I’m so glad you’re back.”
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” I asked, fear squeezing my heart.
Her eyes looked up the stairs where Mimsy took slow steps in our direction. Lavender and Lily’s grandmother nodded at her friend. “Let her up, Ada.”
Without any answers to my questions, I hurtled up the stairs two at a time until I reached Nana’s bedroom. Doc sat on the edge of the bed, his weathered hands passing over my grandmother’s face and chest
