“We are at an impasse. You were in a fight, a magical fight last night with some sort of supernatural creature that I’m unfamiliar with. It’s rare and nearly impossible to come across a supernatural creature that I don’t recognize. In my career, I’ve dealt with every supernatural that exists.”
“Guess you learn something every day. You should be thanking me for broadening your horizons.”
“And, who exactly was that new person? And what was he?”
“I agreed to train with you, not that I had a choice, but I didn’t agree to an interrogation. As I told you last night, I don’t owe you answers.”
“Marty,” he growled. “You can only put me off so long. If I have to, I’ll take this up to the Guild Master. Not only are you meeting with potentially dangerous miscreants, but you were using the magic you aren’t supposed to be using in public.”
He stared at me and I calmly met his gaze even though my heart was galloping in my chest.
“What do you have to say?”
“Not a single thing.”
He shot up from his seat. “You will not speak to me that way. And, since you want to be difficult, the Guild Master will be informed of this.”
“Do what you have to do.”
“This isn’t going anywhere. Might as well start another training session, which is probably not going anywhere either.”
He didn’t have to be a jerk about it. And, what did he expect after several days of training? He wasn’t exactly easy to learn from and he believed in trial and error training. It was more error than anything to both of our frustration.
We’d been trying for an hour to get me to damage his shield without destroying it. It was supposed to teach me better control and so far I’d failed miserably. And even with my slightly improved control, it didn’t help.
“Just a little bit this time. Even children learn to use small amount of magic to damage shields. Concentrate this time,” said Miles.
My magic easily ate through the defense in his shield. Miles threw down his sword, swearing. I bit back laughter. It was only fair that he experienced some of the frustration I felt during these sessions.
“Are you even trying? Or is this just a game for you?”
“Of course I’m trying.”
“Look, I told the Guild Master that I’d do thirty days of training. At the rate you’re going, we won’t make it. You don’t have enough control to be out on your own.”
“Oh Miles, how sweet. I’m touched that you’re worried about me.”
“While I said I’d give thirty days, that long isn’t needed. You won’t make enough progress to make it worth me spending thirty days on you.”
“So get someone else to train me.”
“No one else wants to. You’ve got thirty days and already are down almost a week.”
“This is total crap. I deserve the full thirty days. I can do this.”
“No you can’t. And, our training is over for the day.”
I left the Enforcers Training Academy feeling dejected. It was time to pay the piper. I’d avoided talking with Sterling about the vampires, but sadly, I couldn’t put it off any longer.
I stopped by the house to freshen up and change. It also gave me a chance to get Muffin for my trip to the Wolf Agency. I needed to talk with Sterling even if I didn’t want to.
Walking into our temporary agency, I saw that my favorite receptionist was manning the desk. Just once I’d like to time it so I arrived when she wasn’t around. Once she saw us, she just barely grimaced before pasting a fake smile on her face. I think she’s warming up to me. I didn’t even get a scowl this time, so I’d consider that progress. Besides, you never piss off the person that greets your clients and got you coffee. Not that I took her for the “spitting in your coffee” type, but you never know.
“Hey Margie, any visitors or messages?” I asked.
“Yes, you had a visit from the Jamisons.” Agnes pulled out an envelope. “They dropped this off and told me that the case is closed and appreciate your help with their daughter.”
What?! That can’t be right. I never solved the case. Why were they saying it was solved?
I opened the envelope and our final payment was in there along with a thank you note. When I opened up the note, a stack of one hundred dollar bills lay tucked in it. I read through the note and it explained that this money was a “tip” for a quality job.
Envelope and note in hand, I walked into our makeshift office.
“Good to see that you rushed back here,” said Sterling. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to keep your boss waiting.”
“Who me? I’d never want my boss thinking I’m slacking.”
“Sure you wouldn’t.”
“Especially when I’m such a good investigator that I get cases to close on their own.”
“Which case is that?” asked Sterling. “I wasn’t aware that you finished a case.”
“I saw Margie and she handed me this.” I passed the envelope to Sterling. “This is from the Jamisons.”
“The missing child case?”
“The very same one.”
“When were you going to tell me that you found the girl?”
“I found her and lost her.”
“Explain.”
I told Sterling about the meeting with the believers of The True One.
“Why are you just now telling me about this meeting with the cult?” he asked. “And it was the same place that you were held?”
“Yes.”
“And Leia told you that the only way to access that location was by being granted permission?”
“That’s what she said.”
“So whoever kidnaped you is obviously tied to this religious group and the missing girl?”
“That’s the connection I made as well.”
“And you had no opportunity to talk to her?”
“No, and the weird thing is that I never told her parents that I found her.”
Remembering my visit with them, they were shocked that their daughter was gone. “And, they were genuinely distraught about their daughter’s disappearance. Why would
