“As much as I like wrapping up a case and getting paid, this feels wrong. You need to visit the Jamisons and see what is going on.”
As if I needed him to tell me something was off.
“Well, I’ll be on my way.”
I hurried out with Muffin before I got caught up explaining about my lovely visit to the vampire coven.
Lucky for me the Jamisons were home evidenced by a car in the driveway. I knocked and waited. I gave it a couple of minutes before I knocked again. No one was answering despite the car in the driveway. I tried the door and it was unlocked. As I turned the knob, the door partially opened. Since it was open, I technically wasn’t breaking and entering – at least that’s what I kept telling myself.
I didn’t see, hear, or smell anything out of the ordinary. The immediate impression I got was one of vacancy. The house had that empty feeling that they get when they’re unoccupied for long periods of time, which couldn’t be the case. I was just here not all that long ago.
I carefully and quietly shut the door behind Muffin and me. I paused to see if either of the Jamisons came – hoping they were just slow to open the door and not that something was wrong. When there was still no sign of them, I pulled my sword free. Muffin didn’t leave my side, but he wasn’t acting protective or aggressive, which he’d do if someone was here. Hmmm ….
The foyer lead straight to the living room, which is where I would start my grid pattern. In searches where I suspected foul play, I did my best to conduct a thorough search in the event that I needed to turn it over to the enforcers. As I ventured into the house, I saw no sign of a struggle. I also didn’t smell death or decay, which would have been obvious if they’d been killed.
The living room had drop cloths covering all of the furniture. The tv was off and everything was neat and orderly. The place was spotless, not that it’d been messy the time I visited, but this was like the immaculate kind of clean.
From there, I moved into the kitchen. A visual scan showed nothing out-of-the-ordinary. The countertop was empty except for some canisters and kitchen appliances. I checked the fridge and it was empty, not the poor kind of empty, but in the way that a new fridge is bare. There was a faint lemony scent from whatever cleaner was used on it. I checked the cupboards and the pantry – all were empty. No dishes in the sink and nothing out anywhere in the kitchen.
This wasn’t right and as I continued through the house, my unease increased and my instincts were warning me that something was wrong. I found no signs of the Jamisons. Their closets were empty and all the furniture was covered. All signs pointed to them up and leaving suddenly. Could Emma Lynn have come back on her own? I somehow doubted it. She was pretty happy on her own and I didn’t see her just coming back home after she’d changed her appearance and covered her tracks so well, but I’d been wrong before. Maybe Leia could get me to another meeting. She was pretty enthusiastic about her religion, so it wouldn’t be odd if I asked her to teach me more about it.
23
Large wooden double doors painted black blocked the entrance. The beast of a door was at least ten feet tall, but maybe even taller. There was no knocker or bell to summon the residents. So, I used the hilt of my sword to pound against it. I quickly tucked the sword back in its sheath and waited.
If I was lucky, one of the members from the art session would answer or be near to ease my entry into this virtual fortress. What kind of church needed security like this?
The woman who opened the door began to greet me, but when she took one look at Muffin, she ran away screaming. I hope they aren’t all this dramatic here. If so, it would make for a long visit. This was not the best way to get started, but I’d had worse first impressions.
I tugged on Muffin’s leash and he followed me into the Institute of Reawakening’s gate. We were barely through the door when a magic shield appeared, preventing us from going any further.
Past the courtyard and near the building, a small group was gathered watching me. They were out of my reach, but stared and pointed at me
“With such a warm welcome, it’s no wonder you all don’t get many visitors,” I said.
They startled at my words, but no one came forward to chat. What were they waiting for? It’s not like I could do any harm to them. Both Muffin and I were held back by the shield.
They had no way of knowing that my magic could easily break through this, but I was nervous and the tiniest bit scared to let it loose. My control was tenuous at best. And, if I didn’t keep it under control, then Miles became my permanent sidekick. I wanted to avoid that even more than I wanted to avoid Julia Huntington or Jasper – both of them made solving their cases a real pain.
A robed, a prematurely balding man rushed forward. He stopped just on the edge of the shield. What was it with robes? As he stepped forward, I instantly knew that he was the mage. Even without being dressed as a mage, it was obvious. I sensed his power crashing into me in an obvious intimidation tactic.
Strong magic users and other supernaturals have a certain aura or vibe based on the type and strength of their magic. The only reason why he wouldn’t find much of a magical signature on me
