An Affair Of Sorcerers

We walked two blocks to a diner, where we sat in a back booth. Garth ordered two club sandwiches and coffee, while I settled for poached eggs and tea. Garth seemed unusually thoughtful.

'I think you're right about the tape,' he said at last. 'Someone in the group had second thoughts.'

'Sure. The question is-who?'

'You've been ahead of us on this thing from the beginning, Mongo. Now I guarantee you're going to see a little more action from the Police Department. This tape is the first real evidence we've had that a crime was committed.'

'That's profoundly debatable; I just haven't had time to jack you guys up.'

Garth smiled thinly. 'Let's assume you did flush someone out. Who would it be?'

'Christ, Garth, I don't know. And I'm too sick and tired to think about it now.'

'Who have you been talking to?'

'You know who I've been talking to,' I said with a shrug that caused a painful jolt in my stomach. 'I'm certain Peth is in this up to his triple chins, and that's who I plan to start working on when I feel stronger.'

Garth shook his head. 'Leave Peth alone. Let us handle him. We'll put a tail on him and see which way he crawls. At the moment, all we have is the fact that he mentioned Daniel.'

'He attacked me.'

'That too. But I don't want you stomping around and messing things up.'

'Hey, brother; Peth's the only real lead I've got, and I'm the guy who found him. I don't know who Daniel's contacted, and I'm not likely to find out.'

Garth nodded. He finished his first sandwich and started on the second. 'We're going to be looking for Crandall, too' he said around a mouthful of sandwich. He reached across the table and punched me lightly on the arm. 'Don't you think you've had enough?'

'For a few days; until I feel better, and the doctor tells me I'm out of danger from the rabies. But then, like I told you, I've got a client.' I lifted my throbbing, bandaged thumb and waggled it at him. 'I've taken a personal interest in this case.'

'You take a personal interest in every case. Have you got any other candidates besides Peth?'

'Sure. Krowl could know something-in fact, I'd bet a year's salary on it. But he's not going to crack easily.'

Garth stared into his coffee for a long time, then pushed the remaining half of the second sandwich aside. 'Krowl's going to have some explaining to do for me,' he said at last.

'Meaning what?'

Garth looked up at me and smiled crookedly. 'In honor of your corny Christmas story, I'm going to give you a little gift: information.' He laughed when I made a gesture of mock astonishment. 'Try not to have a stroke. I got a call from one of the men who searched that rathole where your friend died. As a matter of fact, he called me just before you did. Have you been wondering what Davidson did with all the money he earned while he was on top?'

'The question occurred to me.'

'They found something interesting in Davidson's clothes,' he said. 'It was a will; meaningless, because he died without any assets-at least, none that we've been able to find. Apparently he was too far gone to realize that.'

'What did the will say?' I asked, leaning forward.

'He was leaving everything he thought he had to an outfit calling itself the Mystic Eye Institute. Now, I just happen to know that Mystic Eye is a group headed by our mutual friend John Krowl.'

I fell asleep in the car on my way back to my apartment, and Garth had to shake me awake when we arrived. I got out and made it up to my apartment, then fell onto the bed without even taking off my shoes.

I woke up at seven in the evening, my thumb throbbing painfully. I got up, took three aspirins, then tried to go back to sleep. It was no use. I still felt rotten and exhausted, but the few hours' sleep had been just enough to juice up my mental circuits to the point where all the events of the past few days came flooding back into my thoughts. I knew for certain that I wouldn't be able to truly relax until the case had been wrapped up and I'd looked into the faces of the people responsible for trying to kill a seven-year-old child. I decided it couldn't hurt to think about it. And maybe just walk around a bit, if I felt I absolutely had to.

My head felt fuzzy, but I was hungry. I made myself soup and a sandwich; the food stayed down, and I started to feel better. I shaved, showered and put on my bathrobe, intending to relax for a few hours with some music and a book. I called the hospital and was assured once again that Kathy was in satisfactory condition. When I asked to have my call switched to Madeline's room, I was told that the scientist had been released that morning. I reached Mad at her apartment.

'Hello?' Her voice sounded normal.

'Hi, babe. It's Mongo. How are you feeling?'

'Much better, my friend. Thank you. What about you?'

'I'm feeling about half. Listen; I just wanted you to know that the little girl is going to be all right.'

'Thank God,' Mad whispered intently. 'Were they finally able to diagnose what was wrong with her?'

'Yeah. Believe it or not, somebody sent a tape recording describing exactly what the problem was. Pressure was felt somewhere. I don't know whether I had anything to do with applying it, but I want to thank you again for supplying me with the information you did.'

'It was nothing,' Mad said, sounding immensely relieved. 'I'm just so glad the girl is going to live.'

'Mad, have you ever heard of the Mystic Eye Institute?'

'Why, yes,' she said after a moment's hesitation. 'It's an occult-studies school run by John Krowl. Why?'

'Just curious. Can anyone join?'

'Yes, as far as I know,' she replied, sounding puzzled. 'It's just a school. John and a few other people give lectures and conduct seminars on the occult arts.'

'Then there's nothing particularly secretive about it?'

'No. As a matter of fact, it's listed in the phone book. Mongo, are you still investigating this Esobus thing?'

'Yeah. Do you have any idea how Mystic Eye is funded?'

'I don't know for certain, but I assume it's supported by membership and lecture fees. I've never had much to do with it; too public.' She paused, added, 'Mongo, do you think John has something to do with the people who harmed the girl?'

'I don't know, Mad. That's what I'm trying to find out.'

I tried to relax with a book, but I couldn't remember what I was reading from one page to the next. The pain in my stomach and thumb seemed to be calming down, and I was hungry again. I ate another sandwich and felt even better. I knew I should stay home and rest as I'd planned to do, but I couldn't. I was restless, and easily convinced myself that a little ride and chat couldn't do much damage. I got dressed, went out into the night and took a cab to Krowl's brownstone in Brooklyn.

It took some talking to get past Krowl's surprised secretary, who told me that no one ever came to see John Krowl without an appointment, and that he'd have to call the giant Jonathan if I didn't leave. I told him I was sure Krowl would want to see me, as I had some information about Esobus and the Mystic Eye Institute. I purposely put the two names in conjunction just to see what Krowl's reaction would be.

The ploy got me in to see Krowl. The albino was waiting for me in his sitting/reading room, his long white hair and parchment flesh forming a striking contrast to his purple Oriental smoking jacket, black slacks and shoes.

'What do you want, Frederickson?' Krowl snapped, his pink eyes flashing angrily. 'What's this nonsense about Esobus and the Mystic Eye Institute?'

'I don't know; I thought I'd ask you. What is the Mystic Eye Institute? I thought maybe I'd join.'

'You're not welcome,' Krowl said evenly.

I opened my eyes wide in mock horror. 'Don't tell me you discriminate against dwarfs!'

'You're not interested in the occult; your only interest is prying into other people's business.'