Bells jingled as Danny walked into the dimly-lit magic store. Seeing no one at the counter, he glanced around at the store shelves, taking in the rows of candles, crystals, gemstones and tarot cards. The shop smelled of incense, taking Danny back to a girl he dated in high school who used incense to hide the marijuana smell that permeated her bedroom from her parents. He was certain the incense had a different use here, and to his surprise he found the aroma calming. Perhaps that was the point.
His thoughts were interrupted by a woman who came through a curtain of beads that apparently separated the back office from the front of the store. She was tall and heavyset, her ample bust draped with gold chains and a necklace with a large pentagram pendant. Her dark brown hair was drawn into a loose bun at the back of her head, and she watched Danny with clearly suspicious brown eyes.
“May I help you?” she asked.
“Are you Madeline Locklear?”
“I am. And you are?”
Danny removed his badge from his belt and showed it to Locklear. “I’m Detective Danny Fitzpatrick. Fairbanks PD.”
Madeline took an involuntary step back, something Danny had long been used to. Most people did when they found the police at their door. A puzzled and guarded expression replaced the suspicion on her face.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Madeline asked.
“I’m here to talk about the fires that have been happening in our city this summer. I’m sure you’ve heard about them.”
Madeline’s hand went to her chest and she fingered the pendant. “I’ve heard of them, of course. But I can’t imagine what you’d want to talk to me about.”
“Have you heard of me before, Ms. Locklear? Do you recognize me?”
Madeline started to shake her head no, until a glimmer of recognition passed over her face. “You’re the detective who found those women in the Arctic.”
“Right. That’s me. But I want to talk about the man who kidnapped and killed those women, Aleksei Nechayev. Have you ever met him?”
“Met him? No. Why do you ask?”
“Do you know anything about him? Maybe you’ve heard something unusual about him?”
Madeline took another step backwards. “I don’t know anything about that man. I don’t understand what this is about.”
Danny let out a breath. “I’ll tell you what it’s about. But first let me say that I think you’re lying to me. I think you do know something about Aleksei Nechayev. I think you know he wasn’t just an ordinary man who also happened to be a psychotic killer.”
Madeline shook her head. “Detective, I…”
“Let me put it to you this way. I know there’s something unusual about Aleksei Nechayev. There’s something I know about him that if I told most people they’d think I needed a mental health evaluation. In fact they’d probably have me committed. But I don’t think you’re one of those people. I think you know the same thing I know about him.” Danny paused and locked his own brown eyes with Madeline Lockhart’s. “I know that some of the things most people think are fantasy aren’t that at all. I know that some of the things most people believe to be merely the stuff of legends and horror movies are real. And I think you know that too, Ms. Locklear.”
Madeline pursed her lips. Her hands moved from her chest to the counter in front of her. “Why don't you come in the back with me,” she said.
Danny followed her through the strands of beads to an office nearly filled to capacity with unopened boxes of items that would replenish the magic supplies in the store whenever they were sold. A desk and an old and worn leather chair stood in the middle of the towers of boxes. An open laptop sat in the center of the desk, surrounded by piles of books.
Madeline briefly disappeared into another room and returned moments later with a beat up folding chair. She unfolded it next to the desk.
“Have a seat,” she said, as she sat down herself at her desk. Her fingers once again caressed the pendant at her chest. “What is it you want to talk to me about?”
“You're a witch, aren't you?” Danny asked.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“I practice the Wiccan religion if that's what you mean.”
“It isn't. I understand that's the point of your store here. Wiccan supplies. I'm sure you get a lot of school girls coming in here buying lockets and trinkets to make some boy love them.”
“That's not what Wicca is about,” Madeline said, clearly insulted.
Danny held up his hand. “Whatever. I'm not interested in discussing religion with you. Yours or anyone else's. Truth be told I don't have much use for any of them. I want to talk about witchcraft. The real thing. Not this New Age spirituality shit you're peddling out front.”
Madeline let out another long sigh. “Alright. What do you want to know?”
“How powerful are you?”
“I don't know how to answer that. I have powers but...”
“The person I believe is setting these fires is a witch. I want to know if you're as powerful as he is.”
“I'm not,” Madeline said definitely.
“You didn't even take time to think about it. How do you know?”
“Because I've suspected all summer that black magic was behind the fires. I didn't want to believe it but as it went on it was the only thing that made sense.”
“I agree. But that doesn't answer my question.”
“I know what kind of power it takes to practice magic that evil and ancient. And I know I don't have it.”
“Then what kind of power do you have? What kind of magic can you do?”
“My magic is all natural. Everything I do is intended for good. I merely help people if I can, that's all.”
“Well I'm asking you to help me. If I brought you to this person, could you stop him? Could you prevent him from starting any more fires?”
Madeline shook her head. “No. I’m telling you, I don’t have that kind of power. I can perform protection spells and healing rituals but I can't do anything against black magic this strong.”
“Healing rituals? What are you, like a shaman of some kind?”
“I'm a witch, period. But yes, there are similarities between my magic and that of a shaman.”
“That crap out there that you sell…”
“It's not crap!”
Danny held up his hand. “Sorry. The supplies you sell. Do any of them do a damn thing?”
“They do if you believe in their power.”
“So if I believe in them, they might be able to help me take this guy out?”
“Detective I've already told you, I don't have anything magical that can ‘take out’ a witch as powerful as this man you're talking about. Black magic is more powerful. The spells this witch is using are more powerful than anything in my arsenal.”
“What about other witches? Are there any around that could take him out?”
“Not that I'm aware of. I'm one of the few true witches in Alaska as far as I know. The only one in Fairbanks. Or at least I thought I was until this summer. I've never known of a witch with this kind of power before. This is the sort of thing you only read about in the history books.”
“When you say true you mean witches who can actually do something besides lighting candles and chanting, right?”
“Right.”
“Alright, so let’s get back to your supplies. Can you sell me something that can at least protect me against this witch? Make it so he can't set me on fire?”
“I can put a protection spell on an amulet for you. I can't promise it will stop him but I'll do my best.”
“I'm up for anything. Give it your best shot.”
“Wait here.”
Madeline disappeared through the beads and returned to the front of the store.
Danny longed for a cigarette and briefly wondered if Madeline would mind if he smoked in her office. He knew that lighting up probably wasn’t a good idea so he put his nicotine craving out of his mind. He glanced around at the seemingly endless rows of boxes and noticed a black suitcase and matching carry-on bag in the corner of the room. Both looked as if they were packed to the gills. Apparently Madeline was getting ready for a trip.
“I've got the amulet for you,” Madeline said, returning to her desk chair.
She placed a silver and green circular medallion on the desk in front of Danny.
“This is the mohammeden magic circle. It's ancient magic to protect you from harm. I put an extra spell on it for you. Just keep it on your person.”
Danny looked down at the medallion and picked it up. He fingered it, not believing for one second that it could protect him from fire or anything else.
“You know, it's a shame I didn't know about these circles a few years ago. I could have gotten one for my wife.”
“Your wife was harmed?”
“Yeah she was harmed. She was murdered, actually.” Danny looked across the desk at Madeline. “You really believe something like this could have saved her? Could it have stopped a psycho from slitting her throat?”
Madeline shook her head. “I can't say for sure. Nothing I do is a guarantee. I'm very sorry for your loss though.”
Danny nodded and put the medallion in his pocket. “Thank you,” he said. “And I'm sorry for acting like a jackass. I came here to ask for your help and you're doing what you can. I appreciate that. What do I owe you for the amulet?”
“You don’t owe me anything. It’s on me. I hope it will help you.”
“You and me both.” Danny gestured towards the luggage he had noticed earlier. “Are you going on a trip?” he asked.
“Yes,” Madeline said. “It wasn't exactly planned, but…”
“But what?”
“I want to get out of Fairbanks.”
“Because of the fires?”
“Yes. I'm closing the store for the rest of the month and going to visit a friend in Arizona.”
“You've heard about the Vulcanalia threats, obviously.”
“I've seen the news, yes. It's very frightening.”
“That it is.” Danny stood up from his chair and moved to the curtain of beads that led back to the store. “I don't blame you a bit,” he said. “I think a lot of people will be doing the same thing if they can.”
Madeline followed Danny out into her store. “Detective, may I ask you, what is your plan for stopping this man you believe is setting the fires?”
Danny sighed. “Honestly, I couldn't tell you. I came here on the miniscule chance that you could help me find a witch who could stop him.”
“How did you know that I'm a real witch?”
“Well, you have a wiccan supply store so...”
“Don't lie to me.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“It was the vampire, wasn't it?”
“Excuse me?”
Madeline met Danny's eyes. “You said it yourself. You and I both know things that others don't. I know about Aleksei Nechayev. He obviously knew about me as well.”
“I can't reveal my sources, Ms. Locklear.”
Seemingly satisfied and knowing she was right, Madeline nodded. “So your plan for finding another witch didn't work. What's next?”
Danny shook his head and let out a breath. “I'll just have to deal with him myself.”
“Deal with him?”
Now it was Danny who met Madeline's gaze. “Kill him. If I have to, that is. He may be powerful but I doubt he’s more powerful than a bullet. If magic can’t stop him I’ll stop him my way.”
Madeline didn't flinch. “Good luck then. And blessed be.”
Danny nodded and walked out of the store into the afternoon sun. As he returned to his car, he reached into his pocket and fingered the amulet.
****
August 16, 2013
“One week,” Jack said, sitting down on the chair across from Danny and Tessa’s desks. “One measly week before some lunatic sets this whole city on fire.”
Danny gestured towards the conference room where the FBI agents John Castillo and Holly Thompson were once again in deep conversation with Chief Winston. “What do the special agents in charge have to say? Did they solve the case yet?”
“Castillo told me this morning that they’ve got a lead on a serial arsonist from Anchorage who reportedly moved here to Fairbanks last spring. They’re looking for him. They’ve sent out notices to the press asking for the public’s help in tracking him down.”
Tessa snorted. “I bet whoever this guy is; he’s never set foot in Fairbanks. This is just a stalling tactic to convince the public and the media that they’ve made progress where we didn’t.”
“I wouldn’t bet against you on that,” Jack said.
Danny turned his laptop so that it was facing both Jack and Tessa. “There might not be many people left in the city to convince pretty soon. Look at this.”
A breathless young female news reporter stood outside the main entrance of the Fairbanks airport. Her long blonde hair blew around her face as she discussed the scene unfolding behind her.
“Rob,” she said to the anchor back at the studio, “as you can see the airport is as crowded as it’s ever been. Airport personnel tell me this is far more crowded than even the day before Thanksgiving. Obviously lots of Fairbanks residents have decided to leave the city.”
As the reporter talked, a steady stream of people walked behind her pulling luggage and carrying duffle bags. Many parents grasped the hands of older children while pushing younger ones in front of them in strollers. Very few of the people filing past onscreen were talking and there were no smiles to be found among the crowd. The scene was one of tension and mounting fear.
Rob the anchor’s voice talked over the scene. “Hilary, have these folks said why they are leaving our city? Is it the fire threat that has them seeking a change of scenery?”
“Yes it is, Rob,” Hilary said. “Everyone I’ve talked to has said the same thing. They simply don’t feel comfortable remaining in Fairbanks until this threat has passed. They’ve all said they feel lucky they have somewhere else to go and the means to get there.”
“Nothing like stating the obvious,” Danny said. “Do you think they’re leaving because someone is about the burn the city down? Gee, I wonder.”
“I wonder if there are any flights left at this point,” Tessa said.
She booted up her own laptop and moved her fingers quickly over the keyboard. “Trying to get a reservation for tomorrow and there’s nothing. Nothing the next day either. No seats on any flight out of Fairbanks.” She typed some more. “No, wait. Tomorrow there are two seats left on a midnight flight from Fairbanks to Cleveland. Three stops and 16 hours of travel time all told. In ten minutes I bet this one will be snatched up too.”
“People who can’t fly are going to start driving out,” Jack said. “I think we’re going to need to put an evacuation plan in place.”
“Do you think the Chief will let the police handle that or will the agents be managing that as well?” Danny asked.
Jack rolled his eyes. “I think you know the answer to that. I hardly think two FBI agents are going to handle a city-wide evacuation. Although if it comes to that I would imagine the governor will want to involve the National Guard to keep order.”
Danny stood up from his desk and stretched. “Well, I can see they don’t need me right now so I’m taking off.”
“And doing what?” Jack asked.
“Just following up on some ideas I had before the FBI took the case away from us.”
“You’re not going after Dzubenko, are you?”
“Now why would I harass an innocent man, Captain?”
“Fitzpatrick, I swear to God if you go off on some goose chase again…”
“That would be terrible, wouldn’t it? Going off on a wild goose chase and catching a murderer before he could kill more people? Why would a cop want to do that?”
“God damn your smartass mouth. You know damn well I agree with you about Dzubenko but you also know our hands are tied.”
“I do know that. And I’m not doing anything to further harm poor Mr. Dzubenko. Honestly, I’m just going out to work off some steam. I can’t stand sitting around here watching those agents screw around with our case. I just want to get out and think for a while. Clear my head and try to figure out what we’ve been missing all summer.”
“Fair enough,” Jack said. “But keep your goddamn phone turned on.”
“Of course. That goes without saying.”
Jack glanced at Tessa and rolled his eyes as he watched Danny leave the station and head to his car.
****