Twist of Fae (6 page)

"I'll be damned," I said, shaking my head.

"Let’s hope not," he replied with a laugh.

"Hey, thanks," I said. "I'll let you know how
it goes."

"Sounds good. Try not to give away the farm."

Next I called O'Malley. He didn’t answer, but I left a
message on his voicemail. I turned to Sendy as I disconnected.

"Ok, here's what I need you to do." I said,
putting down the phone. "In a few minutes I'm going to get picked up by
some representatives of the government. I need you to stay out of sight but see
where they take me."

"I will go," Charlie said, his fur still up.

"No, I need you to stay here unless I call for you. It's
not my first choice," I said. "But I don’t anticipate any real
danger. I'm just being my usual paranoid self. But I think it's better to go
alone."

He didn't act happy. As a matter of fact he growled, but he soon
backed down. For some reason, I didn’t think he went in for all this political
posturing. No, I think he was more the tear their throat out and sort it out
later kind. Not exactly what I needed at the moment.

"If Michael is right, I'll lose contact with you, so if
I'm not back in, say… seven hours, then let Siegfried and O'Malley know. That's
about all I can think of at the moment."

"I will know as well," Charlie chimed in.

"I'm sure you will," I agreed.

"It will be so. I will go now and watch for them,"
she answered.

"Excuse me," I heard a voice ask as she
disappeared. I turned and saw that it was the Imp, Alf. I'd totally forgotten
about him.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Am I to assume… not that I was eavesdropping, mind you?
I mean I couldn't help overhearing. But did you happen to mention that you were
meeting with the EAB?" he asked.

"Don’t tell me you worked for them, too," I said.

"Work? Oh, no, never. But we are, let's just say… acquainted,"
he replied. "So I was just wondering."

"Wondering about what?" I asked.

"Are you taking a weapon?"

"I hadn't really thought of it," I replied. Not
that I ever went anywhere unarmed. But that was another matter. Still, why was
I discussing this with a creature I hardly knew? And what the hell did
'acquainted' mean? "Do you think I need one?"

"That is of course up to you," he answered.
"But in my experience, it is better to have two."

"Two?" I repeated. "Why do I need two? What's
this about, anyway?"

"Just a thought," he replied. "One to hide
and one to find, that's what I like to say.

"That's what you like to say is it?" I said with a
chuckle.

"It is always better to let them find what is expected
than to make them wonder if you have one," he continued. "A sword I
should think, or any good blade should do it."

"Why not a gun?" I asked.

"Please," he said, drawing the word out.
"Guns are so… human. A Fae Lord would carry a sword."

I wondered if there wasn't some hidden meaning in what he
had just said. I mean, I did have a sword. The sword of Zeus, as a matter of
fact. That one I did keep hidden, thanks to a trick I'd learned from an Angel. But
I couldn't help but feel that there was a lot more to this Imp than he was
saying. Maybe he really was a spy, no evil intent or not. But if that was the
case, just who was he a spy for? Unfortunately I had other concerns at the
moment. Whatever he was, I had to admit he had a point. I pulled my seax from
its hidden holster.

"Will this do?"

"Ah, a Viking short sword," he said as he walked
up to give it a look. "And well made. Yes, I think that'll do
nicely."

"I'm glad you approve."

Before he could say more Sendy reappeared. "They have
arrived."

"Okay, then. You know what to do." I grabbed my
iPhone and looked down at the time, exactly 11:00. Yep, they were prompt
alright. I hit the button for the gate and walked outside. Waiting for me was a
black SUV with dark tinted windows. It looked a bit like Siegfried's Cadillac
but without any manufacturer's markings. As I exited the gate, the driver's
door opened and someone stepped out and walked around to my side of the
vehicle.

"Mr. Hoskins," he stated as he opened the rear
door. "I'm Agent Browne."

He had blonde hair and was wearing a black suit. I half expected
to see a black tie and sunglasses, but instead his shirt was light blue and his
tie a shade darker. Not that it really mattered, but I could tell from the cut
that it wasn't off the rack. I was about to get in when he held up his hand.

"I must inform you that any weapons should be left at
your residence, or, if you wish, I can hold them for you. They will be returned
upon conclusion of the meeting," he said, dropping his hand a bit.

I smiled and reached into my jacket. I gently removed the
seax and handed it to him, hilt first. I felt an almost imperceptible hint of
magic touch me. Trying not to react I let my senses take it in and felt, not a
demon, but something else. Human, but with magic undertones. Some type of Mage
then. Probably a Wizard, or at least a practitioner. If the Fae could work with
them, why not humans? At least I didn’t sense dark magic. But then, I really
hadn’t expected to.

"Just the one?" he asked, taking it carefully. He
seemed a little surprised, but I knew he'd sensed nothing else.

"I've got a phone," I replied, pulling it out of
my pocket.

"They won’t let you take that into the building."

I knew that of course. Not just because Michael had
mentioned it, but I'd had to turn it in before. Since every phone had a camera
and recorder, they were now discouraged at many government facilities. That was
also common practice at many law enforcement agencies, so it was nothing new.

"I understand," I said as got into the back seat.

I expected us to head downtown but instead we drove east,
towards Nellis Air Force Base. A quiet half hour later, we pulled into what
looked like an abandoned warehouse complex just south of the base runways. The
driver took the SUV through the front gate and then drove to the back where he
got out and opened the door for me.

"Nice place," I commented.

He just nodded as he gestured to a door at the back of the
building across from me, so I stepped onto the gravel and walked towards it.
Opening the door, I entered a small vestibule. In front of me was a door with a
window and counter like you'd see in a bank or at a security entrance, so I
stepped up to it. To the left of me was another door. That one was a heavy
metal slider like the kind you'd see in a jail or prison.

"Please place any electronic devices on the shelf,"
said the guard behind the counter.

I reached into my pocket and removed my iPhone and placed it
on the counter as he had asked. A moment later the other door opened and I
walked through it towards an elevator. As the door slid shut behind me, the
elevator door opened and that’s when I felt it. Some sort of spell was in place
that acted like a dampening field, shutting me out from the outside world. I
was no expert but whoever crafted it knew his stuff. Michael was right. I'd
only have whatever magic I'd brought in with me. I'd even lost my link to
Sendy. But there was nothing I could do about it, so I stepped inside, and as
the doors closed, began going down.

"Mr. Hoskins, welcome," a man said as the elevator
stopped and the door opened. He was shorter than the other and had dark hair. I
also got the slightest hint of Demon from him, but whatever magic they had used
prevented me from learning anything more. "Please excuse the look of the
facilities. We find it discourages unwelcome guests."

"I'm sure it does," I said. He turned and I
followed him down the corridor. "And you are?"

"Agent Theno," he replied as he led me into what
appeared to be a conference room. It was small. The oval table and six chairs
filled it almost entirely. I couldn’t help but notice the mirror that had to be
one way glass on the wall. He gestured for me to sit before taking a seat
himself. He then placed some papers down in front of me.

"What's this?" I asked as I picked it up to read.

"Standard confidentiality agreement," he replied.
"As set out by the Covenant of Roanoke in 1789, you agree that you will
not disclose anything we discuss to any humans, other than those in our direct
employ, without prior approval from us."

I reviewed it and signed it. It was as simple as he had made
it out to be, not like most government forms these days. There was even a
description of the covenant attached. That one was simple as well. The Fae of
that time period had agreed to the same, as well as to commit no acts to
overthrow the new government. There was some additional language which was
interesting. They'd also agreed not to join the army without prior approval. I
was amazed that everyone was still following that rule. The other just made
sense. I can't think of any Fae that would want their presence known to the
humans. I suppose the army clause made sense as well, but you have to admit
they'd be a powerful force to reckon with. Of course the other side could have the
same, so that was probably the reason for it.

"Thank you," he said as he picked it up and put it
into a folder he was carrying. "Agent Guerrier's plane has landed and they
should be here shortly. I apologize for the wait. Someone will let you know as
soon as they arrive."

"Ok," I replied as I looked around the room.
"Any chance for a cup of coffee?"

"I'll see what I can do," he said before getting
up and exiting.

After he left I surveyed the room. The walls were a shade of
government green and everything was made of plastic or metal. Even the chairs
were upholstered in faux leather. The floor looked like painted concrete, but
was actually linoleum. There were two plastic plants in opposite corners. I was
sure there was a camera as well, but I didn’t see it. Not that it mattered. You
could put a pinhole camera damn near anywhere. I even had one in the shape of a
button back at the office. It might look like a conference room, but with the
one way mirror in the wall, it felt more like an interview room. I'd been in a
lot of those, but seldom on this side of the table.

I wanted to check the door knob to see if it was locked, but
I knew that would make me look weak. Instead, I put my arms on the table,
clasped my hands and closed my eyes, trying to subtly reach out, or at least
sense, whatever magic was left in the air. There wasn't much, but I could hear
a bit outside the door. As I looked I was surprised to see a slight gap under
it. It wasn't airtight or soundproof, even if it was solid, and there were
faint traces of the agent's residual magic in the air. They were dissipating
rapidly. Whatever spell they used must see to that.

While I sat and waited, I noted several beings walk by the
door, including at least one that felt like he was loitering at the mirror. Whatever
spell blanketed this place limited what information I could sense but it was
obvious the corridor didn’t stay empty. After about 15 minutes or so the door
opened and Agent Theno reappeared.

"My apologies, Mr. Hoskins," he said as he peeked
his head in. "It appears that something important has come up. Agent
Guerrier has been called back to LA, and your meeting with our supervisor will
be delayed. It shouldn't be too long, though. I'll let you know as soon as he
is available."

The door closed before I could respond and I got a little irritated,
but I knew how the game was played. Maybe something did come up. That didn’t
mean I had to like it. But what about Jay? Was he still enroute here? Then I
remembered something similar that had happened years ago, involving the old Sheriff.

A colleague had won a prestigious award and had traveled to
a major city with the Sheriff to be honored. I forget at the moment where it
was, might have been L.A. or Salt Lake, or maybe Phoenix. Anyway, they had had
a time set for a photo shoot and a meet and greet with the agency Director out
of Washington that was at the same hotel as the awards ceremony.

When they showed up promptly at the suite at the appointed
time, they were informed that some local bigwig had stopped by to visit and
they'd have to wait until he was finished. Now it wasn't another government
official he was meeting. As a matter of fact I think it was a local celebrity, and
that didn’t set too well with the Sheriff. After a minute or two, he let them
know that he had other appointments and if the director wanted to see him, he
could just meet him at the bar downstairs. The Vegas agent in charge, who was
also at the ceremony, had to come down to the bar and beg the Sheriff to
reconsider. Now you have to remember, this was the old Sheriff of Las Vegas. The
DC boys were all in suits, but he's wearing a cowboy hat, boots and a bolo tie.
It was still the Wild West as far as he was concerned. The point is, two can
play that game.

Now there wasn't a bar around, but I had an idea that might
get their attention. But fifteen minutes really wasn't that long, so I resumed
my position and tried to compose myself. After another half hour I thought I
was doing pretty well, when I heard a faint noise in the hallway and sensed
something familiar. Jay had arrived. Then I sensed someone else… my daughter
had been brought here as well! Damn them! It was one thing to use my son who
worked for the agency, but she was a local. Now that was playing dirty. My
irritation turned to anger and I decided it was time to make a point ala the
old Sheriff. I gave it five minutes or so to make sure that the kids were no
longer in the corridor, then got up from my seat and walked to the mirror.

"I need to see Agent Theno," I said, looking
directly at the reflection of myself. I waited for a few minutes, but there was
no response, not that I had really expected one. If they really wanted to test
my strength in magic, then I was going to oblige. After a few minutes I lifted
my arm and pointed to my wrist, as if I was pointing to a watch, had I been
wearing one. There was still no response, but I didn’t need magic to know they
were watching. I shrugged my shoulders. It was show time!