‘Tessie, wait!’ Called Damien after her, but it was too late. She was already across the market, the dust flying in her wake. She left him gaping in his guilt and confusion.

  Tessa returned to the healing centre feeling oddly victorious. She bounced into Lee's room and settled at her usual spot by his side. He was improving by leaps and bounds, having started murmuring in his sleep and almost reaching consciousness. Tessa fell asleep again at his side, exhausted but calmed after her confrontation. She slept fitfully, strange and often terrifying dreams disturbing her. When she awoke, she found that Lee had draped an arm around her shoulders. Tessa jerked up when she realised that he must have moved at some point, and sure enough, he was gazing back at her. Her heart leapt as they smiled at each other, just sharing a look and happiness in the knowledge that the other was alive. Tessa moved up onto the bed beside Lee, curling up into his arms. They fell asleep in that embrace, finally resting easily.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Tessa had begun to get a newfound appreciation and disgust for daytime television thanks to her time at the healing centre. The endless supply of trash was excellent for whiling away the hours, but there was only so much she could handle. She channel surfed idly, waiting for Lee to be done with his latest array of tests. The reddened face of a local politician filled the screen as she flipped to a 24/7 news channel, making Tessa gag dramatically. She was about to flip over when she caught what he was saying.

  ‘It is for this reason that my party and I have put forward a bill regarding the clear identification and segregation of all non-humans, these so called magickal peoples. It is a matter of safety that these predators are removed from our population.’ He raved as the camera swung back to the reporter. The juxtaposition of the red-faced, bland man in a worsted grey suit to the svelte news reporter with perfectly coiffed hair was telling.

  ‘You are very vocal on the matter Mr Parsons. Do you really think you will pass this bill given that it will ostracise many of your voters?’ Came a question from behind a microphone. The obese, balding, putrescent man nodded more emphatically than Tessa thought possible.

  ‘Yes! Given recent events, I think this is finally a time for humans to band together and eradicate this problem. In the past violent witch hunts have not worked, but in a modern era of political power, we finally have a chance. There is no space for non-humans in our beautiful region. I believe this will pave the way for many other governments, perhaps finally becoming an international issue.’

  ‘But don't you fear this will incite violence?’ Another reporter, more coiffed hair and power suited feminine nature.

  ‘Perhaps it shall, but perhaps it is needed to finally free ourselves from this scourge.’ Mr Parsons looked directly down the barrel of the camera, his dark eyes full of malice and loathing. Tessa flicked off the TV sadly, the image of his glare burnt into her retinas.

  If this zealot got his wish, it would be a very bad time to be a witch. Tessa pondered the timing, there had been so many murders, both mundane and magickal alike, so why was this being raised now? There had always been murmurings of this general idea, but this was the first big, public push.

  Tessa was terrified at the idea that this may succeed, that all of magick kind would be ostracised and criminalised. It was this fear, this deep-rooted phobia of hers that had finally come to life and now spurred her into action. The safe and soothing blue walls of the hospital had become bland, sitting and healing had lost its appeal, even waiting for Lee seemed less important now she knew he was safe.

  Tessa wrenched herself out of bed, got dressed and wrote Lee a note. The fuzzy haired asshole had to have a bolt hole somewhere in North Bayton, so she would start with that warehouse. She also called in to the office and requested a list of employees for that warehouse district, along with identification photos. He had to live or work in the area, given how well he seemed to know the laneways and hidey holes. A rat never strays far from its nest. She was ready to hit the streets.

  Chapter Nineteen

  As she creaked open the warehouse door, Tessa was hit by the memories leading up to her kidnapping. She had to physically shake her head to clear it before she could carry on and step into the huge space. Luckily the building was apparently normally used mainly for storage, so she didn't have employees watching her poke around. When she had called the company who owned it, she was also told it had recently been cleared in order for a new shipment to arrive, due in the next week or so.

  Finally, she was getting a break, less clutter meant less to search. She went over every inch of the internal space, even kicking a few stray newspapers aside in case some hidey hole was below them. When she found nothing on the floor and walls, Tessa finally looked up.

  ‘You have got to be shitting me.’ There was a small array of scratch marks as well as dust free swipes along a beam running over a mezzanine area. The scratch marks, and rope like patterns in the dust... a grappling hook? Tessa scrunched her face up at the plausibility but sheer oddness of her finding. How had he gotten up there so fast? She had only been a few seconds behind him, but he had disappeared, and she was sure she hadn't seen a rope hanging down. While she thought about her current predicament, Tessa idly scratched her head, the tension running through her neck heralding an oncoming headache

  ‘Well, onwards and upwards,’ she resolved, plotting a path up to the dusty and cobwebbed mezzanine. After climbing the only ladder present, an ancient effort riddled with rust, Tessa carefully touched the toe of her boot to the mezzanine floor. It seemed sturdy enough, but she could never quite be sure. Certainly not sure enough to calm her overacting imagination, which was presenting her psyche with images involving a rusty break, a nasty fall and a whole lot of death.

  Taking a deep breath, Tessa put most of her weight out onto the floor, then stepped fully off the ladder. It held, and she exhaled the breath in a thankful prayer. The second she grabbed the hand rail, a high screech of metal on oxidised metal rent the air and a shower of rust shards fell to the floor. Tessa felt ill and tore her hand away, swearing to not use it again. Step by step, she inched along until she reached the beam with the scuff marks and scratches. Reaching up, she carefully felt along it, finding that rather than being merely scratches, there were deep scores in the metal. Something had forced its way over the beam, and moved slightly.

  ‘Ok... so a fluffy murderer with a super fast grappling hook? Who is killing based on a movie... seriously!’ Tessa exclaimed, exhaling sharply in her frustration. It was all so implausible. Ahead lay more rusted mezzanine floor, cobwebs and dust, however they had been disturbed, and recently. Following the path along the walkway, Tessa came to a door. It was so coated in filth that it was impossible to see from the ground level. She gingerly tested the handle and was surprised when it easily clicked open. Even more surprising was the lack of noise when she pushed it open to reveal another walkway over another warehouse, this one with a good deal more items in it.

  There was less dust, however there was just as much rust, and Tessa had to wrinkle her nose when she identified little piles of rat faeces. She visibly shuddered, more freaked out by the droppings than the height or ubiquitous dust. The shudder made the walkway creak ominously, another shower of rust fell along with the 'plink' of what was probably a screw. Tessa shuffled another step forward, her breath held tight in fear. Another step, nearly there.

  Plink.

  Another metallic screech filled the gloom before it settled back into deafening silence.

  Plink.

  The rusty floor beneath her shuddered violently, then dropped away. Tessa felt her world slow, she was suspended in midair, the mezzanine collapsing beneath her. A millisecond passed, then Tessa was falling too, instinctively curling herself around her precious organs. She struck a shelving unit, slamming into it before bouncing off and splaying onto the floor. The shelf took off a lot of momentum, the majority of the force spread along her side and caused her to land spread eagled on her back. The air was forced from her lungs, bursting forth in a vicious gasp. She stared up at the ceiling, fighting for air in futile desperation. Lucky to be alive, Tessa slowed her breathing and gradually brought herself back to normal. Sharp pain flooded her side with every inspiration, and she knew something was at least cracked, again.

  Another pain throbbed beneath her, and Tessa rolled slightly to reach beneath her. One of the screws from the walkway, rusted and ugly. Tessa was about to throw it away when a glint caught her eye. It was scratched, someone had to have used a tool on it recently and in doing, scratched off the decay. Sitting up abruptly, Tessa scrabbled around the mouldy cardboard boxes to find the other screws. She could only find one other, and sure enough, it was similarly tampered with.

  Sighing, she grabbed one of her little evidence baggies out and threw the screws in. Someone had booby trapped that walkway, and Tessa had wandered straight into it. She took some pictures of the debris and the collapsed walkway to add to fuzzy head’s charges. At this point it was a death sentence anyway, but it didn’t hurt to have some extra evidence.

  Hitching herself up, she thrust the thoughts about someone trying to kill her out of her mind, solely focused on catching the bastard. An exploration of the second warehouse revealed plenty of exits into the surrounding area, all relatively well used. She had tracked him this far but could go no further. Blowing a stray lock of hair out of her face, Tessa sighed loudly, feeling a little stumped.

  Glancing around the room one last time before she left revealed only boxes, shelving... and a constant red light!

  A security camera was set high on the ceiling, barely noticeable if it wasn't for the little LED light breaking through the false dusk created by the warehouse itself. She had her next step, the last straw to be grasped.

  Chapter Twenty

  Back at the hospital, Tessa called in to the other warehouse owners and had the CCTV camera footage sent over to her to view on her tablet. She had just started to scroll through it around the time of her attack when Lee began to rouse.

  ‘Hello beautiful. Was worried I wouldn't see you again.’ He murmured, voice husky from lack of use.

  ‘Of course you were gonna see me. Can't get away that easily. You saved me... well you saved both of us... Thank you, I love you.’ Tessa said to Lee, tripping over her words in an effort to to get out everything she had been thinking about the last few days. Lee nodded slowly and beckoned her closer so she could hear.

  ‘I know.’ He replied, earning a swat on the shoulder and a groan from Tessa for his efforts.

  ‘I was trying to be serious!’ Sulked Tessa, mostly in jest. She was regretting introducing him to Star Wars. He gently took her hand before pulling her onto the bed and enveloping her in his arms.

  ‘Hey you are supposed to be resting! And healing!’

  ‘I'm bored with resting.’

  ‘You only just woke up!’

  ‘Yes, and I am bored!’ finished Lee, flinching as he hit his bruised face trying to nuzzle into her neck. It was at that moment that a young healer walked in and dropped her files in surprise and embarrassment. Tessa was now lying on top of Lee, arms and legs akimbo and his face buried into her neck. It must have looked a lot worse than it was. The healer covered her face, speaking through her hands.

  ‘Oh! I am so sorry... I came to do checks and give you treatment... I can come back later.’ Stuttered the poor girl, going very red under her hands. Tessa scrambled to get up, trying not to laugh at the girls position.

  ‘Oh no, he was just being a ratbag, you can have him! I have some work to do and will come back later.’ She turned to Lee before continuing. ‘Now be good! You need to heal so we can finish this case. I will talk to you when I get back about everything.’ Tessa leant down to kiss him gently on the head before leaving, giving the mortified healer a wide berth. Her own room had since been reassigned at her request, so Tessa settled in the pretty but functional visitors room. She wasn’t willing to admit to the healers that she had injured herself anew, hoping that the medicines she was still taking would be enough.

  Grabbing a drink from the ancient vending machine, she settled in again to start watching the security footage. Tessa slapped herself on the forehead when she realised that the video had been reset in transit and she would have to scan through it all again.

  There was nothing out of the ordinary aside from the fact that an extraordinary amount of rats seemed to have set up home in the warehouse, as well as the occasional stray cat hunting for said rats. That explained all the mess. Tessa sighed and scrolled through further.

  When a door cracked open and a head peeked in she scrambled to press the play button. The person entered, followed by another. Tessa raised an eyebrow when she realised that this was clearly some kind of clandestine meeting between the fuzzy haired killer and another man who had his back to the camera. She could see the killer’s face clearly, framed by a halo of hair that glowed in the sunlight from the door. Tessa checked the time signature on the movie, four hours before her attack.

  They weren't there long, but the conversation was clearly rather friendly. The other man was repeatedly touching the killers shoulder and nodding, leaning in to talk. Tessa quirked at his odd body language, so affectionate and fatherly. Could it be that someone was influencing fluffy to kill? The conversation wrapped up quickly, with the fatherly man turning to leave. She tapped the pause button when his face was revealed and zoomed in.

  Her mouth went dry as recognition flared. Senator Parsons, in all his grotesque glory, was having a secret meeting with the Bayton Magickal Killer? Well, that made the urgency to pass these ridiculous magickal segregation make sense.

  Tessa was willing to bet that Senator Parsons had set up this entire series of murderous events. Politicians always had left a bad taste in her mouth. She took a few incriminating screen caps and scrolled on further, pausing it again as an email marked urgent popped up. The Agency had come through again, with a list of warehouse employees, complete with employment pictures.

  Some little paper pusher Sibyl deserved a raise, circled in red was one Patric Wills, the fluffy hate fuelled murderer himself.

  Tessa mused a moment on how someone so fluffy could be so deadly before shaking her head at her own silliness. The last known address was listed, so after checking in with Lee she went to the Agency.

  As all evidence pointed to a non-magickal affair, Tessa didn't bother with her usual magickal kit. Instead, she just grabbed some salt and perused the available array of weapons. A sucker for a classic, she chose her favourite blessed Colt 45, a newer Smith and Wesson, as well as a few clever little daggers which could be concealed about the body. Feeling a little overkill but much more secure, Tessa was ready to go.

  On her way out Tessa dropped in to the office of Sir McAdams, greeting his harried secretary. She seemed to be disappearing under a mountain of papers, all of which appeared to be press communications. Her phone was ringing away, its glaring red light indicating calls had already been missed. Tessa swallowed hard, she was sure that all of this had to be about her case. Not only did the livelihoods and lives of her people depend on this, but also her beloved Agency.

  Sir McAdams wasn't faring much better, his face even redder than usual. Worried he was going to pop a blood vessel; Tessa quickly gave him a run-down of where she was going and what she was going to do. The reply was clear.

  ‘Don't be too gentle.’

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Patric Wills lived in a cheaper area of North Bayton, characterised by spindly trees and sparse patches of grass. The needles and drug bags were just slightly better hidden here. Clearly being a murderous warehouse employee was not a lucrative business. His house was a rotting Victorian carcass, long ago split into multiple residences to maximise income from the place. As much as Tessa loved the Victorian style, this dilapidated corpse was just depressing.

  The main door was rotted through, and flagged on the breeze, having never been repaired after being bashed in. Inside the walls were thick with graffiti and grime, broken only by the occasional cockroach. Wills lived on the second floor, so Tessa navigated the stairs carefully, hopping over the ones someone had previously fallen through. A door slammed as soon as she reached the main hall, muffling the mewling of the owner's cat collection. Clearly the resident spy was satisfied and did not want to be seen. Tessa shook her head and continued until she found number 7, drawing her gun before rapping on it curtly.

  A few seconds passed, the howling of the cats and the scritching of several large roaches were the only sounds breaking the musty silence. Taking her cue, Tessa kicked in the door, beyond caring about the damage. She could have lock picked it, but kicking the door in just made her feel better. It is not like there was much door left, nor resistance to her boot.

  The inside of the apartment was much more squalid than the exterior, with rubbish littering the floor and every wall streaked with grime and stains of every shade of brown. The state of the place made her gag repeatedly, while the stench made her eyes water.

  Picking her way through the slum, Tessa scoured the den for any kind of life. It bloomed on dirty plates or scuttled along the floors, however no human life seemed to be present. The DVD of Denizens of Darkness had pride of place in front of an ancient television, clearly something Patric had watched again and again.

  A second, more thorough check confirmed that no one was home, however it did reveal a series of notebooks stashed under his mattress, along with his dreadful porn collection. Not willing to touch any more than she needed to, Tessa quickly dragged the books into the main room and dumped them on the table.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11