Ahmad scratches his cheek and thinks for a second.
“Well, Alfie and I met up with some friends and then drove around the town a bit. A couple of them are not from around the area, so we showed them the woods, outskirts, that sort of thing. Sioux Falls is small, but they liked that we were so close to nature. We thought about eating out together, but in the end everyone was pretty knackered and we just went home.”
They followed this trail for some time longer as it swung back in the direction of town, notably one of the poorer looking areas. The houses, if they could really be called that, were small, one-story, two-room affairs. The alleyway that seemed to serve as the street had a pile of cardboard boxes that seemed to be serving as someone's makeshift shelter, mostly likely the ragged-looking blonde woman who seemed to be using a scrap of chalk to draw a hat on a brick wall. One of the chain link fences by a house had a scrap of cloth where someone had torn their clothing. By its state, it appeared relatively recent -- within the past day or so-- though unfortunately the pavement meant there was no further trail to actually follow.
"Mr. Elmotar? I'm sorry, but something urgent has come up. Deputy Orwell here will finish taking your statement and then show you to your friend." To the deputy he added, "Get the name of any of his friends and their contact details that he was with last night along with if he went anywhere with a camera that might back up his statement." He then started to leave as the deputy stepped into the room, pulling out a notepad and pen.
Eyeing the portal - for lack of a better word when glaring at an invisible portal - Rani sent a second text to her new contact, mentioning the feeling of warmth and comfort from the portal and ice from the seal.
Alfie shakes his head. "Excuse me, but I've been here for a few hours already. It's time for me to head back. If you have further questions, I can come back tomorrow."
“Sure. I’m not sure about one of them, actually, she’s more a friend of a friend who tagged along, but here are the other two.” Ahmad gives the officers Rani and Oscar’s contacts, but withholds Taryn’s — who knows what’s her legal status? Would she bite a cop’s neck if they tried to interrogate her? Better not risk it.
Before Lt. Carter leaves, Ahmad gives the man his best “reliable guy” look.
“So, Lieutenant, can I ask you a question? What sort of trouble is Alfie in? What is this all about? I can see why some might think he’s a charlatan, but I know him well. He’s trying to do help people, in his own way.”
Seeing puppy eyes did not work, Ahmad continues on the offensive.
“Yes, yes, of course, I understand. You’re absolutely right. It’s just…I’m sure you know the sort of thing Alfie does for a living. It’s not exactly the most sound-of-mind type of thing, right? He’s a good guy, but I keep an eye him, just to be sure these ideas of ‘spirits’ don’t progress into a further detachment from reality. If I know what is happening I can watch out for signs and warnings.”
Oscar approaches the woman drawing with chalk on the wall.
"Do you know who lives here?" he asks her, indicating the house at the end of his and Taryn's trail.
Alfie stares the deputy in his eyes. "So I couldn't have been told I was under arrest when I made clear to the officers who escorted me here that I intended to go back later today?" he bellows. "And after that, being deprived of the rightful presumption of innocence during interrogation? For shame, officer! If I am deprived of my freedom, after I am cleared of these ridiculous charges the world and justice will know of these abuses."
Making sure no one else was around, he lowered his voice. "Listen, I could lose my job for disobeying my CO's orders. But if you make it worth my while, I might be willing to risk it for you." He rubbed his fingers together suggesting that he was asking for money.
If Williams believed he was risking his job letting Alfie go -- which if he simply let the man go was less of a risk and really more of a certainty -- most likely he'd want a fairly substantial bribe. While Alfie had managed to eventually pay back the second mortgage he had taken out, his financials hadn't quite recovered yet. A bribe of that magnitude would certainly make things uncomfortably tight for him. He might need to take out a small business loan to stay afloat. On the other hand, if he could give the deputy some plausible deniability by faking an escape, Williams might be able to keep his job and therefore settle for a smaller bribe, one that only required metaphorically tightening his belt a bit. Of course, it would also mean he would be on the lam. Or he could possibly wait until someone with actual authority showed up and try threatening them. While he certainly would never win his threatened lawsuit, he could at least try to drag it out and cost the city as much as possible. It wasn't something a lowly deputy would care much about, but the lieutenants or the sheriff himself might want to avoid it.
“His delusions have so far always been of a fairly benign nature. I’ve watched many of his “sessions” and it’s a bit like Enya meets grief management. I’ve monitored him from a certain distance in order to make sure this behaviour does not change — say, that the ‘spirits’ don’t tell him to do bad things. Before today there has been no indication of violent behaviour on his part. I am more than willing to sign an affidavit saying all of this.
“I understand if you cannot disclose this information. I will keep an eye on him anyway. But understand that if you want someone that has your person of interest’s complete trust, who can monitor him without raising any suspicions that he’s actually being observed and who has the training to handle people during a suspected psychotic episode, you can’t do much better than me.”
She suddenly whirled around one again, pointing her piece of chalk at his chest and using it to punctuate each word. "Do. You. Know. The. Importance. Of. A. Good. Cuppa?"
"No."
Oscar will see if she wants to answer her own question. If not, he'll thank her for her help, extricate himself from the conversation and rejoin Taryn.
************
"I can knock on the front door, while you watch the back door." It's hard to tell through Oscar's monotone, but he's offering a suggested way to proceed, and inviting her input.
"What do you mean 'making it worth your while'? How do I do that? Alfie asks, preferring to play dumb until the officer expresses his intention in words.
Williams shrugged. "Last chance. Am I reading you your Miranda rights and putting the arrest in the system and then throwing you in? Or are you going to go in quietly?" He leaned in closer, voice dropping so that only Alfie could hear it below the demands for freedom. "Or are you and I gonna take a little trip to the bank?"
Ready to dismiss the woman and turn away, Oscar pauses at the fervor in her words and re-considers her.
What is being concealed here?
"Yes, let's make a deal," Alfie agrees, replying in a calm but hushed voice. "Let me out, and I won't report to your superiors that you just made two attempts to solicit a bribe. Recall that I maintain my innocence, and I would make such a report clear of the charges against me. Yes, I know you're going to ask if I really think anyone would believe my word against yours. Well, how willing are you to have that question mark next to your name for the rest of your career?"
"Why is this tea so important. What happens during your 'Cuppa'?"
“A wire which I assume you would be monitoring at all times and would have to be worn in secrecy? That would violate his privacy in a way I would not be comfortable with. As I said, I have been accompanying Alfie for years and have yet to see any hint of dangerous behaviour, so treating him as a criminal is not something I feel comfortable with. I understand you have no reason to trust me, so it seems we have reached a standstill.”
Ahmad stands up and amicably offers his hand to the officer.
“My offer still stands, if the situation changes. And I will of course notify you Alfie’s situation takes an unexpected turn for the worse.”
If the man is willing, Ahmad exchanges phone numbers.
"Well, we all sit around the table having a nice tea party! Though I'm afraid I so often find my own cup is soiled. But that's ok! There's always another cup just waiting for me when I change seats! As to why it's so important, why what else could be more important? It's warm and soothing and relaxing. It gives you a chance to slow down, smell the roses as it were. After all, a nose by any other name could still smell."
The yelling man in the cell next door continued to yell at the deputy despite his lack of interest. "You gotta let me out of here! I gotta find my girl! You'll never be able be able to get to her! Please! I'm begging you! I'll give you anything."
"Yeah, yeah, can it Campbell. You don't have anything I'm interested in."
The man on the opposite side from Alfie gave a low groan before mumbling. "Kin ya tell 'im ta cut th' racket? Me head's killin' me!"
After a few minutes, another deputy walks in accompanied by Ahmad. Once more the man to Alfie's right started yelling as the man to his left groaned. The new deputy gave the loud man a glare. "You keep that up, and I'm going to have a few of the fellas go in there and gag you." He looked like he was going to continue despite the warning, but instead sullenly moved to sit down, legging bouncing up and down anxiously. Seemingly satisfied, the deputy nodded for Ahmad to approach, but remained within earshot of the two.
The lieutenant handed Ahmad a business card before hurrying off. The deputy then took the rest of Ahmad's written statement. Once that was done, he led him a relatively short ways to a series of cells. Ahmad's attention was immediately drawn to the cell Alfie was in. Then next to the cell to Alfie's right where a man immediately started yelling.
"You gotta let me out of here! I gotta find my girl!"
With a slight start, Ahmad recognized the man. It was Bryce Campbell, Alice's father. The deputy gave Bryce a glare. "You keep that up, and I'm going to have a few of the fellas go in there and gag you."
Bryce looked like he was going to continue despite the warning, but instead sullenly moved to sit down, legging bouncing up and down anxiously. Seemingly satisfied, the deputy moved to stand over next to the empty cell to Alfie's left, nodding for Ahmad to go ahead and talk to his friend but keeping within earshot of the two.
Ahhh, interesting. Well, if I had to guess, your spell is failing because the pathway it needs to take is blocked. If you want to be able to find the little girl, you'll have to remove the seal. From what you've described, it sounds like it wasn't a very good seal to start off with; certainly not one created by someone as versed as I am in these things.
She listed out the different components Rani would need before explaining their purpose in each part of the spell. Take the needle that's never been threaded and hold it in front of you. In your mind's eye, picture a cherished memory of your. Imagine yourself drawing the thread of that memory from your head and using it to thread the needle. This will form a pathway from you, the source of energy and magic into the needle. With this threaded needle, you must then approach someone with whom you have a bond. Tell them you love them; it doesn't have to be romantic love but your feelings for them must be genuine. Open your heart to them by telling them a secret you have never shared with another soul. If they do not reject you for sharing your truth, their love will infuse you with the strength to reach the sun magic you sensed. That energy will flow through you, along the thread of your memory, into the needle, burning the memory to dust in the process.
Once this is done, you have but an hour to finish the spell. You must place the ruby as close to the physical location of the seal as you can get it. Bind the ruby to the seal using the following incantation: 'Fotiá sti fotiá. Mou arései.' Then bind the ruby to the item you had promised to protect: 'I agápi mou gia ti dikí sas. Syndéetai me tin agápi. Desmevméni apó fotiá.' You must then use your powered needle to destroy the item while saying 'Spázo ton desmó mas, apeleftherónontas tin enérgeiá tou ston kósmo.'. The stronger the bond you break -- the more important to you the owner of the item is and the more important the item is to that person -- the more energy will be released when you break the bond. The ruby will then draw the energy towards itself. It will act as the bridge between your magic and the magic of the portal, melting the seal that lies between the two. Once this is done, the seal will be broken.
I hope this leads you to the girl you seek just as your tracking spell will undoubtedly lead me to mine.
Best of luck,
C
Oscar demurs. "I'm sorry, we can't right now." He backs away from the woman.
Assuming Taryn joins him, he tells her, "I can knock on the front door, while you watch the back door." It's hard to tell through Oscar's monotone, but he's offering a suggested way to proceed, and inviting her input.
Taryn's eyes were still narrowed, not reacting for a moment while Oscar spoke. There's something familiar about her, but what? Is it just that she's mad as a- "Fine."
She padded around the side, gingerly sniffing to see if that same awful reek was here too.
Out of sight of anyone else, Oscar checks to make sure his pistol is loaded, and then he goes to knock on the front door.
After Alfie surrenders to the officer with a grumbled but clear protest "You will be held accountable," he looks at his new roommates and Ahmad. He remains silent, since he wasn't in the mood to take the initiative in greeting anyone.
Ahmad looks at Bryce, then at Alfie, then at the guard, then does one more round before doing a ‘huh.’
“Hey, buddy!” He says to Alfie. “That’s a pretty crappy situation. I tried asking the detective…lieutenant…whatever what’s the deal, but he really wasn’t keen on telling me anything. Anyway, it could be worse, right? You could, I don’t know, have found a weird blob/sludge creature that promised you power and stuff, then turned into a werewolf and done who knows what. That would be way crazier and worse, right?” He’s looking directly at Bryce right now, eyes wide like a maniac. “But, even if that weird thing had happened, I’d totally have your back because if you had done that I’m sure you’d have had a really good reason because deep down you're a nice enough guy in a tough situation.” Still looking at Bryce, slowly turning his head to Alfie. “Can I do anything to help you?”
The man in the cell to Alfie's right glanced briefly at Ahmad before his eyes flicked back towards the deputy. Ahmad could see his jaw clench and unclench a few times, but he seemed to be taking the guard's threat to heart and remained silent. For his part, the deputy was giving Ahmad a What the hell are you blabbering about? look.
"Or more likely," Alfie suggests, "that sludge creature, seeing as it already knows how to turn into a werewolf, may have copied my form and framed me for that crime. I still haven't been told who I'm accused of killing, by the way. Do you know?" He knows that he is being listened to. So much the better, if his guess proves true if it might give reason to believe he isn't guilty. Better that the police hear it from a man they probably already deem a lunatic and not have someone else risk his reputation on such a claim.
If there is a window in the front, Oscar will try and peer through it.
Ahmad puts his hand to his temple.
"Oh. Wow. I think…I think I'm not feeling too well all of a sudden."
He leans against the bars then falls on his backside.
"Everything's spinning. I need some sugar and some water. Or soda. Low-blood pressure. Can…barely…speak. Please, mister officer!"
Taryn gave a cursory look for any signs or stickers that this house might be alarmed, and then went in the back door.
Knowing that there wasn't an abundance of time before the deputy came back, Bryce wasted no time hurrying to the bars. "You gotta call my ex-wife Sarah! She's the only one that can talk that bastard out of his insane grudge against me! I have to get back out there to find her!"
Oscar pushes the door open, but doesn't yet enter.
"Hello," he calls. If nobody answers, he steps inside and pulls the door shut behind him.
His hails still getting no response, Oscar moved inside the house. He moved to close the door behind him only to discover the latch was thoroughly broken. He pushed the door as closed as it would stay. The room he was in was the one he had glimpsed through the window. There was a small coffee table with a pizza box on it that still seemed to contain a few slices of cold, meat-lovers pizza in it along with a couple of empty beer cans. The couch had a couple of cushions and a pillow piled at one end with a blanket that seemed to have been thrown haphazardly on the ground near it. Another beer can lay on the floor. Off in one corner of the room was an old-looking tv both the couch and few other chairs were vaguely angled towards.
The back of the room had a fold-away table, a box with the remains of what looked like chicken wings on it and two foldable chairs around it. To the right of this was a closed-door leading to more of the small house.
"An address or phone number, perhaps?" Alfie suggests meekly. "Not for me, of course..."
Oscar cautiously pushes or pulls the door open and peers through.
Aware of the camera, Ahmad continues sitting on the ground as he talks to Alfie.
“There’s no need, my mother can get that to us. But, man,” he says turning slightly to Bryce, “you have like 1 minute to tell us everything. The cops have no idea what they’re dealing with and I’m not sure what your wife can do against werewolves and talking blobs of…stuff. Who has Alice? Who and what are they? What do they want?”
"My wife can talk some damn sense into her father and get me out of here so I can find her! That bastard's always had it out for me. Never thought I was good enough for his precious daughter. It's his fault we broke up in the first place! Now the idiot is convinced I've taken her when I'm the only person who can get her back! I have no idea who has her, but when I find them, they're gonna regret taking my little baby girl! Now call Sarah already! Every moment I'm stuck in here is another moment she's getting further away! Another moment when god only knows what is happening to her!"
"I don't think that there's anyone here," Oscar informs Taryn. We can look for anything that might tell us who lives here, but this could also be a trap.
Taryn lets out a long growl of frustration that stops just short of turning into a whine. "A dead end? Really?"
Without taking much care to keep things intact, she rifled through the house, giving everything the old lift n' sniff to make sure there was nothing they'd overlooked.
The vast majority of the house smelled of one person, some man that smoked and was undoubtedly the owner/primary resident of the house. There was, however, the scent of someone else, primarily hovering around the beat-up couch in what seemed to serve as a living room of the small house. Under the couch Taryn found a backpack that had either been shoved or kicked under. Inside the backpack was a variety of men's clothes that had been shoved in unceremoniously, all of which seemed to have been worn at least once. There were also a plastic water bottle that looked to have been used and then refilled again, a pocket knife, a flashlight. Slightly out of place and carefully placed in a side pocket was a worn and well-loved copy of an illustrated children's book of fairy tales and fables. Holding the book up and letting it open itself to the most well-worn position showed that the tale most commonly read was the Three Little Pigs.
Ahmad looks at Alfie and shrugs. Bryce is clearly one of the least reliable people in this room but he knows he needs to stay on the man’s good side to get any more information.
“I can try. We barely know each other, so this is going to be an awkward call. But, like, what are the odds a cop is going to go actually listen to his daughter when she asks him to free a suspect? ”
After getting his reply, Ahmad unlocks his phone and dials Sarah’s phone number.
“Hello, Sarah? Ms. Campbell? I’m…Fatima’s son and, well, I have sort of a weird thing to ask. Do you think it’s possible your father put Bryce in prison just out of, you know, spite? I was visiting a friend and we happened to talk, and it’s pretty clear he is worried about Alice like everyone else. I don’t know, it just sounds…unfair?”
Well, hells. That was not going to be a fun ritual to do, and Rani was very tempted not to...if there wasn't a chance to save a little girl then she wouldn't. Sighing, she sent her thanks and went to find a new in package needle. She could try explaining later, but magic was tricky - it might stop her making amends later long after the portal was gone. Still, burning bridges was an art form she had long since perfected...
Taking the sealed needle she found somewhere to sit and quietly work the memory into the needle. Comfort was important when trying to do something this big, after all. Taking the needle, she focused on it, and pulled a memory from her mind.
They laughed and giggle as the water poured from the sky, so cold when the sun was so bright. She had never known water so clean to be used for plants and lawns and play, but that was why it was being used, and she was happy to use it for that.
The booming laugh of a boy her age drew her ear and her eye as another group ran in. Something clicked a gap toothed grin...and shoved another boy in the mud.
Rani winced as she pulled the memory of her brother from her mind, of there meeting. She'd already lost the one where he went missing, and now she threaded the one where they had met to form the core of the spell. It felt...fitting, but the ache in her guts made it feel horrible, and wrong, to lose. She knew what was missing, could see a few flickers...but no, as it was threaded the memory was gone.
Shaking her head, Rani paused for a moment and then sent Ahmad a text, telling him they needed to meet.
Bryce snorted. "Well, when that 'cop' is the Sheriff and the only reason the guy is a 'suspect' is because he didn't like a former crook marrying his precious daughter, pretty damn good! He's got no evidence! For chrissake, I was out of town when she was taken! I only found out she was missing when Sarah started sending me a bunch of panicked messages!"
As Ahmad calls, the phone rings a few times before he hears Sarah pick up with a watery greeting. "Hello? Have you found-. Oh Bryce? Does he have-" She starts off several times, cutting herself off as Ahmad's words seem to catch up with her brain. There's a pause as she seems to gather her thoughts before asking, "So you've seen Bryce and he says he doesn't have Alice?" That confirmed, she took another pause to consider Ahmad's idea. Speaking carefully she responded, "Father wouldn't knowingly put someone in jail unless he truly believed that person belonged in there. But...he hasn't exactly been, well, the most open-minded about Bryce's past. If Bryce says he doesn't have Alice and she wasn't found with him, then I believe him. I can try talking some sense into him, but he's...well, he's stubborn. He might refuse to listen unless given concrete evidence or until Alice is found. I'll head over-"
Ahmad was distracted from the end of Sarah's sentence by a loud crash of glass breaking coming from the direction of the out-of-sight bullpen.
“Ok, yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I felt bad for him…possibly locked up for no reason on top of everything that’s happening,” Ahmad continues speaking as he tries to peek at whatever might be causing all that ruckus without losing Bryce and Alfie from his sight.
‘Hey, what’s up? Sounds serious. I’m trying to get Alfie out of jail (long story, don’t ask) but we can meet later? Or text?’