Something in the lovers said to take their shoes off. Only an hour before he had declared his love for her and she for him. Now, with the lights of Big City looking over the trees like a child watching ants on the pavement, the lovers walked barefoot through the dewy grass of Center Park. As if scripted, the man pulled the woman to him and they kissed. Nearby, an old Elf couple passing on a moonlight carriage ride, stole a glimpse of love just beginning. The lovers kept walking further from the path and the lights.

 

            Near a small lake, in a quiet corner of the park, they made love.

 

            They tried to hold back the world. They wanted to stop time and not have to return home to separate beds. They wanted to stay there forever.

 

            They never heard the splashing. They never saw the thing rise from the lake. The man only opened his eyes in time to see the thing bear down on them and rip them apart. When it was done the thing returned to the lake. It was tired. The next time, it would go further.  

 

            The remains of the lovers lay there, their arms still holding one another. Beside them, carved into the ground, the words:  FURY – ACTION – FREEDOM.

 

 

Big City

AVATAR

by Eric Schwartz

 

There was a creamer, then a box of blue-tip all-weather matches and a laminated bookmark (as a balancing agent). The capper was a crisscrossed grid of three swizzle sticks at 90 degrees to the three paperclips on top of them. This one had been standing for 7 days, nearly approaching the station record of 13 days.  Any files or packages were gently deposited on the other side of the desk.  The tiny sculptures and their longevity had become a source of office pride. As shifts came and went most everyone would take a look to make sure the little masterpieces were still standing. Anyone clumsy enough to knock one of the sculptures over had to buy doughnuts for the office.  If a perp being booked knocked it over, the responsibility then fell on the arresting officer.  Somehow over the years, the nervous habit of one detective had become the totem, the icon, the defining symbol of all his fellow officers. All the officers but one.

 

Needless was early as usual. He sat at the desk adjacent to his partner’s, glowering at the tiny sculpture that sat proudly on his partner’s desk. He would protect it from anyone…only because he desperately wanted to knock it over himself. He saw the sculpture as a personal threat. It was the physical embodiment of an ordered mind or at the very least, a mind trying to order itself. It stood for days daring him. It taunted the seed of chaos that had given the nickname Needless Action in the first place.

 

Somehow Needless could never bring himself to smash the little piles of stuff. Little angel vs. little devil – angel wins.  

 

            The man that the department knew as Stack sat at his desk. He was meticulously transcribing the taped phone conversation between a suspected arms dealer named Wilsted and a Goblin lawyer named Slith. Wilstead was suspected of selling weapons to street gangs for the remnants of the Manzetti crime family. Slith, it was believed was helping to launder the money. As yet the police had no proof.  This tap had been on Wilstead’s phone for weeks. Nothing out of the ordinary was heard. A dozen pizza orders.  A few calls to phone lines of ill-repute. Nothing.  He transcribed everything. Every last word archived in his computer.

 

            Stack stopped the tape and dropped his headphones on the desk. He looked across at Needless, who was staring at the small pile of objects that had been on Stack’s desk for a week.

 

            “Are you going to do any of this?”  Stack said to Needless. Without breaking his stare Needless shook his head slightly. “You really want to knock this down. Don’t you?”

 

            “In the worst way.”

 

They both became vaguely aware of two people standing next to the desks. Needless shook off his stare and looked up into the always-red face of their Captain, Dennis Breen. Standing with him was a shorter man. The man looked disheveled, like some one had just pulled him out of a coma, made him smoke a half pack of cigarettes and dumped him outside the police station. Stack and Needless stood up.

 

“Sgt. Forray. Sgt. D’yen. This is Albert Welp,” Breen said sporting a broad smile that indicated to the two that they were about to get the royal – gold plated – jewel encrusted – oiled gently shaft. “Mr. Welp this is Detective Sergeant Adam Forray and his partner Sergeant John D’yen.” 

 

Handshakes were exchanged. After a quiet moment Needless finally chimed in. “What’s going on?”

 

“Mr. Welp here is writing a book about the Manzetti Family. He’s here to follow you guys for a few weeks. You know, to ask questions about how you broke them up and stuff.” Breen said beaming. “Oh and you guys have been requested down in Center Park.” Breen laughed deep as he left Stack and Needles with Mr. Welp.

 

            “Okay,” Welp said pulling a notepad out of his back pocket, “which one is Stack Fury and which one is Needless Action?”  Welp then sat on the edge of Stack’s desk, knocking over the small creamer/matchbook pile that could have gone into the department’s record books.

 

*

 

            In the quiet dark the rat’s nails clicked along the concrete floor. The rat scampered along the corner of the room. It smelled something. Something it hadn’t smelled before. A hint of static electricity. Sweeter. Harder to define. The rat continued to move in the dark.

 

            In a sliver of light, a black eye followed the rat. A word was mumbled. The room filled with bright light as the rat erupted into flames. As the flames died away and the rat’s carcass sizzled, a hand reached down and snatched it from the floor. Within moments the rat was devoured and its bones picked clean.

 

*

 

            “Fury, action, freedom.” Stack read as he squatted next to the two lovers bodies. “I suppose it could be us but it’s kind of ambiguous.” He stood up and looked at Needless. “What do you think?” 

 

            “Got me?” He scanned the scene. “I mean these two are torn to shreds, there is this huge animal track and then ‘fury, action, freedom’. It’s not adding up to me.” 

 

            Stack turned to the patrolman standing near by. “Are they checking the lake?”

 

            “They’ll be sending a robot sub in about an hour.”

 

            “Tell me what they find.” Stack and Needless turned and headed back up to the car.

 

 

            “You thinking lake monster?” Needless said removing his latex gloves.

 

            “Man, I don’t know. If it is, it’s developed the incredible ability to write.” Stack stopped and looked back at the lake. “I don’t know what to think.”

 

            “You think it has anything to do with us?”

 

            Stack just stared out at the lake and started stacking coins in his pocket.

 

*

 

            Smiles Johnson pulled the toilet paper off his face where he had nicked himself shaving.  He wondered why the girl that drove the Java Jalopy didn’t say anything. He wondered why Maurice at the newsstand didn’t say anything. He wondered how many people had noticed this and no one told him. It was a conspiracy. A conspiracy of silence. The whole world laughing at him and plotting to keep him in the dark. Everybody but Charlie. He could always count on Charlie to tell him everything.

 

            “Is that better?” Smiles said dropping the bloody toilet paper into the trash can.

 

            “Smiles, have you ever considered maybe an electric? You know, with a rotary blade? Something where lotion comes out and leaves your skin nice and smooth?” Charlie flopped down on the forest green vinyl couch that he and Smiles had saved from a flea market 3 years before.

 

            “Charlie, my dear friend, don’t you have something to do?”

 

            “Nope. All our case files are closed. The coffee is made. Laura is at work. I’m free to harass you. How did you get to be the most sought after private investigator in the city when you can’t even tell that there is toilet paper on your face?”

 

            “Advertising. Look, you may not have anything to do but you do have your own office. Why don’t you go play one of those video games all the kids are crazy about.”

 

            Charlie stood up. “See ya later old man.” He left the office chuckling.

 

            “Shoo.” Smiles was already rummaging through cold case files, looking for something to do. Technically he shouldn’t have had these files. He took them when they left the force. He pulled some out whenever he needed something to do. Maybe there was something he missed. Perhaps he would gain a new perspective on an old crime. The only file he never opened anymore…was Gina’s. Even seeing the name on the tab was rough. It was getting better, but the pain was still there. Back in the drawer. He was relieved when there was a knock at the door.

 

            “Yep!” Smiles said jamming the file folders back into the drawer. A moment later Stack and Needless walked in with some guy who looked like he was buried overnight. “Hey guys come on in. Can I get you guys something? Charlie said the coffee is on.” Stack walked to Smiles and shook his hand as Needless and Welp sat down on the couch.

 

            Welp turned to Needless. “Now who’s this guy?”

 

            “That’s Robert Johnson. Everybody calls him Smiles. I haven’t quite figured it out why yet. Him and Stack were partners until about 6 years ago.” Welp jotted down a few things in his notebook. Needless watched him. “Why would you want to write a book about Pasketti?”

 

            Welp stopped writing and looked up. “Who?”

 

            “Paske…Manzetti.” Needless chuckled. “Sorry. It’s …a thing.”

 

            “Why would you call him Pasketti?”

 

            “Doodles. Doodles Pasketti. It’s a sign of disrespect. Smiles started it. Apparently Manzetti doodles all the time. Pasketti…is just a thing. So why the book?”

           

            “Because it fascinates me. The inner workings of the mob. How you guys broke up his syndicate. It’s a great story.” Welp went back to writing. “Do you think he’s still alive?”

 

            “Pasketti?” Needless’ face fell. “I hope for his sake he’s not.” Welp stared at him. Needless motioned to Stack and Smiles talking by the desk. “These two…they’d kill him if they ever found him.”

 

            Welp looked back at his notes. “Gina?”  Needless nodded silently. “What about you?”  Needless turned slowly and looked hard into Welp. “Manzetti killed your brother, right?”

 

Needless’ looked right through Welp, to the answer he had prepared for years before for this question. He looked at his hands. “What happened between my brother and Pasketti was known only to them.” Needless stood up, “You got a real knack for making people clam up. I’m getting some coffee.”

 

            Needless left the office. Welp sat for a moment thinking about how that could have gone better.

 

            “Lake monster?” Smiles said sitting on the desk.

 

            “That was my first thought but they checked the whole lake. Nothing.” Stack stared out the window.

 

            “So what do you need us for?”

 

            Stack turned back “You know the Department’s attitude toward Sweepers.”

 

            Smiles stood up with a sigh. “Oh boy.”

 

            “Look, Smiles, officially I can’t bring one in. If you do it, it’s all legit.”

 

            Smiles looked at him. “Okay. I’ll let you know what I find. I won’t be able to get to my Sweeper until tonight. I’ll have Charlie stake out the lake until the Sweeper can get in there tomorrow.”

 

            Stack shook Smiles’ hand. “Thanks.”

 

            Smiles smiled weakly. “Sure.”

 

*

 

            Charlie sat in his office reading the paper. The phone rang. He answered it and smiled. Probably Laura.

 

            The old man with the green eyes lowered his binoculars and shifted in his seat. He breathed a sigh and unwrapped his sandwich. Pastrami would be one of the things he would miss most when his job was done and he had to leave. Pastrami, Elven jazz and Goblin wine. A quarter century here had grown on him. He was a citizen of Big City. Like everyone else.

 

            He wouldn’t however miss endless days of bushes and rooftops watching the child. Protecting him from afar. He had grown to love Charlie like a son, living through everything with him. Every lost tooth, grade school play, kiss and heartache. Wanting to tell him everything he knew but being unable to.

 

            Someday he would be able to. Someday.

 

            The old man lifted his binoculars again. Johnson was now in Charlie’s office. They were talking. Watching closely, as that is what Watchers do, the old man finished his sandwich. Thinking again about how he loved pastrami.

 

*

            Laura dropped another strawberry into her mouth. There were worse things than spending a balmy night in the park with the man she loved, watching a lake.

 

            “So do you private eye types do a lot of this lake watching?” She said pulling her hair back into a quick bun. Charlie chuckled as he poured her another cup coffee. “I’m apparently in the wrong business. Who needs city council meetings, deadlines and murder trial stories when I could get into the growing field of water surveillance?” she said as she rested back on her elbows.

 

            “You got a pretty smart mouth. How did it get hooked up with the rest of you?” Charlie smiled.         She kissed him. “Anyway, you heard about what happened. Smiles is going to get a Sweeper and just wanted me to make sure nothing and no one showed up to clean the place.”

 

            Laura looked at him and shrugged. “I know I’m just a dumb girl, but… what’s a Sweeper?”

 

            “Uh…” Charlie searched for a way to make this sound less crazy, “..a Sweeper is like a forensic …magician.”  Laura let out a laugh. “No, seriously.”

 

            “I am all ears.”

 

            “Smiles explains it this way: every manipulation of energy, like a spell or a curse, leaves behind a trail. A marker. Like a fingerprint. Sweepers come in and sweep the place. Find out what happened.”

 

            “I’m assuming it’s not exactly legal.” Laura said, blowing on her coffee.

 

            “Well no, not really. But Sweepers were once used by the police all the time.”

 

            “Like 40 years ago.”

 

            “Yeah. There’s no reason to think they don’t still have their place. People are still out there using magic, albeit illegally. Everybody knows that.”

 

            As the two talked, the surface of the lake rippled and gurgled.

 

            Laura bit into another strawberry. “You know, during religious ceremonies and the like. It was banned. Self banned. The magic users themselves declared the moratorium on all spells, and secreted the library away. Big City is a magic free zone. It’s a nearly dead art. There hasn’t been a magic related crime in over 40 years.”

 

            “What about that kid they found all magged out on the flats last year? Icons and relics can still be purchased on the streets.” Charlie was fairly proud of his argument and sipped his coffee in approval.

 

            “Charlie, a quick buzz isn’t like conjuring up a murder. Okay, let me amend my statement. All the truly powerful magic is off the streets.” Laura lifted her coffee to her mouth and looked out at the water as the lake exploded with a roar.

 

*

            Smiles checked the address on the yellowed piece of paper again. The address was correct. This rundown tenement was home to one of the last living Sweepers. Smiles stepped over the drunk passed out on the front steps.  Sounds of a husband and wife fighting echoed through the hallways as he stepped over bags of garbage and some toys lying on the floor. Finally he reached the door and knocked.

 

            After moment a gravelly voice bellowed from the other side of the door.

 

            “Who is it?” came the voice.

 

            “My name is Robert Johnson. I’m a private investigator.  I’m looking for Wyshok Meen. This is the address I was given.”

 

            “You have the wrong address.”

 

            “This is the address I was given. Wyshok knew my father. Do you have another address you could give me?!” There was silence on the other side of the door. “Hello?” Still nothing. Smiles waited for a moment, listening for anything on the other side of the door. There was nothing. Smiles crumpled up the address and shoved it into his coat pocket. “Thanks anyway.” Smiles said as he moved away from the door.

 

            The door opened. Standing in the doorway was an old woman about a head and a half shorter than Smiles. She wore an ancient house coat.

 

            “You must be Frank’s boy.”

 

            Smiles turned back. “Yeah.”

 

She looked him up and down. “Frank was a hell of a guy. One of the best politicians this city ever had. He was an ass, but a hell of a guy. Come on in.”

 

Smiles stepped into the apartment.

 

*

            “Run!” Charlie yelled as he grabbed Laura’s hand and scrambled away from the water.

 

            “What the hell is it?!” Laura yelled as they ran through the darkness.

 

            “Big!” Charlie shouted.

 

The giant shadowy hulk stepped on shore and bounded after the two. Trees shattered in its path.

 

            Charlie and Laura burst out of the tree line and arrived at the car. Charlie threw open the door, grabbing his shotgun and a small velvet bag. The creature smashed into the clearing and howled at them.

 

            “Charlie! Get in the car!” Laura yelled .

 

            In the dim parking lot light Charlie could see the thing better. Nearly shapeless, yet defined. Parts of the creature became sharper and then softened as he looked at it. As though it was going in and out of focus. It stood nearly 20 feet. Charlie cocked his shotgun and aimed it.

 

            The Watcher with green eyes bolted out of the trees a ways off just in time to see the Charlie and the creature staring each other down. Then the creature turned and ran into the park away from Charlie.

 

            Charlie threw the shotgun into the back seat leapt onto the hood of the car clutching the velvet bag. “Follow it!!” He shouted to Laura.

 

            “Are you out of your mind?!?”

 

            “Follow it.”

 

            Laura threw the car into gear and drove off into the dark after the beast.

 

            The Watcher ran after the car pleading with them to stop but it was too late. He extracted a small metallic object from his pocket and was no longer there.

 

*

            Stack wasn’t sleeping.  He sat with a beer in his hand watching late night reruns. Something wasn’t right with the lake problem. He laid his bottle cap on top of the remote control which was balancing on a small stack of coasters.

 

            The phone rang.

 

            “Hello?” He answered. He heard the voice of one of the third watch cops.

 

            “Sgt. Forray? We just got a call from one of our mounted officers. Something is happening in Center Park.”

 

            “What kind of something?”

 

            “Something is loose.”

 

            Stack hung up the phone. “Charlie,” He murmured to himself as he grabbed his gun and headed for the door.

 

*

            Carriages and late night strollers scrambled for safety as the creature moved swiftly in a straight line across the park.

 

            The creature knew where it was going. It hoped it would make it this time. It could feel the weakness growing. The grip that kept it running was beginning to loosen.

 

            Charlie held tight to the roof of the car as Laura tried desperately to drive across the grassy terrain. They were catching up to the creature. It was obvious it was heading out of the park.

 

            “Pull up on it and try to keep pace next to it!” Charlie bellowed over the wind. He pulled a small piece of electronics out of the velvet bag and put it in his teeth.

 

            Laura would have rolled her eyes at the machismo if she hadn’t been so terrified. Instead she gunned it and gained on the creature. She brought the hood of the car even with the beast.

 

            Charlie pulled a switchblade out of his pocket, flicked it open, swallowed all common sense and took a running leap at the creature. The knife sunk into the surface of the creature as Laura slowed and pulled away. Charlie attempted to use the knife as leverage to get a hold on the creature. Until he realized that, as the creature’s skin shifted, his arm was being sucked in.

 

            “What the hell?!” He screamed as all tension vanished and he fell 12 feet to the ground. The creature continued on without him. Charlie heard a snap and felt pain shoot up his spine as he hit the ground and rolled to a stop.

 

            Laura sped after the creature.  Adrenaline slammed her foot to the floor. The creature was yards away from hitting the streets of Big City. A short prayer, which sounded like an expletive but was indeed a plea for help, crossed her lips as she barreled into the shrubs that lined the park. As she crashed through the line of shrubs onto the street, she realized the thing was gone. She slammed on the brakes but found they locked and the car began spinning out of control. As she hit the light post at full force she thought of Charlie. Glass shattered and she tasted blood in her mouth. Laura Medrano slipped into blackness as the streetlight toppled to the ground next to the car and shattered.

           

*

           

            Stack stood in the center of the aftermath barking orders at city workers and beat cops, telling them to question those people, close off that area of the park. Trying like hell to hold back the wave of fear, sorrow and guilt that were brewing just below the surface. Two friends were on their way to the hospital and it was his fault. He knelt next to the stretcher where Charlie was strapped down, waiting to move.

 

            “Charlie? I’m so sorry.” 

 

            Charlie looked at him. “Is Laura all right?”

 

            Stack could only shake his head. “I don’t know, Charlie. I really don’t know.”

 

            Charlie closed his eyes.

 

            Stack rested his hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Charlie. I have to ask. What was it?”

 

            “I don’t know. It was huge. It walked on two legs, and the skin. It wasn’t solid. It was…huge.” Charlie closed his eyes and thought of Laura. He felt sick and numb as the EMTs lift the stretcher into the ambulance.

 

            Stack watched as the ambulance pulled away. He put his hands in his pockets and sighed. He made his way back to the street where Laura’s car was being towed away, her unconscious body long since rushed to Big City General. He watched everything closely but he heard no sound. Just the mind-hum of concentration and guilt. His thousand yard stare was broken by the appearance of another officer.

 

            “Sgt. Forray?  We found something over here that I think you should see.”

 

            Stack followed the uniformed officer back into the shrubs that separated the park and the city street. Stack crouched near the patch of ground indicated by the officer. As the officer shone his light on the patch, the image became clearer to Stack.

 

            The words seemed blasted into the soft ground near the end of the beast’s trail.  The words read: “HELP ME.”

 

*

            It had taken the hospital staff almost an hour to tell Charlie what was going on with Laura. When they finally told him they said only that she was in surgery. He didn’t care about his leg. His mind was filled with Laura. He wanted the thing dead. He wanted to get his hands on it. Rage turned  to frustration and frustration turned to tears. He stared out of his hospital room window at the lights of the city.

 

            There was a knock at the door. He looked over slowly as Smiles walked in and stood by the bed.

           

            Charlie’s mouth was dry as he spoke. “Laura…”

 

            Smiles didn’t let him finish. “Laura is going to be fine. She’s out of surgery. There was some bleeding but they’ve stopped it. She’ll be in here a while, but she’ll be all right.” Like a fist loosening, Charlie let go a slight yelp as he started crying. Smiles pulled a chair up next to the bed. “You will probably be able to see her in the morning. For now the doctor wants you to relax and get some sleep,” Smiles said, sitting. Charlie wiped his eyes and nodded. Smiles loosened his tie. “I guess my suggestion would be that you get your head checked out.”

 

            Charlie looked his boss in the face, “What?”

 

            “What the hell were you thinking?!” Smiles exclaimed as he stood again. Charlie could only stammer. “Both of you could have been killed. We don’t even know what this thing is!”

 

            “You told me…”

 

            “I told you to stake out the lake. I never told you to go off half-cocked after the thing. It sounds like something Needless would do. I don’t want to lose you, Charlie. I don’t want to lose Laura.” Smiles folded his trench-coat over his arm. He looked at Charlie and knew what he was feeling but only managed to shake his head. Smiles put his hand on Charlie’s shoulder.

 

            Charlie stared at his blanket.

 

            “I don’t know what scares me more: the fact that I could have lost you or the fact that I would have done the exact same thing,” Smiles said in a low voice. Charlie looked up. Smiles patted Charlie’s shoulder and moved toward the door. “I’ll stop by tomorrow when we know more  about what that thing was,” he turned back, “and how to kill it.”

 

            Charlie smiled slightly as Smiles turned back to the door and left. Charlie was asleep before Smiles’ footsteps stopped echoing in the hall.

 

*

 

            A mist hung low to the ground in Center Park as dawn swiftly overtook the sky. Albert Welp made a feeble attempt to lay down the oily cowlick that rose from the back of his head. He hadn’t slept. He had tagged along most of the night with Stack and Needless as they interviewed witnesses to the Center Park incident.  Sipping his frothy latte, he read over what he’d written the night before:

 

            Sgt. John D’yen loves being a cop. He oozes machismo from every pore. His reckless steadfastness in the face of adversity and his ability to throw caution to the wind has rightly earned him the nickname Needless Action.

 

            In his car he keeps a box of mix tapes, each one created and labeled for the different types of calls that he could be on. Terry Stop, High Speed Chase, Rolling to Interview and  Serving Warrant are but a few that he keeps on hand. He has personally upgraded his standard issue gun with a much larger piece that he has lovingly name Penny.

 

            Underneath the hard-line cop image is something darker. A constant awareness of his mixed human/elven blood and the determination to clear his family name of the taint created by his brother’s corruption. His low simmer hatred of the Manzetti crime family makes him a player in the Manzetti story.

 

            In contrast to D’yen’s open-air, forceful approach is the intensity of his partner, Adam Forray. Forray is the thinker. Known throughout the force by his tongue-in-cheek moniker, Stack Fury, Forray is a man of well thought-out action. Part profiler and part hunter,             Stack is a driven man. The kidnap and eventual murder of his Fiancée, Gina Johnson, at the hands of Manzetti, has driven him to work tirelessly to break up Manzetti’s  hold on Big City.

 

            The third piece of the puzzle is the late Gina Johnson’s elder brother and Stack’s former partner, Robert Johnson. The Gina fiasco broke Johnson. It drove him from the force and into brief hospitalization. He now makes his living putting his mind to the troubles of paying customers as a private investigator.’

 

            Welp closed his notebook with a fair amount of satisfaction. He took another sip of his coffee and moved closer to the action so he could hear what was happening.

 

            Wyshok Meen crouched near the lake, her hand hovering at the surface. Her eyes were closed tight in concentration. Needless rolled his eyes and turned back to Stack and Smiles.

 

            “You’re killing me here.”

 

            Stack smiled. “I figured you would feel that way.” He turned to Smiles. “How’d you find her.”

 

            Smiles took a drag off a cigarette. “She knew my father. Apparently she worked for the city as a liaison between the City Council and the Magic Users. She did some Sweeper work for the force too.”

 

            “How long has she been dead?” Needless chuckled, “She’s ancient.”

 

            Stack turned to Smiles, “So what exactly was Charlie trying to do last night?”

 

            “He didn’t say,” Smiles shrugged. “If I had to guess, he was trying to get a tracking device on the thing.”

 

            Stack wanted to apologize again but instead just looked out to where Wyshok was Sweeping.

 

            The spell traces were strong on the lake. Wyshok could feel them when she was walking up to it. It wasn’t easy for her to keep her hand near the water. It was hot with magic. She felt something terrible. A vibration she hadn’t felt in years. She shuddered as she came across the main vibration.  It was like a scream. It was like a bolt of hate, like an angry child that was stomping its feet. Her blood ran cold as she reached deeper into the web of energy and she could feel the core of the vibration. A steady energy that fueled the hatred. Like a laser it cut through the center of the magic. The source. So pure. Older than anything.  A flaw. An emissary. The weaving of destiny’s threads. The future.  She withdrew her hand from the surface of the water and looked at Stack, Needless and Smiles. The residue of the magic marked them in her eyes. The path of each laid out before her.

 

            Stack stepped closer to her. “Well?” he said.

 

            “Who the hell did you piss off?” she said.

 

*         

            Corrections officer Ben Tandy approached the solitary cell. He hated this part of the job. He wondered quietly why he always got shafted with taking the shmuck in solitary his food. It was bad enough that he worked in a prison but this place was disgusting. It smelled like sweat and urine. He always swallowed his hatred of The Hole and did it for his kids.

 

            He banged on the metal door with his night stick. “I got your food. Step back from the door. “ He heard quiet mumbling inside the hole. He banged again. “Yo! Hey! Step back if you want your chow!” The mumbling stopped. There was silence behind the door. Tandy readied his taser as he unlocked the door.

 

            The door creaked slowly open and Tandy slid the tray across the floor into the dark. He looked into darkness. The prisoner stood still facing him from the back wall, his face obscured in the dark.

 

            “Crap, man! You scared me.” The Prisoner said nothing. Tandy shrugged. Another guy driven crazy in The Hole. He began to shut the door.

 

            The prisoner let out a dusty wheeze of pleasure. Then, like an animal, he leapt at Tandy and buried his hands in Tandy’s sides..

 

            Tandy let out a cry for help and fell back against the wall. He could feel the prisoner’s fingers melting into his sides. The pain was inhuman. The prisoner’s unshaven face was in his, snarling. Tandy tried to gasp but could feel the prisoner’s searing hands squeezing his innards. The prisoner was panting and growling words that Tandy couldn’t understand.

 

            Thinking of his children, Tandy raised the taser to the prisoner’s neck and triggered it.

 

            With the yelp of an animal, the prisoner flew back into the cell. Tandy staggered forward and hit him again with the taser . With his last bit of strength he slammed the door shut, then collapsed to the floor.

 

            His fellow officers found him trying to crawl out of the solitary hallway. He didn’t want to die there.  Not down there. Tandy slipped into blackness as he heard the other officers gasp at his wounds.

 

*

            Wyshok raised the glass to her mouth and gulped like she had just stumbled out of the desert. She put down the glass and stared back at the men who sat around her kitchen table. She took a breath.

 

            “I haven’t felt anything like that in years. It was so angry.”

 

            Smiles leaned up. “What do you mean? The magic was angry?”

 

            “No.” Wyshok shook her head. “ Magic itself can’t be angry. By it’s very nature magic is neutral. Spells can be cast in anger, but this was different.”

 

            “So the creature in the lake is being controlled by some kind of spell.” Stack said as he raised his glass of water to his mouth.

 

            “Yes. But the creature isn’t IN the lake. It IS the lake.”  There was a long pause as Smiles, Needless, Stack and Welp, who was writing furiously, blinked at Wyshok. She held up her glass. “Do you have any idea the kind of power it takes to turn this into a killer. You are dealing with an avatar. A water golem. This avatar is created through magic and is full of hate for you two.” Wyshok pointed at Stack and Needless.

 

            Needless threw his hands up. “So we find the guy who’s pissed off and we stop the creature? That’s easy.”

 

            “How do we prosecute?” Stack shook his head. “Since the Moratorium took effect, any magic that is used to gather evidence or secure a warrant is thrown out of court.”

 

            Needless smirked. “Who says we have to prosecute?”

 

            Smiles stopped them. “We don’t even know who this is yet.”

 

            “There’s more.” Wyshok’s voice cut across the discussion. They all stopped and looked at her. “There’s more. And I don’t know how to tell you without sounding crazy. Who ever this is isn’t in control. The avatar was projected but not on purpose.  This guy has a lot of anger and hatred toward both of you. But he doesn’t know what he’s doing. He has come into possession of something.” She hesitated because this was the crazy part.

 

            Finally Welp’s voice broke the silence. “What?”

 

            Wyshok sighed. “The Skiv.”  She waited for the shocked looks. All she got were blank stares and shrugs. “The Skiv? Clear amber-like rock chip? About yay big?” She indicated the size with her finger. She grunted in frustration. “Thirty years ago this was one of the most sought after relics in the world. It was feared, desired, hated, loved.  Are you all familiar with the Melk Stone?”

 

            They knew that one.

 

Needless stood up. “This is stupid. We’re wasting our time here. Smiles, I don’t know what you’re paying her, but she’s trying to give you your moneys worth.” 

 

Smiles flashed an angry look at Wyshok. “You can’t be serious.”

 

Stack put his face in his hands and Wyshok sat silently.

 

Welp looked around the table. “What’s the Melk Stone?”  he said weakly.

 

They all looked at Wyshok.

 

“The Melk Stone is a rock of incredible power…” she began.

 

“Fictional rock!” Needless interjected, “Fictional! Legendary. Whatever word you need to convey in your notebook that it doesn’t exist.”

 

Wyshok rolled her eyes. “The Melk Stone is a powerful magic relic. According to legend and the G’luh Mhal holy book, the Melk Stone is the weapon that the last Elf Messiah will use against the Elves’ oppressors and it will open the door to Mhalasia…uh  paradise.”

 

“Welp. I don’t know how versed you are in Elf culture, but no one believes this anymore. In fact most new printings of the G’luh Mhal have taken out the Melk Stone section. It’s an ancient load of hogwash and I’m leaving.” Needless turned to leave.

 

“Sgt. D’yen!”  Wyshok stood up. “Of every one here this should matter to you the most.”

 

“Look, I like fairy tales as much as the next guy, but this is too much. I will accept that the creature is the result of magic but…the Melk Stone?”

 

Stack finally spoke, “Needless. Please. We have nothing else to go on. Let’s hear her out before we pass judgment.”

 

Needless groaned and flopped back into his chair.

 

Welp looked back at Wyshok, “So, what is The Skiv?”

 

Wyshok went to her antique roll top desk as she spoke. “According to legend, there are three Elf Messiahs. The first stole the Melk Stone from the forces of darkness, the second protected it during the Goblin wars and the third, which is yet to come, will use the Stone to vanquish the Elves’ enemies once and for all.” Out of the desk she pulled a large, beaten up leather binder and moved back to the table. “According to the legend, during the Goblin Wars…eight hundred years ago, or something…The Second Messiah, in an attempt to protect the Elf King Onrius Skiv, chipped the stone with his own sword and sent it off to the front lines. On the way to the battle, the rider was ambushed by Goblins and the chip passed to them. The Goblins believe it turned the tide of battle. The King was killed and the stone became known as The Skiv Killer, and eventually just the Skiv.” 

 

“What do you think?” Smiles said, finally unfolding his arms.

 

Wyshok shrugged. “Mr. Johnson, I am a firm believer that behind every legend there is some truth. And Mr. D’yen, for your information I do not believe the stories as told. We know The Skiv exists.”  From her binder Wyshok pulled a stack of papers. She slid a black and white photo to Smiles. “This picture was taken 45 years ago at the home of the chief Magic User’s, a wizard named Hogarth, during a political dinner. Mr. Johnson, you might recognize the man in the photo with him.”

 

Smiles did indeed recognize him.

 

Needless looked at the picture. “Who is it?”

 

“It’s my father.” Smiles said, looking deep into the picture.

 

Wyshok pointed at the photo. “The Skiv is on the table in front of them, in that display box. It was part of Hogarth’s personal collection. When your father and Hogarth brokered the moratorium, it was hidden away with the magic user’s library and several other relics.” She flopped a yellowed stack of papers on to the table. “It’s even inventoried here as a matter of public record.” She sat back down. “All I know is this: The Skiv is a relic of exceptional power. Whether or not it is a chip of the true Melk Stone, I don’t know. I do know that some one has obviously as found the hidden library and the Skiv. Somehow our angry friend has it.”

 

By the time Wyshok had finished speaking there was a stack consisting of coffee cups, spoons, napkins, a wallet, two sugar cubes and a set of keys on the table and Stack was staring hard into it.

 

*

Charlie hadn’t moved in hours. He hardly noticed the dripping of the IV and the whispered bleeps of the monitors. He just watched Laura breathe, waiting for some sign that she was waking. He didn’t know what time it was. He kept drifting in and out of sleep in the chair. His brief nap was usually cut short by the sound of a cart in the hall.

 

The scene replayed over and over in his mind: how the creature’s skin was like liquid, what he could have done differently. He should never have tried to tag the thing, but he was tired of everybody else doing all the exciting stuff while he and Laura did all the bookwork. ‘Baby steps’, he thought.

 

Charlie felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up into the face of the nurse.

 

“Mr. Pickens? I need to change her dressings.”

 

Charlie wiped the sleep from his eyes. “Sorry.”

 

“Mr. Pickens, you’ve had a rough 24 hours. You should really go back to your room and rest.”

 

“Thanks but I’d rather stay here.”

 

“Well, I’ll only be a minute.”

 

Charlie nodded. He hoisted himself out of his chair. The walking cast was bulky and uncomfortable and, worst of all; they cut up his favorite pair of pants. He hobbled into the hall as the nurse pulled the curtain behind him.

 

Through the hallway windows he could see the Big City afternoon going on like usual. The world hadn’t stopped. Somewhere out there the others were trying to find whoever was behind all this. He wanted to be out there, too. He wanted Laura out there with him. They made a great team, had been through so much already. He couldn’t imagine life without her.

 

He sat on a couch across from the nurses station and let his head lull back against the wall. As his mind wandered from exhaustion, grief and anger, he became aware that two nurses were talking to each other in the nurses station.

 

“…they just moved him into OR, but it doesn’t look good.”

 

“What happened?”

 

“From what Rita said it looks like something dug out the sides of his stomach.”

 

“Something?”

 

“They think maybe one of the prisoners.”

 

“That’s awful. Who could do that?”

 

“Rita said it was really strange, because he’d been burned too. Like the guy had cut him open with a blow torch.”

 

“Really strange.”

 

“Yeah. I guess his insides are all messed up, I mean what’s left of them.”

 

Charlie kept his eyes closed. He found one word floating around in his mind.

 

Freedom.

 

*

There was a thunderous crash. Wood splintered and part of the lock flew across the room. Reg leapt from his seat with a start. He dove for the cigar box on the end table across the room. His hand reached the gun just as he felt himself lifted up. A moment later he found himself face to face with Needless Action. Needless gripped the elf by his filthy sweat shirt.

 

“Hi Reg.”

 

“Oh man! I just replaced the lock! The hell is with you Needless?!”

 

“We need some information, Reg.” Stack said, striding into the room.

 

Reg looked over at Stack. “Oh man. Have you tried the phone? I have a website too. Or are you cops not tech-savvy yet?”

 

Stack sat on the couch. “I’ve seen your website. Not bad. I did have our hacker team change your splash page though. Instead of saying “You’ve entered the den of the Elf Masta” it now says “Hi I’m a felon. Wanna play?”

 

Reg sighed. Needless pushed him to the recliner and sat on the arm rest.

 

“Fine. What do you want?” Reg groaned.

 

“We’re following a stone. Little tiny thing about the size of my finger tip. Kind of amber looking. Seen it?” Stack said.

 

“I don’t know, maybe. I see a lot of stuff.” Reg looked out the window.

 

“Reg, this thing is hot with magic. It would require special handling. Now, you are the town’s biggest relic mover. Nothing comes into Big City without you knowing about it. Now I’m going to ask you again and if I don’t get a real answer, Needless is going to eat various parts of you. Starting with your nose.”

 

Needless cocked his head at Stack in confusion. Stack just shrugged.

 

“I didn’t see it. About a week ago this guy comes to me, pays in cash for advice. Just advice. I never touched the thing, I never even saw it. Said he had this rock coming in, like you said. Small. Super hot. He just wanted some advice on handling. That’s it. I swear.” Reg sunk further into his chair.

 

Stack leaned in, “What’d you tell him?”

 

“Usually a crystal and rock combination to diffuse the magic. Like a geode. You know, two halves of a geode taped together. The crystals diffuse the energy and the rock protects the handler. Playground stuff. Just so I wouldn’t feel guilty, I made up some crap about a velvet pouch. You know, give him his money’s worth. I never saw the rock. I swear. “

 

“You know this guy?” Needless said, pulling out his notepad.

 

“I’ve seen him around. He moves some small stuff. Amulets and things. His mag is shit. It’s all nearly tapped out. “

 

“You got a name?” Needless inquired.

 

“Flax something. Human kid. His older brother is in the joint. Stamper. That’s it. Flax Stamper.”

 

Stack stood up. “Rance Stamper’s brother? Hmmm. It gets more interesting by the minute.” He looked at Needless. “How long did we send Stamper up for?”

 

“Twelve years.” Needless nodded.

 

Stack moved to leave the room. “That’ll piss a guy off.”

 

The two moved out into the hallway.

 

Reg, regaining some confidence, stood up. “Hey! What about my door?!”

 

Needless chuckled. “You shouldn’t leave it open. There’s a lot of crooks in this neighborhood.”

 

*

Smiles sat on the hood of his car in the late morning sun smoking a cigarette and watching a group of kids play Square Tee’s. He could hear Welp questioning Wyshok endlessly in the backseat of the car. The events of the past day were spiraling through his mind as he watched the kids throw the box back and forth.

 

“Hey Smiles!”  Came a voice. Smiles turned toward the voice. His gaze fell on the familiar sight of The Java Jalopy and its driver Greta pulling up next to his car. Greta stopped the Jalopy and smiled. “What are you doing on this side of town?”

 

Smiles hopped off the hood of the car and leaned on the window. “Working a case. How about you? What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

 

Greta nodded at the kids playing in the street. “You wouldn’t believe how much these kids love iced lattes. Speaking of which, you want one?”

 

“Sure.” Smiles shrugged. Greta climbed in back and started pulling him a latte.

 

Stack and Needless exited the building and stepped up next to the truck.

 

“Hey Greta,” Stack smiled. “Could I get one of those?” Greta nodded.

 

“So what’d you get?” Smiles said sliding his money to Greta.

 

“Reg never saw it. Looks like it came through to a small time handler named Flax Stamper. We sent his brother out to Thieves Island on a twelve-year stretch. I’m thinking his brother, Rance, got The Skiv.”

 

“We’ve got to get out hands on this Flax guy. Find out what happened to the Skiv.” Needless interjected. “Then get out to Thieves Island and talk to Stamper.”

 

Smiles turned and motioned for Wyshok and Welp.

 

Greta handed Stack his latte, “Good luck.” They all looked at her confused. “Thieves Island is on lockdown. A prison guard got killed this morning apparently. It’s all over the radio.” Stack and Smiles looked at each other. Greta looked at Needless, “How about you handsome? You want anything?”

 

Needless, smiled and shook his head ‘no’. He then looked away immediately to keep from staring at her. Wyshok and Welp stepped into the loose circle.

 

“We’ve got to get out to that island. If Wyshok is right, Stamper has no idea what he’s doing. He’s going to hurt more people.” Smiles said. “Worse yet, they have no idea what they’re dealing with.”

 

“If he starts casting a spell while we’re there, I should be able to counter on the same frequency.” Wyshok said. “I won’t be able to for long but it could buy us some time.”

 

“How do we find the Skiv? And when we find it, how do we get it?” Needless asked.

 

Wyshok thought. “To use something like this, it has to be on his person somewhere. I’ve seen people swallow relics or have them pulverized and tattooed into their skin. It could be anywhere. As for retrieving it,” She reached into the duffel bag she carried and pulled out an old pair of gloves. “Use these.” The gloves were huge canvas things that had yellowed with time. The tips sparkled. “The crystals in the tips should diffuse the magic enough that you can transfer the Skiv to a safe box.”

 

Welp finally spoke up. “What about the guy?” They all looked at him. “If that much power is ripped away from somebody, who already isn’t in control of it…what will happen?”

Stack looked at Wyshok. She slowly shook her head. “It could kill him.”  They stood quietly for a moment.

 

The Square T’s game stopped when the kids saw Greta and the Java Jalopy. The blocks and balls fell to the ground as the kids rushed her. Greta began pulling iced lattes at a furious pace as a dozen dirty faces peered through the open serving window. Tiny fists launched money into the air. After a few minutes, when all the kids were quietly suckling their coffee drinks, Greta leaned her head out of the window. She had thought of another witty quip that could, maybe, grab the attention of the cute cop they called Needless Action.

 

But they were all gone.

*

 

            When news reports began to trickle out that a guard had been killed on Thieves Island, journalists scattered like bugs. They pleaded with the police that were blocking their entrance to Big City General Hospital. Through the doors, the journalists could see some more guards. In the distance, a young man with a walking cast pleaded with a nurse behind a pane of glass.

 

            “Please! I have to see the body or talk to the doctor.”

 

            The nurse shook her head. “Unless you have a warrant or some kind of authorization, you cannot and will not be taken to the body. And Dr. Walker is very busy. Plus, I don’t know you from Adam! Now go back to your room before I have security escort you back to your room.”

 

            “Lady, time is running out here. I’m a private investigator. I’ve been working with the police on this.”

 

            “Where’s your badge? A warrant? Something?” She shook her head. “Security!”
She bellowed down the hall. Charlie was quickly joined on either side by two guards. “Would you please take this patient back to his room?”

 

            “Lady, please!”

 

            A doctor stepped out of a door behind the nurse. He wore surgical scrubs and was signing some papers on a clipboard. He looked up. “Is there a problem?”

 

            “No, Doctor Walker, there’s no problem. This gentleman was just leaving.”

 

            “No I am not. Doctor! I need to see the body of the Thieves Island guard. It could be a lead in a case. I’m with Big City Eyes Investigations. This could lead us to a very dangerous criminal.”

 

            The Doctor shook his head. “No, I’m afraid you can’t. The family hasn’t even seen him yet. I’m sorry.” Dr. Walker turned and began walking down the hall. The guards began moving Charlie in the opposite direction.

 

            “Fury, Action, Freedom!!” Charlie bellowed over his shoulder.

 

            Dr. Walker stopped in his tracks. He turned slowly back.”Wait!”  The guards and Charlie turned around. “What did you say?”

 

            “Three words. Fury, Action and Freedom. Probably found on the body. Burned in somewhere. You found that, didn’t you?”

 

            The Doctor stared at Charlie for a moment. He nodded to the guards who promptly released Charlie. Dr. Walker turned to the nurse. “Buzz him in.”

 

            Charlie smiled to himself. At least his instincts weren’t broken.

 

*

The sirens had stopped blaring. The prison guards had dusted off their riot gear and were making their way up the hallway to the solitary confinement cell. They had no idea what to expect. This guy had burned holes into Tandy’s gut. They steeled themselves for the worst.

 

The prisoner could hear them moving in. He tried desperately to control himself. He didn’t want to hurt anybody again. Yes he did. He wanted them all dead, especially those bastards Action and Fury. He really didn’t want to hurt anybody. But it was so easy now. He was in control. He really was. Wasn’t he?

 

What had the dentist done to him?

 

He felt the burning in his mouth again. He clenched his teeth to hold back the words he felt coming. He didn’t know what they meant but he knew they would make him feel better. More in control.

 

What did that damn dentist do to his mouth?

 

The door to his cell crashed open. He found himself face to face with three-dozen shotguns.

 

‘Go with them.’ He thought. ‘It’ll be all right. It’ll all be over soon.’

 

The burning in his mouth grew and he could feel it in his hands again.

 

*

 

Welp and Wyshok stared out into the bay at Thieves Island Prison. The water was white-capped in the wind.  The island was on lockdown and prison officials, police and the media clogged the dockside. Commissioner Janet Bledsoe and Prison Warden Joe Tierney stood talking to reporters.

 

“The only details we have currently is that one of our prison guards was killed by a prisoner. We will release the names as soon as the families have been notified. That is all for now.” Janet Bledsoe turned away from the cameras to the usual barrage of questions from reporters. Janet was convinced that they prepared, in advance, the questions they would blurt out but would never have answered. She and Tierney moved back behind the police tape to Captain Breen who stood waiting.

 

Smiles approached her.

 

“Hello Janet.”

 

Bledsoe rolled her eyes. “Johnson, what the hell are you doing here?”

 

“I think I can help you here, Janet,” Smiles smirked. “But I need to get out to the Island.”

 

“No.” Bledsoe yelled into the air, “Somebody get him out of here.”

 

Breen put his hand on Smiles’ shoulder. “C’mon Smiles.”

 

Smiles pulled away. “Look Janet, there is a prisoner out there that has a relic of incredible power. He is responsible for the lake attacks over the last few nights.”

 

“There are no relics out there!” Tierney yelled.

 

“Look, there are going to be a lot more deaths if I don’t get out there. There isn’t a single person out there able to handle this kind of magic.”

 

Janet laughed, “Oh and you are?”

 

Smiles pointed at Wyshok, “No. She is. She was a Sweeper 40 years ago. She’s the only person able to help in any of this. She can help contain it.”

 

“This is stupid.” Bledsoe declared. “What proof do you have that this has anything to do with the lake attacks? You have no right to be here at all. Now gather up your little “mystery club” and get on the other side of that tape.”

 

Smiles, Wyshok and Welp moved back behind the police tape.  Smiles’ eyes pleaded with Breen.  Breen just smiled sadly and went about his business.

 

Breen had known Smiles for years. He had been Smile’s commanding officer when Smiles got bumped up to detective. His mind filled with images from the past. He thought about the Gina debacle and how he had watched Smiles shrivel inside, had watched Stack and Smiles grow apart.  Breen’s thoughts were interrupted by the rookie standing next to him. 

 

“Sir, this just arrived for you.” The rookie handed him a manila envelope. 

 

Breen began to open it. “Who’s it from?”

 

“Some guy at the hospital. Said it’s urgent and to give it to you directly.”

 

Breen slipped some pictures out of the envelope. A note was attached to the top,

 

                        ‘Breen,

 

                        If they haven’t already, I’m sure Needless, Stack and Smiles will

                        be there soon.  I hope this helps.

 

                        Thanks, Charlie’

 

            Underneath the note was a series of pictures of the security guard, Tandy. The last picture was an X-Ray.  Appearing on the X-Ray, burned into the breastbone, about where the heart should be, were the words “Fury, Action, Freedom.”

 

*

            The chase ended in an overturned vegetable cart. Needless and Stack were covered with mashed up tomatoes, marshbulbs and various other salad fixings. Flax Stamper laid on the ground under a pile of mushrooms. He hated mushrooms.

 

            Needless tried to catch his breath as he pointed his gun at Flax. “Get up!”  Flax stumbled as he tried to stand. Stack grabbed him by the arm and hoisted him to his feet. They cuffed Stamper, read him his rights and began the walk back to the car.

 

            “I really think it’s in your best interests to cooperate, Flax.”  Needless said. 

 

            “I want to talk to my lawyer.”

           

            “Don’t worry, you will. But before that, we want to know about The Skiv.” Stack said.

 

            Flax went white. “What?”

 

            They stopped him in the middle of the street. Needless spun Flax around to face him. ”The Skiv. We know you moved it. How did you get it?  We don’t have time for the usual games here. Several people are dead and the trail starts at you. “

 

            Something in Needless’ eyes burned a hole through Flax. He knew better than to mess with this cop.  “I don’t know the guy. He came to me, told me that this thing, the Skiv, was coming into town. Then he paid me 10 grand to hold it and wait for instructions.”

 

            Stack looked at Needless puzzled. “What instructions?”

 

            “Then I get a call from this other guy, again I didn’t know who. He tells me that I am supposed to get the Skiv to my brother and that I’d find another 10g’s in a locker at the bus station. So I slipped it to my brother and lo and behold, money was in the locker.”

 

            “So this guy wanted your brother to have it?” Needless said.

 

            “No my brother doesn’t touch the stuff. He was supposed to deliver it to this guy in jail.”

 

            Stack looked at Needless, “We’re chasing the wrong guy.”

 

*

           

            Welp watched as the boats hopped across the rolling white caps toward the Island. He hadn’t counted on any of this. As he watched Smiles, Wyshok and their armed escorts move across the water he took out his notebook.  He flipped to the last page and began to write. He had to make sure that this was separated from his Manzetti notes. It was a trick he used to try to organize his usually disorganized mind. He wrote some quick notes about the Skiv, trying to recall everything that Wyshok had said to him.

 

            Wyshok seemed like she wanted to spill over. She had thousands of stories and he wanted them all. This was far more interesting than anything that happened with the Manzettis. She was from a time when magic was everywhere. It wasn’t relegated to dark alleys and hidden dens. Magic had been abundant and used for both good and evil. Now it was nothing more than a dim memory to the last generation and a quick high for the next.

 

            He was sure that it was the best intentions that drove the Wizards and the city to ban magic, yet it didn’t seem right to him. Sweepers were shuttled out the door so fast that the people of Big City didn’t have time to react. Wyshok, this brilliant lady, had been put out to pasture.  As always it was the people in the middle that got hurt. It wasn’t the city. They benefited. They were able to cut Sweeper programs and the like and save a bundle. The Wizards went off to wherever it is Wizards go. 

 

            He jotted the last three words in his notebook, ‘bring back sweepers.’

 

            He looked up again and became vaguely aware of a commotion behind him. He turned to see Needless and Stack’s car screech to a halt. Both leapt from the car and they were met by Breen and Tierney.

 

            Stack took a deep breath. “Okay. The guy in the backseat is Flax Stamper, Rance’s brother. He handled the relic when it came to town. He was taking orders from somebody with money he doesn’t know who. All he knows is that his brother was supposed to hand the relic off to someone inside.”

 

            Tierney gulped “Someone in the prison?”

 

            Needless nodded. “Yeah, it looks that way. Who does Stamper have intimate contact with?” 

 

            Tierney thought for a moment, “Stamper is almost a model inmate. He has contact with lots of people. We have him working in the infirmary. He keeps records on all the prisoners who get sick or see the dentist. I can’t believe he’d be involved with this.”

 

            “You have doctors and dentists on staff?” Stack asked.

 

            “No, they’re usually volunteers. They come out once a week. They are all screened and searched. They’re all clean. They don’t do anything major. Shots and fillings and crowns and such.”

 

            Stack and Needless looked at each other.

 

            Needless’ eyes grew wide. “Crowns! The guy has the Skiv in his teeth and he doesn’t even know.”

 

            Stack looked at Breen. “Find the Dentist. And get us out to that island.” 

 

*

 

        “Look at me!” The guard shouted at the prisoner. He punched him in the stomach again. “I said look at me, Vester!”

 

            The prisoner, Michael Vester, dropped to his knees.  His hands were cuffed to a searing steam pipe which kept him from collapsing completely. He could feel the burn in his mouth again. This time it was taking the pain away. His hate bubbled in the back of his throat. He could feel the words coming. He tried everything in his power to contain it.

 

            ‘Wait,” said the voice.

 

            The guard hit him again and again. “So, Vester, you think you’re big man? I don’t know how you did what you did but you can be sure that you won’t do it again.”

 

            He couldn’t take anymore. He couldn’t wait any longer. It was time to go. Vester stood, Blood dripping from his forehead. He smiled at the guard. It was a smile that curdled the guard’s blood. The last thing the guard heard was Vester mumbling something.

 

            A blast of light burst out of Vester’s mouth. It tore through the guard’s middle and set fire to the wall behind. The other guards leapt back and aimed their guns. Vester pulled apart the cuffs that confined him. Then he picked up the nearest guard and pulled him close as the guards opened fire.

 

            Vester threw the bullet ridden body of the guard to the floor and let loose a stream of energy that moved around the room searing the rest of the guards. They all shrieked and fell to the floor.

 

 

            Michael Vester raised his arms. “Now” he intoned.

 

*

 

            Smiles’ and Wyshok’s boat was nearing the island. Smiles looked at Wyshok. In the direct light of the bay he noticed just how old she was. His stomach sank because the true nature of the danger beginning to dawn on him.

 

            “Are you sure you’ll be all right?” he asked her.

 

            Wyshok nodded and smiled. “I know what’s going to happen.”

 

            The water ahead of them exploded. The creature rose above the boat and roared.

 

            On shore the media, the police and Welp gasped as they saw the huge creature rise from the water. Stack and Needless sped away from the pier, directly at the creature.

 

            The second boat of armed police capsized, pitching the cops into the water. The creature roared and brought its fist down, smashing the capsized boats. Smiles tried to steady himself on the boat as it rode the ripples the creature created. Behind him Wyshok was chanting and keening. She held out her arms with a cry that Smiles couldn’t understand.

 

            The creature exploded into droplets and rained down on the boat.

 

            Smiles turned to the pilot, “Go!!”

 

            The boat’s pilot gunned the engine and plowed through the white caps toward the prison.

 

*

            Inside the prison, Vester felt the collision of vibrations. He didn’t understand exactly how it happened, and he didn’t really care anymore. He was unstoppable. He roamed the halls past the silent prisoners who stared at him, terrified. He moved to the cell of Rance Stamper.

 

            “Stamper.” Vester wheezed, “ How are you?” Rance Stamper stood in the center of the cell staring back. “Stamper? What did that dentist do to me?”

 

            Stamper shrugged. “I don’t know. He had me get something from my brother. I don’t know what.”

 

            “He put something in my mouth. Something powerful.”  Vester smiled. “Thanks.”     Vester took a long breath and then exhaled. He could feel them close. He  moved swiftly toward them.

 

*

                        Wyshok and Smiles had already vanished into the prison when Needless and Stack arrived. They jumped from the boat and ran inside. They stopped at the main courtyard.

 

            “Where now?” Stack asked, looking around.

 

            Needless shrugged. “Smiles?!”  he bellowed.

 

 

            There was a blast of light from the far side of the courtyard. The concussion of the blast knocked Stack and Needless to the ground, and rained debris down on to the courtyard blacktop. When the dust settled they stood up.

 

            “I knew you would come sooner or later,” came the voice. Stack and Needless drew their weapons. “Now who has the upper hand?”

 

            Vester floated to the rubble that littered the courtyard. Stack and Needless stepped back.

 

            “Vester?” Stack said. “Michael Vester? We sent you up on a nickel for burglary. Is it worth all this?”

 

            “Oh yes. Do you know what it it’s like here? What they do to people in here? You two are the cause of all my problems.” Vesper clapped his hands and they became white hot. “Now I have the power to reclaim my life.”

 

            Stack put away his weapon. “Vester, you don’t understand what’s happening. This thing inside your mouth, it’s eating you up. You don’t know how to handle this kind of power.”

 

            “I don’t care anymore.” Vester said, chuckling. “The power is all I care about.”

 

            “It’s going to kill you.” Stack pleaded.

 

            Vester thought for a moment. “I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time to take care of you two.”

 

            Needless finally couldn’t stand it anymore. “Get over it! You were like a year away from getting out of here. It’s not like you don’t deserve what you got.”

 

            “In your mouth, Vester. The dentist put a powerful relic called the Skiv  into your mouth!” Stack interjected. “Your body isn’t built for it. Please, Vester, stop all of this before it’s too late.”

 

            Vester’s voice deepened. “It’s already too late, Forray! This power is mine. We’ve talked enough. It’s time to kill you both and get out of here.”

 

            Vester raised his hands and the white-hot glow intensified. He dropped his arms to throw the magic and kill Stack and Needless. As if kicked, he was thrown by a flash of light. Stack and Needless scattered. From the top of the courtyard Smiles and several police opened fire on Vester.

 

            Stack tried to scream over the gunfire. “No, don’t! Don’t kill him! It’s the Skiv!”

 

            No bullets touched Vester. He stood in the courtyard as the bullets were thrown, in all directions, by unseen forces. With a roar, a huge creature burst from the courtyard floor. Clumps of dirt, concrete and metal flew together to create a towering creature that looked up the wall at Smiles and the cops.

 

            As the creature approached the wall, two arms and hands jetted out of the wall and latched on to the creature. They struggled. Each evenly matched.

 

            Confusion drew across Vester’s face. His eyes scanned the courtyard for who it was that dared challenge him. In a darkened window, on the third floor open air walk-way, stood a frail old woman. Her mouth was moving in a furious chant. With one great leap, he stood in the window glaring down at her. Wyshok looked up at him as Vester’s hand clenched her throat.

 

            Outside, the arms that held Vester’s concrete avatar crumbled. Smiles and the cops broke into a run as the creature began to climb the wall again.

 

            Wyshok tried desperately to breathe, to no avail. Vester’s hands were too tight. As he squeezed the life from her she grabbed his face and began to drain his power. Vester began to feel the energy draining from him and his grip on her neck slipped.

 

            Wyshok’s eyes rolled back into her head. The power was too much. Flashes of her life rocketed through her mind. As she felt herself lifted from the floor she thought of Frank Johnson and how strange it was that the end would come helping his son.

 

            Smiles, in his retreat, turned to see Vester fling Wyshok through the window and down to the courtyard below. Stack watched in disbelief as the old woman crashed to the ground. His ears were filled with the angry cries of Needless who was hidden somewhere across the courtyard.

 

            As Needless’ last scream died away, there was silence.

 

            Vester leapt to the ground and nudged Wyshok’s body with his foot. His creature stood motionless facing Smiles and the cops.

 

            “Your witch is dead!” Vester yelled, filling the courtyard up with his voice. "There is nothing you can do to stop me.”

 

 Smiles and the cops again opened fire on the creature. Vester turned and raised his hands to control the avatar.  Vester was surprised when he felt the bullets plunge into his back. He turned to see Needless crossing the courtyard, firing into him. The old woman had drained enough power that it took all his concentration to control the creature. He let go of his control on the creature. He closed his eyes and turned all his attention to deflecting the bullets that Needless fired at him. The wounds in his back closed and he attempted to stand to his full height. Despite the fact that the bullets he was firing were missing Vester, Needless continued his march. When his clip was empty he charged Vester and tackled him to the ground.

 

Over and over Needless hit Vester in the face. Vester desperately tried to regain the upper-hand, but the punches were coming too fast. He had no time to think. He clamped on to Needless’ side and began the burn.  Needless ignored the burning hands that he felt igniting his coat. Harder and harder he hit, his elven blood boiling and pushing his human side to work faster. 

 

Then there was a small clink that seemed to echo around the prison.

 

The creature crumbled to the floor as Smiles and the cops looked on. Vester’s burning hands cooled and fell limp to the ground. Stack rushed forward toward Needless who was still hitting Vester. He pulled his partner off and the two fell back to the ground.

 

“John! John!” Stack yelled, trying to hold Needless still. “It’s over. It’s over.”

 

Needless looked over the unconscious body of Vester. There, in the middle of the courtyard, lay a tiny crown and within it, a small amber stone. Needless slipped on the gloves that Wyshok had given him and picked up the Skiv. Even through the gloves it felt warm.

 

He moved to Wyshok’s limp body and knelt beside her. Her eyes fluttered open and her breath was shallow.

 

“Is it over?” She wheezed. Needless nodded. “Good. I have seen your future, John. I know great things lay ahead. Protect the Skiv. Keep it safe.” Needless nodded. Wyshok looked across the ground to Vester. She looked up at Needless. “That guy was a real asshole.”

 

Then Wyshok Meen, last of the Big City PD Sweepers, died.

 

*

The old man with green eyes read a magazine in the waiting room outside ICU. With the exception of some time spent investigating the strange death of the prison guard, Charlie had spent the entire day in Laura’s room. The old man still couldn’t believe how recklessly Charlie had acted. He was angry like a father, but happy that Charlie was all right. He detected a sense of pride in his heart, pride at Charlie’s bravery. He figured Smiles felt the same way. He couldn’t have picked a better father figure for Charlie. Smiles was a good man, just a little rough around the edges.

 

He glanced up from the magazine. The young man that he was sworn to watch and protect was still out of site. He smiled. Even if Charlie didn’t know, the old man was never far away. He thumbed a few more pages and read his horoscope. The magazine told him that this week would bring change and friendship.

 

Inside the room Charlie continued his vigil. He watched Laura breathe. He squeezed her hand again and was surprised when her hand squeezed back. His eyes moved to their hands and then rose to greet her gaze.

 

Laura smiled weakly.

 

Charlie laughed. He laughed until tears came to his eyes. He laid his head on her stomach and sobbed.  Laura’s hand moved to his head and her fingers tangled themselves in his hair.

 

*

 

Twenty-one Big City police officers fired their rifles into the air as the coffin was lowered into the ground. As the coffin came to rest in the grave, Smiles turned to head back to the car.  Stack leaned over to him.

 

“I guess Breen really read Bledsoe the riot act until she agreed to give Wyshok a policeman’s burial.”

 

Smiles smiled. “Good.”  He stopped and lit a smoke. “Any word on the dentist?”

 

Stack shook his head. “They found his body in the bay last night.  He’d been dead for weeks. I don’t know who went out the prison and put the Skiv in Vester’s jaw, but they’ve disappeared.”

 

Needless stepped up. He closed his cell phone. “I guess Vester finally came around. He doesn’t remember a thing. The last thing he remembers is Rance Stamper signing him in to see the dentist for a cracked tooth.”

 

“Well, I guess that’s it.” Stack shrugged. “Everything is wrapped up nicely, for somebody.”

 

They walked a little further and found Welp leaning against the car.

 

“So, Welp, got enough material for your book?” Needless inquired.

 

“Actually I’m putting that on the back burners for a while. I think I’m going to stick around. This whole thing has peaked a lot of interest in Sweepers and their history. I think I might write a book.” He smiled. “I’m hearing rumblings about pressure on the City to reinstate the Sweeper program. Maybe I can do some good.”

 

Stack shook Welp’s hand. “Take care, Welp.”

 

Welp said his goodbyes and headed to his car.

 

The three stood there for a moment and enjoyed the balmy breeze.

 

“Do you feel it?” Smiles asked, flicking an ash. Stack and Needless looked at him.

 

“Feel what?” Stack replied.

 

“Change.” He said, looking skyward. No reply came, though they all felt it. They waited a few more moments. Then, silently, they climbed into the car and followed the other cars out of the cemetery.

 

*

The light moved outward from the moon and filled the night sky over the flats with descending rings of blue, gray and black. Slith took another drag off his cigarette and threw it to the dark sand. He had been watching the headlights approach from across the flats for 15 minutes. He could finally hear the engines. He straightened his tie and lit another cigarette.

 

A few minutes latter the dusty truck came to a stop by Slith’s car. A cloud of dirt and black sand hit him. Two figures stepped out of the truck. The truck then turned and headed back into the nighttime Flats.

 

One of the figures, the one Slith recognized as Manzetti, stepped forward and shook his hand.

 

“It’s good to see you Slith.” Manzetti said. Slith noticed that he had lost a lot of  weight and was tan. He also sported a large beard. Manzetti smiled. “Did the package arrive safely? How did everything go?”

 

“Exactly as planned sir. Forray and D’yen  have been busy for days. It gave us enough time to get everything ready.”

 

“Good.”

 

“Things have quieted down considerably, but most of the city council members that you relied on are gone.”

 

Manzetti smiled. “I don’t need them anymore.” He motioned to his companion who remained silent. “I’ve got some new tricks up my sleeve.” His companion wore a dark hooded cloak, and  Slith could only make out a faint glimmer in the eyes. Manzetti moved to Slith’s car. “I’m taking back my town, Slith. And no one is stopping me this time.”

 

The three climbed into the car and drove back into the mountains toward Big City.

 

 

THE END