Magic Ops Read online

  So, what he lacks in initial appeal he further lacks in class.

  The newcomer threw himself into the empty chair and stuck a hand out. “Steve.”

  Bryant shook it, and the other man squeezed a little more than necessary. The agent didn’t quite shoot him a dirty look but adjusted his expression to neutral. Steve repeated the process with Diana, and her dirty look wasn’t nearly so well hidden. She mastered it quickly and gave him a smile. “Steve, Lisa’s told me a little about you, but none of the good parts. What’s your deal?”

  He launched into a story about himself—something he seemed to enjoy if Bryant was any judge of character. While the man rabbited on, he took the opportunity to snap a picture with his phone and forwarded it to the base. Before Steve had finished his tale—which seemed to go on and on—he had the man’s details. These provided nothing of real interest. He did indeed work for a security firm as he claimed. Not one of the better ones, but not the sleaziest, either. Bryant stowed the phone back in his pocket.

  Steve turned to him. “Lisa tells me you and Diana work together—something governmental. What do you do?” The agent launched into the ARES cover story—a collective of otherwise independent analysts who consulted on a variety of security issues. The other man gave him a superior smile. “Maybe my firm will hire yours sometime, although we have the best of the best when it comes to that area.”

  Bryant rewarded him with another thin smile. A tray fell with a loud clang and the table’s worth of glasses it had carried shattered noisily. Diana started but mastered herself quickly. None of the others reacted. It was an expected sound in the place.

  The agent watched her closely. She closed her eyes once, then opened them again. A hand disappeared into her bag, presumably to give or draw comfort from the troll. As a matter of course, they had hacked her therapists’ records, so he knew about her PTSD and how she coped with it—quite well, in his estimation. He felt a twinge of pain on her behalf and wondered what it would be like to face that level of alarm to ordinary occurrences, not to mention magic. In discussions about adding her to the team, her potential issues with magic as a result of the incident were a primary concern. However, he and the others who believed she’d shown the aptitude to handle it won out.

  He tuned back into the conversation in time to hear Steve say, “Lisa, you look amazing. Every man in the place will envy my prize.”

  Her grin turned down somewhat, and Bryant sensed Diana react. He pushed down his own desire to explain to Steve how one ought to treat a partner. She gave the man a fake smile and said, “No question, Lisa is usually the focus of attention. Some of her dates find that difficult to handle. It takes someone truly comfortable with themselves to avoid being petty.”

  The verbal slap was delivered with no emotion, but it still hit home. Steve bristled and seemed about to reply when Lisa put her hand on his. “Finish up, Romeo. It’s time to move. I need to get my dance on.”

  Diana’s gritted her teeth so hard they hurt.

  Asshole. Lisa needs better taste in men.

  As her friend rose, she touched her arm. “I could probably handle some dancing. Do you want Bryant and I to join you?”

  Lisa smiled and shook her head. “Three’s a crowd, and four is a downright disaster on a date.”

  The agent laughed. “Never heard of double dating?”

  She turned to him and gave him a real grin. “Listen, I know. How could you not be interested in all this?” She gestured down her body. “But you’ll have to content yourself with Diana.” She yelped as the other woman’s foot connected with her ankle.

  “Witch.”

  Diana smiled. “Wench.”

  Steve slipped his arm around Lisa’s waist and nodded to Bryant, then to her. “Pleasure to meet you.” He didn’t hide his sarcasm well. They left, and Diana watched them every step of the way until the door closed behind them.

  “She’ll be fine.”

  She dragged her attention back to the table. “What?”

  “I checked him out and found nothing particularly scary. He’s a schmuck, but that appears to be the end of it. And I’m sure Lisa has handled her share of schmucks.”

  Diana released a pent-up breath. “Haven’t we all? Present company definitely included.”

  Bryant’s grin showed off his teeth, which were white and perfect. “Hey now. No need to get rude. Or ruder than normal, I mean.”

  “Bryant?” She said sweetly.

  He rolled his eyes. “Yes?”

  “Bite me.”

  “Anytime, anyplace, Sheen.” She laughed but it faded when his face clouded over.

  Her words formed a question, but her tone made it a demand. “What?”

  Bryant shrugged. “I have to talk to you about something. Technically, I’m not supposed to, but I’ve never been much for technicalities.”

  Diana nodded. “Me neither. Spill.”

  Rath sounded equally serious when he echoed, “Spill.”

  “I’m sure that by now, you’ve realized that all the BAM recruits possess some form of magic.” There was a pause, but her mind filled in the words even before he said them. “Including you.”

  She leaned back, then forward again, opened her mouth to retort, and changed her mind. “Okay, if we have to have this conversation, I need another drink.” She twisted and waved at Julia, who had the server’s instinct that ensured she’d be looking at the table at the right moment. Diana held two fingers up and pointed down. The bartender nodded.

  “Okay. You’re right.” She focused on her companion once more. “I’ve always had a little—moving stuff with my mind and such. But I’ve noticed some weird stuff lately. How could I not?” She leaned in. “Did you see what happened with that knife?”

  Bryant nodded. “Only part of it, and only in a flash. Why don’t you tell me what you saw?” She related the story, and he held his reply as their drinks arrived. They each took a deep drink and he nodded. “Telekinesis is often how magical ability first manifests. It seems like it’s the most easily accessed way to interact with the world in a non-physical manner. At least that’s what the experts say, and it corresponds with what we’ve seen.”

  Diana nodded and toyed with the napkin under her drink.

  He still sounded serious. “Now you spill.”

  She sighed. “It’s weird. Every so often—like when we went down the stairs and that trap was in front of us—everything slows down for me and I feel a disturbance inside.” She kept her gaze locked firmly on the table. Bryant’s hand crossed into her vision and touched hers, ever so gently, with only two fingers on the top.

  “It’s okay, Diana. In fact, it’s better than okay. You probably saved my life there.” She looked up and he nodded. “The magic techs say it was essentially a firebomb. I would’ve taken the full brunt of it and my chances of survival would’ve been minimal.”

  “You didn’t have any inkling it was there?”

  He shook his head. “The magic I have access to is mainly active. I have to concentrate hard to use it. You appear to be one of the gifted ones who have some active and some passive.”

  Diana nodded. “So, I may be able to sense danger?”

  “No, you’re not Spider-Man or Spider-Gwen, or whatever. It does appear that you’re able to sense magic when it’s being used, however.”

  “I’m way cuter than Spider-Gwen.” It was a delaying tactic, and she knew it. Still, it worked while she put her thoughts together. She snapped her fingers as revelation dawned. “The sniper used some kind of magic, didn’t he?”

  Bryant laughed. “You’re still not over that one, huh?” He nodded, and his true smile returned. Something released inside at the sight of it. “He says he didn’t need to use it the first time since you basically walked into his trap, but he used it after that.”

  “Which is why I sensed him.”

  He nodded.

  “Do you think I can sense all magic?”

  “We can test it if you like.”

&nbs
p; She looked around. “Here?”

  He inclined his head in agreement and she straightened as a mixture of excitement and the retained dread of magic wrestled inside. She quickly shoved the dread where it belonged. “Okay, let’s do it.”

  Bryant nodded, closed his eyes, and raised one finger to his temple. His face scrunched up like he was concentrating. She didn’t notice anything and wondered if he were making fun of her. Her focus was so complete that she startled when Rath cackled enthusiastically in her bag. Bryant’s eyes snapped open. “Did you feel something?”

  She shook her head, confused. “What did you do?”

  From inside the bag, the troll said, “Bryant told joke. Funny joke.”

  Diana frowned. “So, you can speak telepathically with my troll?”

  He nodded and Rath giggled.

  Sigh.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The wizard and the Kilomea stood in the shadows of the alley as the woman and her dog exited the sports car and trot the half-block to the animal shelter. The watcher’s dark cloaks rendered them almost invisible in the dim illumination. The larger one tensed, ready to lurch into motion, when the other placed a restraining hand on his shoulder.

  “We should wait. They’ll be more tired and less careful when they come out.”

  Cresnan frowned at the thin man beside him. “The woman is no match for me, and I’m sure you can at least handle the dog.” He wore the familiar smirk that indicated teasing despite the lack of change in tone.

  “I could kill them from a distance twice over before you cleared the road.”

  He folded his arms. “Prove it.”

  Drisnan calculated time and angles and shook his head. “No. We’ve seen what results when we underestimate this woman. We’ll attack after, when she’s thinking about home.”

  The big one grunted. “She’s mine.”

  “She’s ours,” his partner corrected. “But you can have first shot.”

  They withdrew fully into the darkness and settled in to wait.

  She was happy to see Doug, as she always was. Max, though, was ecstatic. The Borzoi leaped around and yipped like a frenzied puppy.

  The older man laughed with each jump and attempted to avoid the dog’s wet-tongued greeting. “Max, my boy, I’ve missed you. Are you being good? I know you are.” He ruffled the fur on the dog’s neck, then knelt. A treat materialized in his hand.

  Diana smiled.

  Doug has a magic all his own.

  Max stilled and sat upright, prim and proper in response to the man’s gesture. “Now, shake.” The dog raised his paw, and Doug rewarded him with a paw-shake and tossed the treat. The Borzoi leaped to catch it and gulped it down in a single bite. He turned and looked at Diana, his tail spinning.

  She laughed. “Okay, Max.” She unclipped his leash as Doug opened the door to let him into the large play area. It was filled with other dogs chasing and wrestling with one another. The attendant shook his head and followed him inside to separate a pair of growling dogs. Diana opened her purse so Rath could see what was going on.

  “Ooh. Max friends. Take home?”

  Diana groaned and shook her head. “No, Rath. Our family is big enough as it is. We don’t need to add any more members just yet.”

  The troll remained silent for a moment, and the expression on his face suggested that he was considering her argument. Considering it and rejecting it. “More Max, more training.”

  She lacked the foggiest notion as to what the troll was talking about and responded by pushing him gently back into the bag as Doug entered and closed the door behind him.

  He grinned and she read the “I told you so” in it. “So, Max is working out okay?”

  Diana returned the grin. “Yes, he certainly is. He’s a great dog. I couldn’t have chosen better.”

  “Maybe it’s time you picked a friend up for him.”

  She shook her head.

  Doug, always pushing. Right idea, wrong person.

  “My house isn’t big enough for any more beings. If I added another, I’d have to move, and I definitely don’t have time for that.”

  “Understandable.” He nodded and pointed through the window to where Max chased another dog. Both of their tails whipped in happy circles. “It looks like Max is having fun. You know you can bring him for daycare anytime to play.”

  “I’ll take you up on that. Once life settles down a little, anyway.”

  Doug grinned. His cajoling was complete. “Okay. I have things to take care of. You can bring Max out whenever you’re ready. Watch out for the German Shepherd. He’s nippy.”

  He waved and wandered off, and Rath climbed quickly out of her bag and up her sleeve to tuck in beside her ear. She undid her ponytail and freed her hair so no one would see him from behind, then checked to ensure she knew where all traffic might be coming from.

  Rath sounded pleased. “Good doggos.”

  She laughed. “Doggos? What have you been watching?”

  “Crikey Irwins. Real-life action.”

  “Something tells me canceling cable would be a good idea.”

  “No fair. Learning.”

  Diana shook her head. “Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. An exclusive diet of action content may give you a slightly skewed view of how the world operates.”

  Rath laughed in her ear. “Max winning. Training is good. But Max tired. No training.” She looked and saw Max wrestling with another dog, clearly with the upper hand.

  Crazy dog. Crazy troll. Crazy life.

  “All right, time to bring this party to a close. Back in your capsule.” Rath scampered into her bag as she retrieved Max. He was clearly reluctant to leave but obeyed her command without protest. “Good boy.”

  They passed through the lobby and of course, Max had to stop and visit the guard at the desk. Finally, they were outside once more, and she yawned. It had been a long day and a long few weeks, and she looked forward to bath and bed. She was about halfway to the Stingray when it happened.

  A car passed on the street and it slipped into slow motion and the Doppler sound stretched and warped. She felt a vague sensation of danger to her left and released Max’s leash to shout, “Run!” She swung her arm in a wide circle that slid her purse to her hand and threw it forward, then pivoted and dove back the way they’d come.

  Time sped up again as a fireball slammed into the brick building beside her, shattered the front window behind the security grate, and triggered the wail of fire alarms. Diana pushed out of her roll, knelt behind a dilapidated fire hydrant, and drew her gun from its holster at the small of her back. A quick look revealed two men, one across the street and the other pounding toward her.

  She fired a triple burst at the closing man—no, not a man, a Kilomea—and he sidestepped to avoid them. He was unexpectedly fast. She tried another triple burst and failed to tag him, then fired three at the man across the street, who ducked back into the alley. Well, at least that’s something. Diana stood, stowed her gun, and readied herself for battle an instant before the huge being arrived.

  Rath heard Diana yell and immediately yanked the top of his container shut. He bounced around, was suddenly weightless, and bounced a little more. When the motion stopped, he popped the lid and crawled out of the bag. Max was nearby, positioned between him and the street, and growled deep in his throat. The troll took in the scene and added a growl of his own. “Max. Up.” The dog dropped his nose, and the diminutive creature scampered to his usual place on his back to grip Max’s collar with both hands. “Must help Diana. Battle calls. Max. Go.”

  He jerked backward as the dog exploded into a run, barking and snarling as he entered the street. Rath checked both ways as he’d been told, but there was no danger to either side.

  Only ahead.

  “Unprepared. Mistake. Rambo always has weapon.”

  The Kilomea was a bruiser who knew how to fight. He threw a punch at Diana’s skull that she ducked to avoid, and she jerked up with an uppercut in response. He
brought his right arm around to block and followed it with a reversed backfist at her face. It caught her on the cheek, and pain blossomed as her head snapped to the side.

  Focus, Diana.

  The giant prepared for another punch, and she delivered a front kick to his midsection that knocked him back. She retreated a few steps to open the distance and spat out the blood that had gathered in her mouth. As he advanced, she withdrew at a matching pace toward her abandoned bag. Maybe Max can bite him. He aimed another two blows at her head, and she bent backward to evade them. She could literally hear her heartbeat as the adrenaline spiked.

  Diana faked another back step before she darted forward to deliver a triple combo—two punches to the ribs and a third hard into the solar plexus. He staggered and coughed, and she had a moment of joy.

  Then he grinned. His voice rumbled in a way she’d only ever heard from trains.

  He hits like a train, too.

  “Agent Diana Sheen. You have become a thorn in our side.” He continued to advance and she continued to retreat, feinting every few steps to keep him honest. Her attacker held his arms close, apparently having decided she was worthy of at least that much respect. She wouldn’t sneak another combo into his body anytime soon. “Our plan was to kill you quickly. Now that you have made it difficult, we’ll have to make it last longer.”

  “You talk a good game, Sasquatch, but it seems the delivery isn’t as good as the words promise. Do you have performance anxiety?”

  The bumper of her car appeared in her peripheral vision.

  If I can find a minute to reach it, the shotgun in the trunk might work.

  The momentary distraction cost her. He lunged forward faster than she’d believed he could and landed a solid punch to her head. She blocked hastily, but the force of the blow catapulted her sideways into the Corvette. When she pushed herself up, there was a dent in the side panel.

  She snarled at him. “Screwing with me is one thing, but a woman’s car is sacred.”