Michelle's Case Files, page 4
Deciding to give the traces of magic a closer look before I spelled the fences, I pulled my power back into myself and headed over to the gate. Since Howard and Queen were still talking, I took a detour over to Carlow, who was still standing with Bertha. “I need to take a look at the area where the fencing was damaged.”
He nodded. “Should they notice your absence, I’ll let them know what’s going on.”
“Thanks.”
I unlocked the gate, let myself into the pasture, and latched it behind me. I glanced at the cows from time to time—they really were indifferent to me—but for the most part I kept my eyes on the ground ahead of me. The dull green and brown of winter grass was exceptionally good at hiding certain things. Even with boots on, I really didn’t want to step in cow dung.
I stopped short of the newly repaired fencing, which I could only recognize because of the shiny wire, and probed the area. Someone had been here, someone who could use magic. I could feel the residue of a couple of spells. I’d have to dig a little more to see if they had been cast or were the results of charms, but this had the potential to explain why a typically docile cow had gone on a fiery rampage.
I sent out a tendril of magic to delicately probe the residue of the spells, trying to gather information without triggering any negative reactions. Spell residue and partially cast spells could have some strange reactions, especially when they were mixed. The first thing I found was the remains of a tranquilizing spell. From the way the remaining magic interacted, I could tell that the spell had been cast by a person. This variant had the normal sedative qualities, but it also put the target into a bit of a trance. You could do all sorts of things when someone was unaware of what they were doing. That spell had been designed for human application, so I wasn’t sure why I was finding it in a pasture.
The next spell was one that would help conceal a person’s presence. It didn’t make anyone invisible, but rather encouraged the viewer to explain away the intruder’s presence. Then I found a spell to cut the barbed wire, and things started to make sense . . . but I didn’t like the picture being painted.
Since I still needed evidence to back up my budding theory, I walked over to the newly repaired fence and took a good look around. There were boot prints on the pasture side of the fence—ones that looked like they belonged to the man who’d repaired the fence and a larger set that I suspected belonged to Howard. There were a couple of lighter and smaller marks, but I knew at least some of those would be Queen’s prints. What really interested me were the two deep indentions in the grass on the other side of the fence.
They were close enough that I could get a good look at them, but I didn’t know what to make of them. I really wished Elron were here to help me out. He was the tracking expert. He’d be able to decode this scene in no time.
Chewing on my lip, I thought through my options. Even if Elron could leave work, it would take too long for him to get here. Howard and Queen were running low on patience. Carlow might be able to track, but I’d rather leave him with Howard and Queen to ensure that tempers didn’t get too hot. If I could get to the other side of the fence, I could try a few spells. Maybe I’d get lucky. I could also take pictures to show Elron later and see if he might have some insight.
Now that was a good idea. I tended to forget everything my phone could do since I was often in places where it was only as good as a paperweight. The never-ending hills and valleys of north Georgia didn’t allow for good cell phone reception. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and started taking pictures of the footprints on this side of the fence and of what I could see on the other side. I sent those to Elron with a note that asked him to call me and started looking for a way to the other side of the fence.
A fair distance down the fence line, I spotted a gate. As I got closer, I realized it was locked with a simple padlock. One spell later, the padlock sprung open. I slipped through the gate, then closed it behind me and thread the open lock through the chain links. I’d relock it when I came back through.
My phone rang and I answered it as I moved closer to the indentations in the grass. “Hello?”
“Michelle, are you in danger?” Elron’s voice was sharp.
I grimaced. “No. Sorry for alarming you. I got called out to a farm and found those footprints. I know who some of them belong to, but I was hoping you could tell me more.”
“Where are you? I could join your investigation.”
“I’m up in Pickens County. It would take you too long to get here.”
“Very well.” Elron sighed. “The photographs you labeled as inside the fence show several sets of footprints. From the images I can see no evidence that any of those individuals moved beyond the area immediately adjacent to the fence. Based on these photographs, I would say that the indents in the grass are from someone standing outside the fence for a significant period of time.”
That reinforced my hunch, but it wasn’t enough. “What would you say if I told you that a farm worker or two and one or two police officers explored the area inside the fence?”
He thought for a moment. “That would account for what I see.”
I stopped well within sight of the trampled grass, but did not disturb the footprints. While Elron had been helpful, it wasn’t enough information for me to draw any concrete conclusions. “Could you give me any tips on tracking the person who was standing in the grass?”
“Is the surrounding area as grassy as what is in the photograph?”
My eyes trailed across the ankle-tall grass that went from the fence line all the way down to the bank of the stream. “Yup.”
“Look for additional indentations.” He paused. “Could you use a spell to track this individual?”
“Not from bent grass. I need something more personal.” Scanning the area, I didn’t see any other deep impressions. “I don’t see anything.”
“The damage to the grass would be less extreme if the person was moving quickly.”
I was starting to feel like an incompetent child when I spotted an area of crushed grass a little ways away, and another one after that. As Elron and I chatted, I followed the indentation to the stream bank. From there I could see footprints in the mud on the opposite bank. There were even squished and muddy chunks of grass.
I wasn’t exactly dressed for crossing a stream, so I headed back to reexamine the spells and fence area. As I walked, I relayed my findings to Elron. “I think it’s safe to say someone was here.”
“Whilst I am glad to be of service, you should be less than pleased.”
“Knowing someone was here doesn’t tell me how the neighbor’s sheep was burned or explain why the person was casting a tranquilizing spell designed to work on humans.” Heaving a sigh, I let myself back into the field and looked at the fence behind me.
After a lengthy pause, Elron spoke. “A great many spells designed to work on humans also work well on other mammals.”
I stopped and really looked at the area. “Oh. Oh, you think the person was trying to spell the cow? Bertha certainly didn’t use a spell to cut the barbed wire. Maybe the person cut the fence and was trying to capture Bertha and she set them on fire. Then the person went running and that’s who injured the neighbor’s sheep.”
Elron’s tone was cautionary. “All I offered was additional information.”
“But it was good information. I’ll tell you what I find over dinner tonight.”
“Glad to be of service.” He sighed. “Be careful, Michelle.”
“I’ll do my best.” I hung up and tucked the phone in my pocket.
With the new information in mind, I resumed my examination of the prints, both human and bovine. While there were plenty of hoof prints inside the fence, there wasn’t a single one outside. If Bertha had been frolicking through the neighbor’s field, there should’ve been signs of her leaving the pasture. There were plenty of indentations from where I’d been walking and she was far heavier than me—she would’ve left very defined prints.
Well, I’d cleared Bertha of any wrongdoing, but that didn’t answer all the questions. I’d need to talk to Howard and Queen to try to fill in the blanks. I kept thinking through my findings as I walked back, determining which questions I wanted to ask and how best to ask them without causing further problems.
When I finally made my way back to the group, I was flooded with questions from both Queen and Howard.
“Did you find anything?” Queen asked eagerly.
“Anything wrong with my cows?”
Queen frowned. “I missed something, didn’t I?”
“What ’bout my cows?” Howard demanded.
I held up my hands, trying to get them to calm down. “Howard, your cows are fine. Queen, I did find a few things, but before I get to that, I have some questions.”
They both nodded.
“Howard, where did you find Bertha after all the commotion?”
“Up here by the gate. Why?”
I ignored his question. “Did anyone see her outside the field?”
Howard scratched his butt. “Not that I know of, but I didn’t get out here all that quickly.”
Nodding, I prompted the rest of the group. “Queen? Carlow?”
Queen shook her head. “I talked to the other farmer. He didn’t say anything about seeing the cow, just that a few of his crops and one of his sheep had some fire damage.”
When I turned my attention to Carlow, I found him bent over and looking into Bertha’s eyes. A couple of seconds later, he stood up and faced the group. “Like Queen, I believed Bertha had caused the damage because of her abilities. However, she claims to have stayed in the field.”
“She can talk?” Howard squawked.
Wanting to keep things focused, I answered, “Not like you or I. I’m sure you know fey have special abilities.” Howard nodded reluctantly and focused on me. “Howard, it looks like someone was trying to steal Bertha. I don’t know who or why, but you need to keep an eye on your herd. Got that?”
He spit on the ground and nodded tersely. “I’ll watch ’em.”
“Good. Now, I’ll spell the fence, have a talk with Queen, and get out of your hair.” Before anyone could say anything, I marched over to the fence and summoned my wand. I used the tip of the wand to etch runes in the wood for strength, longevity, and fire resistance. As I sketched the last runes I fed power into the spell. It flowed along the wire, moving across every post, and surged over each gate. The spell wavered near the end, but with a little extra power, I was able to firm it up nicely.
I vanished my wand as I walked back to the group and pulled one of my business cards out of my pocket. Howard was back to petting Bertha, who was munching on hay enthusiastically.
“How did it go?” Queen asked.
“Really well.” I turned to Howard and held out my card. He took it, but didn’t seem to be sure why he needed it. “The fence is fire resistant, not fireproof. I also strengthened it, so if you have to do any work it’ll take some extra effort to cut it. The spell is going to wear off over time, so you’ll need to get someone out here in about three months to boost the power or recast it. I’ll be happy to discuss rates with you if you want me to maintain the spell. You can also search around for someone else to do the spell, but you’re legal until it wears off.”
With a glance at Queen, Howard pocketed the card. “Thank you. I’ll keep the fence in good repair, and keep an eye out for any suspicious characters.”
I smiled and nodded.
“Remember,” Queen said, “we can come out and check the fence spell and do an inspection to see if you’re getting into anything your paperwork doesn’t cover. Don’t argue with me. That’s the law. You know magical creature breeding is subject to oversight to ensure the public’s safety and to make sure they don’t threaten the base species.”
Howard frowned but didn’t protest.
There was still one thing I couldn’t get past. “Why did you breed fire-breathing cows?”
He pulled a pair of gloves out of his belt and handed them to me. “My pa was a blacksmith. He thought his gloves could be improved by using a leather that was resistant to fire. Dragon hide is flameproof, but you can’t make a business with that. Anyhow, the only way he could make the leather fireproof was to give the cows other fire traits. Took him a few tries, but the result was worth it. The gloves sell for six times the price of an ordinary pair, and the meat has a peppery flavor.”
I ran the gloves through my hands. They were as soft and supple as any other pair and were finished into a lovely deep tan.
“They’re beautiful.” I handed them back to Howard, who smiled and nodded. “I think we’re done here. Keep on top of the spell and the paperwork. I wouldn’t want you to lose your cows.”
Howard nodded. “Thank you, ma’am.”
Queen gave him one more warning and he led Bertha, who hadn’t so much as wheezed since Carlow healed her, to the field. We headed for the cars, and Queen let out a long sigh. “So what did you find?”
I quickly explained the spell evidence and the footprints. “Basically, I think someone tried to capture Bertha—no idea who or why—and she set that person on fire. That person injured the neighbor’s sheep and crops and set off the dog, not Bertha.”
“I missed all the signs.” Queen closed her eyes and shook her head before looking at Carlow. “I should’ve taken you with me when I examined the area. You would’ve seen the footprints.”
Carlow patted her shoulder. “At the time, having me deal with the creature while you investigated the area made sense.”
It was time for me to intervene. As a hedge-witch, Queen had a much more difficult time examining spell residue than a true witch like myself. “The spells weren’t easy for me to unravel. To be honest, I don’t know of a hedge-practitioner who could’ve gotten the information I did. Now, anyone could’ve seen the footprints, but I’m not sure I would’ve noticed them before Elron started teaching me some of his elven skills. The important questions from here are who and why.”
Queen nodded. “We’re going to take a second look at the damaged fence and the tracks. Then we’ll start asking around, see if anyone saw something. A person on fire should have attracted attention.”
“Along with the remains of the tranquilizing and wire-cutting spells, I detected signs of a concealment spell. I don’t know how much you’ll find.”
“We’ll find someone, one way or another.” Queen shrugged. “Could you do a quick check to see if you sense any spells on the neighboring property? I don’t want to waste your time if you don’t feel like there’s anything there.”
“Give me a second.” I closed my eyes and flung my magic out into the world. It wasn’t often that I had the opportunity to use it like this, exploring large areas and gathering information.
As my power raced across Howard’s land, it felt the spells on his fence and the residue I’d examined earlier. It didn’t take long for my magic to reach the neighbor’s property, and I couldn’t find a speck of magic that was out of place. Sure, there were a few things in the house, but everyone had something with some magic. When I’d stretched my power as far as was comfortable, I pulled it back, continuing to search for anything I’d missed the first time. My magic retreated all the way back to me without revealing so much as a single spell that I should investigate.
Opening my eyes, I looked at Queen. “If there’s anything out there, I can’t find it.”
Queen nodded. “Good enough.”
There was one piece of business I needed to clear up. “So, why’d you offer to pay for my time? Shouldn’t that have been Howard’s responsibility?”
“Legally, I couldn’t leave without securing the cows.” Queen answered. “The fence had to be fixed or I had to seize them. With the hoarding situation we’re stretched, and I doubted I was going to get him to pay for your services the first time. This way we’ve worked with him and with a little luck he’ll work with us in the future.”
“Well, I usually work with the police, but if Howard gives me a call I’ll figure out a rate that works for both of us.” Helping out Howard wouldn’t pay as well as my usual work, but I could always use an extra income source.
“Thanks.” She sighed. “This has been such a strange morning. I don’t think I’m ever going to get over these cows. Are the fire-breathing and fire-resistant traits really linked?”
I shrugged. It was certainly a reasonable conclusion, but breeding magical creatures wasn’t my area of expertise.
“I believe so,” Carlow said. “I don’t know of a fire-breathing creature that isn’t resistant to flames.”
“Just when I think I’ve seen it all,” Queen muttered. “Thanks for coming out, Michelle. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
“No problem. I’m sorry it took me so long.”
“It happens. Have a good day.”
“You too. It was nice to meet you, Carlow.” I got into my car and headed out.
As I rolled down the driveway, a calf rammed into another one headfirst. The offended party turned around and shot a cone of flames out of its mouth. When the attacker scooted away from the flames, it didn’t even have a soot stain on its fur.
I couldn’t help but think that this was the second magical creature case I’d worked recently. The bugbear was a very different creature, but both of them had been victims of tampering. One was far from home and the other was very nearly taken from its home. Maybe there was a deeper connection, but if so, I couldn’t find it. After I finished my report I’d give Rodriguez a call. If I was lucky, he’d have some insight. Last I heard he was pretty sure the bugbear was connected to the black market. In that line of work if someone lost a magical creature promised to a client, they might start looking for a replacement.
Vacation Magic
With one last look in my rearview mirror, I pulled out of the Witch’s Warehouse parking lot. I knew Natalie, the owner, was a savvy witch who would take good care of my kit, but I felt naked without the duffels in my car. Those bags held all the supplies I needed to have on hand in case the police needed help with a really big problem—everything from individual spell components to healing charms. I didn’t need the supplies on every case I worked, but when I did, they were vital.
