A Magical Team

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

“Gentlemen, meet the newest member of the team,” Tonio said when he and Dirk entered the room they used at the station house. “He’s taking Jake’s place.”

“Damn, he’s just a kid,” one of the men muttered.

“Lex’s kid,” Tonio told him.

One of the women arched a delicate golden eyebrow. “Since when did he have a kid?”

Dirk c****d his eyebrow at her in return. “Since twenty-one years ago when I was born?”

“A real young un’,” a handsome brown-haired man said, studying him.

Dirk sighed. “So I’m not as ancient as the rest of you. Shoot me.”

“And waste such a pretty lad? I’m Mattie, by the way. That’s Irene,” she nodded to the blonde, “but we call her Reni. The bearded, red-haired giant is Bay.”

“Notice she forgot to introduce me. I’m Felan, a wolf-shifter, and a lot older than I look.”

Since he appeared to be twenty-five at most, Dirk asked how old he really was.

“Seventy and counting—but slowly,” Felan replied. “Bay’s thirty-five, or so he claims. The ladies? Well, I’ll be a gentleman and keep that to myself.”

Reni smiled at Felan. “Well you should.” Then she switched her gaze to Dirk. “I’m the old lady here. In fact, the oldest of any of us. I’ve been around for, good lord, almost five-hundred years.”

“As long as we’re being honest about our ages,” Mattie said, “I’m twenty-eight, for real. Reni and I are both witches, as compared to Bay who’s a warlock.”

“Okay,” Dirk said, “next question. Felan’s already said he’s a wolf, I know Tonio’s a full elf, I’m half-elf, so what about the rest of you?”

“I’m pure human,” Mattie said. “And then there’s Reni.”

Dirk turned his attention to Reni. “You look human, but as old as you are—” He tapped a finger to his lips. “Vampire?”

“Bingo. I used to be a plain old, everyday witch until I made friends with the wrong man. Now,” she shrugged, “I’m a witch with vampire powers added in. Ones that come in very useful for what we do. And before you ask, contrary to the prevailing myths about us, I’m more than capable of tolerating sunlight except in the middle of the day, as long as I’m well covered.”

Bay rumbled out a laugh. “We’re a pretty mixed lot. As Felan said, I’m thirty-five—this time around.”

“You’re reincarnated?” Dirk asked, looking at him in awe.

“Reborn, but don’t look so impressed. I was cursed by a very powerful wizard way back in the middle ages. Around 1066, to be exact. Every time I die, or I’m killed, I’m reborn again, with all my memories intact. He said that way, maybe I’d learn a lesson about dabbling in things I had no business knowing.” Bay grinned, stroking his beard. “He was so wrong.”

“We’re definitely a mixed bag,” Tonio said.

“So what do you bring to the mix, Dirk?” Felan asked.

“Manipulation of the elements, although I’m still learning how to do it safely.”

Tonio c****d his head in question. “Lex thought this would be useful to us?”

Dirk nodded. “A well-placed fire or lightning bolt can deal out quite a lot of damage.”

“He has a point, Tonio,” Reni said. “I’d give my eyeteeth for that to be one of my powers. Okay, maybe not my eyeteeth. I sort of need them to survive.”

“One more question, if I may. Do you two—” Dirk pointed to Bay and Felan, “—use magic?”

Felan shook his head. “Not me. I haven’t an ounce of magical ability, unless you consider shifting magical.”

“I suspect some people would,” Bay said with a grin. “As for me, because I’m a warlock, I know a few spells, but I’m around more for my physical prowess. It’s been a long time since I actually practiced magic.”

“I should have guessed you’re the enforcer, so to speak. How tall are you anyway?”

“Barefooted, I’m six-eleven.”

Dirk chuckled. “Remind me to hide behind you if things go wrong.”

“Naw, I’ll pick you up and use you as my shield.” Bay winked, adding, “That is, if your protection spells are as strong as Tonio’s.”

“Nobody’s spells are as strong as his,” Reni said, casting a glance at Tonio.

“I’m not that good,” Tonio replied with a self-deprecating smile. “Unless it involves battle magic, that is.”

“We’ll actually be having battles?” Dirk asked warily.

“It’s happened,” Tonio said. “Not all rogues are willing to go peacefully, even when they realize we outnumber them. They call up reinforcements, instead.”

Dirk smirked. “I can see it now, all of us fighting it out with them in the middle of City Park.”

“We try to avoid that, Dirk,” Mattie said. “Lex owns three vacant warehouses we can use, if it comes down to a real battle in the city.”

Bay patted Dirk’s shoulder. “But it rarely does. We prefer subtlety to outright fighting. After all, we’re also police officers. We really don’t want to endanger anyone, other than whoever we’re after, if we can help it.”

“Speaking of which,” Tonio said, “Luis Acasta is back in business as of yesterday.”

Felan’s mouth tightened in anger. “The perks of having Peyton as his lawyer. He’s damned good. Emphasis on damned, which he should be. I say we deal with both of them.”

Tonio nodded. “It might be time to have a few words with Mr. Peyton.”

“Would just talking to him do anything?” Dirk asked.

Tonio smiled maliciously. “When Reni gets done ‘talking,’ he’ll see the error of his ways. Not that he’ll know that’s why he’s suddenly decided defending scum like Acasta is wrong, but he will.”

“Then why haven’t you done that a long time ago?”

“He’s not an easy man to get close to,” Reni said. “He knows he’s hated by anyone in law enforcement, plus all the people who’ve suffered at the hands of the criminals he’s managed to successfully defend.”

“What we need,” Mattie said thoughtfully, “is to give him someone new to defend.”

“Such as?”

Mattie went to the computer on the desk along one wall. Going into the recent arrest files, she checked who had been picked up within the last twenty-four hours. “This man should work. Steven Diaz.”

Tonio leaned over her shoulder to see who she meant. “Given that he’s part of Acasta’s organization, I agree. A small fry but still…Married?”

Mattie checked and nodded. “We’ll need to know what she looks like.”

“Not a problem. Why hasn’t he lawyered up already?”

“He did, and he’s out on bail as of eleven this morning. But,” she turned to look at Tonio, “I think Mr. Diaz should ask for a better lawyer.”

Tonio nodded. “That can be arranged. First things first, though. I have to get a look at his wife.” He made note of Diaz’s home address then headed to the door. “I’ll be back soon.”

“What’s going on?” Dirk asked. “What are you planning?”

Reni said, “Mr. Diaz, with his wife in tow because she’s so worried about him, is going to pay a visit to Mr. Peyton’s offices to see if Peyton will represent him.”

Dirk frowned. “Are you going to compel them to do that? And what good would that do anyway? It won’t get Reni close to Peyton.”

“I presume, since you’re half-elven, you know how to cast a Glamour.”

“Well yeah. I suck at holding it for more than a few minutes, but I can.”

“Tonio is unbelievably powerful at casting and holding one, or in this case two of them. One on himself, to make him look like Diaz, and one on Reni so she looks like the wife,” Mattie told him.

“Ah, now I get it. Neat trick to get on the inside. Do you do that often?”

“Not every day, but when necessary.”

“What are you going to do about…Never mind. I’m probably driving everyone crazy with all my questions. Sorry.”

Bay shook his head. “You can’t learn if you don’t ask, and since you’re now part of our team, not knowing could endanger all of us.”

Dirk nodded. “That makes sense. So what I was going to ask is, what are you going to do about this Acasta guy?”

“Take him out, permanently. We couldn’t touch him before, other than to facilitate his arrest. But now that he’s been found innocent of conspiracy to murder two of his rivals, it’s our turn to do something to stop it happening again. Or anything else he might have in mind, such as continuing on the way he was before.”

“Everyone turns a blind eye when that happens?”

“When what happens?” Felan said innocently. “Mr. Acasta is going to disappear, rather like Mr. Hoffa. With no body, the authorities, and his own people, can only wonder where he ran off to, and why.”

“Isn’t he well protected? How do you get to him to kill him?”

“Dirk, my dear, you’re going to find that out first hand, I suspect,” Mattie replied.

He winced. “Why did I think that might be your answer?”

“Because you’re a wise young man. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”