018 - Arguments, A Departure, And Revelations

 “O.K. Constable, where did they go?” Caspian looked too smug.

Steven still couldn’t register all he had just watched. So he went to the couch that had not yet been righted. He lifted up the back and righted it. He then picked up two things that stopped the deputy.

“Here’s her sticks, right where that guy dropped them.”

“We will need to dust them for prints.” Deputy Poulson was trying to take control of the situation back. “Find out if any of the prints match the…”

“Come on constable. You saw those guys were wearing gloves.” Caspian still looked smug, but had toned it down a bit. “You aren’t going to get any prints from those that don’t belong to this house.”

“Mr. Caplan. Neither this constable nor a hundred like him can help you get your family back. They are beyond the reach of any law enforcement agency of this world. But not my reach. All I ask is your unconditional trust for one day. I know exactly who did this, and how, and where they are going to go.”

Deputy Poulson interrupted. “Where, and how? We can put out an Amber Alert, get road blocks and check points set up.” The deputy finally produced a notebook, ready to get things organized. “Or are you in league with these people? Is that how you set up this hologram, or what ever it was?”

Caspian looked sidelong at Deputy Poulson, and shook his head. “You just don’t get it. You want to set a roadblock up? Try blocking off the magnetic field of this planet, you might catch them as they teleport off it. In the mean time, Mister Caplan, you have a choice to make. Stay here, do nothing, and run the risk of not ever seeing your family again. Or, come with me and try to get them back. It’s that simple.”

“Go with you where?” Steven was finally finding his tongue again.

“After them. I can tell you more as we go, but not until you commit.”

Deputy Poulson had enough. “Don’t listen to him Mr. Caplan. This kook is this far from my hauling him in.”

Steven sat down, to think things through. But just as he got settled, the phone rang. Steven pulled himself back out of his chair, and went into the kitchen. He picked up the phone there before the voicemail took over.

“Hello? Hi Margot.”

Deputy Poulson gently put the receiver he had picked up back down by the chair, not wanting to eavesdrop on a private conversation.

“Yes, it’s true . . . I’m not sure what I’m going to do about it . . . A sheriff deputy and some guy claiming to be some kind of investigator . . . I think he mentioned that judge. Just a moment.” Steven came back from the kitchen, phone in hand, and looked at Caspian.

“What was the name of that judge you said you worked for?”

“Alistare Kevan. Of Sacramento.” Caspian was relieved that Roxanne’s mother had called. It meant that the Judge had been in contact with her, and told her the bare facts already.

Steven put the phone back to his ear and went back into the kitchen. “Mom? He says it’s that judge… You think so?.. You’re sure about that? He seems kind of like a kook to me… If you say so… Love you to. Talk to you more later… Bye.” Steven hung up the phone and returned to the living room. He looked Caspian over again, and then turned to Deputy Poulson, making a decision.

“Deputy, is there anything else you need this evening?” Steven looked at him in earnest.

“Just to be sure you’re safe.”

“I think I can take care of myself. You can go.”

Deputy Poulson was not sure what to say.

There was a knock on the door. Steven looked out the window. A county truck was in the driveway.

“Looks like your lab boys. Probably here for the dogs.” Steven crossed the kitchen, and into the front hall. It was the lab people.

Steven showed them through to the back yard, and pointed out the gate to them. One went back to the truck as the other took a few more pictures. Steven left them at their business.

He looked again at the deputy, his conversation with his mother-in-law still echoing in his ears. Caspian was sitting on the couch, sipping a new glass of water. Evidently, one or the other of the two had righted the last chairs and loveseat. Steven did not care which one.

“Deputy, unless you need to stay for someone, you can go when your lab people do.”

Steven crossed the room, and picked up Rox’s bag. He then took it into the bedroom, and dumped it into the laundry. He put the bag away in the closet.

Steven then picked up the gun from his bed, ejected the magazine onto the bed, and racked the slide sending that round flipping onto the floor. He put a snap-cap in, closed the gun, pulled the trigger to relax the springs in it, and put it back into the holster at his belt. He then unbuckled his belt and pulled it part way off, pulled his gun and holster out of his waistband and put it on the bed. He pulled the belt further, removing his leatherman and the magazine holder. Dropping the belt on the bed, he scoped up the magazines and loose round, and put them and the gun in a small gun safe in the closet, and closed and locked it.

Next was his luggage. He found it where he expected, in the trunk of his car. First, he pulled the car into the garage. Then he dropped the luggage through the door to the house. Next was Rox’s truck.

Steven had ordered some camera equipment online. Rox had come home a bit late because she went to go get it from the store. Steven found the boxes when he moved the truck. He felt a bit guilty for Rox not being home sooner. He parked the truck in its spot, and checked it for anything that might be out of place. But nothing was. He set the boxes in the house.

Finished in the garage, he closed it, and took his luggage back to his room. Deputy Poulson was still radiating hostility at Caspian. Steven just walked past. After dumping the laundry, and storing the rest, he went back to the living room.

Steven looked at Deputy Poulson. “Why are you still here?”

“In case you need anything.” Deputy Poulson looked at Caspian as he said this.

“This is private property, and I have invited you to leave.” Steven’s natural dislike for police officers was beginning to show as active irritation. “Or are you suspicious of something?”

Deputy Poulson was not happy. “Call me in the morning.” He handed Steven a card from his wallet.

Steven took the card, and followed him to the front door. He then locked it behind Deputy Poulson, and went back to the living room. Caspian had put the coffee table back, and was sorting books onto it.

Steven looked at Caspian. “Who are you really, and why would my mother-in-law tell me to trust you unconditionally? And don’t just say an investigator. That thing with the glass ball says that there is more.”

Caspian moved to the fireplace, and picked up the digital recorder that had been left there, turned on, by Deputy Poulson. Caspian contemplated it as he spoke. “I am in pursuit of the men that kidnapped your kids. I was sent by some relatives of your wife to safeguard her. So far, I am not doing a very good job. However with your help I think we can get them all back, but we need to move quickly.” He put the device back on the mantle, turning it off.

“You will need some food, water, a bedroll, and a change of clothes. Pack light but comfortably. It is early spring where we are going, so bring some warm clothes. We will be on foot much of the time, and will need to move fast. Also, bring any gold or jewels you can part with, to use for money. The paper of this world is useless there. Leave everything else behind. Anything you can’t bear to part with, leave here. Wedding rings, heirlooms, anything.”

Steven snorted. “Sure. What’s your game? How is Rox’s mom in this? What’s in this for you?”

Caspian looked at him in a sobering glance. “You still don’t get it, do you? I’m here to help. I’m going to try to get your kids back with or without you. But I guess you need convincing. All right, try this…” Caspian picked up his coat, stepped to the middle of the room, and spoke in another language.

The spell worked in a flash, and Caspian was finally comfortable in his own clothes. He adjusted his belt and robe to place, their familiar weight a comfort compared to Steven’s unfriendly looks. He had not expected to expend energy this way. But it seemed to be needed to convince him. Now for the last part. If the beast was listening.

“Cyrril.”

On command, a creature a bit larger than a cat and looking like a dragon teleported in, carrying a staff. Caspian held out his hands, and it fluttered to drop the staff into his grasp. The little dragon then chittered as he climbed to Caspian’s shoulder, tail wrapping around his master’s neck. Cyrril then surveyed the rest of the room, in detached interest. There being no other threat, and no food, he turned to emphasizing Caspian’s actions and movements.

Caspian turned the staff upright, the carved head of it taller than he was. It almost hit the hanging light. Steven fixated on Cyrril. No surprise as he was not native to this world.

Better move things along, Caspian thought.

“Now then. As I said, my name is Caspian. I am an itinerant mage, general practitioner, and student of magic. And I am your guide to retrieve your children. Are you going to come willingly, or do I need to just scoop you up and take you?”

The telephone broke Steven’s stupor. He picked it up after it rang three times.

“Hello… Yes, we are just fine . . . No, you don’t need to call the Police again . . . This man is a, uh, Private Investigator… No, everything is just fine. You can come over if you think you need to… All right. Talk to you some more later. Bye.”

Steven put the phone down. “Mrs. Winchel wants to know if I’m all right with you in the house.” Steven ran his hand through his hair and sighed, shoulders dropping. “That woman….”

Evidently a neighborhood busy body, and someone familiar to him, Caspian thought to himself.

“What do you want me to take?” Steven seemed to be tractable.

“Anything you can stand to part with. Leave behind anything you cannot bear to loose. Also leave behind any firearms and battery powered things you plan on bringing. They will only end up causing you trouble. And you will not be able to recharge them.”

“Where on earth are we going that is that remote?” Steven could not think of anywhere that remote.

“We aren’t staying on Earth. Quickly now. We are loosing precious time to catch up before something dire happens.”

Steven could tell that the man believed in what he said. Margot said to trust him. The trick with the clothes, and the little creature… It was not any animal he had seen before, outside of a fantasy movie. So, Steven decided he had a choice. Humor this stranger, or trust the police. Both were equally unpalatable, but at least this man offered something to do.