017 - Everyone Acting Their Part

Steven looked through the peephole. “I don’t know this guy.”

Deputy Poulson looks through. “Oh no.” He sounded a bit put off. “Why one of them? And how did he find out?” He turned to Steven. “It’s probably a private investigator.” He walked away from the door.

Steven shrugged then opened the door, looking down to the man standing there. “Can I help you?”

The man looked Steven over a moment. “Yes; and I can probably help you much more. May I come in?”

Steven looked back at the deputy, who just rolled his eyes, and turned back into the living room.

Steven opened the door. “Come in.”

The short man dressed in a long over coat, probably with a suit underneath, with expensive looking shoes. His sandy brown hair was cut short enough that he could not comb it straight if he wanted. Like most people, he stood shorter than Steven, but to Steven he looked like he worked out a bit. But something about the set of his features connected to a level of personal confidence Steven had not often encountered since leaving the corps.

The man put his hands in his pockets and walked past Steven, looked briefly at Rox’s gym bag still where she had dropped it, and went into the living room. Steven locked the door, and followed. Deputy Poulson was standing by the fireplace, leaning on the mantel.

The PI looked at the room, his gaze lingering on the stones and sand, which had not yet been cleaned up. “Why did they bother with that?” Suddenly he looked up, realizing he had spoken aloud. “Excuse me a moment.”

He pulled his hands out of his pockets. At the same moment Deputy Poulson’s hand went to rest openly on his belt. Steven just moved to sit in his chair, where he could watch these two men. The deputy maintained a steady gaze of daggers at the PI.

For his part, the PI was now ignoring Deputy Poulson. Instead he concentrated on a large glass marble in his right hand, and was muttering under his breath. He moved to the sand on the floor, and still muttering, he pinched some up and sprinkled it on the marble. As he stood up, the marble began to glow like a light bulb. It floated above his palm a moment, then flashed and disappeared.

Deputy Poulson almost cleared leather at that point, while blinking to clear his eyes. Steven was also blinking hard.

The PI looked at Steven.

“Sorry about that. I’m used to people being aware of the flash. Now, in a few moments we will see what happened here this afternoon.” The P.I. spoke as he stood up.

Deputy Poulson was all but growling. “We already know what happened. Who are you, and who sent you?”

“Too right, introductions are in order.” He wagged his finger in emphasis, as he acknowledged the deputy’s existence. “I am an investigator working with Judge Alistare Kevan. He has had me following up on an organized crime syndicate. And it looks like they decided to target your family, Mr. Caplan.”

Caspian was glad that he had taken the time to call Alistare. Between them they had been able to develop a cover story, which Caspian now followed to its letter.

Steven did not say anything, preferring to let Deputy Poulson cross swords. One thing he immediately noticed was that this private investigator spoke very formally in tone, but picked his words as if not quite sure of the language. And his accent most definitely was not local or even western U.S.A.

“Organized Crime? Why would they be interested in Mr. Caplan? I have never heard of that Judge. How would he have jurisdiction to send you, especially as this only happened this afternoon? What was that you just did anyway?” Deputy Poulson had to all but bite his tongue before speaking too much.

“They weren’t interested in Mr. Caplan, just his children. Judge Kevan is over in Sacramento. And I just did something that will allow us to see precisely what happened in this room from the moment that sand entered it.” He waved off all of Deputy Poulson’s questions as if they were so many feathers thrown at him. After considering the deputy a moment, the PI chose to ignore him from that point on. Instead, he just looked around the room.

“If you followed them into the area, why did you not alert local law enforcement?” His dislike was growing by the moment. But he had pulled his hand away from his gun.

Steven finally piped up, when it became clear that the PI was not going to talk to Deputy Poulson. “What do they want with my kids, and did they take my wife?”

The PI took a deep breath and blew it out, deciding what to say. “The first I can only guess at. I know that they aren’t after money. They would have left some kind of card. They want the kids themselves for something. As to your wife, we will just have to wait and see.” He looked around, and opened his overcoat. “Could I have a drink of water?”

Steven got up, walked around to the kitchen, and got a glass from the dish drainer. Then some ice water from the front of the fridge. The PI followed, and looked interestedly at the kitchen. He seemed to be taking in all that was there.

“Does you wife use any steel utensils in her cooking?” He looked at the leather wrapped handle of a large knife in the knife block with all the other kitchen knives.

Steven looked at the kitchen as he handed the glass to the PI. The copper pots stacked in their shelves. The copper and glass pans next to them. The copper and wood cooking stuff hanging from the stove hood. Steven frowned and looked at the PI. “Only her carving set. And she’s been looking for a good ceramic one. Why?”

“Just curious. The silver, here. The china over in its cabinet. Nothing here with any iron in it, except the carving set.” The PI waved his hand at each point and object as he mentioned it. The knife handles sticking out of the block held his attention for a moment longer. One handle was much larger and completely out of place. He then drew into himself for a moment, drained the glass, and set it back on the counter. “No plastic, either.” He then went back into the living room.

Steven noticed that his hands were rough, from lots of manual work. And his stride was strong and noiseless. Even over the squeaky floorboard.

Steven went back into the living room. The PI had taken his coat off, and dropped it across the end of the overturned couch. He wore a nice suit, which looked new. Steven glanced at the shoes again. They also looked new.

Who is this guy, and what is he waiting for, Steven thought to himself. “What’s your name anyway?”

The PI had been gazing absently at nothing and started when Steven spoke. He turned, smiled, and put out his hand. “Caspian.”

Steven took his hand, and gave it a testing squeeze.

Caspian did not break his smile. He just squeezed back, his look becoming amused. “I see you keep in shape. Good.” Their grips tightened, their hands slowly turning white.

Caspian smiled, broke the grip, and turned back to absently looking over the room, putting his hands in his coat pockets. Steven thought this odd; most men he knew who wore suits would put their hands in their trouser pockets, under the coat hem.

Steven lowered his hand and looked at Deputy Poulson who had not moved from the fireplace. He then went back to his chair and was just sitting in it when the light in the room strobed.

“Here we go. Now watch carefully.” Caspian had pulled his hands from his pockets and put them on the couch base leaning over in excitement.

Steven felt his skin begin to goose bump. Deputy Poulson who had been glaring at nothing in Caspian’s direction also reacted as if mildly shocked, and looked around.

The room flickered once more and a globe of white light floated where the marble had last been. Suddenly the globe expanded to fill the room, and all the furniture went into a kind of double image.

It looked solid where it had been for the last while, and ghostly where it appeared as the light filled the room. The images of the furniture and stuff was where it belonged. Movement by the front hall caught their attention.

They turned to see Alex and Diana chase each other into the hall to the bedrooms. The images disappeared as soon as they left the room.

“What’s happening here?” Steven asked, as he stood up to go see where the kids went.

Caspian spoke, getting his attention. “We are watching a replay of what happened here. Right there are your two kidnappers. Take a good look constable.” He pointed at the already smashed door being forced open, and two men walked in.

Deputy Poulson looked at them disbelieving. “This has got to be some kind of hologram or hallucination. What are you trying to put over on us?”

The two were dressed in black trousers and bloused shirts. They also wore leather boots, gauntlets, and vests. The shorter one came in first. He had short cut black hair, and almost nondescript features. He was carrying a bag over his shoulder. From this, he got out two handkerchiefs. The larger one looked almost over built, with a bushy beard, dark brown hair, and a nose that had been broken more than once. Each carried belt knives, and short swords. The larger had an ax across his back, the shorter a bow and arrows in a closed quiver. They lunged across the room. Three heads turned to watch, as the kids again ran out of the room and down the hall.

Steven tried to follow, but there was nothing to see. He missed seeing the housebreakers walk right through him. Shortly the burly fellow walked back with a limp Diana in his arms. He walked right through Steven and back into the living room. Steven turned to follow, when the other walked through him and put Alex on the floor in the middle of the room, next to Diana. The two men then began tossing the furniture aside, starting with his chair. It was eerie watching this happen without any sound.

They picked up the coffee table and dumped it on the couch nearer the outer wall, then picked up the front of the couch, and tipped it on its back. As the image went, it merged onto the solid one, giving it a kind of intensity.

Deputy Poulson turned and looked at Steven’s right, where Roxanne was standing. She dumped her bag off her shoulder, and went back into the front hall. She returned a moment later, with a stick in each hand, and kicked the small guy in the chest as he came at her. He collapsed onto the over turned easy chair. She then began to lay into the big guy. He was shorter than she was, but about twice as wide. She backed him up between the bookshelves and the couch. She was trying to get him open for a good body hit, but he kept blocking with his arms. He caught the sticks, and pulled them out of her hands, just as the smaller guy came behind her and put a handkerchief over her mouth and nose. She collapsed almost instantly.

“Good form and plenty of talent. But she isn’t playing for keeps, or she would have gone for his throat.” Caspian spoke as they dropped her over the second couch, to roll off and land next to Diana.

The big guy dropped the sticks and then helped the little guy turn that couch onto its back. Where it had not yet been moved from. The little guy disappeared into the front hall, kicking Rox’s bag into it as he went.

The big guy pushed and piled the furniture around as the little guy returned, got a jar from his bag, and a handful of rocks. Last, he pulled a compass.

“Of course, he has to find north with this setup.”

Steven and Deputy Poulson both looked at Caspian, neither comprehending.

The eight stones were laid out, north, south, east, west, then the rest regularly spaced. The little guy then poured the sand from the jar between each stone. He waited for the big guy to step inside before closing the octagon. The little guy stepped over the bodies to stand at the north end, the big guy at the south. The little guy took the scroll that the big guy had pulled from the bag, and read from it. Suddenly the stones strobed and the sand crackled with energy. This built to a blinding flash, and everything inside the octagon was gone.

Caspian reached out to the floating ball of light and spoke a word in some bizarre sounding language. The ball flashed, and all the images disappeared. Caspian put the marble back in his pocket.

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.