090 – Now You See 'Em . . .

First Rox found a jacket and skirt. She was told the color was strawberry red. Next she selected a white blouse. She came out of the changing room, and stood in front of the mirror.

“Hum. Almost, but shorten the skirt to ultra-mini. Just below the bottom of the jacket. And tuck it into body-hugging tight.” She pulled and tugged at the garments as she said this. And the tailor who was there marked it with his chalk. First the blouse, then she put on the jacket, and it was marked with the skirt.

“If you can get these done in an hour, I will appreciate it.”

“But ma’am, I am a bit…”

Rox cut him off. “I need these in an hour. Otherwise I will find somewhere else to get them.”

The tailor looked like a fish for a moment, and then finally spoke. “Very well.” He took the blouse, jacket and skirt as she took them off, and left. Rox got dressed again and went out front, where Caspian waited. He had heard the exchange.

“What’s this about?”

“We are going to go in and see Steven. And I want to look as far from my normal self as I can. Come on.”

Rox dragged Caspian to Victoria’s. Where he again waited outside while she went in. She purchased a push-up bra and a set of silicone fillers to enlarge her bust, and a set of pantyhose. Next they went to a shoe store, for a pair of pumps to match the skirt and jacket. Last they went into a barber.

“Cut the tails and mane off, and even the sides to the top. Then give me a shampoo, and some light makeup.”

Half an hour later, Rox emerged with almost a butch cut, but was content.

“They, or I, will just magic it back to length,” she said to Caspian as they went back for the suit.

The skirt was done and the blouse was in process when she came in. In her haste, Rox tossed dignity aside faster than at the elfin tailors. She went into the changing room, with her goods, and emerged wearing the pumps, hose, skirt, bra and padding. She put the blouse on and had it adjusted across her shoulders and back to nicely tight. The tailor had it finished quickly, and Rox put it on. The jacket was easier, and as he finished it she picked up a cravat and tied it on. She was helped on with the jacket. It fit just right. She put her own clothes in the bag, and paid for her new suit, and she and Caspian left.

Rox detailed her plan to Caspian as she drove. It was a simple meet and extraction.

They stopped at a thrift store, and found two old briefcases. Roxanne put her clothes into her briefcase, as Caspian started adding magic to his. Rox called for a cab, and then dropped the truck at Steven’s work. Caspian stayed by the truck, with Cyrril.

When Rox walked in the office, nobody recognized her, especially as her eyes were pointed, her hair was cut and white, and she wore a suit. She talked briefly to Leticia, and called Mrs. Winchel’s voice mail, while waiting of the cab. Once Leticia calmed down, Rox told her as little as necessary.

“We are going to see Steven. Take the truck home.”

“What are you up to, Rox?”

“None of your business. You don’t know anything. Except that this is the Lawyer I got to work on this case. If Steven has already got one going, get him in touch with this one.” Rox scratched a quick note as the taxi arrived.

“There’s our ride. See you when we see you.” Rox followed Caspian to the cab.

The taxi took them to the Sheriff’s Office, and left. Rox and Caspian had worked it out. They were detectives, and here to talk to Steven, at the asking of Judge Kevan, per Caspian’s original story. It was late in the 3 o'clock hour when they walked up to the desk. Just in time to annoy the woman at the desk before a busy shift ended. Steven had been here for over half his day by this time.

Deputy Poulson came out to meet them, a bit surprised to see them ‘so soon’. He completely missed recognizing Caspian for Rox’s eye candy appearance, despite Caspian looking completely identical to their last meeting. Rox wanted this, and had picked her costume deliberately.

Deputy Poulson held the door as Caspian and Rox entered the room where Steven was sitting, doodling on a legal pad.

“Mr. Caplan. These people say they are from your Lawyer’s firm to talk to you. The Lawyer will be right along.”

Steven looked at them. Caspian in the suit, which Steven vaguely remembered. Rox in the tight red jacket and mini-skirt, with a white blouse and fluffy cravat, all of which Steven had never seen before. Both had brief cases.

Caspian spoke. “Mr. Caplan, how are things?”

“Fine.” He put he pad and paper down. “I’m ready to go, though.” Steven looked at Deputy Poulson, then back.

“Yes, I’m sure you are.” Caspian answered.

Steven looked back at Deputy Poulson. “Am I under arrest?”

“Not yet,” the Deputy responded.

Rox shrugged. “Then we are leaving.”

Caspian dropped his brief case, which quietly disintegrated into a cloud of white smoke that filled the room making visibility arms length at best. Steven remembered the fight in Veradale starting in generally the same way.

Rox tripped Deputy Poulson with her chair. She and Caspian went to where Steven had stood up. Caspian extracted his staff from his coat, returned it to size, and thumped the ground with it.

“Everybody hold on.”

They teleported out, leaving a ‘whomp’ of air and swirl of smoke as they left.

Ron Scalegi opened the door as the dry white smoke poured out, setting off a bit of pandemonium in the place. He just smiled and shook his head. “Alistare warned me.”

Deputy Poulson crawled out coughing, white powder from the settling smoke beginning to cling to his clothes.

Three people and some white smoke appeared in the Caplan’s backyard, much the way they did the night before.

Steven let go, and looked at the other two. “Thanks. Now let’s get out of here.”

“As soon as we change clothes.” Rox was moving toward the doors.

They went inside, Steven and Rox went in to the bedroom, Rox dropping the brief case, and unbuttoning the jacket.

“Where did you get this outfit?” Steven waved at the red jacket and skirt.

“Just got it at the mall.”

“Looks nice.”

“Thanks.” She pulled the jacket and blouse off, and then pealed the rest off, leaving it where she dropped it. She pulled on some clean spandex, and the clothes she was wearing when they arrived.

Steven put on his outfit he had been wearing the night before, leaving his clothes on the bed.

They found Caspian already changed, Cyrril having shown up after disappearing when Caspian and Rox had entered the mall.

Rox wrote a quick note, as Steven gathered up the stuff they were taking with from the couch, and they all went back outside. Caspian quickly repeated the teleport spell and they were gone, just as police sirens and Mrs. Winchel could be heard coming.

Mrs. Winchel found the front door unlocked and went in, as the cruiser came screeching to a stop. Mrs. Winchel stood in the kitchen reading the note Rox had left, when the police woman came in with her hand on her weapon.

“They didn’t even stop by for tea.”

The police woman thought the neighbor sounded more annoyed than angry.

They went through the house, quickly noting the few messes left, and went to the master bedroom. The place looked a bit of a mess, since Rox and Steven did not bother to put anything away or make the bed, leaving it to Mrs. Winchel, per Rox’s note. Piled on the bed was the brand new outfit. The briefcase these were piled on had the sales tags and receipts, and Roxanne’s usual jeans and tee shirt. Steven’s clothes were also piled on the bed.

The police woman did not have any description of people to look for, and after reporting only the neighbor’s presence she left. Mrs. Winchel dutifully laundered and stored everything, after the police woman left. She found the red pumps under the bed as she remade it.

Leticia arrived after business hours with the truck as Mrs. Winchel emerged to go back home.

“The need to be right coupled with the desire to use force and be important. It makes for a pathetic constable,” Caspian said, as he started moving about the North Sierra clearing.

“I think at this point, the only way to convince them of my innocence will be to produce a kidnapper and the kids.” Steven sat on a log, while the other two began drawing on the ground

“Or not come back.” Roxanne worked with her short staff.

“You want to raise our kids on another world?” Steven watched.

“It has its good points,” Rox continued tracing her side of the symbol for the interplanetary teleport spell.

“We will discuss this later.”

Steven put down the pack and collapsed onto the bed. Roxanne followed suit, sitting instead of toppling.

“Is interstellar teleport always so draining?” Steven asked rhetorically.

They had each done this three times now. Caspian had told them in passing that the longer the teleport, the more the stress on their bodies. On top of this latest planet to planet jump, they had done to and from the landing spot on the planets they were on. The cumulative jumping had left them exhausted, and dehydrated.

Rox put her bag aside after rummaging through it; she then stretched out next to her husband. In the next few moments they were both asleep.

�
� ca0 ��malCxSpMiddle style='text-indent:.5in'>Ron wrote this, and looked over his notes. “I suppose I can get the rest of the information from the police. Though the question is how to get Steven out.”

Rox looked at Caspian.

Caspian looked at the far wall for a moment. “Can you get us in to see him?”

“I could go down with you, but I won’t let you get me in any trouble.” Ron looked a bit icy at this.

“My cover is as a ‘detective’. Does that mean that I can go in and talk to Steven? With my assistant?” He looked at Roxanne as said this.

“Don’t see why not, but I have nothing to do with this.”

Rox cut off Caspian’s response. “Fair enough. Do you know just where my husband is?” She bit off the rest of her question.

Ron put his pad down. “I’m probably going to need to ask when I get there. May I presume that you want to retain me to defend your husband, Mrs. Caplan?”

“Mr. Scalegi, I want you to defend my husband, Steven Caplan, against whatever charges he will face. My husband may have another Lawyer in mind to help, but that can be dealt with later. Also I believe Judge Kevan can put you in contact with my mother, who is a business lawyer in the Bay Area, if needed.” Rox was ready to do about anything.

“Very well. I will do so. First, I’m going to make some phone calls. Then I will head down to see your husband in person.” Ron stood up.

Caspian and Rox followed suit, and Cyrril jumped from the back of the couch to Caspian’s shoulder. They all shook hands and Rox and Caspian left the office. Once into the foyer and going down the stairs and across the parking lot outside, the unspoken question was asked by Caspian.

“So, what are we going to do? Our window closes within the next day.”

Roxanne climbed into her truck, and started toward the closest mall as she answered. “I think I need a suit. And we need brief cases. We have to get Steven out of there. The legal stuff can wait. The elves won’t.”

They drove to the mall, and Caspian got a taste of how to shop fast.