Chapter 6
"This could be the future of medicine!" Dr Whale exclaimed to the board of directors from the hospital.
He was convinced that if he could get hold of some witches, they could use their powers to heal coma patients. The hospital would be sought after to help patients who were comatose.
The board of directors were having none of it.
"You have obviously lost your mind Whale. There is no way we will ever consider using voodoo to heal." said one director.
"We are people of science not fantasy!" said another.
"You better stop this nonsense now before we suspend your license. Any more talk like this will leave us no choice but to kick you out of the hospital!" warned another.
Dr Whale left the board room and headed towards the wards.
How could he have been so stupid? These old doctors would never consider alternative remedies even if they had worked. He needed to take matters into his own hands and find out more about the world of witches. He needed to know what this ASF was and how he could get witches to work for him. He should open his own practice. He didn't need to reveal it's witchcraft, he just needed to make it look like medicine.
Emma's tummy rumbled. She forgot that she skipped lunch when she was at the diner. She would have to have an early dinner then. Just as she approached her table, she noticed a white paper bag. She inspected it closely. It had the logo of the diner!
She took a peek inside to see if her suspicion was right. Right there in the paper bag, was the grilled cheese sandwich that she had ordered. She looked around the base and spotted Mary-Margaret who looked back. She could tell from the brunette's eyes that she had placed it on Emma's table.
The blonde nodded with a smile to indicate her appreciation before taking a huge bite into the sandwich.
The elevator doors opened and out walked a smiling Henry and the chief. Henry strode over to Emma who was still munching on her sandwich.
"Your mom doing better, kid?" Emma asked even though she had just seen the woman.
"Yeah! But that's not why I'm smiling. Chief told me that we will be joining a task force meeting later today." Henry said excitedly.
Emma stopped mid-bite.
"Task force for which case?" she said as she put down the sandwich.
"The stolen spell book case of course!"
Emma faked a smile.
"Isn't it too soon to be working on something that big? You've only just gotten the promotion and aren't we working on that mysterious witch murders?"
"Chief says it's linked. Besides, if he thinks I'm ready, who am I to argue? Plus other agents are also working on it."
He does have a point. Emma thought to herself.
"What time is the meeting?"
"2 p.m.."
The excitement on Henry's face made the blonde's heart ached at the thought of ripping the case from his hands. She couldn't think of anything to say to the young agent. She needs help.
Emma gobbled up the rest of the sandwich and headed to the wash room. She passed by Mary-Margaret's desk and signalled for her to follow.
They entered the wash room. Emma walked up to the sink and started washing her hands.
"I can't do it!" The blonde said finally.
"You can't do…?" Mary-Margaret was confused.
"I can't stop Henry from working on the spell book case."
"Oh."
"After I left the diner, I went to see his mother at the hospital. She explained everything."
"And you still want him to do the case?"
"No. He shouldn't do it. But I don't know how to stop him. I need your help."
"We need to tell chief."
"No. Henry will get in trouble."
"We'll just tell him enough information for him to reconsider."
"Worth a shot."
The two ladies sneaked out of the wash room. Henry's desk was facing away from where they were. They quickly walked towards Agent Humbert's office.
Two knocks on the door.
"Come in." said the voice inside the office.
Agent Swan and Agent Blanchard walked into the office.
"What can I do for you, agents?"
"I heard from Agent Swan that she and Agent Mills will be on the task force." Mary-Margaret said calmly.
"Yes. That is correct." replied the chief.
"We are concerned that Agent Mills is too emotional about his parents to be able to work on the case objectively. It might jeopardise the investigation." said the brunette.
"I see. And do you share the same sentiments, agent Swan?"
"Yes, sir."
Agent Graham Humbert thought about this for a moment.
"I'll sort this out during the meeting later. Thank you agents."
The two ladies looked confused but they trusted that the chief will do what was best.
The chief started his briefing to the task force. Henry and Emma was amongst them along with Mary-Margaret, David, Agent August Booth and Agent Lily Page. Both August and Lily transferred from the New York base to assist with the investigation.
"We have been working on this case for over a year now and the tracks are getting cold." said Agent Humbert.
"I have asked Agent Mills and Agent Swan here to see if there are any leads we could use from the mysterious deaths in the Maine witch community."
Emma eyed Henry's reaction to what the chief was saying. He seemed to be very serious and focused.
"The deaths are random. There aren't any clear pattern to the choice of victims. But all of them had this symbol carved into their foreheads post mortem." Henry referred to the picture of a 7 point star on the screen.
"Isn't that the symbol for Magickal Energy?" asked Lily.
"That's right. It's used in the Magick cult amongst mortals who practices the occult." Emma chimed in.
"The symbols on the forehead allows the powers the witches possessed to be released and the mortals can absorb that power." Henry added.
"Whoever the murderer is, they are very powerful by now." The chief concluded.
"It isn't bad enough that we are dealing with bad witches and demons, we have to deal with powerful mortals as well?" August said exasperated.
"Agent Mills, I need you to pass all the information pertaining to your case to the task force. We will take it from here." the chief instructed.
"Wait! What?! I thought…" Henry was confused. He thought that he was in the task force.
"You are emotionally involved with the case. These people killed your father." Agent Humbert explained.
"Exactly! And that is why I want to help." Henry argued.
"Henry, your mother does not want you to get involved." Emma added.
"You talked to my mother about this?" Henry felt betrayed.
Emma did not mean to let out that she had spoken to his mother but she was getting desperate.
"We will get the person responsible, Henry. Justice will be served." David piped in.
"And you expect me to just sit around and wait? It's been over a year now and you guys are nowhere close to solving it." The young man was furious with the whole team and especially with Emma. She had no right to visit his mother and discuss matters concerning him.
"You don't want me to help you with the case? Fine! I will do it on my own! I quit!" Henry shouted at everybody.
Everyone was shocked. Henry stormed out of the room. Emma went after him. Henry reached his desk and started gathering his things and placed them into a box.
"Henry! Wait!" Emma called out.
"Why? I trusted you. I thought you wanted to do this with me."
"I did. But it's complicated now. There are things in this case that may hurt you."
"And let me guess. You cannot tell me."
"Your mom doesn't want you to know."
"Then I'll ask her. Goodbye Agent Swan." Henry took the box of his belongings with him and left the base for good.
Those last words Henry said sounded cold. The blonde's green eyes started tearing. She had lost her best friend.