CH 7
Inari had them wait outside the train station. While they were waiting, she felt someone. A man wearing a suit eyed her as he approached. He slowed and studied her. "Mrs. McLeod?" he asked.
It wasn't his look, but his voice that allowed her to recognize him. "Mr. Demos?"
He nodded, and offered a bow. "It's good to see you are well. You are still watching your husband closely?" he asked pleasantly.
"I am," Inari told him. "Oh, Mr. Demos, I thought I might warn you. There's a man named Horton hunting ... men like you and Duncan. He's in France."
"One of us?" Demos asked.
"No, human. He tried to kidnap my daughter, then these men tried to kidnap me. They are taking me to him, but he is a slippery one," Inari explained.
Demos nodded in understanding. "This Horton wanted to draw your husband to him."
"Yes, he failed, but he did get away the first time."
"I hate those who use underhanded methods," Demos said firmly. "Would you like some assistance, M'Lady?"
"Duncan will be here soon. As long as you don't fight, I'm sure he would agreed to your help."
"This is a common cause," Demos said, and walked over to lean against the rail by her. Looking down at the three men, he said, "Our task is hard enough without jackals like that interfering." he held out the long case he was carrying. "Would you like to take possession of my sword, for insurance?"
"No need. You are an honorable man."
"Thank you for the compliment, M'Lady. I strive to remain so." Looking around, he said, "I can remember when none of this was here. I was a knight back then, true to the cause, honor first. That is one thing that will not change. Times come and go, but if you loose who you are, all is lost."
"Duncan says close to the same thing," Inari said with a smile. "Never forget who you are."
"He is correct, M'Lady," Demos said. He frowned briefly and said, "Actually, I do like your husband. He is also an honorable man. It is a pity that this ... thing comes between us. I do wish I had friends that last more than a half century or so. It is so sad to see them go, yet I remain."
"Demos?"Inari asked, "Have you ever considered doing like Duncan does? There are a couple of you that he has made an agreement with. Not to fight each other until they are the last. You will be able to have friends longer who, um, have more in common with you?"
Demos frowned in thought and looked at the terminal. "No, I haven't," he admitted. "The idea is intriguing, it really is. You have given me something to think about."
Demos then looked off to the side, as if searching. Inari felt a slight tingle also. "That has to be Duncan," she said hopefully.
"It is," Demos said, and nodded in the direction.
Duncan walked to them, wearing his long coat. Approaching, he said, "Demos. I wasn't expecting you."
Demos waved a hand at Inari and said, "Your lovely wife has brought a common concern to my attention. I offer a truce until this problem is resolved, as well as my assistance."
"Accepted," Duncan replied, and shook hands with him. "Inari, you have a handle on these three?"
"I do. My plan has been rather sloppy, but it's working."
.
Carl called in to the sitting room. "We're ready to go. Horton, you coming?"
James Horton looked at him and smiled. "No, I have something on the way to ensure McLeod comes to me. My men are brining his wife. I was rather hoping for a double execution. It will raise the spirits of our men to show we are making progress."
Carl pointed a finger at Horton. "THAT's how you screw up, Horton! Posturing to prove you are killing them, instead of just doing it! A shot to bring them down, take their head, and get it over with!"
Horton shot him a glare. "I've brought many immortals down!" he snapped back.
"Less that you should have!" Carl snapped back. "We're going after Fitzcarin because YOU failed. McLeod is still alive, and will probably be after you get done screwing around. Do yourself a favor, you see him, shoot then chop and forget the nonsense!" Carl turned and strode out.
"I WILL get Mcleod!" Horton screamed at the doorway.
.
In France, Duncan took Inari, the driver and Ed in his car. Demos took the last one. Duncan modified Inari's plan so he and Demos were backing her up. Although Duncan wanted to be the one to kill Horton, he knew it would be a total surprise when Inari did. He also knew there was no way Horton would survive what Inari was going to do to him.
Parking a block away around the corner, Inari set off with the three men to the front. Duncan and Demos headed around back.
Walking bracketed by two, the last one following, Inari went through the guarded front door, and was guided to a parlor.
"Boss, we're here!" Ed called.
Nothing.
"He better be here," Inari said in a musical warning.
"He is!" Ed stated. He took a couple steps towards a door in the opposite wall, and it opened.
"Ahh, who have we here?" Horton asked with a big smile as he stopped just inside the doorway.
"Inari McLeod, and you are?" she asked.
"Inari McLeod? You are related to Duncan McLeod?"
"I'm his wive. I asked who you were," Inari said in a heavier tone.
Horton beamed her a smile. "We have no intention of harming you. It is your husband we are going to kill," Horton said with a grin.
"Are you James Horton?"
"And if I am?"
"Then it is I who will kill you," Inari said.
Horton laughed and pulled a gun. "Do you really think so?" he asked.
Inari glanced at the men around her. "Leave, quickly!" she commanded. The men turned and bolted.
Sensing something was up, Horton leveled his pistol on her. "You must be another abomination," he said with a sneer. "I've got an ax for you next!" Horton shot. Seeing her standing in place, he figured 'vest', and aimed at her head and shot again.
Inari walked towards him. She let the bullets drop to the floor. "Try again," she teased.
Horton fire again, then ran out the door he'd come in. Inari chased him.
A guard burst into the next room as Horton fled past him. "KILL HER!" Horton wailed.
The guard raised his sub machine gun.
SPLAT
Inari splattered the man over the richly decorated walls, and followed Horton, gaining on him. In a hallway she got close enough to reach out and grab a foot, tripping him. He went down and turned over on his back. He shot four more times as Inari walked up to him.
Reaching out in the air, Inari gathered the bullets and tossed them on him, hitting his face. "Is that the best you can do?" she asked.
"WHAT ARE YOU!" Horton cried.
Inari pulled her hat off. In a false-friendly voice, she said, "The devil send me to collect you. Tell him I said Hi."
Fear showed openly on Horton's face. He wailed out a, "NOOO..."
SPLAT
Inari hit him so hard, he blasted to the sides and she punched a long hole in the floor. Hearing gunfire, she jumped over the hole and ran to see what was going on.
Another guard with a gun had shot Demos. Inari charged as he pulled out a machete. She punched him in the back, ribs and lung shot from his chest as he flew away. Running up, she knelt by Demos, who looked very dead.
"Inari?" Duncan asked as he came running.
"They got Demos," she said.
"Stay with him, did you get Horton?"
"He's nothing but hamburger now." she assured him.
Duncan kissed Inari and said, "Pick Demos up and follow me."
.
Demos woke up with a gasp as he floated along in front of Inari as the went through a yard. He looked around frantically.
"It's OK, I got you," Inari told him. "Can you walk?"
Demos nodded. She put him down and gave his his sword back. Sirens were sounding in the distance.
Running back to their cars, Duncan paused. "Demos, thank you," he called.
Demos nodded. "It's been an honor. We better leave, fast," he called back.
They got in and took off in different directions.
.
Carl was in a foul mood. Fitzcarin had slipped from their grasp. The found his hooker, still in bed and wondering what was going on. They even found his clothes. After breaking into his place, they didn't dare hang around and wait for the police to show up, so the watcher stayed to monitor, and the strike team got ready to return.
His phone rang.
"Speak."
"Don't come back to the safe house. There's been an attack. By the holes we found in one guard, they used a large gauge shotgun and some explosives. Horton is spread all over the hallway."
"Was it McLeod?"
"The only one we saw go in was a redheaded woman. The guards in back were killed."
"Save the tapes if you can. Meet us in Nancy." Carl said, and hung up.
"What's up?"
"Horton's dead, and our place is being raided by the cops. We go to Nancy and begin our hunt for McLeod. That bastard has to be put down."
.
The Highland games were coming soon, and Glen Finnen was having their games to find the best competitors to send to Dunoon for the Cowell games coming up this year. Many were pumped to show their prowess in the games, others were pumped because besides athletic games, it was also a big party.
Just off the incoming road to the gaming fields and across the road from a major parking lot, Rachel had grabbed a good vendor spot. Inari, Duncan, Yuka and Kaede, help Rachel set up in a flat area by the Loch. Kouta, a new girl, Diane, Mayu and Nana transported all the things they'd need from the Inn, and Rachels' storage building.
Thanks to Duncan's family, the setup was going fast. Connor and Duncan unloaded the picnic tables, Yuka and Nana got them in place while Kaede set up the bar. When Kouta arrived with the wooden beer and ale kegs, Kaede lifted them right off the truck and drifted them over onto the stands. Mayu was cleaning tables, and helped get glasses set up.
Inari took charge of the hearth/grill, a stone structure that was part outdoor grill/ outdoor fireplace. Having a very similar hearth setup at home, Inari had learned how to cook with the swing arm that moved over into and away from the fire. She set Mayu on carrying her wood and peat for the fire.
One of the coordinators, a white haired gentleman in his kilt in clan Tartan arrive just as they were finishing their setup. He came over to the makeshift bar. Rachel noticed him.
"Mr. McDonald, What kin I git ya?" Rachel asked.
"Pint O'dark beer, lass," he said, "Looks like there's going to be some good competition today. We have a woman's leauge if'n yer interested."
Rachel chuckled and said, "I'll pass, I ain't into competin."
"Thanks," he said as he took his beer. Seeing Kaede come around the end of the bar, he said, "Say, what about this lass? Heard tell she set them kegs down by herself. A good strong lass like you should be able to toss a stone or two."
"Me?" Kaede asked, pointing at herself.
"Sure, just give it a try," McDonald coaxed.
"I'm helpin Rachel," Kaede told him.
"Ohhh, cain't ya break the lass free to give a stone a toss?" he asked Rachel.
Sally came up from the side holding a covered steamer pan. "Rachel Where's yer oven?"
"In back, Inari's tendin it."
"Lass, doan ya think this fine lass should be competin?" Mc Donald asked as he gestured at Kaede.
Sally laughed. "Wouldn't be much of a competition. Kaede'd send everyone else packin," she said, and walked around back.
"Do tell," McDonald said, eyeing Kaede.
"I think we're all set up," Duncan offered as he came in from the tent entrance behind the bar. Kaede was about to grab a glass, Duncan plucked it out of her hand and stole her wash rag. "An I'll be helpin Rachel. Kaede, Kouta's been workin too hard. Go grab him and do somethin fun."
Kaede cast him a smirk and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Aye, Dad."
Kaede met Kouta in back. Hand in hand, they walked around looking at the events being set up. Besides the serious competition games, a few carnival games for kids were also present. All kinds of stands, bright colored costumes, music and games were spread out around the gaming fields. Kaede had never heard bagpipes before, she found they sounded very different that anything else she'd ever heard. A little irritating too. Walking down the field, they were flagged down by Mr. McDonald.
"Hey! Lad, lass, feel like givin the hammer a throw?" he asked, motioning towards a rock on a chain.
Kouta eyed it and said, "I never really did any sports."
"Aww come on, Ya never know til ya try," Mc Donald coaxed. "You too, Lass."
Kouta itched the back of his head. "Well, I ..."
"What ya got to loose? Come on, just give it a throw," McDonald coaxed.
Seeing this guy wasn't going to give up, Kaede and Kouta looked at each other. Kaede let out a sigh and said, "One time."
"All right! Ladies first," McDonald said happily. Walking with Kaede, he instructed, "Now ya gotta stay in that circle. Ye grab the handle there, an spin around then let go with all yer might! Now ya can turn, spin in place, but ya can' leave the circle. If ye kin git it past the white line over there, then ya got a shot at being on the team when we head to Gourek, then on to Dunoon for the Cowel games."
Kaede wasn't sure about going someplace, she had a daily job she needed to do now. "How about out there? that other white line?" she asked. Maybe it had to be between the white lines.
Mc Donald laughed, "Lassie, if ya kin throw that far, try for the water!"
The old white-haired man had a good laugh, which for some reason irritated Kaede. Kaede grabbed the chain and reinforced her arm with an invisible arm. "I will," she said.
It wasn't that much farther to the lake. The stone did have some weight to it. When she spun it over her head, it tried to throw her off balance. She made one slow spin, then dug in and spun it around again harder and faster, the third time around made it whistle. On the last hard pull, she let it go. The rock and chain flew high as it sped through the air.
Growing smaller with distance, it came down with a splash, causing a tall column of water to rise up where it landed.
Kaede brushed her hands off in a clap. "Did it! Next!" She walked away with Kouta as Mc Donald stared at where her throw had landed.
"That was the 56 Kilogram ball," he whispered to himself.
.
Kaede had a fun time with Kouta walking around. They watched some men toss logs end over end, then listened to a bagpipe band, all dressed in their colorful kilts. When playing seriously, they didn't sound bad at all. After listening to the band, they stopped at a stand and had some steak and kidney pie, then watched a footrace. Already cloudy, the sky began to drizzle rain. Heading back to their tents, a wind picked up. Kouta and Kaede got back just in time to help lash down the side skirts and drive a few more pegs in the ground.
Kaede discovered something as the wind picked up. She could spread her invisible arms out like a shield and stop the wind. She stood on the windward side of a tent, blocking the wind until Kouta and Duncan got the tent secured. Rachel then called that Inari needed help.
There was no tent by the hearth. Inari stood close to the hearth, holding back the wind and rain with her shield. The rainwater landing on her shield made it visible. Kaede noted some wind was getting around the edges. Offering her own shield, the two managed to keep the hearth dry while Kouta and Duncan quickly set up tarps and poles for a wind and rain block.
By now, the rain was coming down harder. All but the die-hards were scurrying back to cars or running off into shelter. In Rachel's tents, there was a gathering of those escaping the weather. The tent flapped and wind whistled, but Kaede brought the hot food from the Hearth to meet a roar of cheers. Yuka and Sally helped serve.
One person in the crowd Kaede noted was Shirakawa. She was here with some man. They seemed to be keeping to themselves. Kaede was suspicious of them. Coming up behind them, Kaede asked in Japanese, ""What would you like to drink, Shirakawa?"
Shirakawa turned, startled by her. "We are just here to enjoy ourselves." she said quickly.
The man was looking back and forth between them, having no clue what was being said.
"Very well, stay out of mischief, and you'll keep that other arm," Kaede said with a smile. "Now, what can I get you?"
"Please make a suggestion," Shirakawa said.
"Well, let's see ..." Kaede mused. "How about a light ale ... and fish and chips. How does that sound?"
Shirakawa nodded. "Yes, thank you."
"An you, sir?" Kaede asked in English.
Gary noted Shirkawa's face looked like someone had just pointed loaded gun at her. "Ale and ... meat and potato pie, please," he asked.
"Coming right up. I will return momentarily," Kaede assured him. She went to fill their orders.
Gary leaned closer and asked, "Who was that?"
Shirakawa whispered, "That is Kaede. She warned me to behave." She then lifted up her half arm. "And I plan to."
"The one who destroyed the facility you worked for? The one who tore your arm off?" Gary asked.
"Yes. Do nothing to antagonize her. She can kill with a thought, and has done so many times."
"But you said she is mixing into society well," he said.
Shirakawa nodded. "She is, but even a tame wolf, is still a wolf. Be cautious of her."
This time, Kaede came around in front of them as she set a tray on the table and passed out their food and drink. "For you, Shirakawa, and for you ... I'm sorry sir, I didn't get your name."
"Gary Townsend," Gary said with a smile and asked, "You are Kaede McLeod?"
"Aye lad. If ya need anything, just flag me down," Kaede told him, and went on her way.
"She doesn't seem dangerous," Gary noted.
"Neither do most bombs, until they explode," Shirakawa countered.
Food and drink flowed as the murmur of conversations went on in spite of the rain now coming in a downpour. The rain seemed to even have beaten down the wind. There were still gusts, but except for an occasional canvas shake, nothing strong enough to threaten bringing down a tent.
Mc Donald came in. He shook the water off his clothes and announced, "Attention everyone! Today's trails for the games have been washed out, BUT we do have a few solid prospects for our teams!"
"For the Caber toss, Peter Davis and Collin Shawnesee." he said. The young men stood up and shook their fists in triumph as people clapped. "For the standing high-throw, Kaylee McAllister!"
Again Kaylee stood up to receive applause and encouragement.
"And now," Mc Donald said, bracing the people for his last announcement. "These fine young people had good scores, above qualifying, for sure. But there's one here that that has broken every record ever kept on the hammer throw! Couldn't measure the distance properly, cause it ended up in the Loch, from SIXTY Meters away from shore! It had to go another at least another forty after it was out over the water!"
With people hanging onto his words, Mc Donald gestured to where Kaede was waiting on a table, he said, "For the Hammer Throw, we have Kaede McLeod!"
The tent roared with approval as Kaede looked up. "Huh?"
"Lass!" Doogal called as the applause died down, "Those hammer's are 56 kilograms. I don't think ya weigh that much! How'd ya throw it that far? It ain't no soccer ball!"
"Ye bewitched the hammer to fly, didn' ya!" Angus announced, which cause some laughter.
Kaede knew people might be after them, and a low profile was best. Being a sports figure was not low profile. That she would be considered as a competitor never crossed her mind. She could see her Dad eyeing her. He didn't look happy. "Ahh, yeah! Angus is right," she announced. "I made it fly, I didn't really throw it that far. So ... I can't be competin and take someone else's spot who deserves to be on the team." Yeah, that sounded good.
"But I seen ya with me own two eyes!" Mc Donald complained. "yer style was off, but ya made a great throw! The longest I've ever seen!"
"It was a trick, I was messing with you," Kaede explained. "Really, I don't deserve to be on a team."
"How kin ya say that Lass?" Mc Donald asked in a pleading tone.
"OK, it was like this," Kaede said. She lifted an empty mug into the air, and tossed it from on Arm to the other. People watched the mug fly from one side of the tent to the other, seemingly by itself. In a few new faces, they were beginning to believe in witchcraft.
"I controlled that hammer just like I'm doin ta this mug now." She stopped the mug in mid air, then brought it over to sit on her tray. "It would be unfair ta the people who DO work hard ta be good, for me ta be in those games, therefore I can't, and I doan think any of ya would really want me to."
"She's right, Kaede is an honest witch," One young man proudly announced.
"She's a good witch!" little Billy yelled.
"I wouldn't go that far," Yuka grumbled.
Mc Donald looked at Kaede and asked, "You're really a witch?"
Kaede shrugged. "Sorry. like I said, I was messing with ya."
Brightening up, Mc Donald said, "But their ain't no rules sayin a witch can't play!"
Duncan spoke up and said, "It does say the games are physical in ability, and no method of enhancement may be used."
Mc Donald let out an exaggerated huff, "Well, is sure looked impressive. Maybe we can have some witch games in the future."
"Maybe," Kaede agreed, and saw to her tables. She tried NOT to see Duncan hook his finger at her, calling her over. Damn, she had the feeling it was lecture time.
.
"Fitzcarin has skipped town. There has been no sign of him for days," the man in front of Carl's desk reported.
Carl nodded slowly. "As expected, the hunter misses, the rabbit bolts. What is the intel on our house that got raided?"
"Our contact in the police say there is no explosive residue. The coroner claims the destroyed bodies suffered a high speed, blunt impact. They can give no explanation how this happened, however. There is also the curious fact that whole, intact bullets were found around the scene. These bullets were fired, but were somehow stopped. Again, no explanation is offered on how a bullet, once shot, was stopped with no deformation. The only evidence of the attackers is a brief glimpse of McLeod, an immortal named Demos, and some red haired woman. The video system suffered a catastrophic failure."
Carl folded his hands under his chin in thought. "So, immortals joined forces to attack us. We must assume this red head is an immortal. Put her on the list."
"We do have good news, we intercepted a report from Watcher Gary Townsend, it appears we have McLeods' location. He is playing 'castle lord' with the other one, Connor McLeod. Two for one, all we have to do is perform a nighttime raid, we can get them both."
"What do you mean, playing castle lord?" Carl asked.
"They are holed up in an old keep and modernizing it. I'm sure they are paying servants, we just have to find out who."
Carl buried his nose in his fingers as he thought. "Will this Townsend get information for us?" he asked.
"Unknown."
"Then send two men for recon, everything they can find out. I'll contact our Libyan friends for weapons. We do not want to leave anything to chance. They must have acquired heavy weapons and some kind of body armor. We will need them also," Carl said. Getting up, he walked for the door and added, "And no mercs, only our own, best trained men. We can afford no mistakes."
.
The second day there were fewer people due to the rain, but the 'liquid sunshine', as Connor put it, didn't put off enough people to cancel the events. Mr. M Donald had talked enough about Kaede and her 100 Meter Hammer throw that people came asking about it.
"Excuse me," Kaede heard behind her as she was cleaning the tables from lunch. She turned to see a young man with a PRESS badge and camera around his neck. "My name is Jeff Cowell I was looking for a Kaede McLeod?"
Kaede smiled briefly. "Sorry, she's not here."
"Oh," Jeff said, dejected. "Do you know where I can find her?"
"I doan think she came in this mornin," Kaede offered.
"If you see her," Jeff said and took a card out and handed it to her, "Tell her I really would like to talk to her."
Kaede took the card and tucked it in her skirt pocket. "I will," she said, thinking this was over.
"May I ask you a few questions," Jeff asked, and sat down.
So much for him just going away, Kaede thought. "Can I git ya somethin?" she asked.
"Just a couple answers if you would. I heard this Kaede McLeod threw a hammer over a hundred meters?"
Kaede offer a grin and said, "I'm sure that's exaggerated. Ya know how tales grow."
"What about this rumor that she's a witch?"
"Lad. Da ya really believe that?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Jeff cast her a slight grin. "Yeah, know what you mean, but I had to ask. See, our office have gotten these stories that Kaede McLeod is a witch that lives in an old, medieval castle, and carries with her a wind of death."
"Did whoever told ya that sober up after?" Kaede asked.
Jeff laughed. Raising his hands up, he said, "Hey when a source reports, we have to look into it."
"Who's we?"
"OH, sorry, my paper's the Sun. I just got back from a UFO investigation in Nevada, I was the one picked to follow up on this story," Jeff explained.
"Lucky you," Kaede said with a smirk.
Jeff shrugged and said, "It's a living. Say can you tell me anything about this Kaede Mcleod?"
"Not really."
"Anything will be helpful. Say, what's your name? I'm Jeff," he said.
Thinking quickly, Kaede said, "Yuka, Yuka Kikumura."
"That sounds Japanese."
"It is, I as born in Kamakura, Japan."
"Well, Yuka, anything you can tell me will be helpful," Jeff said. Motioning to a chair, he asked, "Why not sit down and talk?"
"I'm serving, I really can't," Kaede said apologetically. "Maybe after my shift is over."
"That's fine. So what can you tell me about Kaede McLeod?"
"Normal middle aged woman, dark brown hair, brown eyes, nothing special about her at all, really," Kaede offered.
"That's not what I hear," Jeff said evenly.
"I can only tell you what I know. If anyone would know more, it might be her sister ... Uzuki."
"Really, where can I find her?" Jeff asked eagerly.
"Seattle, Washington state."
"Anyone closer?"
"Not that I know of," Kaede said and glanced at the opening to the back tent. "Ummm, Jeff, I have some things to do in back. I'll return soon."
Retreating into the back tent, Kaede got Rachel's attention. "Rachel, there's a man from the papers out there askin about me," Kaede said in a worried whisper.
Rachel let out a huff. "Had ta happen sometime," she said sadly.
"What do I do?"
Rachel nodded toward the back lean-to. "Go help yer mom for a bit."
"I don't mean ta..."
"Go," Rachel told her.
"Aye." Kaede went out the back.
.
Two men came in, shaking off the rain and removing their hats to fling the water off them. Jeff turned to eye them. They were older and wandered in to sit on opposite sides of a table.
"Kaede, Ale!" one called.
"Excuse me," Jeff asked, "You know Kaede McLeod?"
"What's it to ya lad?" the old man asked.
"We'll describe her for ya, if ya buy us a round," the other man said with a grin.
"Deal," Jeff agreed.
.
Another waitress appeared. Jeff paid for the men's ale, and went over to sit with them. Older guys, Jeff guessed retired. they gave him Kaede's physical description, young, slim, pink hair, reddish eyes, a albino girl. As they described her, he realized the waitress had lied to him. In fact, the men just described the waitress he'd talked to when he first came in.
"Miss!" Jeff called to the red haired waitress who was bringing the ales. "That waitress that was here before, where did she go?"
"Who ya tlakin about?" Rachel asked.
"The pink haired girl. That was Kaede McLeod, wasn't it?"
Rachel shrugged. "We git plenty in an outta here, couldn't say for sure," she said, and passed out the ales.
"How many girls can there be with pink hair and red eyes?" Jeff asked.
Rachel shrugged with a "Dunno."
To the men, Jeff asked, "You've both seen her, she works here, right?"
"Actually, this is just volunteerin for the games," Rachel explained.
"Hey lad," one of the men said, tapping Jeff's wrist. "If I was you, I wouldn't be pressin too hard."
"Aye. Something bad could happen to ya," the other agreed.
"Especially if yer grab her keister."
Both men broke into laughter.
Walking away, Rachel rolled her eyes with a, "Behave yerselves."
"So that WAS Kaede McLeod that was here earlier?" Jeff asked to be sure.
"Ya seen her lad, ya tell us."
Jeff look around the tent and said, "Thanks for your time," He got up and went outside.
When Jeff was first assigned to this case, he thought he knew pretty much what he was going to find. Some witch lady in all her shawls, wrappings, decorations and black cats, casting him these sly glances like she knew something he didn't. The conversation would be about how good of a witch she was, and a long winded speech about how beneficial witches were. The typical wiccan princess with pentagrams, tarrot cards, and Ouija boards that was all talk, but didn't actually do anything.
This case was different. Kaede McLeod was a serving girl, and had avoided introducing herself and had blown off the claims about herself that he was looking into. Almost as if she had something to hide.
Jeff had to admit, Kaede looked different, she had the typical albino traits, very little or no pigment, which gave her eyes red and her hair a pink color. Jeff had a feeling there was more here than odd looks to her. The one report was from a woman who's brother had gone missing. Supposedly, he ended up missing with his friends and their car. Not a trace of them had been found. Only rumors tied those men to Kaede McLeod. If she had indeed made those men disappear, then there might be something here worth looking into. After getting all the weird stories about UFO's, Big Foot, Nessie and such that always lead to dead ends and had to be propped up with speculation, Jeff was ready for a real news breaker.
Walking around the tents, Jeff noted smoke coming out of a stone chimney. Continuing around to the back, he saw a tarped-in stand alone fireplace where a red head was cooking food over the hearth.
"Excuse me, Ma'am?" he asked as he approached.
The woman eyed him, not saying a word.
Holding up his Press badge, Jeff said, "I work for the Sun, I was hoping to ask you about a Kaede McLeod, do know her?"
The woman checked the fire, ignoring him.
"Umm, can you understand me?" Jeff asked.
The woman reached into a skirt pocket and pulled her hand out, shaped like gun. Turning to face him, she pointed back the way he came with the other hand.
"Ah, yeah," Jeff said, not quite understanding if it was a joke, or she was serious. "If you don't want to talk, I can just give you my card."
The woman pulled her gun-hand up to point to his left and twitched her thumb down and 'recoiled' her hand.
BOOM
The ground beside Jeff exploded. He jerked back and ducked as mud rained down on him. "What the fuck!" he asked in shock, trying to figure out what did that. He gapped at the woman, did she have M-80's or something? She pointed to his other side with her hand-shaped gun and made it recoil again.
BOOM
The ground on his other side exploded. He stared at her hand, then the fresh head-sized hole. No, that wasn't possible...
BOOM
This eruption was right in front of him, blasting mud up into his face. Backpedaling away, he brushed his face off and looked up to see the woman was pointing her finger right at him. A thought raced through his mind, fuck what was possible, she was going to kill him with a finger!
Jeff turned and ran, ducking and racing away from the tents as fast as his feet would take him. His brain numb from his experience, all he could do was flee. There was something to hide here all right, and Jeff was afraid just what that might be. Screw palm reading or crystal balls, he was facing real magic, how to blow shit up by pointing at it!