"This is crazy," Phoebe said as they looked around a video arcade at a local mall. "I don't understand how finding one boy can be so difficult. Are you sure you've told us everything you know about Spenser?"
"I think so," said Cartrack. "Like many boys his age he was fascinated by video games. This was one of his favorite locations. He would constantly beg me to bring him here so he could play the games."
"You taught him to play video games?" Piper questioned.
"He was supposed to blend in as any other human boy," Cartrack said. "Considering the infatuation young humans have with video games I felt it was best if he exhibited the same infatuation. I'm sure he'll eventually outgrow it."
"I told you he was very good at his job," Cole said.
"Which doesn't get us any closer to finding him," said Paige. "Too bad we don't have anything of his. We could scry for him."
"Maybe there's another way," Cole said, noticing two policemen walking through the mall. "Stay here a second. I have an idea. I'll be right back."
They all watched as Cole walked over and began talking to the two policemen. He shook hands with one of them and it appeared they new each other. After a few minutes Cole turned and walked back to the group.
"I think we just got lucky," said Cole.
"How do you mean?" Leo asked.
"Well," said Cole, "that was Officer Liam Walker. He was a witness in a couple of my cases when I worked for the District Attorney's office. I was thinking about what Cartrack said about Spenser not having the normal restraints of most human children. I figured if that were true it wouldn't take long for him to loose his temper with someone. And having those powers at his disposal he'd probably resort to using them."
"So what did Officer Walker tell you?" Piper asked.
"He said the police got the strangest call," said Cole. "Apparently a young boy matching Spenser's description didn't like loosing at a video game in a video arcade over on Parker Street. He said the witnesses must have been confused."
"Why's that?" Paige asked.
"They said the boy used an electrical discharge and destroyed the game," said Cole, smiling.
"Sounds like our boy," said Paige. "I think we need to get to that video arcade on Parker Street."
"We should be able to orb out from the bathrooms," Leo said. "I can orb Cole and Cartrack and Paige can orb the girls. We should be able to orb there without any trouble."
The group headed for the public bathrooms in the mall. A few minutes later they stood outside the video arcade. It was taped off with police tape and several policemen were walking around. The place looked like someone had taken a wrecking ball to it.
"Excuse me," Cole said to one of the policemen, "we understand this was supposedly done by a young boy."
"Who are you?" asked the policeman.
"Cole Turner," said Cole. "I'm with the district attorney's office."
"Oh, okay, Mr. Turner," said the policeman. "Yes, the witnesses said a young boy seemed to have become angry when he lost at a video game. After that it gets a little crazy. The witnesses say the boy used some kind of lightning from his hands to destroy the game and several others nearby it. Then the kid just ran out of the building."
"Sounds like there must have been a lot of confusion going on," said Cole.
"To say the least," said the policeman.
"Did they say which direction the boy ran when he left?" Cole asked.
"North," said the policeman, pointing up the street. "We sent a unit to try and find him but he's got about a ten minute head start."
"Thanks," said Cole.
"With the District Attorney's office?" Piper questioned as they walked north.
"Hey, it got us the information we needed, didn't it?" Cole asked.
"So, what now?" Phoebe asked. "If he's got a ten minute head start on us he could be anywhere by now. Especially since he can shimmer."
"I don't think he did," Cartrack said. "If he was going to shimmer anywhere he would have shimmered out of the arcade. Besides he does understand about concealing his magic from mortals. That's one thing we are very strict about instilling in the young demons."
"So what about the electrical attack on the video game?" Paige asked.
"Probably a fit of anger," Cole said. "He got angry and lashed out without thinking. Then when everyone started to freak out he probably remembered Cartrack's training about protecting his magic. That's why he ran out instead of shimmering."
"He still has a head start on us," said Leo. "Any ideas where he might go next?"
"Maybe he's hungry," Phoebe offered. "From what you've told us he probably hasn't eaten since you brought him here. He must be starved."
"That sounds reasonable," said Cartrack. "There's one of those fast food places just up the street. Biltock loved eating there. His favorite meal was those nuggets made from chicken. We ate there a few times when we used to come here for his training sessions."
"Does he have any money?" Piper asked.
"No," said Cartrack, "but with his powers that wouldn't be much of a problem for him. If he's hungry he may not worry about protecting his secret."
"Then we'd better get over there right away," Leo said. "After what he did to that video game I'm concerned with what he might do to any humans that cross him."
"I know a short cut," said Cartrack. "There's an alley just ahead. We can use it to get there faster. It should take several minutes off our trip."
When they reached the alley they all turned and headed up it. It was a typical San Francisco alley. It was just wide enough for one car and there was litter scattered all along it. Several dumpsters sat along the alley. Just ahead, about halfway up the alley, they noticed two men lying in the alley.
But these men didn't appear to be sleeping. Instead they lay sprawled in the alley as if they had suddenly fallen where they had been standing. Another man, half obscured by a dumpster, another man appeared to be sitting on his knees facing the wall.
Cautiously the group approached the man. As they got closer they saw that he was visibly shaking. He was looking up as if looking at someone. The group could hear someone talking but they couldn't quite make out what that person was saying. The man kneeling on the ground glanced at them with a look that indicated he was terrified. As they looked around the side of the dumpster, they saw a young boy about twelve years old with blonde hair staring down at the man. The boy was holding an energy ball in one hand. And his eyes were glowing a bright red.