NINETEEN
Victor Bennett was sitting in his office looking through several file folders when the door suddenly opened and a man walked in followed closely by Victor's secretary. The man was dressed in all black and had closely cropped black hair and wore a goatee. He walked over and plopped down in one of the chairs opposite Victor's desk, hanging one leg over the arm of the chair as if he hadn't a care in the world.
"I'm sorry, sir," said the secretary. "I told him you were busy but he just barged right in."
"It's okay, Alice. Go back to work I'll handle this."
The secretary shot an angry glance at the man and then left the office. Victor closed the folder he had been looking in.
"Still insolent as ever I see," he said.
"I have a right to be. You need me more than I need you. I got your message. You have a job for me?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact." Victor picked up three photographs and handed them to the man. "They're witches who have escaped from their internment camp. We want them back ASAP."
"Well, Prue and Piper Halliwell," said the man, looking at the pictures. "Two of the so-called Charmed Ones. And the third?"
"Her name is Phoebe Halliwell. She's their sister."
"I thought there was no third sister? Didn't your ex-wife tell you the child was stillborn?"
"Yes, she did. Obviously she lied. This has top priority. Everything else is to be put on hold until you are able to locate and subdue them."
"I assume the same rules apply? Wanted dead or alive?"
"Of course. In fact, alive is not necessarily a requirement. But their bodies have to be returned so that we can verify that they actually are dead. You know how dangerous the Charmed Ones can be. It's imperative that they be dealt with as quickly as possible."
"Well, now, that is the crux of the problem, isn't it? These aren't any ordinary witches. They're the Charmed Ones. Assuming the prophecies are true they are going to be quite formidable. It won't be easy to get them."
"I'm authorized to make any compensation within reason," said Victor. "What is it you want?"
"I'll need to bring in some special help for this one. You'll need to program the satellite system to ignore their biosigns. I can't have some overzealous Homeland Security officers interfering with us."
"Just have them report for scanning. I'll issue orders that they are to be scanned in immediately."
"And I want them on the permanent list," said the man. "I can use them in the future and I don't want to have to get clearance every time I need them."
"Just what kind of special help are you talking about?" Victor asked.
"Ah, ah, not too many questions. Our deal was that I help you with jobs you can't do yourself and you don't ask too many questions. It's worked so well lo these many years no sense in changing it now."
"Fine. I'll see that they're put on the permanent ignore list. How many are you going to need?"
"I think four should do it. I'll need as much information on them as you have. We'll need to be prepared when we go up against them. Just the usual stuff. Powers, abilities, that sort of thing."
"Everything is in here," said Victor, sliding a folder to the man. "As for the new one, we don't have much on her. No idea what her powers are. But if the prophecies are true she'll have premonition. The ability to see the future. Prue has telekinesis and Piper has the ability to freeze time. That only leaves the power of premonition."
"A very formidable power. It means she could foresee whatever we have planned. That's going to make it just that much more difficult to get them."
"What else do you want?" Victor asked.
"You know me so well. Like I said, these are no ordinary witches. Their power is the greatest power for good ever known. Perhaps the greatest power that has ever or will ever exist. I can do a lot with that power. Things you can't even dream of. I want their power. I'll bring you their lifeless bodies and in exchange I get to keep their power."
"That's totally unacceptable. The whole idea for you tracking down these special targets is to get rid of their powers. So that they can never be used against humanity. I can't authorize you to keep the greatest threat to mankind we've ever faced."
"Look, I've kept my end of the bargain. We've killed a lot of rogue witches for you and not once have we kept their power for ourselves. In return you've allowed us to walk the mortal plane unhindered. But this is the ultimate prize for both of us. This point is non-negotiable. I get to keep their powers or you can find someone else to find the witches for you."
Victor just glared at the man. He knew there was no one else who could get the Charmed Ones. And he knew that by allowing him to keep the girls' powers it would make them infinitely more powerful than he all ready was. But he worked with Homeland Security. For his own reasons, he was one of the 'good guys". Witches were the bane of humanity. Even considering the risks Victor would rather have their power on his side than against him.
"Very well. You can keep their power. But in return I want one more thing." He pulled out a picture of Cole and handed it to the man. "This witch escaped with them. I want him alive. I have a feeling he's the one who figured out how to get out of the camp undetected. I want to know how he did it. Bring him to me alive so I can find out."
"Witch?" the man questioned. He laughed out loud. "You must be joking. He's no witch. I worked with him a few decades ago. He's a demon. A mercenary named Belthazor. And a quite good one, too."
"A demon?" gasped Victor. "No wonder he was able to get them out of the camp. The protection devices protected against witches powers, not demons."
"What was a demon doing in an internment camp?" asked the man. "Demons are supposed to be vanquished on sight."
"He was identified a few years ago. When the scanners were much less sophisticated than they are now. According to the report the readings they got were indeterminate for what type of creature he was. He apparently confessed to being a witch. That's how he ended up in the camp."
"That sounds like Belthazor. He always was very devious. He knows he's caught so he 'confesses' knowing that a confessed witch will be processed faster. Once in the camp no one will give him another thought. All he has to do is bide his time until he can make his escape without suspicion. A plan worthy of Belthazor."
"Great," said Victor, slamming his fist down on his desk. "All this time we had a demon in our midst and never knew it. And if there's one there could be others. I've all ready ordered their biosigns put back into the system so we might locate them that way. I'm also going to order that everyone in the internment camps be rescanned. If there are any other non-witches in custody I want to know about it."
"What about Belthazor? You still want me to bring him in alive?"
"No. He's made a fool out of all of us. I don't want it to get out that we had a demon in one of our camps and he broke the Charmed Ones out. If that gets out confidence in the government will plummet. My political career would be over and I'd have to resign in disgrace. Not to mention your usefulness to us would be over. If the American people ever find out we've been using you and your friends it would be disastrous."
"I'll take care of it. There's no love lost between Belthazor and me. We've tolerated each other because we were useful to each other at times. But I have no problem taking him out if you want."
"Good," said Victor. "Let me know as soon as you're finished with the job. Like I said, this needs to be done as quickly as possible."
"I'll be in touch," said the man, standing up.
"Use the door," said Victor. "My secretary saw you come in. I don't want to have to explain how you got out of here without going past her."
"As you wish."
The man turned and left the office. Victor rubbed his eyes. He knew the man would do a good job. He always had. But working with him was always risky. He was unpredictable.