Chapter 11: Private Investigations
Tabitha Stephens pulled her yellow, '69 Camaro Convertible into the parking lot of the children's group home in Boston and killed the engine. It was the first car that was actually in her name; a gift from her Uncle Arthur as a Hogwarts graduation present. For several minutes, the young witch sat in her car, thinking. Before doing anything that could not be undone, Tabitha considered that maybe her superiors were right and that the small, minor incursions from the Enchanted Realms that had been detected just before The Big One hit were unrelated to each other. But Tabitha could not shake the nagging feeling that this was not the case.
It was Tabitha's turn to make the daily supply run for the MADS station where she had been assigned to keep tabs on the Incursion. It was also her day to cook the dinner when she returned, and Tabitha knew that this little "side-trip" could potentially get her into a lot of trouble. But according to the Boston Police Department, this children's group home is where the two children who had been found on the night of the Incursion had been placed.
The young FBS Trainee checked her ID badge. To a wizard or a witch, it would identify her as a (Trainee) Agent of the United States Federal Bureau of Sorcery. To a muggle, it would appear to be credentials for whatever agency she claimed to be from. The only problem now is what agency should she say she was with? Social Services? The Health Department? The Boston Police Department? Tabitha tried several possibilities out loud for size.
"Hello, my name is Tabitha Stephens, and I am with the Massachusetts Department of Child Welfare . . . ."
"Good morning. I am Tabitha Stephens. And I am with the Health Department . . . ."
"Hi. My name is Tabitha Stephens, and I have been sent by the Boston Police Department to check in on . . . ."
A disembodied voice coming from everywhere and nowhere said, "Personally, I'd go with the first. Of the three you just tried, it seems the less threatening . . . ." Tabitha sighed when she realized that her grandmother Endora had just appeared in the passenger's seat next to her. Oddly, her normally flamboyant grandmother was dressed relatively conservative by muggle standards. Instinctively, Tabitha quickly looked around to make sure that nobody had seen this happen. Endora continued. "As they say, you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar . . . ."
"Grandma! What are you doing here?"
"Pish-tosh, Tabitha," said Endora dismissively. "Since when does a grandmother need a reason to visit her granddaughter?"
"This is a busy parking lot and we're in a convertible," said Tabitha desperately. "You could have been seen! I would have had to write you up! I would have had to write us both up!"
"Oh, come now, Tabitha," said Endora. "I made sure that nobody who shouldn't have seen me was around before I popped-in. I've been doing things like this for a very long time. Give me some credit, at least. Really, darling, you are much too paranoid!"
Tabitha sighed. "Yeah? Well, growing up next door to Gladys Kravitz will do that to a witch!"
"So what? Nothing ever came of Glycerin's calls to the mortal agencies about the so-called "strange goings on" at your home. You would think by now that that silly mortal would grow tired of harassing you, your mother, your brother and even Derwood . . . ."
Tabitha signed wearily. "Daddy's name is Darrin, Grandma! And how many times do I have to tell you, the preferred term is "muggle;" not "mortal!" This isn't the 12th Century, you know! Now, if you don't mind, I have something that I need to do!"
"Mind if I tag along, now that I am here?"
"I wish that you wouldn't, grandma," said Tabitha. "I'm following-up on some information that I have about the Incursion –"
"Oh, that," said Endora shaking her head. "Everybody in our world has been working themselves up into a tizzy over what happened a few weeks ago in Maine, blowing everything up all out of proportion! You know, if I were to just pop-in and take a little look around –"
"NO, GRANDMA!" said Tabitha. "Maine is off-limits to our kind until further notice! We don't want whoever they are to know that we know they are here!"
"That's exactly what Stephen told me the other day over tea," said Endora thoughtfully. "He's only been the Sorcerer Supreme for a little while after practicing magic for only a few decades and he thinks that he knows everything! While I, on the other hand . . . ."
"Look, grandma, can we talk about this, later? I don't have a lot of time and I want to check these children out for myself! The police report says that they are a seven year old boy and a newborn baby girl. This would correspond with the weight of what came through just before The Big One did. At the very least, I want to rule them out!"
"Well, then," said Endora. If you insist on playing Nancy Drew, then I will play along."
"No, grandma, you will go back home immediately and let me do my job!"
Endora raised an eyebrow. "But that's just it; you are not doing your job, now, are you?"
"Well, not officially, but –"
"But nothing, Tabitha," said Endora. "You were sent out to get groceries, not follow-up on a hunch. But surely nobody could say anything against you if you happened to have met your grandmother and spoke with her for a few moments, now could they?"
"But –"
"Besides," continued Endora with a conspiratorial tone. "You are awfully young looking to command much authority. But, if you were to be accompanied by an older person from the agency that you claim to represent . . . ."
Tabitha thought for a moment, and then said, "Alright, grandma. But please let me do most of the talking."
"Of course," said Endora. "I'm only here to supervise my "trainee," after all . . . ."
The two witches entered the group home and asked about the children who had been found by the police at a small diner outside of Boston the night of October 22nd. The receptionist directed them to the group home's clinic. When they got there, a commotion was in progress. Tabitha saw a small boy protectively holding a crying, newborn baby girl. Several nurses were there, too. One of them was holding a hypodermic syringe. But the boy continued to protest and did everything that he could to keep the nurses away from him and the baby in his arms.
Tabitha said, "What's going on, here?
"I'm trying to give the baby girl a vaccination, but the boy won't let me! Who are you two?"
"My name is Tabitha Stephens. "I'm with . . . Children's Services. I'm new, and this is Mrs. Endora, my supervisor. She's evaluating my performance. We're here to follow-up on the children who were found a few weeks ago at a small diner outside of Boston. Are these the two children?"
"Yes, they are," said the frustrated nurse. "Maybe you can help us give the girl her shots?"
"I might be able to do that," said Tabitha, not taking her eyes off of the frightened boy. "But please let me do it my way . . . ." Tabitha took a small step forward towards the children, and then sat down cross-legged on the floor in front of them, about four feet away. "Hello. My name is Tabitha. What's your name, little boy?"
The boy sniffled, and then said, "A-August. My name is August Booth."
"Well, hello, August. And who is this pretty little girl that you are holding? She is so cute! Is she your little sister?"
"N-no, miss," said August. "B-but I'm supposed to protect her!"
"And you are doing a very good job of protecting her, August," said Tabitha softly. "She's such a little darling! Would it be alright if I hold her? Just for a moment. I promise that I will give her back right away, and that I won't let anyone else touch her unless you say so. Would that be alright?"
The boy hesitated. He looked down at the crying baby in his arms, then back to Tabitha. Then he nodded, and handed the baby girl to the young woman. When Tabitha took her, the baby calmed down and stopped crying, making the boy smile. And when he smiled, Tabitha noticed that the boy was pushing a loose tooth with his tongue. This gave Tabitha an idea, and she mentally set the observation aside.
"Hey, there, little baby," cooed Tabitha gently. "You are such a little sweetie, aren't you? You know, I haven't held a newborn baby since I was about the same age as your friend, August! It was my little brother, Adam. He's thirteen now, and way too big to hold, and I miss that." Tabitha looked up to the boy, and said, "So, August, what is this cute little baby's name?"
"E-Emma . . . ," said the boy, who then began jiggling his loose tooth with his fingers. "Her name is Emma. Emma Swan . . . ." Tabitha made a quick twitch of her nose and the tooth popped out into the boy's fingers. The boy examined his tooth for a moment, and then put it in his pocket.
"Emma . . . ," said Tabitha thoughtfully. "That's such a pretty name for a pretty girl!" Tabitha smiled at Emma and blew her a kiss before handing her back to August.
"Now, August," said Tabitha. "You said that someone told you to protect Emma from harm. It might not seem like it, but that is what these ladies are trying to help you do, right now."
"By sticking her with a needle?" said August dubiously.
"Well, August, it is a very special needle," said Tabitha. "Or, rather, the liquid in the little plastic part is what makes it special. You see, this liquid will protect Emma from some very nasty diseases, like measles and mumps. You're about seven years old. Surely you've gotten vaccinations yourself, August?"
The boy shook his head.
"Never . . . ?" said Tabitha. "Well, August, I have had lots of vaccinations to keep from getting sick, and believe me, they work! But some of these vaccinations were not around when I was your age. When I was a little younger than you, I actually had the mumps, and believe me, I was one very unhappy six-year-old girl at that time.
"But my little brother Adam never had the mumps because the vaccination for it came out a little before he was born, and he got one. So, August, if you let these nurses give Emma a vaccination, then she will never get the mumps, or a lot of other very bad diseases, either. Now, I won't lie to you; an injection does hurt a little; it's kind of like getting pinched. But the hurt does not last long, and when it is done, there are diseases that Emma will never get.
"So, since it is your job to protect little baby Emma, you really need to get her vaccinated. For that matter, I think that it might be a very good idea if you let the nurses vaccinate you, as well. Why don't you get your vaccinations first? That will show you that there is nothing to be afraid of, and it will give me another chance to hold Emma. How about it, August, will you let these ladies help you and baby Emma . . . ?"
The boy considered Tabitha's suggestion for a few moments, and handed Emma to the young witch. August then went over to the very relieved looking nurse, who administered the vaccination. August winced but did not cry. Then it was baby Emma's turn. Tabitha held her as the nurse gave Emma her vaccination as August looked on. Predictably, she did cry, but Tabitha was able to soothe Emma fairly quickly, before handing her back to August.
"I see that you have just lost a baby tooth, August," said Tabitha. "Have you ever heard of the Tooth Fairy?"
"Yes, I've met her a few times," said August. "She's good friends with the Blue Fairy."
Tabitha smiled. "Well, she's kind of busy, right now. But she authorized me to collect teeth on her behalf." Tabitha reached into her purse, and pulled out a Kennedy half-dollar coin. "I'll give you this for your baby tooth, August, and I will see that the Tooth Fairy gets it."
The boy handed the tooth to Tabitha who put it in her purse, then gave him the coin. He studied the coin for a moment, and then said, "Is this man your king?"
"He was our leader a long time ago, August," said Tabitha. "But we do not have a king in this land. Our leaders are elected. Do you have kings where you came from?" The boy nodded.
The nurse said, "He must really be from a far off place. You should see what he was wearing when the police found him."
"May we see?" said Endora, speaking for the first time since she and her granddaughter got to the group home. The nurse nodded and stepped out of the room for a few moments. While she was gone, Endora asked August if she could hold little Emma. Tabitha smiled. Her grandmother was always good with children.
Moments later, the nurse came back into the room with two cardboard boxes. She opened the box labeled "Booth, August," and took out the clothes the boy was wearing when the police found him.
"Hmmm . . . ." Tabitha raised an eyebrow as she examined the boy's original clothes. The entire ensemble looked like Italian Alpine clothes from the previous century. Moreover, Tabitha saw no labels or zippers. And the material looked natural, not synthetic. The entire outfit appeared to be custom-made by hand. Even the shoes looked handmade.
Tabitha whistled softly to herself. This outfit had to cost a bundle. Moreover, a boy August's age would outgrow it in short order. Tabitha turned to August, who was enjoying his post-vaccination lollypop, and said, "This is a very nice suit of clothes, August. Are you and your family members of a Folk Dancing Group?" When August shook his head to indicate "no," Tabitha continued, "Then is your family a member of a Historical Reenactment Group, like, say, The Society for Creative Anachronisms?"
Again, August shook his head. "No, Miss. This is how I always dressed where I used to live. Not like I am dressed, now." The boy indicated his jeans, tee-shirt and sneakers.
"I see . . . ," said Tabitha. She had closed the box marked "August" and opened the box marked "Baby Emma Swan." The box contained a knitted baby blanket with the name "Emma" embroidered on with purple thread.
The nurse said, "We know her name is Emma because of the name on her blanket. But we checked with all the local hospitals and none of them reported a missing newborn baby girl."
But Tabitha barely heard the nurse as she saw a stain on the blanket. It was unmistakably blood. But as Tabitha watched her grandmother change Emma's diaper, she saw no obvious injuries. Surreptitiously, Tabitha removed some of the yarn with the blood stain and put the strands in her purse along with the boy's tooth. Tabitha wanted to ask the boy more, but she knew that her time was running out. And she had one more stop to make before she went shopping . . . .
Then Tabitha thanked the nurses, told August that she would like to see him again in a few days, and she and Endora went back to her car. Once they were inside, Endora said, "There is something very special about that baby girl, Tabitha. I can sense it. I don't know if she is a witch or a mor- muggle, but there is definitely something special about her. I think that you are right, and that those children did come from the Enchanted Realms. But how . . . ?"
"I'd settle for why, grandma," said Tabitha. "Even if they were from a wizarding family, there is no way that the boy could have opened a portal and crossed-over to our world on his own. They had to have been sent over by someone . . . .
"I wonder if they were sent over by their parents to escape the Incursion. They came through just outside of the Incursion. Kind of like in the "Superman" comics; the way that Kal-El's parents sent him to our world in a rocket ship before Krypton was destroyed."
"I was thinking more of the story of baby Moses, Tabitha," said Endora thoughtfully. "I was there, you know . . . ."
Tabitha ignored her grandmother's boast and said, "Grandma, can you apparate us and my car to this address?" Tabitha showed her grandmother a card for a place called "Quest Laboratories." I have some things to drop off for them to look at."
"Can I apparate us? Just watch me!" A quick gesture was all that it took. When they arrived in the parking lot, Tabitha asked her grandmother to wait in the car, telling her that she would not be long.
Tabitha was back at her car in less than ten minutes. Another gesture from Endora put the two witches and the Camaro in the parking lot of a food store a few miles from the MADS station where Tabitha was assigned. Tabitha's grandmother insisted on coming into the store with her. "If your supervisor asks, you can tell her that you ran into your grandmother at the store and lost track of time."
"I don't know, grandma," said Tabitha. "Ms. Lockhart is pretty strict."
"That wouldn't be Juliet Lockhart, would it, Tabitha?"
"One and the same. Why, do you know her?"
"Know her?" said Endora with a wide grin. "I use to babysit for her! That is, I used to babysit her as a child. Remember me to her. She simply adored me! Trust me Tabitha; you won't be in any trouble."
When the shopping list was filled and the two witches were back in Tabitha's car, Endora said seriously, "Tabitha, before I leave, there is something that I want to do for you." She passed her hand over her granddaughter's heart and Tabitha winced.
"Ow! That stings, grandma! What's it for?"
"To protect you, darling," said Endora solemnly. "From an old magical battle technique that is still very much in vogue in the Enchanted Realms, or so I am given to understand. This will keep any potential opponent from taking your heart. I did this for your mother when she was about August's age. I'll be doing the same for Adam and even Dumdum after I get back home. Really, your mother should have done it for you and your brother a long time ago, but as I said, the technique has not been used in our world for thousands of years. It was your little speech to young August about the necessity of keeping up with vaccinations that brought it to mind . . . ."
"Um, thank you, grandma . . . ," said Tabitha, her chest still tingling from her grandmother's protection spell.
Then Endora made a gesture in front of her granddaughter's face, and the young FBS Trainee went into a trance. "Listen to me carefully, darling," said Endora seriously. "I do not know who is behind what has happened in Maine. For now, I'll play along with the "Authorities" and won't go looking for myself unless I am asked to.
"But if you are required to go there and face whatever or whoever it is, then you will heed my advice: If you find yourself facing a wizard who calls himself Rumpelstiltskin or a witch named Cora, then you will call for me and I will come to protect you and anyone else from the FBS who have the misfortune of being with you at the time. In any event, you will not face those two alone! Either one of them can overpower you and kill you without a second thought; my heart-protection spell notwithstanding. Call your grandmother if you find yourself going up against Rumpelstiltskin or Cora. Do NOT be a heroine! Nod if you understand me!"
Tabitha nodded. Endora waved her hand again in front of her face and said, "You're welcome, darling. You know, the Authorities really should reconsider my offer to pop-inside the Incursion to have a little lookie-loo around. It would save everyone so much worry . . . ."
"Grandma, you know we can't let you do that! We can't let them know that we are on to them!"
"Yes, yes," said Endora, rolling her eyes. "Whatever . . . . Just promise me that you will be careful."
"I promise, grandma!" said Tabitha as she gave her grandmother a big hug and Endora knew that she meant to keep her promise. Not that Tabitha had any choice in the matter now, but still . . . . After saying goodbye to her granddaughter, Endora disapparated with the sound of a gentile chime.
Tabitha sighed, and drove back to the MADS station, hoping that her supervisor would say nothing about her arriving back nearly an hour later than expected. Fortunately, Special Agent Lockhart did not comment on anything other than the dinner that she was looking forward to eating as she helped Tabitha bring in the groceries. It was Tabitha's turn to cook, and she was preparing spaghetti and meatballs; a favorite of Agent Lockhart.
Tabitha's contact at Quest Laboratories, Dr. Lisa Wilson, was an old friend of hers. Tabitha explained the situation, and Lisa said that she would get her the results within the next two hours. Tabitha began preparing the meal as she kept one eye on the telephone . . . .