CHAPTER 9

Eric managed to sneak into his room, grab the papers, and sneak back out without being caught. After proving to Jim that it was really the contract, they headed back. By that time, the sun was beginning to come up.

They were almost to the forest when Jim suddenly stopped. Eric stopped as well. "What's up?" Eric asked.

"Cops," Jim answered in a whisper. "Wait here. I'll see what they want."

Jim walked forward. He hoped that he could just walk by without them noticing him. But he was disappointed.

"Hey, you, boy," one of the cops said.

Jim turned. "You talking to me?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm talking to you. Come over here." Jim walked over, not at all showing how nervous he really was. "What's your name?" the cop asked.

"Jim Porter."

"Archimedes Q. Porter's son?" the cop was suddenly very interested.

Jim became really nervous. "Yeah. Who are you?"

"Commander Rourke. And my Lieutenant, Helga Sinclair" The commander smiled. "You know, I hear you just moved back to our little town."

"That's right," Jim said.

Rourke raised his eyebrow. "Why did you leave?"
"Family crisis," Jim answered simply.

"Really?" Rourke crossed his arms. "Of what nature?"

Jim copied the commander, crossing his arms as well. "What business is it of yours?"

"Touchy, touchy," Lieutenant Helga said.

Inwardly, Jim winced. He would have to come up with a story to get these cops off his tail. "My grandmother's health was failing. We had to go take care of her."

"I see," Helga said in a tone that said she didn't believe a word of it. "Was that the only reason?"

"Of course," Jim lied. "What else would there be?"

Rourke stepped toward him. ""Well, there is this nasty rumor going around that your parents took you away to hide you from someone."

"That's ridiculous," Jim managed to chuckle. "We weren't hiding."

"You know," Helga spoke up, "I find it interesting that about the time we start finding children who have been 'cursed', so to speak, you disappear."

Jim shrugged. "Coincidence."

"Perhaps," she answered. ""Or perhaps you're hiding something."

"I'm not hiding anything," Jim insisted.

Helga smiled, and it wasn't very friendly. "Then how is it that your name is on a list of children that the wizard watched over? Children that were never seen the same again?"

"How should I know?" Jim was starting to feel very threatened, but was trying his hardest not to show it.

"Don't play stupid with us, boy," Rourke suddenly snapped.

"I'm not playing stupid. I don't know what you're talking about!" Jim snapped back.

"Well, if you're telling the truth, then I suppose you wouldn't know what this is, would you?" Helga held out a container of strange cream. "Here."

"What is this?" Jim asked, taking it. Opening the top, his nose was filled with a smell long forgotten. His wolf instincts were suddenly heightened, but he managed to keep them under control with great difficulty. Quickly replacing the top, he handed the container back to Helga. "I don't know what that is. It's not mine."

"I see," Helga said, putting the container back into her pocket.

"Is this?" Rourke asked, pulling out a bottle.

"What is it?" Jim asked distrustfully.

"Here," Rourke said and, opening the bottle, thrust it toward Jim.

"Ugh!" Jim cried, stumbling back. "Close that stuff! It stinks!"

"So you remember it?" Rourke asked.

"It's hard to forget," Jim blurted, and immediately regretted it.

Rourke closed the bottle, smiling in triumph. "So he did touch you!"

Jim was thoroughly frightened by now. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, less convincing.

Rourke walked up to him, and spoke quietly. "I'll make you a deal, Jim, isn't it?" Jim nodded, too scared to speak. "You tell us what you know, give up quietly, and we'll forget you ever denied it."

Jim swallowed. "Denied what?" he asked shakily. "What are you talking about?" But inwardly, he knew his time was up.

Rourke scowled. "Fine. Have it your way." He pulled out a set of handcuffs. "Jim Porter, you're under arrest."

Unnoticed, a bird flew overhead watching as Jim was handcuffed and placed into a police car. Seeing Eric, it swooped down, transforming into Aladdin. "What happened?" he asked.

"I don't know!" Eric said, worried. "Jim saw the cops and told me to wait here. Next thing I know, they're arresting him!"

"Do you know what for?" Aladdin pressed.

Eric shrugged. "I have no clue. Now I wish I hadn't given up my gift. We would have got by, no problem."

"I don't know about that. They were probably sent by her. How else would they know to wait for him here?" Aladdin said thoughtfully.

Eric sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

"Come on, we have to tell the others," Aladdin told him. Nodding, Eric followed his friend into the forest.