Secrets and Lies

"I'm getting something," Emma commented softly. Her eyes were closed as she slowly turned one of those dark shiny bracelets around in her hand, "Yeah. There's a strong link between this and our subject. A very strong link..."

I tried not to look too uneasy or conspicuous as I glanced around the hospital chapel, but there were only two other people in there and they weren't paying any attention to us. They were seated together near the front of the room, and it looked like they were either in prayer or perhaps mourning.

Our group had taken over a couple pews in the back corner, and once again I found myself wondering if it was rude or risky to be performing what seemed like pagan magical rites inside a place of worship. Then again the hospital's chapel was supposedly non-denominational, so perhaps it was alright.

It also crossed my mind that this case essentially started at a church in Kent, before moving on to one of the most famous cathedrals in the world. So perhaps it was appropriate that we'd ended up in a chapel after all.

When we first returned to the hospital some twenty minutes earlier we found Alys upset and frustrated and worried about her father. Fortunately Emma had already calmed her down so she wasn't still in a panic. And she let us know they'd texted Miss Talbot again, to see if our boss could help with Owen's condition, as well as his pending arrest. After a quick discussion in the lobby we decided this would be a good quiet distraction-free place for Emma to try and use her Sight with the bracelets Feebs snuck out of Owen's hotel room.

After another long pause the witchy goth teen spoke up again, "This has a massive death-vibe on it."

"Not surprised," Phoebe commented quietly. "We all saw what that bloody thing looked like."

I asked, "Is it literally dead? Or undead, I suppose?"

Emma shook her head, "Not sure. All I can say is our entity has a very strong affinity for death."

"I'm also getting greed," she added a moment later. "And lust? Or no, I think that's part of the greed. Like it lusts for power, money, that sort of thing."

Alys came up with the next question, "Are the bracelets powerful themselves? Like do they seem magical to you?"

The gothy teen was still holding one of them in her bare hands, while the other remained tucked away in Phoebe's pocket. Emma turned the dark metallic object over in her fingers again as she frowned, "If they are, it's not something I can detect directly. Nothing I'm familiar with anyways."

"Can you use the link between that and the entity to tell us where it is?" I asked her.

"Should do," she nodded. Then her expression shifted to a frown, as though she was trying to focus or concentrate. That continued for another half minute or so before she sighed, "Oh no."

"What is it, what do you see?" Dr. Bishop asked.

Emma shook her head, "A large luxurious hotel suite. The bed's messy, there's laundry on the floor, dirty dishes, empty bottles. And there's two dead bodies. One on the bed, the other by the sofa. They're dressed in police uniforms. Constables, with the Met."

Grace and Phoebe and I all exchanged a worried look. Meanwhile the witchy teen continued quietly describing what she was seeing.

"There's a burly fellow, mid-forties, watery brown eyes, thin greying brown hair with a comb-over on top. He's standing near the door, with a suitcase in one hand."

It seemed we were all thinking the same thing, but Phoebe said it first. "Inspector Rhodes."

"He's not alone," Emma added softly. "There's a girl with him. It's her, our target. These bracelets belong to her."

The witchy teen continued, "She's got a new glamour. Twenty-ish, tall and slim. Long brown hair, hazel eyes. Dressed in a designer pant-suit. She looks like some sort of heiress or something? The burly fellow's acting like her bodyguard. Or her servant."

"So she went back to the hotel room to round up her loot," Phoebe stated. "And scored herself a new pet police inspector to do all her heavy lifting."

Emma's eyes were still closed as she frowned, "If so she doesn't look very pleased about it. I think she's frustrated... Something's missing."

"The bracelets," she added as she opened her eyes. "She went back for her bracelets."

"It's a good thing I grabbed them then," the redhead commented with a smug grin.

At that point the other couple got to their feet and exited the chapel, leaving our group alone in there. I really hoped we hadn't been distracting enough to chase them out, but I quickly let that go as I had something a lot more troubling on my mind.

I gave my companions a worried look, "With Rhodes under her control the entity's got access to the rest of the police. From there she could go all the way up the chain of command, straight to the Home Secretary. And that would get her into the government, and perhaps even the crown if she wanted."

"While it's good we've now got a way to track her movements what we really need is a way to stop her," Dr. Bishop quietly stated. "Based on what we saw last night she's too strong and too fast for mundane methods. She also seemed able to resist Phoebe's attempt to magically subdue her."

The redhead sighed, "Aye. She shrugged off my sleep spell like it was nothing. Although I didn't have any trouble dispelling her disguise."

I asked, "Is the sleep spell considered more of a mental thing? Or is it physical? If it's mental then maybe that's why it failed? Mind control seems to be her thing, so she may have defences against that kind of magic being used against her."

"Could be," Phoebe replied thoughtfully. "Or maybe the dispell worked because it didn't target her as such, just her magic. Like when I dispelled her control over Owen and Martin."

"Good point," I frowned.

Then Alys asked, "What about these bracelets? If they're important to her, maybe we can use them as bait? Lure her to us?"

"Or wait!" she exclaimed as her eyes lit up. "We're thinking this thing's some kind of evil undead mage, right? Like a lich, maybe? What if these are where she stores her power or her soul or whatever it's called? So if we destroy the bracelets maybe that'll destroy her too!"

"You mean her phylactery," Phoebe responded. Then the redhead shook her head, "Except that's just fiction, lass. You've read too many stories, or done too many role-playing games."

I gave my partner a look and reminded her, "If this thing came through the anomaly then it doesn't play by our world's rules. Just like our hyena person in Hampshire, and the yang-eating monster in Yorkshire. So it may well be a lich, even if those don't normally exist here."

Feebs frowned, "In that case why'd she leave it so long before going back to get the bracelets? If they're that important to her you'd think she'd have grabbed them immediately."

"The hotel was crawling with cops and EMTs and news media and everything else half the night," Alys pointed out.

Then Emma chimed in, "We also don't know she wasn't hurt last night, fending off your and Trillium's attacks. It might even be as simple as she needed half a day to recharge after all that."

Dr. Bishop asked, "If these are the entity's source of power, what's the worst that could happen if we destroy them? Could that be dangerous, to us or the hospital?"

"Probably not," the witchy teen replied. "The biggest risk is without them I might not be able to scry for her anymore, but now that I've made the connection I can probably maintain it without them. At least for a while."

After a glance at her friend Emma added, "I think Alys is onto something. We know these bracelets are important to the entity, she definitely wants them back. Maybe we could try breaking one of them, to see if that has an effect on her?"

"Fine," Phoebe rolled her eyes as she fished the other one out of her hoodie pocket. "I'll give it a shot then."

"How are you going to..." I started to ask, but my voice trailed off as the busty redhead strode over to the chapel entrance where a large bronze urn sat atop a short wood pillar.

She helped herself to the heavy metal urn, then crouched down and set the bracelet on the polished hardwood floor. Finally in one swift motion she raised the urn up then brought it crashing down. The impact was surprisingly loud, the sound seemed to echo and reverberate both through the air as well as beneath our feet.

"She felt that," Emma announced. The witchy teen's eyes were closed again as she clutched the other bracelet in her hand. "She felt it, and now she looks frantic. She's angry, very angry, but I think she might also be frightened?"

"Where is she now?" I asked. "Still in the hotel suite?"

The goth teen shook her head, "She and the inspector just entered a lift, on their way down to the lobby."

"Let's try and smash the other one then," I decided. "While she's trapped in an enclosed space."

"Aye, alright then," Feebs sighed. "Bring it here."

I collected the second bracelet from Emma and hurried it over to my partner. She accepted it from me then placed it on the floor next to the broken one.

Finally she raised the urn and stated, "Here goes."

Somehow it was even louder when she smashed this one. And unlike the first, when this bracelet shattered it released a flash of bright blue light. That caught both Feebs and I off-guard, but it didn't appear to actually do anything. Finally we both looked to Emma for some sort of confirmation.

Even without the physical link the teen had her eyes closed again, and she nodded once. With a grim look on her face she stated, "I believe it worked. Both the entity and the inspector collapsed in the lift. He's still alive. Hard to tell with her. Her glamour's gone though. I think that means it worked."

"I'm glad for that," I commented with a little sigh. Then I admitted, "Although to be honest it almost feels a bit anti-climactic? Compared to how things ended in the New Forest, or up in Yorkshire."

Feebs was gathering up the shattered pieces from the bracelets but she gave me a look, "Last night wasn't enough excitement for you? Personally I'll take anti-climactic after the way this past month's gone."

"Point taken," I grimaced. "Sorry."

Then Emma commented, "There's another panic in that hotel lobby. Should've seen that coming, I suppose. Lift doors opening to a desiccated corpse and an unconscious cop and all that."

Phoebe was stuffing the broken bits of bracelet into her hoodie pocket as she grinned, "Bet Rhodes will have a tough time explaining that. Caught in the lift with a suitcase full of cash and jewelry he pilfered from a crime scene? Not a good look I imagine."

"I don't like him either but he doesn't deserve to be branded a criminal," I responded in a serious tone as I put the bronze urn back where it came from. "And those two constables definitely didn't deserve to die."

"Aye you're right. Sorry," the redhead apologized as she got to her feet.

At that point it felt like we were all but finished. Then Alys asked, "Now that's done is there any way we can help my dad?"

Before any of us could respond we were all startled by the sudden appearance of someone new. As in she'd literally just appeared out of thin air in the aisle next to us. And that wasn't the only reason I found myself staring in surprise.

Thanks to Miss Talbot's spell I knew catgirls were a thing, but I'd never met one in person before. Especially not one with lilac-purple hair and fur, or bright purple eyes. She looked about the same age as Alys and Emma, and was dressed similar to me in tight leggings sneakers and a hoodie. The next surprise came when it turned out Alys actually knew her, as did Dr. Bishop.

"Zoe!" the teen exclaimed. "Are you and Cindy here to help?"

The catgirl's tail swished back and forth as she responded, "Hi Alys, and hello again Dr. Bishop. Cindy asked me to come give you all a hand. She'd have come as well but she's with Valerie and Gabrielle right now."

"Also hello to the rest of you," she added as she flashed a friendly smile to Phoebe and Emma and I.

Grace took over the introductions, "Hello again Miss Zaitsev. I don't believe you've met the others? That's Emma Rhys, and these are Phoebe Campbell and Trillium Sharpe. And this is Zoe Zaitsev. She's -"

"I'm Cindy's girlfriend," the catgirl interjected with a grin and a flick of her ears.

The smile faded as she continued, "Alys you were asking about helping your dad? We can go do that right now. I can also offer you all a free lift if you like? Teleport everyone back home to Cardiff if that works for all of you?"

Phoebe grimaced, "No thank you. My Grandland's in Croydon. I'll endure another train ride to go get it, if it's all the same to you."

"Owen's Range Rover is in a carpark near the hotel," Grace added. "I'm sure he won't want it left behind."

The two teens exchanged a look then Alys asked the catgirl, "Could you teleport dad and Emma and I back home? After you've helped him wake up, I mean?"

"That's assuming you don't mind driving home by yourself, Dr. Grace?" she added as she looked to the doctor.

The doctor was fine with those plans, as were Phoebe and I. Zoe bid the three of us a good day, then asked Alys and Emma to take her to Owen's hospital room.

As the others left Feebs suggested, "We should get out of here as well. I'm honestly surprised we've made it this long without a visit from hospital security."

Dr. Bishop grimaced, "Indeed."

• • • • •

After leaving the hospital the three of us shared a cab back to Westminster, where we dropped Dr. Bishop off to collect Mr. Powell's vehicle. Then Feebs and I continued across the river into Vauxhall, where we proceeded to not check out of our hotel. Nor did we make any attempt to catch a crowded afternoon train to Croydon.

Instead the busty redhead insisted on a good long soak in our suite's fancy tub, then she spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around sipping whisky while wearing nothing but a big fluffy white bathrobe. And rather than argue I decided to follow her lead. I passed on the whisky, but couldn't argue that we'd earned ourselves another break.

We even took advantage of the hotel's room service for dinner. Then Phoebe rounded out her evening with beer and a football match, as apparently her Spurs were playing Bournemouth. And while she did that I relaxed in our large comfy bed where I continued studying and practicing magic.

Friday morning the two of us abused room service once again with a very nice breakfast delivered to our door. That almost felt a little too decadent, with the two of us sitting next to each other in our big fluffy bath robes while we enjoyed coffee and Belgian waffles. And in Phoebe's case, a glass of champagne and orange juice.

After we were done eating I excused myself, then settled into a large comfy chair with a view of the Thames. And I had my phone with me, as there was an important call I needed to make.

It was answered on the second ring, "Inspector Carter here."

"Good morning inspector," I responded with a grin. "It's Detective Sharpe calling."

She sounded like she was smiling too at that point, "Trillium! I was hoping I'd hear from you."

I grimaced at that, "Sorry for leaving it so long. Things have been a lot busier around here than I bargained for."

"I'll bet," she laughed. Which was good to hear, I was glad she wasn't upset that I'd waited until the final day of her offer to get back to her.

Her tone became more serious as she continued, "I saw you on the news the other night. I take it there's some sort of supernatural problem in Westminster?"

I sighed, "There was. Pretty sure we took care of it yesterday though, so things should be clear now."

"How are you holding up?" she asked. "From what I saw in those videos I'd have thought you'd be in rather rough shape afterwards."

That made me grimace, "Yeah. I've actually been pretty lucky there? I'm not sure what I'm allowed to discuss, but suffice to say I've got a little extra protection. Or call it insurance."

After a slight hesitation she asked, "There was another young woman with you on the news, a redhead. She looked rather familiar. Was that Campbell? She looked younger than I remember."

"Yeah that was Phoebe," I nodded. I wasn't sure how to explain my partner's youth though so I ignored it and hoped Jenny wouldn't press the issue. Instead I focused on the real reason I called, "I'm sure you've already guessed but I got another offer, and I've decided to go with that one instead."

"Llewellyn Import & Export Services," Carter stated.

I nodded again, "Right. Sorry Jenny. I really enjoyed working with you and the others in Castleton, but I couldn't resist getting more involved in this supernatural business."

"That's fine Trillium," she replied. "Honestly I can understand the appeal. Not for me mind you, but if you're pleased with the work then I'm happy for you."

Then she added in a teasing voice, "Tell me, what do you folks actually import?"

"Magic apparently," I replied with a straight face.

Before she could question that I changed the subject again, "I've been wondering how you're doing? I mean with your new circumstances and everything. Sorry if this is too personal, but I was a little worried you might be experiencing some long-term affects after..."

The inspector sounded like she was grimacing as she replied, "You're not the only one to ask. I've lost track how many of my bosses and coworkers and health services professionals and other interested parties have wanted to check up on me."

"Not that I mind hearing from you though," she added quickly. "You were there, you know what it was really like. Anyways there's been few minor issues, nothing too serious though. And Maureen's been a tremendous help, both as moral support and in a more practical sense."

She sounded almost embarrassed when she admitted a moment later, "I've actually been using that prep spell. Just in case, mind you. I haven't made any decisions yet regarding what I'd change, or if I'll make any changes at all. But Maureen suggested I should prepare, so I'd be ready when the full moon arrives. That way if I do choose to change something I won't have to wait another whole month to do it. She's even started doing the prep spell with me, as a sort of camaraderie thing I suppose."

I smiled, "That's exciting. And I'm glad Dr. O'Conner's looking after you. You'll have to let me know after the full moon if anything's changed."

"I will," she promised.

Carter sounded like she was smiling again as she added, "Speaking of the ME's office, Sally Stewart asked me to pass on her regards. I expect she's going to be rather disappointed to learn you won't be joining us after all."

I smiled too, "Maybe you can tell her I said sorry, next time you see her? Although this new job has me all over the country, so you never know when I might end up in North Yorkshire again."

Jenny responded immediately, "No offence Trillium but I sincerely hope your line of work doesn't bring you back here any time soon. We'd be happy to see you again on a social call though."

"Anyways I should probably get back to it," she added with a sigh. "It's nice to have all those murders off my plate, but now I've got a string of petty thefts and burglaries demanding my attention."

"Alright Jenny," I smiled. "Good luck, and thanks again for the offer. To be honest I'd been seriously considering it right up until yesterday."

I paused for a quick glance in my new partner's direction, to check she wasn't paying attention. After breakfast she'd returned to bed though, where she appeared to be playing a game or something on her phone.

With my voice lowered just incase I admitted, "I'd been having some second thoughts about working with LIES, but I'm pretty sure I've made the right decision."

Carter replied, "Just stay safe, alright? Look after yourself Trillium. And if things don't work out there in Cardiff drop me a line. I might not be able to get you into Castleton, but I'll certainly put in a good word for you with my bosses in Whitby."

"Thanks Jenny I appreciate that," I smiled. "You take care as well."

"Bye for now!"

~ End of Episode Three ~