Conjuring Quantico (The Federal Witch Book 1) (9 page)

I looked back at her. “Uh huh.” I had gotten the vegetarian special, so I concentrated on that.

“Agatha, have you ever fired a gun before?”

I wiped my mouth and thought for a short moment. “Grandmother introduced me to weapons. Cappy, our town sheriff, is sort of useless when it comes to police work. He’s mostly for show for the tourists. But he was an Army Captain. According to Grandma he served with distinction in the Dragon Cong War. When the war was over, he returned home not quite right. She said he saw things that scarred him mentally and psychologically. But he does a good job in a town full of witches. He took me out to his range and showed me the basics with a variety of weapons. I’m best with a Colt 1911. Cappy had an original one that belonged to his grandfather. Because he’s the local law, he has a few really cool weapons. Somehow he got his hands on a M240 and allowed me to fire it. Ammunition for it is expensive, but I got to fire off a few hundred rounds. Firing that really helped me when it was used against me last year. I have a better spell to defend against that now.”

“You told us that story. Do you still have the thingy that caused bullets to bounce off you?” I gave her a sharp look and a slight shake of my head. There were way too many Weres in the room. Besides, I now knew for a fact they recorded this room in security.

“Sorry, Agatha. The reason I asked about the guns is for class today.” I nodded. I reached under the table and patted her leg. It was OK, just a slip of the tongue.

“Have you had weapons experience?”

Cat set her third sandwich down and grinned at me. “This Winter in the Dakota’s we had contests between the Packs. I got to target shoot and learned a whole lot about sniper rifles. It was fun!”

“It sounds like it. Chuck, what about you?”

Chuck had finished his meal and was staring at the two of us. “My father doesn’t believe in guns, but my brothers showed me the basics when they first became Enforcers. Later as I got older they didn’t have time for me so they stopped showing me stuff. I’m a lot rusty. But I have been doing the background reading so I should be OK.”

It was sometimes hard to believe that Chuck was smarter than both Cat and I together. His IQ was off the charts. The FBI had wanted him about as much as they wanted me. His biggest problem was he pretended that he wasn’t smart at all. Which is why we were surprised when he said things like this. He wanted to be a forensic tech, but I thought he might become a really good investigator. He had a good eye for detail. That gave me an idea.

“Chuck, I have my first Witchcraft 101 class tomorrow afternoon. Can you help me later this afternoon to prepare for it? I need to make up some handouts and get my class notes and visuals ready. If it’s OK with Cat?”

Cat reached over and poked me in the arm shaking her head. Chuck smiled at us. “Agatha, I would love to help. Are you going to include information about Weres?”

“I don’t know. Your people have been in government service for a long time. Doesn’t the FBI know all about Weres by now?”

Cat looked at me and rolled her eyes. “What do you think?”

“I will have to get permission. I don’t think the Witches’ Council will care but what about the Shifter Council?”

Cat made another face. “I can ask Daddy. They might not care. You and I both know it’s all about asking the right or correct questions. The FBI is kind of dumb that way.” I heard several smirks from the surrounding tables. Weres; they hear everything.

~~~~

The official range was way out on the very edge of the Academy’s area. It was in the opposite direction from my lab. Fortunately for us there was a shuttle for the class to use. The bus was crowded, over twenty students including the three of us were on it.

“Aggy, where’s Fergus?”

“I left him at home this morning. Cat, you know how he gets. His whining gets really old some mornings. I gave him a baggie of salad mix and some root beer before I left. He was happy as a clam. He’s probably singing show tunes and acting like he’s drunk on beer right about now.”

The bus started to slow down, so we all looked out the windows. There wasn’t much to see. The range was just a bunch of earth berms surrounded by a really high wooden fence. The building attached to it looked like an old bunker or ammo storage building. I found out later it had been a storage complex for small arms ammunition around the time of the Demon War. It was one of the few buildings left over from that time period.

The insides of the old bunker were as modern as anything else on the base. Our instructor for this class was not an FBI agent. To me he resembled a fire plug. His upper body looked to be all muscle, and he had no visible sign of a neck. I triggered my scan spell, but he was clean, no paranormal genes.

“Welcome to weapons training for the FBI Academy. My name is Command Sergeant Major Finnegan Despertar. This class will introduce you to the weapons you will use for the rest of your life as Agents for the FBI.”

He took an abbreviated roll call and dove right into the terminology of what is what when it comes to describing guns and ammo. So many civilians get it wrong. As he described things I made a mental note to send Cappy a note of thanks. The entire time he was teaching me he stressed using the proper names for things. One of the items he’d discussed were the type of weapons we would be using. Current FBI Agents were issued either Glock model 22 or 23’s. If we failed to qualify with that particular weapon we would be issued an older Glock 17 or 19. We needed to qualify on one of them to pass the class. Once we reached Probi status, would we actually be issued weapons. These weapons were kept here for students to practice with only. So no gun today. Bummer.

Before class ended, we were given a tour of the facility and given a list of protective clothing needed for shoot days. So far this was my second favorite class outside of martial arts. When we boarded the bus many of us were smiling.

It was several hours before dinner so Chuck drove us over to my lab after I picked up a sleeping Fergus. I knew he would bitch for hours if he missed a trip to the hay factory. We’d all had an excellent day so our mood was high. The ride was uneventful unlike the day before yesterday. We passed several new warning signs that proclaimed it to be a restricted area and to not leave the car. As we approached my lab, I spotted a new fence that now surrounded it and a gate guard. What the hell?

“Chuck, pull up to the guard house. I can’t believe this crap.” The guardhouse contained two armed Marines.

“This is a restricted area. You need to clear the area.” The guard was not smiling. Neither was I.

“Officer, my name is Agatha Blackmore, and that is my lab. I have permission from the FBI to use that building.” I held out my badge complete with authorization.

Just like last time the guard took my badge and looked at it. However he didn’t draw his weapon. “Ma’am, I can see that; however my orders state that I am to allow no one except military intelligence into that building.” He handed me back my things.

“OK, this is bullshit!” I reached into my pocket and pulled out some salt and herbs. I scribbled a note and placed it inside a salt circle. Visualizing who I wanted it to go to I sent it to Director Mills. She needed to call me and tell me what was going on or I was going to start destroying things. Starting with that fence!

Chapter 7

Director Mills was sitting at her desk relaxing for the first time in what felt like days. It was just two days ago that her latest nightmare began. Her predecessor certainly left her a big ass mess to clean up. This was the FBI Academy of the federal government; things shouldn’t be this screwed up. She did have many good people, and they were taking it all in stride. With any luck, the investigators would leave empty-handed. She knew that was an empty wish, but it was nice to think. She had just closed her eyes for a short nap when she heard a loud “Poof!” come from in front of her. A folded piece of paper was lying on her blotter. Her eyes widened, and she looked around. Agatha didn’t say she could send notes without actually seeing the other person. She opened it and groaned. What now?

“Agatha? Slow down. What is happening?” The note had included a phone number and a statement that there was a wall around her lab and she was getting ready to blow it up.

“Director, I’m tired of this bullshit! I came out here to prepare for the class tomorrow and now there is a wall around my lab complete with Marine guards. They won’t allow me into my own lab, they say only Military intelligence gets in. I’d like to see them try! Fix it, please. I don’t want to declare war on the Marine Corps today!”

“OK Agatha, calm down. Let me call and find out what is going on. Don’t zap anyone!” She set her phone down and yelled for her assistant.

“Get General Varmkorv’s office on the phone immediately! Did anything come in about Agatha Blackmore’s lab out on the edge of the reservation?”

“Nothing about that lab. I would have remembered that. The phone is ringing for the General.”

“Base Commander’s office how can I help you, Sir or Ma’am?”

“This is FBI Director Mills for the General, please?”

“Ma’am, he is in a meeting and cannot be disturbed. I can take a message and call you back.”

“No. This is extremely important and could be very dangerous to the Marine Corps. I need to speak to him right now!”

“OK, Ma’am. I will tell him.” The phone switched to anthems and big band music. Delightful.

“This is General Varmkorv! Director Mills what is the meaning of this, I just blew off two US Senators!”

“Why is there a wall around Agatha Blackmore’s lab complete with guards? And why are they on FBI property without my authorization?”

“What wall? I know nothing about any wall. It has guards you say?”

“Yes, General. Guards. The Witch in question is being prevented entry by those very same guards who have told her that only Military Intelligence will be allowed inside. General, you and I both know that is impossible. How are they planning on getting inside? We need to fix this. She is preparing to take out the fence. Hopefully just the fence. We need her and the Witches’ Council on our side.”

“Let me call someone. Damn spooks always causing trouble!” The general clicked off and the damn band music came back on.

She picked up her cell phone and held it up to her other ear. “Agatha? I’m on the phone with the General. I will fix this. Don’t destroy anything yet. Please?”

“OK, I will hold off. Ask the General how they thought to get inside?”

On the other phone she heard her name. She dropped the cell and put the office phone to her head. “Yes, General?”

“I checked with them. Damn fools. They assumed that I was taking control of the building and thought to help out. It is my understanding that they are in the wrong. I am issuing orders to allow her into her lab and to shut down the guard station. Do you want the fence removed too?”

“I haven’t seen it yet. How about I get back to you on that?”

“That’s affirmative. I will notify those gate guards myself it will save time.” He hung up on her.

Director Mills picked the cell phone back up. “Agatha, the guards should be receiving a call any minute. Do you want the fence to remain?”

“Sure. Thank you Director.”

“We really do need you Agatha. We just don’t know how to interact with magic users who are actually on our side.”

~~~~~

I hung up the phone and smiled at my two friends in the front seat. “Did you get all that?” Why explain what was going on? They have freaky Were hearing after all.

“Of course we did, girlfriend.” They both laughed at my expression. Chuck pointed at the guard shack. The officer inside was at attention and on the phone. We all laughed at the expression on his face as he talked to the General. The guard that was watching us went inside and stood at attention too.

“I think it’s about time to go inside.” I stuck my head out the window and yelled at the guards. They were off the phone and were packing up all their stuff. “I’m going to my lab now.”

I raised my hand and muttered a word. “Skera.”

The lock on the gates severed into two pieces and the gates opened all by themselves. “Go ahead Chuck. Make sure you stop just inside the gates.” I waved at the guards as we drove through.

The car stopped, and I waved at the gate again. It closed by itself. I turned toward my lab and made a few hand motions and muttered a phrase. Mentally I deactivated one of Grams’ presents. “It’s safe now Chuck.”

“Agatha what happens if someone gets past your defenses and gets inside the lab?”

“I wouldn’t want to be them. Grams gave me a few toys that would make life unpleasant for them. Most will get caught in the amber field out here. Speaking of which. Look over there.” I pointed to a frozen group of soldiers. They were standing next to a Military Humvee. In their hands was some sort of electronic device.

Chuck stopped the car next to the frozen men. I stepped out of the car and peered at them. Their equipment gave off the glow of being magical in nature. I pried one of the glowing objects out of a Marine’s hand. “Chuck, stash this somewhere. I need to look at it later.”