In Plain Sight

He pulled out his rune book and tore a page containing an expensive restoration rune out of the back. Moving carefully, he placed the broken base of the jar on the counter and positioned the wastebasket on the floor below it. Sticking the rune paper to the base, he lit it and then stood back. The rune pulsed with power, not vanishing like most did. It hovered above the base, trembling and glowing with a violent burgundy light. A rustling sound emerged from the wastebasket and a tiny shard of broken glass leapt up and affixed itself to the broken base. The rustling continued and more and more of the glittering glass shards were pulled up, out of the can and onto the rapidly growing jar. In the burgundy light, it looked like blood dripping in reverse.

After a minute, the rune vanished, and the jar was more or less whole. There were dozens of tiny voids, places where the fragments were too far away from the rune to be drawn back to their original place. Thousands of cracks ran through the jar, making it look like crackle glass, but despite that, the jar was solid.

“Danny,” he called, picking up the jar with his handkerchief and placing it on the table. “I think I found one of the missing jars from the table.”

“Does it look like it will fit in here?” Danny asked, emerging from the bedroom. He carried a black shipping case a little larger than a standard briefcase. He held it open so Alex could see the padded inside. There were four divots, each big enough for a jar about six inches high and three around. Just like the one Alex had repaired.

“Where did you find that?” Alex asked.

“At the bottom of Beaumont’s laundry basket,” Danny said. “Though I’m more interested in where it came from.” He closed the case and Alex could see several official-looking labels covering its outside.

“That’s a standard small shipping case,” Alex said, the truth finally dawning on him.

“What does that mean?” Danny asked. Alex grinned at him.

“It means you get to keep your job,” he said. “It means we know who murdered Jerry Pemberton, and why.”

19 The Meeting

Alex waited an hour before making the phone calls. Danny called Lieutenant Callahan and Captain Rooney. Based on Danny’s reaction, the Captain wasn’t happy, but eventually Danny convinced him to come to Beaumont’s apartment. Once the police were on their way, Alex called Iggy. He hated waking the old man, but if he was going to save his skin, and Danny’s, he might need Iggy’s medical knowledge.

“That’s wonderful, lad,” Iggy said once Alex had told him what they found.

“I know you’re tired, but I might need you over here.”

“Say nothing of it,” he said, yawning. “I’ll throw on my clothes and be over as soon as I can.”

Alex thanked him and hung up. He wanted to stay on the line. Not because there was more he wanted to say to Iggy, but rather to avoid making the next call on his list. He took out his rune book and opened it to the back cover. Inside the cover was a pocket, sewn into the fabric. Alex kept loose papers there, notes and cards. He pulled out a simple white business card with a name and telephone number printed on it in blue ink. After a long moment, he sighed and dialed the phone.

“Hello?” a weary woman’s voice said. “Who is this?”

“Good morning, Sorceress,” he said in his most chipper voice.

“Mr. Lockerby,” Sorsha said, her voice dropping several degrees. “I trust you have a good reason for disturbing me at this hour.”

“You mean other than hearing your sparkling voice?”

There was a long pause and Alex could have sworn he felt the phone’s receiver getting cold. He really shouldn’t antagonize Sorsha, but she just made it so easy.

“Are you still interested in the disease that killed everyone at the Brotherhood of Hope?” he asked.

“Of course,” she said, her voice perking up.

“I can tell you who brought it there, and where it came from.”

‘Well?” she said after a long moment.

“Not now,” Alex said. “Put on your work clothes, grab your FBI lackeys, and meet me.”

“If you’re wasting my time, scribbler, I’ll…”

“No joke, Sorceress,” Alex said. “Got a pencil?” He gave her Beaumont’s address and hung up.

The first to arrive was Callahan; he came in with two of his detectives and two uniforms whom he left outside the door.

“What’s this about, Danny?” he asked, after having a quick look around.

“Give us a few minutes,” Danny said. “There’s a few more people coming.”

Callahan pressed his hand to his forehead. “Please tell me you didn’t call the Captain.”

“He didn’t,” Alex lied. “I did.”

“Jesus, Lockerby,” Callahan swore. “Why don’t you just get us all fired?”

“Don’t worry, Lieutenant,” Alex said. “He’ll be smiling from ear to ear when he hears what we have to say.”