In Moonlight - Ch 25 - Moonlight and Spies

"Seriously though, I need to talk to you about your wand," Etta said.

Miranda was still blushing furiously, remembering certain things she had done with Etta years ago. Things she was not going to talk to Mariah about, no matter how strangely understanding her often jealous wife was being at the moment. Really, she thought, I can forgive Etta without it meaning I want to relive the past.

"OK," Miranda said, firmly putting those memories out of her mind. "What about my wand?"

"Do you still have it? The one you had... in school? The one Jake Volkov gave you?" Etta pressed.

"Yes, I do," Miranda said. "I have it right here."

She pulled out the wand she kept tucked in the back of her pants. It was narrow length of old, dark wood, tipped with a crescent piece of crystal. As it always did, the wand felt warm in her hand, like something alive. 

"Do you know what that is?" Etta asked with something very like awe in her voice.

"The Moonwood Wand. Beth and I think it was the wand of one of the original Mooncasters. That's what Beth called them, anyway," Miranda replied. 

Miranda remembered sitting in Moonwood Mill, years ago, with her friend Beth, who was now Jake Volkov's wife, looking through old notebooks, papers and even pottery shards, trying to piece together the history of the werewolves. 

"The Circle of the Moon," she continued, tucking the wand away again. "The ancient coven of witches who became the first werewolves. Beth found a mention of the wand in an old journal and Jake was able to track it down in the tunnels under Moonwood Mill."

"You know it's not an ordinary wand, right?" Etta prompted.

"I know it's ancient and beautifully made," Miranda said, not quite willing to say how the wand felt like a part of her, a living extension of her arm, her heart and her magic. "In the end a wand is a tool, in this case an elegant tool. We use wands to guide and focus our magic, but the skill and power come from the witch. You know this."

"Gwen never told you," Etta said, half to herself.

"Well, you're talking about Gwen." Miranda rolled her eyes. "I think you can safely assume that whatever you think she should have told me, she told me in some cryptic way. Since I probably wasn't willing to look at her words in a mirror while standing on my head, you can also assume I didn't understand her. I usually don't. I kinda figure out the stuff she says later, usually right when I need to... or right after."

"OK, well, you're right. Most wands are tools, but some wands are more than that," Etta said. "Some wands are... I guess 'keys' would be the best word. In this case, the key to the power of the Moonwood."

"What are you saying?" Miranda whispered, already half knowing the answer.

"We know that the Moonwood is a magical nexus, a place of immense power," Etta explained. "But not just anyone can access it. It's as if the Moonwood itself guards that power jealously. The werewolf pack leaders, as spiritual heirs to the Circle of the Moon, can access it in their own way. It makes them stronger as werewolves. In some cases, like with Kristopher... before he left, it makes them immortal.

"I don't know what the svartalves mean do with that power," she continued, "but they're spending millions, and are willing to kill, to learn how to use it. I do know that my father wants it. That he tried to conquer the Moonwood to get access to it. I know that a witch with access to that power can do incredible things... because you have."

"I... I don't..." Miranda looked shocked.

"Miranda, at sixteen, with that wand in your hand, you defeated Count Straud, one the Elders of the Dark Court," Etta said firmly. "He might actually be the oldest and most powerful surviving vampire in the world. Defeating Straud would be hard for all three of the Sages of the Council working together... and you did it. Alone. At sixteen!"

"I... I didn't... I got lucky," Miranda stammered. "He... he thought I was down. He... he beat me, Claudette. He..." Her voice dropped into a whisper. "He killed me. He killed me."

"You... you never told me that," Etta whispered.

"Well, I got better," Miranda said, forcing lightness into her voice, a smile onto her face. Enough years had gone by now that she could pretend it was just another part of that crazy adventure from her youth. She could pretend that the nightmares didn't still haunt her sometimes.

"Of course, Gwen would have made you a resurrection potion for you," Etta nodded. Miranda knew Etta had been a gifted alchemist. She would know about that difficult and delicate potion that could keep body and soul knit together against all but the most grievous injury.

"Actually... no," Miranda said, a little surprised at that herself, now that she thought about it. "I just..."

She remember dying. Mostly, she remembered the cold and the dark... and then the bells.

Miranda, get up, the fairy she knew as Bluebell chimed. You need to stop him.

How? He's too powerful. Straud was so strong. So much stronger than she was. She couldn't resist him. He'd overpowered her, mind and body. He'd ripped into her, taken her blood, her magic. Taken everything. She had nothing left.

Use the moon's magic! Bluebell cried.

There is no moon, remember. Just clouds and snow. Only darkness and cold, swallowing her up.

The moon's magic is part of the wand, and the wand is part of you. Get up!

"The moon's magic is part of the wand," Miranda breathed, echoing the memory of the fairy's words. "and the wand is part of me."

"The power of the Moonwood," Etta nodded. "What my father has been trying, for years, to seize. What the svartalves are trying to unlock. You have it. You are the Keeper of the Moonwood Wand. You might be the first new witch of the Circle of the Moon in a thousand years. I just... I thought you needed to know that."

"Fantastic," Miranda breathed. "I've been walking around with the One Ring in my pocket for five years..."

"Not really," Etta said. "I mean, the One Ring was inherently evil. The Moonwood Wand is just..."

"Why am I attracted to wounded tough-girls who are secretly nerds," Miranda muttered to herself. "Is there anything else? Am I actually the lost heir to the throne or something?"

"Not that I know of." Etta smiled encouragingly.

------------------------------

"I think that's Candice," Genie said. 

Sitting there outside the coffee shop, it occurred to Genie to wonder how many secret meetings and shady deals happened in places like this. It was perfect - public, open, easy to see if someone is listening in, lots of different ways to enter and leave, and a perfectly innocent place to meet someone.

"Looks like Candi," Jenny nodded, clearly respecting the spy's commitment to a role. "Do you think I could pull off that outfit? And, who's the hot guy?"

"You look great and you're dating Orange, remember," Genie sighed.

"I can date and still think other guys are hot," Jenny smiled.

"Jenny! I'm so glad you called!" Candi bounced and bubbled as she approached the table. "You have to tell me just everything about what you've been doing. Oh, this is Felix. I thought you just had to meet him."

"Hi," the big man said with a grin and a booming voice. "Wow, Jenny Poole... I loved you in the Urbz. It's a crime they killed you off."

"Oh, thanks," Jenny smiled back.

"Now that the theatrics are out of the way, tell me what you've got," Candice said, the bubbly bimbo dropping from her voice and attitude as she sat down.

"Hang on," Genie said, looking at the big man Candi called Felix. "I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"

"This is Agent Light," Candice said. "I guessed that Jenny didn't mention aliens by chance, so I asked him to join us."

"So you're, what, some kind of alien expert?" Genie asked.

"Kind of... I'm an alien," Light said with his broad grin. "We prefer the term Settlers, by the way."

"Wait, you're an alien?" Jenny blinked. "But you've got..."

"Rugged good looks? Hair?" Light said, brushing his hand across his head. "Yeah. This appearance is what we call a bio-mask. It's an outward transformation we can do to better fit in. It takes practice, and growing hair isn't easy for us. Most don't bother with it, unless we're really committed to fitting in. Me, I like humans."

"So, this is what we know," Genie said. "They call it Project Crossing. A group of svartalves... or aliens, or Settlers, or whatever... is working with the Evergreen Development Corporation. They're buying up land in the Moonwood, where they plan to build some of kind of giant research facility. One of their leaders is a svartalf called Mr. Hand. He's the go-between for the svartalves and Evergreen Development. They're using local gangsters, led by our mutual friend Mr. Grey, to pressure people into selling their property to the project. My mother is also working with them, providing financing for the project. 

"When Shannon Charm got the Speak for the Trees group to protest the project, they had one of their agents - Mallory Errant - kill her," she continued. "Partly to stop the protests and partly because she was a witch. They worried she might figure out whatever it is they're really up to. They also thought her death would increase tensions between the Witches' Council and the vampire Dark Court, distracting them."

"They're using Mallory," Light sighed.

"You know her?" Jenny asked.

"In a way," Light said with a wry grin. "Mallory Errant is a clone of one of their former top agents. I worked with the original, years ago. She was brilliant. She was also a genetically enhanced hybrid, combining the best traits of human and Settler. Mallory has those same hybrid traits, along with high level covert training of her own. If she's involved in this, they've pulled out the big guns."

"Genie, do you have evidence of any of this?" Candice asked. "Something I can show to people in the Agency I trust."

"I have copies of project plans, supporting documents, financial records and emails that I downloaded from my mother's computer to support all of this," Genie said, forcing her voice to stay level, her eyes to not waver. "We also have a witness - Bess Stirling, the head of Evergreen Development - who can testify to what she knows. She's the one who told us about their involvement in Shannon's murder.

"Finally, Bess told us that Mr. Hand and Mr. Grey are planning some kind of attack on the town of Moonwood Mill, to get rid of people there who they expect to resist," Genie concluded.

"People who are werewolves," Jenny pointed out.

"Yeah," Genie nodded. "So, that's what we know. Can you do something about this?"

"What do you think?" Candice asked, looking at Light.

"It all tracks," Light nodded seriously. "Hand is part of a faction of extremists. Officially, they're out of favor with our Leadership, but they've got more support than they should. They also don't play well with others, especially not with what you call witches, werewolves and vampires. Whatever they've got planned... whatever their endgame with this research center might be... it won't be good for any of us."

"Alright," Candice nodded. "Genie, give me copies of all the files you have. Light and I need to make some arrangements. Among other things, we'll want to take your witness... Bess Stirling, was it... into protective custody. Where is she?"

"She's in Evergreen Harbor, with some friends of ours," Genie said. "I'll talk to them, but I don't think that should be a problem." Passing a memory stick to Candice, she added, "This is everything I have."

"Good, we'll be in touch," Candice nodded.

"Ok, that either went really well or she's playing us," Genie sighed.

"We wouldn't even know about all this if she hadn't gotten us started," Jenny pointed out. "So, I don't think she's playing us. Plus, you've got copies of everything, for your article."

"Yes I do," Genie nodded.

"You didn't tell them about the video call. About your mom," Jenny said. It wasn't a question, but it wasn't an accusation either. Genie had the feeling Jenny understood.

"No, I didn't," Genie sighed. She hadn't included the recording in the files she'd handed over either. 

"Well, the murderous conspiracy and possible alien invasion stuff is out of our hands, at least for now," Jenny said with a supportive smile. "You ready to deal with your family drama?"

"No, but I think it's time anyway," Genie sighed again. "Let's go talk to my Uncle Hugo."

In Moonlight - Ch 24 - Paths Forward

"What did you mean 'Bess's testimony'?!" Bess Stirling said hotly. 

Sitting in the back room of the Caboose, the entrepreneur looked panicked. Mariah was pretty sure Bess had told her story - laying out the plan of a shadowy, alien-backed tech company to buy up land around the Moonwood by any means necessary, ultimately including the murder of Shannon Charm and the impending attack on Moonwood Mill - as honestly as the shady developer was able to. She obviously wasn't expecting the response she'd gotten.

"Mandy... it's Mandy, right?" Bess gestured at Miranda. Mariah blinked, realizing the entrepreneur didn't know their real identities. "You said testimony?" Bess continued. "Like, in court? I never said anything about testifying!"

"Where did you think this was going, Bess?" Knox said, stunned. "Did you think you were just going to tell us and... what? Everything would magically be OK?"

"I mean, I told you what Grey and Hand are planning," Bess said earnestly. "You can warn Rory and the Volkovs and everyone. They can... I don't know... be safe... get out or... or something. No one has to die!"

"Because everyone in Moonwood Mill is going to tuck tail and run when they hear about this, right? Then you can have the land and finish your deal. Your conscience is clean and you still come out on top. Was that the plan?" Demarco scoffed.

"Yes!" Bess cried, her eyes wide.

"What about Shannon?" Knox growled.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry about Shannon. I really am, but I can't fix that," Bess insisted.

"Yes, you can," Miranda said with her implacable calm. "You can testify. You can hold the people who did it responsible and see justice done."

"But I'm responsible!" Bess shouted. Her eyes went wide, horrified, as she heard her own words. Mariah wondered if Bess had ever admitted that to herself before this moment. 

"I'm... I'm responsible," Bess repeated in a whisper. "It's my fault. It's my fault Shannon died."

"Yes," Etta said, her voice soft but unyielding. "It is your fault. You did something horrible and people got hurt. Shannon died. You can't change that... but you can decide what you're going to do now, who you're going to be now. You can stand up with us and try to do some good, or you can go back to Hand and Grey and be a murderer among murderers."

"That's if they don't just kill you," Mariah pointed out with sarcastic humor. "Because they don't really need you anymore, and once they find out that you us warned about Moonwood Mill..."

"There is that to consider too," Etta agreed.

-------------------------

"So, we've got mountains of evidence and a witness now," Jenny smiled, obviously trying to be encouraging. "That's good, right."

"It's good," Genie nodded, not really feeling it.

"I mean, now we can prove to Baron Charm that it really wasn't the Dark Court who killed Shannon.  So, he won't do all the bad stuff Miranda was talking about... breaking the Witches' Council and making the secret war worse and everything," Jenny pointed out.

"Yeah, I don't know how I feel about telling the angry wizard who already hates my family that my mother ordered his daughter's death," Genie sighed.

"Oh, that's a point," Jenny said gently. "So, what do we do now?"

"Well, I guess I can take everything we have, plus what I can get out of this Bess Stirling person, write a hell of an expose, and send it to my editor," Genie said. "He'd run with it, because of the Baron Charm connection. He's a public figure, after all. I'd just have to cut out, or gloss over, my mom's involvement... again. Of course, I'll have to cut all the parts about witches, vampires, werewolves and aliens."

"That doesn't really leave much, does it," Jenny mused.

"Murder, coverups and corruption. I can probably spin Grey as the last major crime boss in the Republic. It's a story, but is it a top story? I don't know," Genie sighed. "I just don't know if it will be enough. Does it really get justice for Shannon? Maybe if I can dig deeper into the money trail, find out about these investors... Brighter Future and Gateway... we can work to dismantle the whole conspiracy, without bringing out all the other stuff. The thing is, that will take time and, with what Bess apparently said about them planning to attack Moonwood Mill, it doesn't sound like we have time. God, we need to stop them."

"What about Candi?" Jenny asked.

"Stephens probably still keeps some in the kitchen," Genie said, distracted.

"No, Agent Candi," Jenny chuckled. "Candice Barnett. You know, the spy who gave us the police files and pushed us to investigate deeper to begin with. Maybe she can help with the whole stopping them part."

"Do you know how to get ahold of her?" Genie asked.

"Yeah, that's a point," Jenny said, looking at her phone. "I didn't exactly get her contact info when we... oh, hey, would you look at that. It's here in my contacts. Candi, with a little heart on the 'i' even. I don't remember putting that in there..."

"She probably hacked your phone or something," Genie muttered. "Do you think we should..."

Jenny had already dialed. 

"Candi, sweetie! How are you?" Jenny said, her voice bright and bubbly and just touching on bimbo. "Yeah. Hey, like, you remember that role we talked about at the park the other day? Yeah, I totally talked to those guys about it. It's just... wow... I mean, you were so right. It is like totally me! I know, right? But Candi... wait for it... I think they've got a part for you too! Yes! We have got to talk about it! Can you do lunch? You're going to be in Windenburg? Sweetie, it's kismet. There's this cute little coffee shop... You know it? Awesome. I will totally see you there. Oh, Candi, one thing... how do you feel about aliens?"

"I fear you," Genie said, stunned.

-------------------------

"Ok, I get that Bess has to hide. Believe me, I get it," Mariah said. "But why does she have to stay in our house?"

After having what had turned into a couple of lengthy conversations with Genie and Jenny, they had all returned to the little house Mariah and Miranda rented under the names Mary and Mandy Cavaliere. The house that had hidden them for months, giving Mariah a taste of a quiet, almost normal, life.

"Because Grey still doesn't know we're here," Miranda pointed out. "If he did, his goons would have kicked in our door and tried to kill us already."

"What about..." Mariah started.

"She can't stay with Knox," Miranda pointed out, "and do we really want to get Missy and Clay more involved in this than they already are? Besides, it's probably only for a day or two. Once Genie and Jenny talk to their Agency contact, we'll know better what the plan is."

"Fine," Mariah groaned.

"Oh my God, was someone watching KPop Demon Hunters?" Bess chuckled from the couch, turning on the TV.

"Yes, I was!" Mariah wheeled at her. She'd liked her quiet, almost normal, life, damn it!

"Don't kill the witness," Miranda said softly.

"I'll have you know it's a fantastic movie with amazing songs. It's won multiple awards," Mariah continued hotly. She was hideously embarrassed that she loved that movie, that she cried at the end every damn time, but she wasn't going to let some crooked land developer dis it!

"OK, sorry," Bess blinked, shocked. "Do you mind if I watch the Financial channel?"

"I'm going out to the garden. Don't kill the witness," Miranda repeated.

"I'll come with you," Mariah sighed.

-------------------------

They had some time before lunch. Time enough to grab a shower and a change of clothes. 

Standing in the steamy bathroom, Genie looked at the scar on her arm. The bullet wound, only recently healed, ached. The ache reached right down into her soul. 

She remembered the dark, grimy street. She remembered Uncle Max, standing under the flickering streetlight, pulling the gun from under his jacket in one smooth, almost graceful motion. She remembered the gun, the cold dark metal of it and the gaping cavernous barrel... Heat and light and sound and pain. Such sudden, shocking pain.

Is there just something evil about my whole family?

Is there something evil about me?

"Hey, are you OK," Jenny asked gently.

"No," Genie sobbed. "No, I'm not. Jenny, I... I need answers. Not just for me. I need to be able to explain all of this to Kassidy. She needs to know why... why her own mother ordered the death of her friend. We both need to know why."

"We'll find you your answers," Jenny said seriously. "We'll talk to Candice and hand things off to her for a little while. Then we can take a little time and find your answers."

"How?" Genie moaned. "Gwen said I should talk to my uncle, but even if I wanted to talk to Uncle Max... and I don't... I don't know how to find him!"

"I was thinking about that," Jenny said. "See, the stuff Gwen says never makes any sense until it makes sense. She said you needed to understand your mom's relationship with Genevieve. We thought she meant you, but now I think she meant your grandmother. So, when she said you need to talk to your uncle..."

"I have two uncles," Genie gasped.

-------------------------

"Miranda," Etta said, then hesitated. "I... I need to talk to you about something."

Miranda looked up from her plants to see Etta and Demarco coming through the garden gate. They'd been circling the house while Bess got settled in. Checking the perimeter, Demarco had called it in a way that reminded her of Mariah. 

"About damn time," Demarco snarled, wheeling on her heels and marching back out the gate. "I'm... going to patrol the neighborhood. Tell her what you have tell her," the werewolf called over her shoulder.

"Lux, wait, I..." Etta cast panicked looks between Miranda and her departing partner. "I... I'll be right back," she said to Miranda before chasing after Demarco.

"What was that about?" Miranda asked, perplexed.

"Demarco's jealous," Mariah said. 

"Jealous? Jealous about what?" Miranda blinked.

"Madonna. You know, for a wise and powerful strega, you can be really dense sometimes," Mariah chuckled.

"Sorry about that," Etta said as she returned. "It's just... Demarco. She...."

Etta hesitated, looking around. She was obviously surprised to see that Mariah had gone back inside, leaving her alone with Miranda. Not as surprised as Miranda had been. Her wife had made it perfectly clear she still wasn't comfortable with Etta, but she'd left them alone to talk. Miranda wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Mariah thinks she's jealous," she said with forced lightness.

"She... she might be a little jealous," Etta admitted. "Not that... I mean... oh, Outer Dark."

"I forgive you," Miranda said, deciding to just skip all the dancing around and get straight into the important stuff.

"I mean, I really need to... wait, what?" Etta stammered, flustered.

"Claudette. Etta. I forgive you," Miranda said firmly. 

"I betrayed you." Etta said. "I used magic to... oh hell, I basically raped you. I..."

"Ok, let me stop you right there," Miranda said, with a deep breath. "Yes, you dosed me with a potion that increased my attraction toward you and lowered my inhibitions. Yes, there are serious consent issues there... but trust me, that part wasn't traumatic. Traumatic was the whole knocking me out, kidnapping me, and dosing me so I couldn't use my powers while your father schemed to have me killed by vampires."

"OK, yes, I have a lot of feel guilty about," Etta sighed, somewhat missing the point, Miranda felt. "Believe me, I remember it all."

"Well, why don't you remember that you also rescued me?" Miranda asked, unrelenting. "In the end, you were the one who got me, and Jenny, out. You helped us escape. You stood up to your father. You actually dueled him, which was amazing."

"I lost," Etta pointed out. "If Gwen and Cassie hadn't show up..."

"It doesn't matter," Miranda insisted. "You tried... and when it was over you didn't run or try to excuse what you did. You stood before the Council and submitted to their justice. You gave up your magic and went into exile. I don't know that I could have done that."

"You would never have to," Etta whispered.

"And since then, you've been working with the werewolves, protecting people and doing good... all without your powers," Miranda continued. "You said to Bess she had a choice, about who she was going to be. I know what choice you made... and I know that you're still beating yourself up for what you did. So, I'm telling you - I forgive you. Let it go."

"I... you... oh gods," Etta felt tears on her face. 

Before Miranda knew what she was doing, Etta had thrown her arms around her. With a sigh, she pulled the other woman close, holding her gently, soothingly.

"I forgive you," Miranda repeated. "Just to be clear though, I'm not going to sleep with you again."

"Ok, that's... that's ok," Etta smiled.

"Or shower with you," Miranda added as the hug ended. She still wasn't sure how much of what had happened between them years ago had been Claudette's potions and how much had been a couple of randy teens discovering each other, consequences be damned.

"Well, it saves water," Etta said with a little grin.

"I don't think it did," Miranda said. She really shouldn't be thinking about these things. "As I remember, we were in that shower for a really long time."

"Well, we did a lot of... cleaning," Etta said.

"Which we're never doing again," Miranda said with a nervous glance back at the house. 

"Right," Etta smiled. "I know that. I just... Anyway! There was actually something else I needed to talk to you about... about your wand."

"We are definitely not doing that again!" Miranda said, blushing hotly. That had definitely been the potion! Hadn't it?

"'This one time, at band camp...'" Etta quoted. At least she looked just as embarrassed at the memory as Miranda felt.

"If you repeat that to anyone, I will turn you into a frog and you can hop back to Moonwood Mill," Miranda said stiffly.

Hiatus

So, here's the thing... 

In Moonlight is the most technically and narratively complex story I've attempted to date. Writing the recent chapters has been like creating multiple pictures, cutting them into pieces, and reassembling them as a single image. Getting the screenshots I want is harder than that.

On good days, I love this story so much it hurts. On bad days, it just hurts. 

As I get closer to the conclusion - and we're actually rushing toward that now - it's getting even harder. Between my health issues and the complexity of the story, I've gone from having as many as six chapters already written and writing one or two new ones in a week, to now having one chapter pre-written and writing one chapter in about two weeks.

Long story short (too late), I need to catch my breath. I feel this is, narratively, a good place to pause. 

So, I will be taking a break of indeterminant length so I can work on the conclusion of In Moonlight. I need to give myself a little grace and make sure I'm having fun rather than stressing about getting a chapter done for the coming week. We all know that the story will be better for it.

Have no fear, I will finish this story and there will be more to come. 

~Leo

In Moonlight - Ch 23 - Questions and Answers

"This always looks easier on TV," Genie grumbled.

Her mother's computer still stubbornly refused to unlock. She knew she had to take her time, think though every attempt. Too many failed passwords would lock the system entirely, and probably alert her mother. How many attempts was too many, she wondered. How long could she sit here, trying to puzzle out the right password, before her mother came home? How long until Stephens came upstairs and discovered them in here?

"On TV there's a script and we only have about forty minutes to resolve everything," Jenny pointed out. "You really don't know who this lady is? Because your mom sure has a lot of paintings of her in here..."

"Jenny, I need to think," Genie said, only half listening. "Mom's pretty savvy, but it's like Mariah said... most people reuse passwords. Mom always uses the same sequence of numbers for her PIN. It's not that simple... but I'm sure those numbers figure into it somehow. Maybe I'm just not remembering them right..."

"You'll figure it out," Jenny said brightly.

"I have to," Genie said. "We need to know what she knows..."

---------------------

 "I didn't know," Bess groaned. "Knox, I swear to you, I didn't know they were going to kill anyone."

Mariah shook her head quietly. She hadn't been sure that inviting Knox to this meeting with Bess was a good idea, but Miranda had pointed out that he deserved to be there. He, more than any of them, deserved answers. 

Etta and Demarco were already there, sitting in the same back room as before. The bartender, evidently an old friend of Demarco's, had agreed to rope it off for them. It wasn't like the Caboose had a huge brunch crowd anyway.

"What the hell did you think was going to happen when you brought in gangsters to strongarm people?" Knox demanded.

"OK, first, I didn't bring them in," Bess insisted. "It was Mr. Hand who brought in Mr. Grey and Grey brought in Cletus. I just thought... I thought they'd intimidate people. OK, I admit that. It occurred to me that maybe, maybe, they'd rough someone up a little... but I never thought they'd kill anyone."

"Take a seat, Bess," Demarco said firmly. "Knox, you too. Come sit down and we'll hear her out."

"Is she alone?" Etta asked, looking at Mariah.

"You guys don't think..." Bess said as she took the open chair. "I'm not trying to trick you, or trap you guys. I just..."

"One of Cletus's guys was tailing her," Mariah cut her off. "The guy who was with him the other day when they jumped Clay and Knox."

"What?!" Bess gave a startled gasp.

"Don't worry, I hexed him," Miranda said with a little smile. "He won't remember anything. I mean, he won't remember following Bess here or seeing any of us. He'll remember his name and stuff like that... eventually."

Smirking at Bess's confused look, Mariah said, "You're a little scary sometimes." 

---------------------

"Genie, what do you know about your grandmother?" Jenny asked.

She'd been wandering around the office, looking at various things, while Genie struggled to think of what her mom's password might be. Out of the corner of her eye, Genie noticed that she kept pausing to look at the paintings hung on the walls.

"Jenny, what are you talking about?" Genie groaned. "Really, I need to..."

"Humor me, OK," Jenny insisted. "What do you know about your grandmother?"

"Not a lot. Mom never talks about her," Genie said, distracted. 

"Well, this is a picture of that lady, Genevieve Henriette Von Windenburg, with Baron Henry and that cute Lord Karl," Jenny said. "Baron Henry is your great-grandfather, right? And Lord Karl was your great-uncle? So, Henry's daughter would be your grandmother... Genevieve Henriette Von Windenburg."

Slowly, Genie lifted her eyes from the screen and looked around the room again. 

"My mom never talks about her," Genie repeated. "She never even says her name. There are no pictures of her anywhere."

"Except in here," Jenny said meaningfully. "Her picture is on every wall big enough to hold it. What if, when Gwen said you needed to understand your mom's relationship with Genevieve, she didn't mean you? She meant your grandmother. Your mom's mom.""

"Jenny, what were those dates you said before?" Genie breathed.

"January 14, 1960 and October 31, 1998," Jenny said.

"Mom's PIN number is 103198," Genie said, turning back to the computer. Fingers shaking slightly, she typed in GENEVIEVE103198. 

Without fanfare, the computer unlocked. 

---------------------

"What is Crossing, Bess?" Miranda asked in a soft voice. "We know it's a land development deal... a planned community around some kind of research center, but what is it really? Who is behind it and why is it so important to them?"

"I... I guess I'm not sure," Bess said. "I thought it was about money."

"It's always about money with you," Knox grumbled.

"Tell us what you know," Miranda pressed, gentle, kind and as irresistible as gravity. 

Mariah knew her wife well enough to hear the magic whispering behind that voice. Bess Stirling never stood a chance.

"Crossing was supposed to be a huge opportunity. It was going to revitalize the mountain communities," Bess began. 

"Drop the sales pitch," Knox scoffed. "You were buying up protected land, forcing people to sell property that had been in their families for generations. You killed Shannon. Why? Who's behind it?"

"I was approached by a representative of the Von Windenburg Bank," Bess said. "He arranged a meeting between me and one of the bank's directors, Luna Elderberry. She had a group of investors, backing a tech company that wanted to build a research and development center, with support facilities, on the mountain. They wanted to work with us, with Evergreen Development, because we were in the area and had local connections. It... it seemed like a great deal."

"But there were problems," Miranda said.

"The tech company, Gateway Technologies, insisted the facility be at a certain location that was on protected land," Bess said. "I tried to suggest another location, but the guy in charge was adamant... and Mrs. Elderberry said it wouldn't be a problem. Her husband is Representative Rohan Elderberry. He was able to... ummm... help us around some of the regulatory and legislative hurdles."

"Who is this guy in charge? Mr. Hand?" Mariah asked.

"No, Mr. Hand is... he represents the investors," Bess said. "It's a private investment group called Brighter Future. I don't know who's in charge there. I only ever dealt with Mrs. Elderberry and Mr. Hand. Then there's Gateway Technologies. The brains over there is a scientist called Dr. Key."

Mariah shared a quick look with Miranda as Bess confirmed their worst fear. The svartalf scientist behind Section 6 was also behind Crossing.

"Anyway, after Mr. Elderberry started taking care of regulatory stuff, things got... easier... for a while," Bess said. "Then we ran into the problem of people not being willing to sell the land we needed. So, Mr. Hand brought in Mr. Grey and Cletus and..."

"What about Shannon?" Knox asked.

---------------------

"I never would have thought I'd be happy about my mom's obsessive organizing," Genie added a few minutes later. "Here's a folder labeled Crossing. We've got spreadsheets, project plans, documents, emails. There are even recordings of video calls."

"Jackpot," Jenny grinned.

"Wait, here's a call labeled Speak for the Trees. That's the environmental group Knox and Shannon worked with," Genie said. "Let's see what we have here..."

"We're here to discuss the matter of the Speak for the Trees protests," Mr. Hand said coldly. "We had dismissed them as a minor nuisance. However, our associate in Evergreen Harbor is now suggesting that they are drawing attention to the Project which could endanger success."

"We have conducted a psycho-statistical analysis of the situation based on this additional data," another hairless man, this one in a white turtleneck, said. "The outcomes support this conclusion. We are currently projecting scenarios for the dissolution of the Speak of the Trees organization."

"Even if you could do that, which I doubt, that would take time we don’t have," Luna Elderberry said calmly.

"The timelines proposed by Researcher Book’s recent projections support that assertion," Mr. Hand agreed. "Our associate offers the alternative suggestion of focusing our efforts on individuals. In this case, the leaders of this specific protest initiative - Knox Greenburg and Shannon Charm."

"We have generated profiles of both individuals using all available data," the man in the turtleneck, who Genie guessed to be Researcher Book, said. "Knox Greenburg is a well-known environmental activist and social agitator in Evergreen Harbor. Shannon Charm has only recently become involved with the Speak for the Trees organization but has risen to a trusted position. She is also the genetic progeny of Baron Darrel Charm, a member of Upper House. More significantly, according to Agency files, she is a Delta-level Psychokinetic Active."

"I’m well acquainted with the Charm family," Luna snarled.

"We should direct one of our agents to sanction Knox Greenburg," Mr. Hand said, suggesting murder in a tone usually used to suggest ordering more office supplies. "Acting against Shannon Charm risks attracting the attention we seek to avoid."

"I disagree," Luna said hotly. "Knox Greenburg is one of countless minor agitators. He’d be replaced quickly. Shannon Charm is the real danger. As a witch… an Active… she might recognize the significance of Crossing and, through her family connections, she could easily bring it to the attention of both the government and the Council.

"On the other hand, I know Darrel Charm," she continued. "The death of his daughter would enrage him, and he’s already predisposed to direct that rage against the Dark Court. With one move, we remove the real threat from Speak for the Trees and increase tensions between the Court and the Council, further distracting them from our plans."

"Sanctioning a Delta-level Active is not an easy task," Mr. Hand said.

"You have people trained to do just that," Luna replied. "What about your little pet Mallory? She did an excellent job with those activists out West a few months ago."

"Agent Mallory Errant does have the necessary training," Mr. Hand said. "However, I have concerns about your analysis. You have a history of animosity with the Charm family. Perhaps your emotions are clouding your judgement."

"Mr. Hand, for someone who disdains assimilation into our culture, you have a number of distinctly masculine biases," Luna sneered. "My emotions regarding the Charms do not cloud my judgement. They reinforce my resolve and my commitment to our shared goals."

A brief silence settled over the call. Finally, the man who had been sitting silently in the shadows the whole time spoke. 

"I accept your recommendations," the shadow man said. "Mr. Hand, you will assign Mallory Errant to sanction Shannon Charm."

"Jenny, my mom murdered Shannon Charm," Genie said softly, a sob escaping her. 

"Well... umm... I think this Mallory person did that actual, you know, murder part," Jenny offered.

"My mom murdered Shannon Charm, Jenny," Genie said firmly. "Why!? Why is she doing this?"

"I... I don't know," Jenny said softly.

"She murdered Shannon," Genie said, unsure if she was trying to convince herself or deny what she had heard. "Miranda said someone named Villareal murdered Baron Charm's father. Mr. Hand said my mom has 'a history of animosity' with the Charms. Do you think.... Did she...?"

"I don't know," Jenny said again.

"Can this get any worse?" Genie sighed.

---------------------

"They're going to WHAT?!" Demarco snarled, her voice ragged enough that Mariah thought she might be about to witness her first werewolf transformation.

"Mr. Hand is talking about bringing in people to... to deal with Rory, the Wildfangs and the Volkov and Moonrunner families," Bess stammered. At least, Mariah thought, she had the grace to manage to look ashamed about it, even if she continued to blame other people.

"Like you dealt with Shannon?" Knox grumbled.

"I didn't know," Bess insisted again. "I swear to you... I'm here, telling you about it because... because I can't, I won't be involved with... with," she took a deep breath. "Murder. I won't be responsible for any more murders."

"How long?" Etta asked. "How long until Mr. Hand's people are in place?"

"Two weeks, maybe less," Bess replied. "He's trying to hide what he's doing from... someone. I don't know who."

"OK, an attack on Moonwood Mill is bad," Mariah said. "We can assume Mr. Hand and his svartalf friends know who they're dealing with, but we still have an advantage. We know it's coming now."

"I'm calling Rory," Demarco said firmly. "She and Jake need to be warned. If I can't get through..."

"Then you go back up the mountain and tell them in person," Mariah said. "The dark elf men in black will be in a for a rude shock if they try anything."

"It might not come to that," Miranda said. "With Bess's testimony, we have proof now."

"Wait... testimony!?" Bess squeaked.

"It sounds like Genie will find more, lots and lots more, on her mom's computer," Miranda continued undeterred. "We may be able to put a stop to all of this soon."

---------------------

With a shaky breath, Genie slotted a memory stick into her mom's computer. As the Crossing files slowly copied, she realized that she just couldn't sit still. Rising, she found herself standing in front of one of the portraits of a grandmother she'd never known.

"Gwen said, if I wanted to understand my mom, I needed to understand her relationship with Genevieve," Genie said. "Mom never talks about her mother. There are no pictures of her."

"Except her private office is full of pictures of her," Jenny said.

"She never even says her name," Genie said.

"Except, she says it every time she talks to you," Jenny said. "Because she named you, her eldest daughter, after her... and she only ever calls you by her dead mother's name."

Genie took a deep breath. "OK," she sighed. "Murderous conspiracy and possible alien invasion first, then we figure out my family drama."