Cousins (#1)

Friday, August 19^th, 7:49 AM

Morgan sat at the head of a long table in a bland, white room.  Her emerald robes occasionally got caught underneath the leg of her chair as she would fidget and lean back from moment to moment.  She craned her neck and listened to the door click open.  A gangly bald man wearing a white shirt and blue tie entered followed by another man.  The bald man had been speaking as they crossed the threshold of the room.

“. . .something of a surprise.  Ah, here we go.  James, may I introduce Morgan Westerling.  Ms. Westerling, this is James McBride, as you requested.”  James looked at his boss incredulously.  At the opposite end of the conference room a woman with a thin, pretty face and waist-length red hair stood up.  She was draped in what appeared to be a billowing green dress.  Above her left eye was a small, glittery tattoo of a crescent moon.  James noticed also that a garnet-studded ring, the same as the one he wore, was fixed on her right hand.  Without taking his eyes off the woman, James sat down in the seat closest to the door. 

“I’ll leave you two alone.”  James’ boss left without any further elucidation. 

Morgan strode casually towards James and took a seat close to his knees.  She noticed that despite his calm demeanor, sweat had imperceptibly formed on his forehead.  Morgan took a deep breath and proceeded with her assignment.

“Hello, James.  You may call me Morgan if you wish.”

James curled his mouth slightly and crossed his legs.  “Okay.”

“Your superior, Director Tisdale, has been generous enough to allow me access to this office.  If you must know, I had to slightly alter his emotional state when I requested this meeting, but after I explained everything, no further enchantment was necessary.”

James continued to look at Morgan with an air of amusement.

“You appear quite settled, James, and perhaps you will continue to be so if I launch right into the facts.  I am a witch, as perhaps you have deduced.  I am not alone.  Magical beings and creatures currently exist in the world as part of a secret society.  Our goals are generally the same as non-magical peoples, to prosper, reproduce, and be happy.” 

Morgan paused.  James continued to stare.

“Unfortunately, just as with non-magical peoples, we have our trouble-makers.  One of these trouble-makers has led me here.”  Morgan pulled from her robes a squat, black wand and pointed it over her left shoulder.  She noticed that James was twiddling his thumbs.

“Are you calm?”  Morgan asked James the question as if she were about to show him a frightful photo.  James cleared his throat and made a funny gesture with his neck.

“Of course.”

Morgan flicked her wand.  Above her left shoulder appeared a revolving, transparent bust of a man.  He had combed-back, greasy black hair and a doughy face.  James gave a sharp laugh and looked underneath Morgan’s chair.

“How are you doing that?”

“I am performing magic, James, as witches sometimes do.”

James darted his head around, perhaps in search of an external power source, Morgan guessed.  After several wasted minutes of searching, he sat still and returned to gazing at Morgan.  She gazed steadily back.

“His name is Oscar Wedge.  He is known in criminal circles as ‘The Edge.’  He, along with several associates, has illegally rustled thirty-two unicorns and created a ranch for them right here in Essex County.  Apparently his goal is to harvest various magical components from the animals and sell them for a profit on the black market.  Are you well?”

James lazily answered he was quite well.  Morgan gave another flick of her wand.  The transparent, revolving bust of Oscar Wedge was replaced by another.  James observed the shoulder-length hair, the hairy upper lip, and the weak chin.  Morgan raised her voice slightly as the air conditioner turned on.

“His name is Joseph Fogerty, a follower, somewhat of a devout one if I may add, of Mr. Wedge.  He is running a methamphetamines lab on the same compound Wedge is keeping the unicorns.  They are in business together, although Fogerty is what witches and wizards call a Muggle, which is a non-magical person.”

James raised his eyebrows and sat up more straight in his chair.  The air conditioner droned monotonously.  Morgan took a deep breath.  She admired the quiet way James collected information, regardless of how preposterous it might have sounded.

“Like yourself, James, I am an enforcer of the law, in this case magical law.  It is my job to apprehend witches and wizards who practice dark magic, wizards like Mr. Wedge.  I am what is known as an Auror.  I intend to catch The Edge, arrest his henchmen, and set free the captive unicorns.  Unfortunately, Wedge’s partnership with Fogerty complicates matters.  Fogerty’s crimes fall under Muggle jurisdiction.  It was therefore deemed prudent to consult and offer cooperation with the Muggle investigative authorities.”

James stood up. 

“You are upset, James.”

James cracked his knuckles. 

“A little.”  James attempted to keep his arms by his sides.  “Assuming that I believe what you’re saying for the smallest possible instant, why would you come to me with this?”

Morgan lowered her wand.  The floating image of Joseph Fogerty evaporated.

“Your assistance in this operation is critical.  Once I have taken into custody Wedge and his fellow magic-users, you will do the same with Fogerty.”

James’ mouth was slightly agape.

“Again, why me?”

Morgan smiled, pocketed her wand, and rose her right hand.  The garnet on her ring sparkled in the fluorescent light from above.

“James, you might not buy into the notion of magic, but you are influenced by it more than you think.  The rings we share have magical properties.  While we wear them, we are impervious to mental or psychic attack.”  Morgan lowered her hand.  “Even a Muggle like yourself enjoys their benefits.”

James sat down again and shook his head.  Morgan pressed on.

 “Your director has been incredibly reasonable in this matter.  Your profile suggests you adapt to abnormal circumstances easier than your colleagues.  Therefore, we both agreed you would be the best Muggle liaison for this operation.  Your ring gives you a degree of magical protection not normally afforded, even to wizards.  As a witch, I can grant you further protection once we are in the field.”

James stared hard at Morgan.  His eyes were slightly bloodshot.  He again shook his head.

“This is unbelievable.”

“I know it is a lot to take in, but acceptance of the truth must dawn on you, and quickly, if we are to succeed in our mission.  If Wedge thwarts us, he will undoubtedly target our family for retribution.”

James’ eyes widened and his features hardened.

“Our family?”

Morgan sighed.  The air conditioner rattled and turned off.

“I’ll soon explain everything.”