Cousins (#1)

10:18 AM

After the briefing in the morning, James and Morgan reviewed the logistics of their operation.  James, even as he listened intently to Morgan’s descriptions of the compound’s layout and perpetrators, could not bring himself to take Morgan completely seriously.  James was used to hard, plain men and women in dark suits discuss op assignments with the field agents.  Morgan, with her large, green robes, her sparkly tattoo, and even her clear diction, seemed slightly ridiculous to James.

“The ranch is located on a hill at the corner of an isolated wood,” Morgan explained.  She pointed her wand at a pull-down projection tarp.  On the screen appeared schematics with moving, appearing, and disappearing arrows and words.  “The meth lab is separated at a distance of sixty meters.  Attached to it is a small office.  We will drive to the woods and perform reconnaissance there.  Our intelligence reports indicate that Wedge, besides Fogerty, has three underlings, all wizards.”

“What do we know about this guy?”

“Oscar Wedge is a career criminal.  He is currently wanted on charges of kidnapping, blackmail, aggravated assault with wand, aggravated assault without wand, extortion, racketeering, fraud, bribery, and counterfeiting.  Dark wizards such as himself typically loathe Muggles, but Wedge, as far as we can tell, is fascinated by them.  He is especially drawn toward concepts of the Muggle underworld.”

James glanced over at Morgan.  She kept her voice level.

“He fancies himself something of a gangster.”

James watched as a fly buzzed around the lighted tip of Morgan’s wand.

“Anything else?”

“He has a weakness for salty snacks.”

James leaned back in his seat and put his hands behind his head.

“Tell me about Fogerty.”

“Joseph Fogerty is the only Muggle active in Wedge’s circle.  We don’t know how they met up, but Wedge seems to keep him around for business reasons.  Muggle money can be exchanged for wizarding coinage, so Wedge probably receives a cut from Fogerty’s drug sales.  While a Muggle, Fogerty is obsessed with magic and its influence.  This obsession partly explains his sincere attachment to Wedge.  Intelligence reports say he has had his teeth magically sharpened by Wedge, and his pupils turned red, so he can better imagine himself to be a vampire.”

James extended his lower lip and exhaled loudly.  His breath tickled his nostrils.

“Great.  So it’s going to be just you and me against four magicians and a whack-job.”

Morgan dropped her wand to her side.  The illuminated schematics on the projector screen vanished.

“The Auror office regrettably cannot spare anyone else at the moment, and we considered it unwise to involve an extended number of Muggle personnel.  However, we are not without our advantages.  While Wedge is shrewd and dangerous, intelligence suggests his wizard associates are amateurish in combat situations.  You are trained in the use of your Glock. .”

James rolled his eyes as he interrupted Morgan.

“But I can’t use magic.”

Morgan smiled cunningly as she stowed her wand within her robes.

“The biggest advantage Muggles have over wizards is the wizarding belief that all Muggles are inferior.  It is true you are not magically gifted, but in a firefight you are quicker than virtually every witch or wizard.”

James did not respond to this statement.  Morgan widened her smile. 

“Before casting spells, even nonverbal ones, witches and wizards, aside from the most skilled ones, will telegraph their attacks with rearing movements of their wand arms and wrists.  The only movement required of you, armed as you are, is to flex your trigger finger.”

“I didn’t realize this was going to be a kill mission.”

“We will not kill unless absolutely necessary.  While you can expertly wield your firearm, I can expertly enchant it.  I will magically alter your weapon so that it only stuns and incapacitates with its rounds.”

James waited and after a few seconds stood up and straightened his shirt.

“Is that all?”

Morgan stood as well.  The smile was gone from her face.

“James, I want you to understand me clearly in this; what we will try to accomplish tonight is extremely difficult.  You are indeed well disciplined in combat and anti-terrorism, but you will very soon witness attacks that you have not encountered before.  I must insist that while on this operation you yield to my judgment and command at all times.”

James glared at Morgan and found satisfaction just then that he had a good three-inch height advantage over her.  Morgan furrowed her amber brows.

“Understood, McBride?”

The wrinkles around James’ eyes smoothed themselves out.

“Yes, ma’am.”