Secrets and Distortions, Ch 4

Celeste walked into the office with her explanation at the ready, "Thatch, there is nothing wrong with letting a competent Junior Officer like Oryan document images from a Memory drop."

"Let me speak, Celeste," Thatch said, stopping her. "I didn’t ask you in here to chastise you about your paperwork. Believe me; I’ve seen it and would rather you get some lackey to do it."

"Something else must be bothering you about me," said Celeste. She took a seat in the chair in front of Thatch’s desk. He sat in a leather wingback behind it.

"Both you and Tobias do extraordinary work on your missions. The two of you are quickly becoming the one of the most successful teams in the Liaison Office, not to mention one of my favorite." Celeste grinned impishly. "That said, I am taking the two of you off street cases."

Celeste’s smile disappeared instantly and she bolted out of her seat. "Thatch! How! - Why on Earth are you doing this! You have to admit we haven’t gotten in trouble in a while. Bloody HECK, Thatch! What’s going on!"

Thaddeus gave her one look, and she immediately sat down timidly. "If you had let me finish, I was going to say that it would be much easier to call you and Tobias up for cases of High Importance if you weren’t gallivanting off at the docks or wherever. Also, you are both too important now to lose to some street urchin with a lucky spell."

"So what are we supposed to do in the mean time, Thatch? You know how few and far between those HI cases go. Am I supposed to sit at my desk and over-analyze purchase receipts?"

"You have both been both been put in secondary case rotations outside London. Tobias has been placed in a training rotation in Oxford. You are now in the country rotation."

"Rotations are where agents past their prime go to die out," Celeste muttered. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"No matter what you think, Celeste, I’m not punishing you." Thaddeus touched her hand paternally. "If anything, I’m giving the two of you needed rest. Tobias has gotten more reckless. He’s taking unnecessary risks. Teaching the new batch of Junior Officers will simmer him down. And then there’s you. I’m worried about you Celeste. You have become more violent and cruel with most every case. It seems like the job is weighing down on you."

Celeste bristled, "Are you saying I’m not up to it? I am one of the most successful Officers on record!"

"But at what cost? I do not doubt your talent Celeste. You have the potential to be one of the best Officers we have, but you still have yet to learn the reasons why we do this. Hopefully this case in Ipswich will teach you some of that."

Celeste’s eyes narrowed. "I already have a case?"

"The lady who needed our services asked for you directly. I believe she knows you from school." Thatch handed her a file. "You might remember her as Lela Monteclure, but she’s Lady Weatherby now."

"She married a human," Celeste said with a slight mockery in her voice. She skimmed over the file.

"Do keep your cynicism in check while your there. Lady Weatherby’s sister recently died under suspicious circumstances. That is what you are going to investigate."

"It says she died of heart failure. Are we investigating improper diet now?"

"Perfectly healthy Fae women in the prime of their life don’t die of fright, and Lady Weatherby has reason to believe she is being threatened as well."

Celeste’s eyes narrowed. "Do you think there is some kind of Dark Magic going on there?"

"That is what you are being sent to find out, but use discretion. Lord Weatherby is under the assumption you are a visiting school friend. Attend to Lady Weatherby and make sure she’s safe."

"So I am to be a body guard as well," Celeste said leaning back in her chair. "Well, ladies don’t do much. I can do my investigating at night."

"There’s one more thing you need to know, Celeste," said Thatch. When Celeste started to leave. "Lord Weatherby has perceived something wrong as well. He has employed the services of a human detective not affiliated with the police." Celeste looked suspiciously at her employer. Thatch lowered his voice, "Have you ever heard of this Sherlock Holmes?"

Celeste stiffened. The image of a red-faced aristocrat yelling at her flickered in her mind. "He’s only a human," she said aloofly. "I could solve the problem before he even starts looking in the right direction. Humans should really try not poking their long noses into Fae business."

"Celeste, under no circumstances are you to underestimate this man. I have seen his work, and I know his capabilities. I have even had him watched on occasion, which he then discovered on is own and sent me a very polite note saying it wasn’t needed." Celeste looked surprised. "Be careful, Celeste. He has a very proficient mind for a man who doubts the existence of the Fae race." Celeste snarled and made a very believable impression of an agitated leopard. "You are not going to hurt him Celeste. Unless that man attacks you directly, you are forbidden to him cause him any pain." She pouted. Thatch stood and walked her to the door. "Your train leaves at half past four. Go pack and get prepared."

"See you in a couple weeks, Thatch," Celeste said, waving as she walked down the hallway.

"Celeste!" Thatch called back to her. She turned around. "He doesn’t trust women, ever."

Celeste smiled deviously, "I better give him a good reason then. That man will know how to deal with Fae after this."

Thatch smiled as he walked back to his desk. Only when he sat down did he say quietly, "Why do you think I am sending you?"