The Interview Takes a Turn to the Weird

“How much knowledge do you have about local supernatural legends and lore?”

 Unsure about what he was doing, Yolanda watched Ian mimicked her actions and leaned back in his chair. Trying to gauge her words and whether Yolanda was telling. The Officer watched her through the corner of his eyes.

Yolanda couldn’t believe the circles he was talking in. “I’m sure you heard me state I’m missing Yule tonight? You know I’m not a Christian. That means I’m a Celt, and I follow an older tradition. My grandmother taught all her grandchildren warning tales of fae and other things. That doesn’t mean I believe it all. Mind putting those pictures away? They are disturbing.” Nodding and he slipped the photos back into the file folder.

“Your grandmother ever teach you about magical rituals?”

“You mean how to do gross rituals that would need things like body parts? If she did, she told no one. No. Her teaching stuck to bowls of milk outside the kitchen door in case the fae return. How to hang a lucky horseshoe over the door correctly. I can’t believe you. Why would I want to know that? Let alone perform it.”

“Is she alive? I want to speak to her.”

“My grandmother? Sorry, she died a long time ago.” Yolanda let the loss filter through the tone of her words.  

“I’m sorry. Do you practice any magic?”

“Do I look like a Druid, Mage or Witch? Magic is not in my wheelhouse.”

“What is in your wheelhouse?”

“I work for Gregory Wolversen’s new wife as an assistant and bodyguard.”

“She exists? She hasn’t left the estate since she married him. Why does she need a bodyguard?”

“A private matter that’s over. I’m an assistant to her. Since I was free, I got stuck pulling the short straw for this interview.”

“You grew up here and are familiar with the region. Have you any knowledge of someone who has a grudge against the Wolversens?”

“Not off the top of my head. I would have to speak to head office and have them pull any records; we might have that involve that. It’s the holiday season. No one will be available to compile it. Yes, I’m a local, and I know this region well.”

“Are you familiar with anyone that might know the region’s magical underbelly?”

“Magical underbelly? You’ve been watching too many episodes of Supernatural or Dresden Files. Are you expecting secret shops and isolated witches? If you expect that, then you’ll be mistaken. Not that I know of.” She didn’t know of any magic practitioners within the area that was true. They tended to either stay by themselves or stay closer to cities for easier access to resources they could not scavenge from the region. This region was just too far out.

He didn’t seem insulted or offended. It must be his training not to give that away. “You know this is getting just plain weird. We will need to investigate several things before we can even hope to give you the answers you would accept. But now I’m feeling very insulted. Magic doesn’t exist. Supernatural is a television show, and I don’t know of the existence of any witches. You’re clearly looking for some sick and depraved person. But I can’t help you with that.”

“Actually, you can.”

“What?” Now Yolanda was feeling cornered. How did he want her to help him? 

“First, you are a skeptic. Second, you have some knowledge of the occult. Third, you're already trained to be a bodyguard, so that means you can handle a gun and protect yourself. Forth, you are a local and know the region. And fifth, you didn’t flinch at the sight of those photographs.” Ian stood up and took a listening device from his ear. Then, with two fingers, he motioned to a mirror for someone to enter. 

“However, I work for a suspect, don’t I?”

“Not really. We figured the name on the cooler. And its proximity to your employer’s estate was a most likely coincidence. But currently, your most likely the best bet I have at this time of year.” 

“You still haven’t told me what you think I can do that for you. Come on, out with it. I need to get back on the road before I get snowed in here.”

A blond-haired man entered the interview room. His metal-rimmed glasses slid down his nose so far. He had to push them up along his nose. “Sorry, that won’t be happening tonight. Reports are coming in that the roads are already a mess. I don’t think anyone here would let you leave here in good conscience.”

“Great, just great. I’m going to have so much explaining to do when I do finally get home.” Yolanda pulled out her phone and looked at it. “Seriously? No signal? Tell me it’s just the interview room.”

“Nope, the cellphone tower is down. God knows when they will get that fixed. So, the reception will be spotty. Oh. By the way, I’m Jaxon Hicks. I’m on Ian’s team.”

“Oh, you were the one feeding this guy the random questions. Well, does this mean that the interview is over? I need to go find a way back to the Wolversen estate and home.” 

“Well, that’s not happening tonight. Maybe not even tomorrow if the news is correct. You’ll get a room at the motel just down the street from here, and I’ll expense it to our account.”

“Really, and why would I need you to do that? Save your expense account for when it’s needed. I have my expense account, and I’m sure mine is more robust than yours.” 

As she stood up, the door opened again, and a third man came in. He had a remarkable resemblance to Jaxon, except he was slightly shorter by maybe an inch. His hair was a darker blond than Jaxon’s. He noticed her eyes on him, and he blushed. His smile showed how uncomfortable he was even before he opened his mouth and introduced himself with a little self-conscious wave.

“Hi, I’m actually the one giving the weird questions. I’m Hal. Halton Hicks. I round out this team of investigators.”

“Oh, that answers my question. Hal’s your tech guy, isn’t he?”

“Yes, how do you know that?” Ian looked at Yolanda in confusion. “Why do you ask that?”

Yolanda laughs scoffingly at this question. “Simple, I have one just like him. But in female form, and she is my cousin. I bet they will get on like a house on fire, and only they will understand three-quarters of what they say to each other. I love her dearly, and she’s great at what she does. But I will never understand half of what she says.”

“Does she look anything like you?” He almost sounded hopeful.

Ian cleared his throat to make his disapproval clear to his teammate. Yolanda could clearly see that Ian was their leader, but they were friends and coworkers and family as well.

“She’s shorter than I am, and she keeps her tied up in a bun. Like you, her glasses slip down her face if she doesn’t wear her contact lenses and if there isn’t a screen between her and everyone else, mark that day on a calendar. But don’t underestimate her. She’s a barracuda in a fight one minute, and then you’ll find her saving a lost kitten the next. That’s our Aria.”

Yolanda found it funny how he seemed to be so eager for her description of her cousin. “Well, why don’t I escort you to the motel and ensure you get a room there for the night.”

“You don’t trust me to not just jump on my bike and try to make it back home, do you?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Well, I would have stopped at least long enough to use their landline.”

“Yeah, just as I thought. Come on—no point in being here right now. We can start tomorrow morning again.”

“Fine, but I pay my own way. I don’t feel right using your expense account.” Yolanda waved her finger far too close to Ian’s smirking face.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Whatever possessed you to ride your motorcycle in this weather?”

“It’s part of me. I always ride it when I’m not home.” The other two men followed behind them, and Yolanda could hear them jostling around behind her. Definitely brothers. Nothing could explain the antics going on almost silently behind her back. With a smirk on her face, she led the gaggle of men out of the station. They stopped to grab their winter gear. They then walked the two hundred metres to the motel through the blowing snow.

It was whiteout conditions, and Yolanda had to admit that even with her carefully chosen tires on her bike. There would be no way in hell she’d be able to see the road well enough to stay on the road. Some may call her crazy, but she wasn’t insane. A room for the night sounded excellent right now. As no one could come out here from home to pick her and her bike up.