myriad of awards and there were a variety of plaques nailed to the wall.
“The feds will want this one for sure,” Ben said in his typical, booming voice.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Ben’s concerned gaze bore into Josephine’s. “You won’t have much time to work with her. Probably a day or two at the most.”
“Maybe I should join the Feds so they’ll stop stealing my cases,” Josephine grumbled.
“I don’t think you would enjoy the work.” Ben’s blue eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Probably not.”
“Looking over your report, I can’t help but think that APU 81 is probably involved.”
“You believe it’s planning on using Yvonne as some sort of weapon of mass destruction, don’t you?” Josephine asked.
“The thought crossed my mind. And it will definitely be a prevailing theory with the FBI.”
They discussed more details of the case then Josephine brought up a burning question that loomed in her mind.
“Will I have a budget for hiring consultants on this case? I would like to ask Alice for help with removing the mind control spell,” she said.
“Because this might involve APU 81 or the Valituras and affects national security, you may access your OC Enforcer funding,” Ben advised.
“Great!” Josephine beamed at him. “I should be able to make fast progress.”
“You always do.”
Josephine made her way to one of the vacant interrogation rooms to place a quick call to Alice.
“Hey, Josephine,” Alice said. “I’m sorry about this morning. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“That’s okay. I’m actually calling you because I have a case that may involve national security and – ”
“This is not happening to me!” Alice wailed with anguish. “You’re going to ask me to do another claro mentis enchantment, aren’t you?”
“I’m afraid so. I discovered the identity of the woman who’s causing the magical disturbances. She’s a new category six, just like a thought.”
“I don’t care! I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate those damn spells! I’m retired!”
Josephine couldn’t help but grin with amusement. Her friend always whined like crazy but in the end, she always came through.
“I’m authorized to pay a consultation fee of $300 per session and three per day,” Josephine advised.
There was a short pause. “You realize that’s almost a thousand bucks per day, right?”
“I did the math.”
“All right. I’ll do it. But I’m not happy about it.”
“Thank you, Alice. This means the world to me,” Josephine said.
“You’re not welcome. When do you want me to try the first spell?”
“Sometime early this evening would be nice.”
“All right.”
Josephine was about to say something else but she realized her friend had already ended the call.
Chapter 7
The mouth-watering aroma of fresh baked cookies infused the air in Josephine’s kitchen as she continued rolling small one-inch balls of dough in her hand then rolling them in a small plate layered with granulated sugar before placing them on one of three ungreased cookie sheets situated on top of her stove. She’d already baked several dozen peanut butter blossom cookies. Yvonne and Mark were situated at the kitchen table across the room with a small plate of the delectable goodies. Yvonne was savoring a bite of the peanut butter and chocolate morsel with a wide grin on her face.
“I never pictured you doing this,” Yvonne finally said.
Josephine paused with a small ball of dough in her hands. “Doing what?”
“Baking cookies. I’ve seen you on television. You’re one of the most powerful wizards on the planet and a hero. I hadn’t considered that you would be doing something like this.” The young woman gestured at the cooling trays resting on the black granite top of the center island where there were dozens of baked peanut butter blossom cookies.
“I enjoy it.” Josephine turned back to the tray and placed the last ball of dough on it.
She had a
“The feds will want this one for sure,” Ben said in his typical, booming voice.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Ben’s concerned gaze bore into Josephine’s. “You won’t have much time to work with her. Probably a day or two at the most.”
“Maybe I should join the Feds so they’ll stop stealing my cases,” Josephine grumbled.
“I don’t think you would enjoy the work.” Ben’s blue eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Probably not.”
“Looking over your report, I can’t help but think that APU 81 is probably involved.”
“You believe it’s planning on using Yvonne as some sort of weapon of mass destruction, don’t you?” Josephine asked.
“The thought crossed my mind. And it will definitely be a prevailing theory with the FBI.”
They discussed more details of the case then Josephine brought up a burning question that loomed in her mind.
“Will I have a budget for hiring consultants on this case? I would like to ask Alice for help with removing the mind control spell,” she said.
“Because this might involve APU 81 or the Valituras and affects national security, you may access your OC Enforcer funding,” Ben advised.
“Great!” Josephine beamed at him. “I should be able to make fast progress.”
“You always do.”
Josephine made her way to one of the vacant interrogation rooms to place a quick call to Alice.
“Hey, Josephine,” Alice said. “I’m sorry about this morning. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“That’s okay. I’m actually calling you because I have a case that may involve national security and – ”
“This is not happening to me!” Alice wailed with anguish. “You’re going to ask me to do another claro mentis enchantment, aren’t you?”
“I’m afraid so. I discovered the identity of the woman who’s causing the magical disturbances. She’s a new category six, just like a thought.”
“I don’t care! I hate, hate, hate, hate, hate those damn spells! I’m retired!”
Josephine couldn’t help but grin with amusement. Her friend always whined like crazy but in the end, she always came through.
“I’m authorized to pay a consultation fee of $300 per session and three per day,” Josephine advised.
There was a short pause. “You realize that’s almost a thousand bucks per day, right?”
“I did the math.”
“All right. I’ll do it. But I’m not happy about it.”
“Thank you, Alice. This means the world to me,” Josephine said.
“You’re not welcome. When do you want me to try the first spell?”
“Sometime early this evening would be nice.”
“All right.”
Josephine was about to say something else but she realized her friend had already ended the call.
Chapter 7
The mouth-watering aroma of fresh baked cookies infused the air in Josephine’s kitchen as she continued rolling small one-inch balls of dough in her hand then rolling them in a small plate layered with granulated sugar before placing them on one of three ungreased cookie sheets situated on top of her stove. She’d already baked several dozen peanut butter blossom cookies. Yvonne and Mark were situated at the kitchen table across the room with a small plate of the delectable goodies. Yvonne was savoring a bite of the peanut butter and chocolate morsel with a wide grin on her face.
“I never pictured you doing this,” Yvonne finally said.
Josephine paused with a small ball of dough in her hands. “Doing what?”
“Baking cookies. I’ve seen you on television. You’re one of the most powerful wizards on the planet and a hero. I hadn’t considered that you would be doing something like this.” The young woman gestured at the cooling trays resting on the black granite top of the center island where there were dozens of baked peanut butter blossom cookies.
“I enjoy it.” Josephine turned back to the tray and placed the last ball of dough on it.
She had a
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