Dinner turned out rather well, if I do say so myself. She liked my baked beans, and the chicken was what it was. Good frozen chicken…not great fresh chicken.

  I told her what I’d found out from the IP lawyer and what he said we needed. We decided to give everyone their choice on whether they wanted to do it, and to leave it open if they changed their minds later. I’d already decided to go through with it. I’d find a rep agency to represent and monetize The First Mana Mage.

  Blaze told me about her day and what was happening in the FBI at both the local and national level. She said a few other offices were as deeply involved in the Game as hers. They were still behind Blaze in their player levels, but ahead of her two agents.

  Apparently, the Kansas City office was doing the best. They’d taken over two spawn sites, rotating agents in and out with local police support so they always had numbers on hand. They even had one agent who was more of a hardcore gamer than I ever was.

  Blaze wrote up her reports while I cleaned up after dinner. I used the time to dig into what was happening outside Eddington and to think about what I’d say at the meeting. Somewhere in that quiet stretch, I realized something. When Blaze was here, I felt better.

  Sharing meals, time, even just the air with her…reminded me of when my wife and I were first together, first married. The depression I’d been carrying moved farther back, muted, no longer pressing down on me when I’d think about her.

  At 9:30, I told Blaze to change back into her regular clothes. It was time to go. We didn’t rush, but still made it to the convention center a quarter hour early. The air outside was warm with a light evening breeze, carrying the faint smell of flowers and lingering exhaust from passing cars.

  Inside, the fluorescent lights gave the main room a flat brightness. Waiting downstairs, we directed people up to the meeting room. It could hold fifty, but several had said they couldn’t come, and others hadn’t bothered to send a Guild Chat about whether or not they’d show. I didn’t know what kind of turnout we’d actually get.

  Seeing Andrew in a button-down light blue shirt and tan slacks wasn’t how I mostly remembered him. We were talking with him, when a sharp voice cut across the room.

  “William Bannister. You are under arrest for the theft of evidence from the site of a multiple murder.”

  Every head turned. A man in an Eddington police uniform stood between us and the doors. His right hand rested on the pistol holstered at his hip.

  “Wild Bill Hitchcock,” I said. “Fancy meeting you here. Just what evidence are you talking about?”

  “The evidence you stole from the NeedLess Commune yesterday.”

  “Well, I was out there, but I didn’t steal anything.”

  [William of Brinsford:] [Chief Brown] [Jack, I’ve got Wild Bill over here at the convention center. He says he’s arresting me for the theft of evidence from NeedLess. Before something bad happens, please get over here.]

  “You stole a book and knife belonging to Kevin Patterson, who went by the name of Iago. Who you also killed. You and your friends killed him.”

  “Do you have a warrant for my arrest? Please hand it to me so I can read it. I promise I won’t go anywhere or do anything to harm someone else, including you,” I said, holding out my hand.

  I glanced at Blaze, doing my best not to smile. “Agent Pozarkova, do you see a problem here?”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  She looked back at me, then pulled her ID and badge holder from her jacket and hung it around her neck. The moment it settled in place, her posture changed.

  “I believe I do.” Her voice turned official. “Mr. Hitchcock, whom I recognize, seems to be attempting a citizen’s arrest while impersonating an officer of the law.” She went silent and her face went blank for a few seconds before continuing.

  “Now then, Mr Hitchcock. I’ve just requested your identification from Washington. That’ll take a few minutes. Please don’t leave the area. We don’t want to need to hunt you down.”

  She smiled…a cop’s smile, the one I’d seen before right before someone ended up being cuffed. I really had to ask her if that was something they taught in training.

  [Chief Brown:] [William of Brinsford] [On my way. He’s been going on about that since yesterday. Says he’s the only one who can secure whatever it was. Sherrif Harper’s on his way too.]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Chief Brown] [A knife and book Iago had and used to kill and enslave people. It’s evil with a capital E. Father Stoddard can tell you more and he just came in. We’ll stall.]

  “Father Stoddard!” I waved him over. “We need your help for a moment.”

  The priest returned the wave and started toward us. Hitchcock’s face flickered with unease.

  “Why do you need a priest?” Hitchcock demanded.

  “I didn’t say I needed one. But you might. And he has information about what you’re looking for.”

  That rattled him. He glanced toward the exit before focusing back on us. Meanwhile, Father Stoddard crossed the lobby, greeting people he knew as he passed.

  [William of Brinsford:] [IPDennisS] [How close are you? Got a situation where I can use a lawyer.]

  [IPDennisS:] [William of Brinsford] [Just parked. Where are you?]

  [William of Brinsford:] [IPDennisS] [Inside the main door from the parking lot and across the room. Look for Blaze and me.]

  “William. Miss Pozarkova. Good evening. How can I help you?” Father Stoddard asked as he reached us.

  “We need your help concerning the game items I asked you about from the commune.”

  Wild Bill flinched at that.

  “William, I thought we agreed not to talk about it?”

  “Regretfully, someone else forced my hand. And thank you for coming tonight. I’m sorry I had to bring this up.”

  “I understand. What help do you need?”

  “It seems Mr. Hitchcock here…” I pointed at Wild Bill. “thinks I have something he wants. Something dangerous. He wants to arrest me for it, but he doesn’t seem to have a warrant. And I don’t have what he’s looking for.”

  “I know that. I would have felt it from outside if it was here, even protected as well as it was.”

  “Protected?” Hitchcock nearly shouted. “It’s evidence of a crime. We must keep it in official custody.”

  “I’m sorry, my son. It’s not safe for you to handle. It’s not safe for me. I’m not sure I could exorcize the evil in those things.”

  “Father, it’s evidence in a murder case. The proper authorities must have custody of it.” Hitchcock’s hand pressed on the butt of his gun. “Tell me where you hid it or take me to it. Now. I won’t ask again.” He flicked the strap off his holster.

  [IPDennisS:] [William of Brinsford] [I’m here. What’s going on?]

  “Bill,” I said quietly, almost whispering, so I wouldn’t spook him. “Please don’t do something foolish. There’re too many witnesses. If you draw your gun, you’ll lose. If you have a warrant for my arrest…or something signed by a judge authorizing you to recover those objects…please show it to Agent Pozarkova and my lawyer, Mr. Stewart, who just arrived.”

  I pointed toward the man in the expensive suit with a briefcase stepping into the room. On a hunch, I cast DISPLAY STATS on him. The results were what I expected.

  At the same time, I layered transparent MANA ARMOR over myself, pumping it up another 50 points.

  “William,” Father Stoddard warned, “don’t do this. If you touch those things, your immortal soul is in danger. You can’t control them. I can’t. Neither can your order.”

  [William of Brinsford:] [Padre Stoddard] [What order?]

  [Padre Stoddard:] [William of Brinsford] [Opus Dei.]

  That explained a lot.

  Looking past him, I spotted Bhaarrt and Ingrid entering. That meant Shadow was lurking somewhere close.

  “Check his Stats everyone!” I shouted.

  Then Hitchcock’s face went slack, like he’d just received a Game Chat. I snapped an invisible MANA SHIELD into place, forming a cylinder around him.

  Hitchcock pulled his gun, smiled at me, then shoved the barrel under his chin and pulled the trigger. The report cracked through the convention center lobby. Inside the shield, a red spray painted the air and spattered against the invisible barrier.

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