Well. I didn’t win last week’s Thursday Threads. In fact, I didn’t write anything. Not for the flashfiction challenge. I was the judge. As a result, y’all are getting a bit more than usual. This is part of a scene where Sade has been called to the Director’s office to receive her next assignment. And since I usually drop a writing prompt, I’ll give you a choice. Here’s the one from Thursday Threads: *”That was too simple.”* Or, here’s the one from today’s snippet: *”Don’t forget to pack your umbrella.”* Pick one and write!

****
When the Director made her the SAC of the MAGIC division, she’d made a point to touch base with the Special Agents in Charge of all fifty-five field offices. She searched her memory for a name and a face.

“Battah informed me that area is null space.”

Sade remembered the Buffalo SAC now. Farez Battah. He was a piece of work. She pondered that information. “Is that exactly what he said?”

“Yes. Well, to be precise he said, ‘Director, Rochester is null space. It is impossible for there to be any magic for miles around it. The local police have suspects. They are not supernatural. I repeat, they are not supernatural.”

She almost snorted. Yeah, her memories were on target. She’d bushed up against Battah and their encounter had not been friendly. Pulling out her phone, she called Caleb, putting the call on speaker.

He answered with a curt, “I’m on vacation.”

“What do you know about Rochester?”

“That’s where the Mayo Clinic is.”

“No, the other one.”’

Silence stretched. “Wasn’t it at the end of the Erie Canal? And it’s on one of the Great Lakes.”

“I don’t need a geography lesson, Caleb. Magically speaking.”

Another round of silence before he spoke. “I think it’s one of those weird places.”

“Weird how?”

“No magic. There’s something about the water or something. I don’t remember. Rochester is like the opposite of New Orleans.”

She traded looks with the Director. New Orleans was wide open to Magicks and was a sanctuary city. Any Magick could come and go so long as they followed the rules. Her old gargoyle guardian, Roman, was the current Legate. He enforced the laws.

“I’m not quite following, Caleb. Does that mean Rochester is closed to Magicks?”

“Not exactly. There’s just no Magicks there. They stay away.”

“Why?”

“Not a clue. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m in the middle of making my wife very happy.”

“Tell Del I said hi. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Don’t call me. And I won’t be calling you. Vacation. Respect it.”

The silence of a dead line filled the air. “To quote Hamlet, something’s rotten in Rochester.”

“Alice will put together your travel itinerary. Do you want another agent?”

Sade shook her head. If both Ariel and Nikos were already there, she could count on them for backup. And if she barged into Battah’s domain with force, the shit would hit the fan. “No. If I need assistance, I’ll send for it.”

Closing the file, she stood up. Curiosity overrode discretion. “Who brought this to your attention, boss?”

Bailey rubbed his forehead. “You know.”

And she did. Rhys Wynne, the President of the United States, and an Elf. He was now in his second term and no one knew what would happen when the election rolled around.

Exiting the inner office, Sade paused at Alice’s desk. The small woman handed her an envelope. “All your information is inside. Your flight leaves at noon.”

“Thanks.” She headed for the door, waving without turning as Alice  called after her.

“Don’t forget to pack an umbrella, dear.”
****

I’ve heard that Rochester can be almost as rainy as Seattle. And Alice always knows. Anyway, there you have it. Sade is now officially involved. Let the games begin. Also, I spent way too much time researching flights from DC to Rochester and the planes used so I could pick Sade’s seat. 🤦🏼‍♀️Do you pack an umbrella when you travel?