FORCES OF THE UNDERWORLD (STORY 7)

PHEROMONES

"If I can't have you, no one can." The teenage boy advanced towards the girl who'd rejected him. She backed away, fearfully. He grabbed hold of her neck and squeezed. The other students pulled the boy away from her. She ran from the classroom in tears. Another girl, Jessica, sat watching with a smile on her face.

Later at her home, Jessica was mixing different coloured liquids into vials. She thought about the years of humiliation she had gone through at school. Enough was enough. Her revenge had only just begun.

"Jessica! What the hell are you up to?" Her mother was stood in the doorway. The spell Jessica had cast on her door took effect and it slammed on her mother. The key in the lock turned on its own.

*****

Chief Tristan Dubois sat in his office typing up a report. His cell phone rang. Only a number showed on the screen. Who could this be he wondered. "Hello," he answered.

"Tristan, it's Alice."

"Alice!? Are you okay?"

"No, I'm not. I can't deal with her anymore. She's out of control. It's time you took responsibility for her."

"What are you talking about? Responsibility for who?"

"For Jessica. Your daughter."

Tristan nearly dropped the phone. "Daughter!"

*****

Fifteen years ago:

"You're sleeping with the woman you're supposed to be spying on!" Tristan's boss was apoplectic.

"She's not a threat, Chief. She's a good person. We became close."

"Jesus Christ, Tristan, she's a witch!"

"A good witch. She wouldn't hurt anyone."

"Once you found that out your mission was over. You didn't need to see her again."

"But I wanted to, sir."

"What you want doesn't matter. I can't have my agents associating with witches. End it."

"Sir?"

"It's her or the job, son. Make a choice."

*****

"Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

"You made it very clear you didn't want to know me anymore. I didn't want to bring up a child in a loveless relationship."

"I am so sorry. I wish I could explain why I made that decision."

"You said that then. All these years later you still can't explain?"

"I want to. Damn it, I'm in charge now. I'll tell you everything. But you must tell no one."

"I'll keep your secret if you help our daughter."

"Of course. I'll come straight away. And Alice."

"Yes?"

"I know it mustn't seem like it, but I never stopped loving you."

*****

John and Zack were at the SBI headquarters sitting at their desks. They were searching the news online for any unusual incidents. "Nothing much going on, I guess," Zack said.

"Nope. I can't just sit here like this." John banged his fist on the table.

"Hey, take it easy, John."

John pushed his computer chair back and stood up. "I'm going to take a break," he said then walked away.

"No time for a break, John." Chief Dubois called out from his office.

John turned back to see his boss heading towards them looking flustered. "Got something for us, Chief?"

"I do. But this is personal, so I'll be taking the lead on this."

John and Zack were taken aback. "You're coming with us?"

"That's right. I'll ride in the back of your pickup if you don't mind. I'm not in the right...