Spencer followed her down the hall, past many offices and an even larger open work area filled with people, Fatima padding along beside him. Maricela rapped her knuckles on the desk outside the door to her office, causing the young woman there to look away from her computer screen and give a quick nod. “I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed.”
“Thanks, Olivia.”
Maricela waved Spencer and Fatima inside. She firmly closed the door behind them, pressing her hand to a silence ward etched into the wood to activate it. Spencer’s ears popped as static washed through her office, giving them a bubble of privacy.
“I understand the director read you into the Ouroboros Mirror case.” At Spencer’s nod, Maricela walked over to a warded file cabinet and pulled open the top drawer, rifling through some folders there before coming away with one. “I’m the lead supervisor on that case and overseeing a field team who has been searching for the artifact for the past year.”
“Will I be working with them?” Spencer asked.
“Yes, but you’ll share leadership duties with the agent heading up the team. I know the director wants you to do some of the field legwork on your own because of your kind of magic. The team doesn’t have a mage, so you’d be the only one with that rank on the case. I feel better having you handle outreach with some of the suspects simply because of your background.”
“No one is going to be mad about me stepping on any toes?”
Maricela cracked a smile. “I can’t promise that, but I’ve made it clear they should all be thankful you’d be able to exorcise them if they turned up possessed.”
Spencer winced. “Yeah, that’s never fun.”
“But you would know if they were possessed, correct?”
“Demons can’t hide from me.”
It was why he’d gone overseas with Patrick after the Morrígan’s staff, especially once hunters were in the mix. Demons and angels were nothing to joke about, and Spencer had suffered theworstmigraine after dealing with Andras, a Great Marquis of Hell, in London. But his magic had been enough to cast the high-ranking demon out, and Spencer would do it again if he needed to.
“Good to know we have you in reserve for that.” Maricela pointed at the file. “I’m aware you saw the Eyes Only one in DC, but this is a copy of the general reports for the case that aren’t classified. The team has been investigating several covens who might be interested in the Ouroboros Mirror and would have the finances to have bought it, but take a look at the main target first. The current head of the Cascade Coven’s background is in there if you need a refresher.”
“The socialite? She’s a philanthropist, right?”
“Yes, Caitlin Adler comes from one of Seattle’s founding covens. The Cascade Coven has always had a bit of reverence to them in certain corners of the city. Almost cultlike, to a degree. It’s why we’ve focused on that coven more than some of the others.”
Spencer fought back a groan. He’d had his fill of cults back in Paris. “Always fun. I’ll look into her background more, do some legwork with the team to figure out the best way to surveil her and the people around her. I’ll want to get a look at their souls, but I can do that from a distance. I read her family owns a museum, so I may start there depending on what the field team says is a good angle.”
“That file is your copy.” Maricela opened up a desk drawer and retrieved a small business card, which she passed over. “My office and work cell numbers, in case you need to reach me.”
Spencer pocketed the card. “Thanks. I’ll work here for the rest of the day, meet the on-site team. I’m staying at the Crowne Plaza, which isn’t far.”
“We planned to get you space in our transient agent housing, but the paperwork is still running up the chain. You came on board a bit earlier than we expected.”
“Hotel is fine with me. I’ve slept in worse places.”
“Well, we’re working on it. Now, let me introduce you to the field team you’ll be attached to. I told them to meet us in the war room they’re running this case out of.”
They both stood, and Spencer followed Maricela out of her office, Fatima right on his heels. Maricela led him one floor down via a set of internal stairs, winding her way past an open work area and a line of video screens on the wall to a separate work area hidden behind frosted windows. A silence ward was etched onto this door as well, making Spencer’s ears pop yet again as they entered the large space.
“Everyone, I have your latest addition,” Maricela said by way of greeting.
Spencer looked around at the half dozen people working at desks or leaning over the long table running down the center of the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing at Maricela’s announcement, angling their bodies toward the doorway. Maricela stepped farther inside, allowing Spencer and Fatima to join her. He tugged the door shut, sensing the silence ward seal itself around the doorframe.
Being part of the same agency didn’t exactly equate to a friendly welcome. Spencer’s magic was unique enough that his presence in the SOA had made waves, even during his training. People tended to base their perception of him on his proximity to the dead. No one liked dealing with the dead, which meant most people weren’t comfortable around him, but when you were given orders, all the government wanted was obedience.
And that meant everyone smiled politely at him because the deputy assistant SAIC was present, but Spencer had no illusions about how this would go once she left. He was the interloper here, despite his shiny new badge and the admonishment from higher-ups that they were supposed to work together.
“Special Agent Levi Ross has been running lead on the case since its inception. You outrank him based on your position and your magic, but that doesn’t mean you know more than him about what’s been happening here in Seattle. You’ll both share case duties going forward,” Maricela said, raising an eyebrow at Spencer, who only nodded agreement.
Levi was closer to forty than thirty, but he did manage to shake Spencer’s hand without trying to break bones in a show of dominance. His aura bled magic—warlock, if Spencer was any judge—and Spencer didn’t take it personally when Levi abruptly shielded against him.
“Welcome aboard,” Levi said. His eyes were a muddy hazel, narrowed a bit as they took Spencer’s measure, but there wasn’t any hint of fear in them.
“Thanks. I’ll try not to step on anyone’s toes,” Spencer said wryly.
