Tenebrous Game

Case #03 - Witchcraft

"Really? Witchcraft?" Brandi asks, with a condescending tone. The agent couldn't believe in such fictional rumor. She scratches an itch on her head, and then runs her hand through her long brown curly hair. A woman almost in her 30s who looked as young as Raven, with makeup on her face and very white teeth. Even though she was always wearing fashion shirts or sweaters and ripped jeans, that day was a little colder than usual, maybe because of the weather in that different city, so she decided to wear a Bon Jovi t-shirt with a leather jacket on top of it. Of course, with her customary All Star sneakers.

"I said that's what the people have been saying. It's obviously a well performed trick." Raven answers.

"And that's why we came to Danvers?" Brandi asks another question.

"Well, the president asked for our help. Would you rather call him and deny it?" Raven says, all cocky.

"Okay girls, relax." Andrew says, trying to put off the fire between the brave women. After all, Brandi was still mad at Raven for taking her out of the CIA. "So Venus, do you have any clue of who's killing all those people with 'black magic'?"

"Not yet..." Raven answers and then looks at a bar. "Do you guys want a drink? It's on me."

"While on the job?! Are you out of your mind?" Brandi asks, enraged.

"Relax, Brandi." Andrew says. "I may not know her that well, but I assume she has an agenda with going to that bar."

"I guess you're not that stupid, commander..." Raven says. "There might still be hope for you."

The trio enters that bar. It's crowded. A lot of people on their chairs and tables drinking a lot of beer just like in a day with a final match of football. The place was actually quite nice and cozy, with a southern touch in ther wooden decorations. They approach the balcony. The bartender was a chubby man in his 60s with a bit of grey hair on his head. While cleaning the beer glasses, he turns to his right and spots a familiar face. He opens a smile and goes toward the detective.

"Raven! It's so good to see you again!" The bartender says, with a strong southern accent.

"Hey, Victor! These are my friends Leonard and Brandi." Raven replies.

"So, what are you guys having today? I've got a brand new ale here, only for special costumers!"

"Thanks, man. But, we're not having anything today."

"I see... Let me guess: another case calls you 'in these here parts'?" Victor asks, with a touch of his southern dictionary. "I assume you came for the rumors about black magic."

"That's how you know him? You've worked on a case here before?" Andrew asks.

"Hell yeah, boy! This lady here, 'pretty as a peach', came 'round one day and arrested a lot of religious fanatics who wanted to burn some innocent folks, calling them witches and wizards. Raven faced them all alone, luring those christian hypocrit scumbags to a trap where they all got arrested." The bartender answers.

"Interesting..." Brandi says, admiring the guts on Raven

"Anyway..." Raven says, trying to go back to the main topic. "You are correct, Victor. But, this so called 'black magic' is nothing but a trick. The gun that exploded in the officer's hand was set up before his encounter with the caped guy." She explained one of the mysteries that was mentioned as 'Witches?' in the newspaper. "Obviously, they altered or covered the gunpowder trajectory. Not to mention the other cheap tricks, I'm not gonna waste my time here explaining them."

"Sharp as tack, right? As usual..." The bartender praises her agility and hurry to solve the case. "So, you think it's related to that case 2 years ago?"