Secret Powers

Chapter 23

Bruno slowly walked into the building cautious to what he didn't know. If anything popped-up or started talking, he was leaving. However to his surprise, the house was very normal and there was nothing to be suspicious of.
"Why are you shocked?" Cindy asked walking in right behind him. "We aren't aliens and even if we were, we would try to blend in so we would make sure our house was as normal as possible." She chuckled placing her bag down on the floor right inside. "Haven't you seen any si-fy movies?"
"She's got a point." Claire agreed closing the door after she too entered.
"I guess I was expecting more spy... ish stuff." Bruno shrugged placing his hands in his pocket. "Can't blame a guy for dreaming."
"You're starting to sound like Kevin." Cindy glanced over to him as his face paled. "Better watch out or people will start confusing the two of you."
"I'll keep that in mind." Bruno scanned the house, it really was quite normal. A couch in the living room along with a coffee table, a few plants here and there, some on cabinets, and some big enough to sit on the floor. It was your average middle aged woman's house. Though he would never admit it, he was excited to see the crazy spy house the two women were living in and was a little disappointed to find nothing out of the ordinary.
After everyone was seated in the dinning room, Clara stared the conversation.
"Let's get right down to business, shall we?" She raised an eyebrow. "What did you need to tell me so desperately?"
Cindy gulped as she met eyes with Bruno. She nodded and he started to talk. "We have a problem..." Clara sat up as straight as a person can get their back to be. "Though not sure if it's true, we think... Well, Cindy said that someone is most likely taking control of her."
"So you think a power user is using," Clara folded her arms. "Mind-control? I have never met anyone that can do that, and no one in the agency has documented such a power."
"So you're saying you don't believe us..." Cindy sighed looking down at the table.
"I never said that." Clara replied shaking her head slightly. "I'm saying that if it's true, this power is new. Meaning that there isn't going to be a written down way of finding out who's doing it."
"So you think it's true?" Bruno questioned, worry showing on his face. "Just like that? No doubt at all? Isn't it hard to swallow?"
Clara laughed loudly and looked him in the eyes. "I've learned many things in my years, both in and out of the agency, some I wish had never come to light, but one of the most important lesson of all is that, even if it's hard to swallow, doesn't mean anything. Just because it takes more time to believe, doesn't mean you shouldn't."
"Well what should we do now?" Cindy asked and Clara stood up and walked out of the room rambling on about something. All the while Bruno sat in absolute silence, Clara's words running through his head. She had a point, and a rather sharp one at that.
Clara came back in a moment and placed a book on the table.
"What's that?" Cindy asked leaning toward it with caution.
"I was giving this when I was put in charge..." She turned to Bruno. "Ummm..." Bruno nodded and she continued. "When I was put in charge of you. It's a book of power, though mind-control isn't one of the listed abilities, maybe there is one about a tracker who can help us."
"That's genius!" Cindy clapped. "Then all you have to do is ask the agency to give us the person for a short time. With all things considered, I think they'll cooperate."
"Yes..." Clara sighed. "About the agency." She motioned to the counter beside Cindy, who turned to see a manila file with a bunch of other papers.
"What is it this time." Cindy asked without skipping a beat. "Kidnappings? Deaths? Robberies?"
"Don't do it if you don't-" Clara started worried about her niece.
"If we want to have the help of the agency," Cindy cut her off. "We need to keep doing what they want. I don't think me not playing a hero detective will solve any of our problems."
"Very well." Clara stood up. "Get ready and we'll drop of this guy and head out."
Cindy followed suit and Bruno slowly rose. "Is this really okay?" Bruno rubbed his hands together as he spoke. "I mean, isn't there several people out there aiming for you, not to mention anyone who learns that you're on the case and doesn't want you to be. Something is bound to happen."
"I'll be fine." Cindy smiled as she shrugged off Bruno's worries. "What could-" Bruno covered her mouth and he glared.
"Listen, my sickening feeling about this isn't going to get any better, it might even get worse if you were to finish that sentence. Got it?" Cindy rolled her eyes, yet made the affirming motion and he released her.
"You are too much Bruno." Cindy walked over to the doorway. "That's like the second time you've done that." Clara turned to Bruno with a smug looking expression.
"And you are too carefree!" Bruno yelled as Cindy walked away. "It's going to get you in trouble if not dead one day!"
"She does have a carefree spirit, but she needs one in the line of work she does." Clara shrugged. "If she wasn't she'd go insane."
"Yes, I get that." Bruno sighed. "But being too carefree is a bad thing, even in her wacked-out-life."
With that the group of three headed out the door.

A little time later Cindy showed up to the scene of the crime and walked over to the chief inspector.
"Good day witch." He scoffed. "Have you finished your recipe, or did you run out of frog legs?"
"Watch it chief." Cindy glanced at him. "I'll have you know a lot of people eat frog legs." The chief's face twisted at the thought. "Besides," a mischievous smirk grew on her face as she stopped next to him. "the ingredient I need is a pompous inspector. That's why I came here."
"I'll let you know, I'm an amazing inspector, and have the right to be pompous!" He shouted pointing his finger at her. "You need to respect your elders girlie."
"Yes, yes." Cindy smirked. "I wouldn't dream of being too mean to you... gramps."
"I am not a grandpa! My oldest is only in high school." He crossed his arms in a humph. "Will you just do your job so we can do ours?"
"Of course." Cindy smiled, but just then she felt a little queasy. Everything else was normal. Everything but the horrible feeling she had. Was Bruno just influencing her too much lately?
She stepped into the room where the kidnapping happened and lifted her hands and breathed in, it only took a moment for the images to appear. They were more vivid this time, as if she had been legitimately there.
The scene was the assumed victim sitting in their living room reading, nothing out of the ordinary for a working lady. Late night reading may have been the only reading time she had. Cindy jerked her head towards the door as a knock sounded in her head. The lady walked over to the door, thus leaving the room Cindy currently stood in. She could only wait for the return of the woman, however she was able to hear the words she spoke.
"Who is it?" The lady asked in a faint voice. The response came too soft for Cindy to hear. Causing her to tilt her head a little more, straining to listen. When the other speaker stopped the kidnappee spoke again.
"I don't know if I can help..." Then a pause. complete silence. "Very well. Please come in. I don't think a teenager should be out so late. You need to call your parents and have them come get you."
Cindy turned completely to the entrance of the room as the two figures entered. Just then, her visions went from weird to terrible in a matter of seconds.
Cindy opened her eyes out of breath, eyes wide.
"What did you see?" The chief asked glancing at his watch wanting to go home.
"Nothing..." Cindy spoke with a shaking voice. "I couldn't see anything."
"What!?" The inspector yelled glaring at her. "I knew trusting little kids like you was a bad thing. You can't do anything right!"
"Not right now!" Cindy replied with just as much vigor. She wasn't in the mood for this, she needed to go home. She needed to talk to her aunt. She needed to get away from that place.
With a quick maneuver she rushed out and to where Clara sat in her car waiting.
"Done already?" Clara placed down her book and stared at Cindy over her glasses. "Why do you look like you just saw a ghost?" She giggled, but immediately stopped when the other party stayed quiet. "What's wrong?"
"Everything... Aunt Clara...." Cindy couldn't get herself to calm down. The scene still fresh in her head. What was the meaning?
"What happened?' Clara asked unlocking the car to let Cindy in. "Was the kidnapper someone you know? Is it your parents? Was it Santa? For goodness sake! What happened? Cindy!"
"I.... I.... I...." Cindy stumbled over the words, her breath coming out hoarse.
"Right freaking out won't do us any good..." She started up the engine, "But we're not safe here. Let's go home and you can tell me what happened."
Clara started to pull out as Cindy spoke up. "I was the kidnapper..."