43- Impasse

"Yechiel, are you going to answer my question?" Quayleigh asked as he stared at her.

His eyes were heavy laden, a sense of distraught permeated from him, and his hand quivered as he lifted his mug to his mouth.

"Did you break him?" Tau, who had been sitting and silently observing, wondered out loud.

"I'm fine. I'll be fine," Yechiel responded, lowering his mug to the table. "I was trying to figure out how to phrase this, because I promised to protect your secret, and I did a piss poor job of it. As soon as I told Harlowe about the possibilities of magic you shared with me, he knew that I got the ideas and information from you."

"When should I expect the cavalry?" she inquired as Tau turned and glared at Yechiel.

"I'm hoping never. But that being said, he wants you to go to the MET with him… today."

Quayleigh's heart nearly stopped at his response. She was afraid of little, but the MET terrified her to the core. Rumors of what they could and would do to unregistered practitioners ranged from the absurd to the heinous. A mercifully quick execution being the kindest punishment for which it had become known. For her however, a torment, an existence without magic. That is what would await her if she was found guilty of practicing ritual magic while unregistered.

"I refuse." She stated it as fact. Quayleigh had no reason to help them further. Yechiel being friends with Dylan was more than enough to keep her in the loop of the investigation, so willingly exposing herself to the MET felt akin to suicide. Only it would be worse, because she would survive the attempt and end up maimed in the worst possible way for it. Severed from the flow of world energy. Left with only a trickle; barely enough to stay alive. Effectively ending any possibility of helping Tauluthet get back to the land of the dead.

"Will you not even hear him out?" Yechiel asked as he lowered himself into a bow. "I know you're trying to figure out what happened to Dylan, and I know you need resources. Harlowe made a deal with the MET, and if you agree to work with us, you would be given access to their archives."

Quayleigh was left speechless. The MET's archives were a literal treasure trove of information. They contained a copy of every manuscript, book, grimoire, and tome every written about magic and its practices. There were even rumors of artifacts and objects being hidden within them.

"Bullshit!" She eventually spit out after the room had grown sufficiently awkward and silent enough. "Bullshit. No one would agree to allow an unregistered civilian into the archives. Not without an enormous price. Clearly, he's trying to throw me to the lions, but why? Does he think he can frame Dylan easier if I'm not around?"

"That's not it. He's desperate to solve this case. Now more than ever," Yechiel replied with a sigh. "The MET and the police don't trust each other. And there is also the issue of being able to read and understand the literature. Harlowe doesn't trust anyone at the MET to be honest about what they read, and they don't want someone capable enough to practice, reading the materiel. The police also don't want a practitioner on their payroll. There isn't a cop on the force that will admit to knowing anything about magic. That's where you come in. You aren't a practitioner, but you read magic books and understand…"

"In principle," she interrupted. "You have no idea what you're asking me to risk! If I go there, I may never be allowed to leave. Do you even understand that much?"

"I give you my word that won't happen," Yechiel replied, hand to heart.

"That's not a promise you can make. You have no jurisdiction over the MET. They may willingly let me in, but they could just as easily seal the door shut behind me, and what do you think you could do about that? At the very least they aren't going to let me leave while still capable of using anything I might have learned from them, especially if it's something from their vaults. Why would they? So, no, I won't hear him out, and I won't go to the MET. We've opened our home to you. Shared our secrets, and this is how you repay our kindness? Get the fuck out of our apartment! Don't come back and stay away from Dylan!"

"I'm sorry…"

"You think that's going to cut it? You've put us at risk! Dammit Yechiel!" She shook her head and looked around feeling panicked. "We need to pack. We'll go to your condo for the night," she told Tau before downing her coffee.

"Quayleigh," Tau called out as she stormed into the kitchen and slammed her mug down onto the counter. "You really should leave." She heard him tell Yechiel as she ran her hand over her face trying to hold back her anxiety.

"I can't. I'm not leaving with things as they are. I'm not the enemy here. We need someone who knows magic but isn't connected to the MET or the Police. We need her."

"How is that my problem, Yechiel?" Quayleigh shouted from the kitchen. "How is that Dylan's problem? The fact is, it's not our problem. It's yours, and it's your partners, and you're trying to make it ours. Fuck! You're such an asshole!" She felt as if she were going to break down into tears as the concern for herself and Tau began to overwhelm her, along with the regret of what she had allowed to happen, the mistake she had made in trusting him. "I really thought you could have stopped being a cop long enough to be a friend to Dylan. Man, did I ever get that wrong."

"This is bigger than the three of us, and I'm not leaving until you agree to hear what Harlowe has to say," Yechiel responded as he stood up and looked directly at her. "Friendship goes both ways Quayleigh. I need you to trust me on this. I won't let anyone at the MET do anything to you, and at any point you want to walk away, I'll make sure that you can. Just hear him out, that's all I am asking. Then, if you still don't want to go, then don't. No one is going to come after you. You don't need to run or hide or give up the life you have now. I swear it."

Quayleigh glared at him, it was a heart-felt plea, but she knew that they had come to a dangerous impasse. With a single motion of her hand, she could have had Tauluthet end his life, ending this conversation where it stood, but that was going to cause more problems than it solved. She had no room to maneuver. She had expressed her refusal, she had demanded that he leave, and yet he was still there, pleading his points. "Fine. I'll hear him out, but if you're lying to me Yechiel, Death have mercy, because I will ruin you. Try not to forget what you've done."

"I know what you can do to me. But if I'm willing to stake my career on this, shouldn't it count for something?"

"He's not lying," Tau spoke up as he turned to her. "He really believes you have a choice. Hearing out this Harlowe will give me the opportunity to speak with him also."

"Is that something you really want to do?"

"It is. I'm curious as to why he thinks I'm a killer."

"Well then," she sighed, making her way back to the coffee table where she sat down next to Tau. "Yechiel, get your partner on the phone."

"He wanted…"

"Don't push it. I don't care what he wants. This is what he's going to get. A phone call, on speaker so everyone can hear. No bullshit and no locked doors. If I don't like what I hear, at least this gives us time to run. It's this or you can fuck off."

Yechiel nodded and pulled out his phone. "Expect him to ask for a face to face."

"He can ask all he wants. What I want are terms first. And like I said, if I don't like what I hear, I'm out. I haven't agreed to anything yet, and I wouldn't hold my breath either," she replied as she took Tau's hands in hers, looking him in the eye. "If anything seems off, say something, okay?"

"I will," Tau said as Yechiel dialed the number, put the phone on speaker, and placed it onto the center of the coffee table.

"Mazurka, this better be important," Harlowe's voice echoed into the room.

"Well, now that depends, I have you on speaker with Quayleigh Vershinin, and Dylan Kirkwood. Quayleigh, Dylan, this is Detective Renford Harlowe."

"Hello," Tau said as he leaned towards the phone. "How is it doing that?" he whispered as he glanced over at Quayleigh.

"Ah, hello, Ms. Vershinin, Mr. Kirkwood, this is unexpected."

"As it should be," Quayleigh replied. "And since I don't want to waste anyone's time, let me get straight to the point. Yechiel told me that you want me to go to the MET with you. I want to know why, I want to know what for, and I want to hear the terms you're offering to ensure my safety. And I also want to know if you gave the MET my name."

"Ah, well no, I haven't given them any information about you, yet. However, this would be easier if we could meet, and talk face to face."

"For now, this is what you get. If you won't give me answers, then this conversation is over."

"Now hold on just a damned minute!" Harlowe sighed on the other end of the call. "I didn't say I wasn't going to answer your questions. I would simply prefer to do this in person, but I understand your reservations. Working with the MET isn't something either of us want to do, but I don't see that we have any other option. He showed you the pictures, didn't he?"

"Yes," she replied as Yechiel turned away.

"Ha!" Harlowe laughed, "as predictable as ever. Look, I paid the way to get someone into the archives at the MET. Ms. Vershinin, you were the first person that came to mind. It's obvious that you have a working understanding of magic, which also means you have to be able to read the fundamentals of the language. I don't care why you aren't registered, but we both know you're an apostate. And I know the idea of going into that building is making every hair on the back of your neck stand on end."

"Of that you are correct."

"Good, I need you to be afraid. It's the only way you're going to keep your wiles about you."

"Don't get ahead of yourself. I haven't agreed to anything yet."

"Maybe not, but something tells me you will."

"That something maybe lying. Either way, what do you want from the archives?"

"Proof of whatever that thing in the pictures was. You were the one who gave Mazurka the idea. I need you in the archives to study everything they know on the subject."

"Death magic?" she questioned promptly looking at Tau.

"Yes," Harlowe replied, and Tau gave her a nod; he answered honestly.

"I'll give you an answer by the end of the night."

"That's too long."

"It's the best I can do. I would also need to work around my current work schedule. I would need it in writing that I could come and go as I please. I would need liaisons from both sides, but I'm willing to be searched before leaving the building as long as they are present. And I want assurances that there will be no backlash; I'm talking full immunity from persecution for any and all practices I have done to this point, and in the future, as long it has nothing to do with the subject material I'm to be studying. And lastly, I won't be forced to register. If you can do that, I will seriously consider this."

"I don't see why it couldn't be arranged, but I'll need your answer before four, so I have time to draw up the paperwork and make the arrangements with my contact at the MET. I still want that face to face with you too."

"Fine. I'll get you an answer by four. As for the meeting, that will have to wait until tomorrow."

"And what about you Mr. Kirkwood. Are you willing to sit down with me?"

"I'm not certain why. Will this not do?" Tau questioned as Quayleigh took his hand.

"Fine, I only have a couple of questions for you anyways," Harlowe remarked, his pleasant tone momentarily changing.

"I am curious as to what they are."

"Nothing to difficult. I just want to know why you ended up on the Caldwell Street homeless camp."

"I was looking for Quayleigh. I got lost and met a man named Willy Scarlet. I believe you know him."

"I do."

"He gave me a place to stay until I found her. There really isn't much to the story."

"So, it's just a coincidence that you showed up to the camp around the same time as the murders started, and that you know Quayleigh and one of the victim's just happened to have pictures of her on his person when he died?"

"Yes. I believe that is what you would call a coincidence. Especially given that you have seen for yourself the thing that takes their lives."

"Right," he huffed and briefly paused. "Mazurka?"

"Yes?"

"I expect to see you in the office at ten, and pick up some decent coffee on your way in. I look forward to your response Ms. Vershinin."

"I'll see you at ten," Yechiel replied as he hung up the phone. "Thank you for hearing him out. I really hope you'll consider working with us on this. I don't see why Harlowe wouldn't be able to meet your requests either."

"Nothing says the MET won't counter with demands of their own," Quayleigh replied as Tau laid his head onto the table. "What's wrong?"

"He turned out to be very uninteresting for a man that bothered to hunt me down. I expected more from him."

"Consider yourself lucky Dylan. Usually, he doesn't give up that quick," Yechiel remarked as he stood up and pocketed his phone. "I need to get going though if I'm going to make it into work by ten. I am really sorry for everything that's happened today. If you could call me when you have your answer Quayleigh, I'd appreciate it."

"You'll be the first to know," she replied as she stood up and looked him dead in the eye, "but don't think this changes anything between us Yechiel. Whether I help you or not, I don't trust you. Not anymore."