The Hunter

Angus and James appeared outside facing a mobile home trailer. James looked around to see a community of old homes and similar mobile home trailers.

"You are here." A male said from the porch of the mobile home.

James turned his attention forward as Angus stepped on to the steps leading up to the door of the trailer where Archer Saint Walker stood holding out his hand and shook Angus' hand firmly. He glanced at James with a frown but gave him a nod before looking back at Angus.

"Thank you for coming Western Dragon." Archer said.

Angus shook his head. "Please call me Potter. Mr. Walker this is my son and apprentice James Walker. James, you already know who Mr. Walker is."

James nodded to the surprise of Archer. He stared at James then understanding lite up his eyes. "Oh. You are the back sight that saw the events that happened."

"Yes Sir. We're here to help." James said trying to sound the part.

Angus nodded and waved Archer back to the door. "Please could you show us to your basement where the event took place." Angus asked.

Archer frowned at James but nodded his head and led the way inside. Angus waved James forward and they quickly walked inside to a very spacious living room and wide space there was a single old couch an old wood dinning table where an elderly man played cards with two teenage boys and table in the kitchen besides that were wasn't any other furniture other then a few books near the couch.

Angus bowed his head to the elderly man. "Peace be with you elder. How's it going?"

The elder bowed back. "As well as any day on this side of the hunting grounds. How goes the hunt for you?"

Angus grinned. "I have plenty of game to hunt for in these days. I came to see if I came looking for tracks of my next prey with luck I'll find em and return to you what belongs to you."

The elderly man grunted. "What will you do with the dog that came sneaking into the night and violated our truce with the rulers?"

Angus shrugged. "To dust he came to dust is where I will take him. Maybe his ancestors can weep over him but he had his time and that's done."

James frowned at the strange speech and exchange between both men. Then he noticed the strange still in the air as well.

"What does the chief say?" The elderly man asked.

"I'm here. That should say all that needs to be said and we have a common enemy. All debts are paid." Angus said.

The Elder snorted. "That's not an answer. What is your boy doing here?"

Angus pointed a thumb at James. "He is of age. He is a man now. Your people asked him for help and he tangled a bit with the dog of the west." He said.

The Elder froze. "He is a hunter."

Angus nodded. "Yes. This will be his first hunt. Your people asked him for assistance. So he will be assisting you in getting back your treasure."

The Elder frowned at Angus shaking his head. "We asked Dragon of the West to assist us."

Angus shook his head. "My enemies call me that name. You are not my enemies. My name is Angus Potter. I am magi. Every man is responsible for his own destiny and the choices he makes there is an accounting for them. My mother taught me this."

The Elder frowned but he looked away and smiled down at his cards as he picked them up. "Well said."

Archer cleared his throat. "I'll show you and your son to the basement." He said still giving James a cautious stare.

James was silent as he followed behind both men. Archer walked toward a tall grandfather clock that stood against a wall. He tapped on the face of the clock with his left knuckles. The glass door opened to a short stairway down to a small basement. Archer led the way inside.

Angus and James followed behind him silently.

James' first steps down into the basement felt like he was diving into a pool of water though he could breath normally. He frowned at the feeling he experienced as they stepped through the doorway. But he ignored it as they came to the floor of the basement. Archer stood to the side watching them.

Angus took a walk around the room. "No windows. No other way but for the doorway through the clock into this enlarged pocket space. So. How did he get in here?" He said almost to himself but he looked at James.

"I don't know."

Angus shook his head. "Yes you do know. Work your way backwards from last time you saw the thief in this space where was he?"

James nodded and narrowed his eyes trying to focus. "He was by the safe. He never left the safe because he had used almost every Alohomora trick he could and known of them worked until he found the young girl came in and he broke into her mind for the secret key."

Angus motioned with his hand. "Keep going backward. What happened before then?"

James shook his head. "I don't know. I only remember coming into the vision when he got here."

Angus shook his head. "No. No. Don't do that. Tell me what you see. What did your mother tell you about back sight."

James grimaced. "She said I shouldn't think in a present dimension of thought but I had to use my senses to guide my mind gather information that way."

"That's right. Don't think like a wizard. Tell me what you saw back forget about right now or what you remember. Tell me what you see. Look backward not in the present."

James frowned but he nodded his head close his eyes. He took a deep breath and went back rewinding the past events in his head until he stood there in the night looking at thief as he appeared in the room when everyone went to sleep.

"Wow!" James said.

"How did he get in?" Angus asked.

"He used Apparition. He appeared in the spot your standing."

"Where was he before then?" Angus asked.

James shook his head. "I don't know." He said seeing and feeling only darkness around the thief."

"Where did you see him before he came into this room?"

"He was in darkness. He had been watching outside the family home waiting for them to go asleep."

"How did he know? No wait. Tell me what see when you wonder how he found out when the family would go to sleep for the night."

"His client gave him all the details about the family and what the staff would look like. He was ordered to only take the staff and leave no memory of himself or dead body."

"Do you see the client?"

James shook his head. "No. The client was careful not to reveal himself to the thief. They communicated by a letter."

"What does the thief look like?" Angus said and put his hand on James' shoulder.

"He's a short stalky man in his mid-forties. He's left handed and I can't see his face. Ah!" James paused as he felt a slight pain.

Archer put his hand on James' other shoulder. "Keep going."

James gritted his teeth and droplets of sweat started going down his face and neck. "He's also a…" He opened his eyes as he felt both men shift on their feet.

Angus opened his eyes. "Go on!"

"He's a dark wizard. He would have killed the girl but the client told him to avoid doing so or his fee would be cut in half. I think he's a death dealer."

Angus stared at him but then he nodded his head. "Yeah. I believe your right son. That makes this job a little more harder to solve but a lot less complicated to judge."