Shifty Magic by Judy Teel

Author:Judy Teel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: vampires, urban fantasy, action, witches, werewolves, mystery suspense, judy teel, dystopian world, tough heroine

CHAPTER SIX

Magical Gadgets and Bits had staked its claim about three years ago in one of the shops in Plaza Midwood. The area around Thomas Avenue was one of the few places that wasn't damaged in the initial attack or the skirmishes that followed, though like everywhere else in the world, it had still endured plenty of changes. The shop Falcon's uncle owned was a perfect example.

The glass front was now covered with an elaborate grate composed of various metals bent into magically enhanced symbols guaranteed to fry the unsuspecting evil-doer. A sign warned patrons not to stare at the barrier too long unless they wanted a blistering headache for their trouble. Inside, vintage women's wear had been replaced with a hodgepodge of shelves, barrels, trunks and tables full of all things magical, magically enhanced or just plain gadgetry.

A lanky kid of seventeen slouched on a stool behind the counter operating on a hand-sized metallic box with a few pieces of metal guts sprinkled around it. He had thick hair that stood up all over his head and was the rusty, tan color of a deer's hide, eyes like buffed pewter, wire-rimmed glasses, a re-purposed tool belt around his narrow waist, and a brain that would have outclassed Einstein's if it hadn't been saturated with hormones. He was also one of the few people I considered a friend.

He looked up and grinned. "Addie K, what up?" Falcon said, reflecting his love of all things early twenty-first century.

"Official business. Got a paying job."

"Awesome. Gotta keep little Wiz in the tuna."

I braced my forearms on the counter and peered at his latest project while he carefully placed a thin square of what looked like aluminum foil into the center. "Which electronic creature died and left you its organs?"

He leaned back, beaming at me like a new father. "Ever wish your scanner could see stuff like a practitioner does? You know," he splayed out the fingers of his empty hand and wiggled them dramatically, "like beyond the physical?"

"Not really."

"Well, this one can. Or will. When I get the reverse quantum matrix figured out." He tapped the small, delicate pliers against the counter and stared at the scattered components.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but I know it'll be brilliant when you're done."

"Thanks," he said, genuine pleasure wiping away the frown he'd shot at the ruined scanner. "If I can get it working, I'll make a fortune off of it. So what brings you into the land of mystery? The Browning jamming again?"

The weight of my gun against my thigh surfaced into my awareness. "Hasn't bugged up since you fixed it." I pulled the small packet of white powder out of my front jean's pocket and laid it on the counter. "I'm hoping you can tell me what this is."

He picked up the packet and held it up to the light coming through the windows behind me. "Looks like powdered sugar. Where'd you get it?"

"A murder scene."

His hand jumped, but his interest sharpened.

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