Shape of Things to come

Shape of Things to Come

Part 2:Times they are changing

Chapter 14

Let me speak, sir,
For heaven now bids me; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
..........(Henry VII Scene 5 William Shakespeare )

For Phoebe, despite genuinely considering Cole’s views on telling the Powers that Be to go to hell, the next day did not improve. To her relief, she did not have to work in the morning, but she was committed to watch the boys play tennis in an inter-school competition. Not that either was thrilled, because her rather obvious support frequently embarrassed them. However, she ignored their annoyed expressions, not only because she was very proud parent but because the family all felt some magic supervision was safer in case the boys got carried away in the heat of the competition.

Leo and Piper remained at home, spending the time on their respective housekeeping tasks. Piper was not due at P3 that morning partly because Leo had insisted that she stayed home resting and partly because she really did trust the staff to do their jobs efficiently, and Reggie the manager would call if she was truly needed. She made herself busy in the kitchen while Leo, not hearing any calls from Durand, decided to worked on the glass in the conservatory, measuring it for double glazing.

Piper as usual had the television on so she could catch up on news. Mostly the program was just background but a story on a riot at an Indian University in a province known for its confrontational politics caught her attention. Piper called Leo to come and both were silent watching very angry fighting between what was described as two different castes but in Leo and Piper’s opinion, the participants looked significantly demonic. Five students were reported killed in the violence and to Piper and Leo, it was clear from the comments of those interviewed that magic was involved. Leo and Piper sighed in unison at the implications but before they could talk the front door bell rang. It was not exactly a rude demanding pressure on the bell but it was certainly insistent. Leo with considered annoyance wiped his hands on his pants and rather slowly made his way to the front door.

Through the glass he could see figures, one leaning on the doorbell. As they perceived his shadow, they stepped back and he opened the door to two men, one probably in his late thirties, early forties, the other younger. Both men wore conservative dark suits and ties, and white shirts. The younger was average height, fit and had a nondescript face. As Leo opened the door, he removed sunglasses in what struck Leo as a decidedly aggressive gesture, even though he sort-of smiled with his mouth then nodded toward the older man.

The older man was not exactly short but it would have been kindness to say average height. He was obviously very fit and noticeably afflicted by male-pattern baldness. He had a round intelligent face and small deep-set brown eyes. He also had a cold, because he had a tissue in his hand and constantly sniffed.

“FBI sir” he told Leo in a quiet but sing-song voice and then sniffed. “I’m Special agent Wilbur Wasalski, Agent Malone.” He nodded at the younger man.

“Yes” said Leo and stood his ground, obeying Cole’s instructions that if contacted by authorities, all answers had to be one sentence only, no matter how much it pissed off the authority. And to call him as soon as possible.

“Because words count, are on the record, actions that can be interpreted don’t.” Cole insisted. “They want to bluff you into saying words, they use long silences, or try getting you to explain yourself” Cole was adament. “Keep the words to the bare minimum. The less words you say the less they can record. They are not on your side. No matter what they say.”

“What is your name?” demanded Agent Wilbur, when he finally realised Leo was not going to say anything else unless asked.

“Leo Wyatt” Leo answered politely offering no more but having a fair idea what was coming.

Agent Wilbur drew a harsh breath “You live here?” he asked, not belligerently but certainly in a voice that demanded attention.

Leo worked for Guardians and had stood his ground against demons “Yes” he answered politely still holding onto the door.

The younger man, Agent Malone glanced at his companion. “Does Dr Phoebe Halliwell live here?” he asked, his tone not quite demanding but stopping short of polite.

“Yes” Leo answered, narrowing his eyes but holding his place at the barely opened door.

“May we speak to her…now?” asked the younger man with not quite impatience.

“And why not?” demanded Agent Wilbur holding his politeness but stepping into Leo’s space.

“Listen. Mr.Wyatt” Wilbur bit out enunciating every word. “We are FBI and I warn you to respect that. And answer our questions.”

Piper stood on her toes to lean over Leo’s shoulder. “She’s not here” Piper explained to the FBI politely but disinterested. Her eyes danced a little at the pleasure of battle though.

“Normally people ask why we want to speak to someone” Agent Wilbur commented, almost in Leo’s face and planting his foot in the doorway. Leo held his ground.

“Normal people?” asked Piper maybe confused. “I assure you I’m perfectly normal” she told the agent just as politely. “I assure my family is perfectly normal.”

“Who are you?” demanded Wilbur, a brusque edge to his voice, so close to Leo that Leo felt his breath.

The younger agent stepped in. “Where is Dr Halliwell?” he asked not politely and his voice getting demanding “It is in your interests to be cooperative.” He told Leo and Piper

“My sister is watching our boys at an inter-school tennis competition” Piper answered, regretting she could not add a sentence informing Agent Wilbur of his stupidity. “Damn Cole” she thought.

“Where abouts?” Wilbur demanded just keeping the politeness in his voice. Evidently the younger agent was there to do the intimating.

“Not a problem. Boys will be happy to see her leave” Piper explained. “They get embarrassed when she cheers too loudly.” Piper smiled at them, her head on the side.

“I know” Piper sighed “I’ll go call Phoebe, shall I?” She asked sweetly “She’s only ten minutes away.”

She turned into the house and went to get her phone. Leo deliberately stepped into the door space and kept his hand on the door, not inviting the agents inside although he angelically smiled and nodded to both agents. Neither returned the gesture.

Piper called Cole first. Clarissa answered “He’s with a client. You’re not going to call him away, are you?” she asked her voice irritated “He’s got a full list today.”

“They can wait” Piper told her “God knows if they want him as their lawyer, they’re used to it. Tell him to drive. FBI on the doorstep.”

Cole arrived before Phoebe, parking in front of the manor as usual because his car never made it into the driveway. He walked up the steps behind the two agents who had adopted a very intimidating stance a few steps away from the door, intimidation which Leo completely ignored.

“Good morning gentlemen” Cole said from behind them. He held out his hand and both reluctantly and awkwardly turned around and took it, leaving Leo suddenly unintimidated. “I’m Cole Turner” he told them. “Please come in, don’t wait on the door step” he added as the two men looked suspicious and annoyed. Leo sucking his lips stepped away from the door. The agents did not miss the glance he and Cole shared.

“Who are you?” insisted Agent Wilbur as they refused an offer of chairs “I’m Cole Turner” Cole answered sitting on the sofa arm, his favourite perch, Piper stood at the hall door, both concerned and ready for battle. Leo came and stood behind her, his arm around her.

Cole grinned and nodded. “Nothing to be concerned about” he told to Piper “Why don’t you offer the gentleman some refreshment?”

“Thank you no” answered the younger agent, Malone, looking carefully around the room, any politeness in his voice shrouded by his coolness.

“I’m Cole Turner” Cole informed the irritated agents. “Oh” he mused looking innocently at Piper and Leo “You mean what am I?”

“Phoebe’s husband,” Leo explained, news that seemed to be of considerable annoyance to the two agents.

All of them waited in the living room, Leo silent, Piper and Cole making small talk and the agents barely responding. Phoebe arrived ten minutes later, dressed in jeans and puffy jacket and she was pulling a fluffy white hat from her head. and shrugging out of the jacket in a tizz.

“Freezing cold watching the boys. They won. Wyatt hit four aces. Patsy ran a lot.” she announced brightly. “Outdoor courts” she explained to the agents.

“These gentlemen are FBI” Cole explained, his voice taking a noticeable mocking and warning tone.

“Wow, FBI just wow, here in our house” Phoebe answered, looking them up and down. She glanced toward Piper who grinned.” Why are they here?”

“You know very well who we are” Wilbur informed her. “You’re Dr Phoebe Halliwell?”

“In…” Phoebe caught Cole’s eye” Yes.” she answered then seated herself on the sofa beside Cole.

“Were you working last Monday?” Wilbur asked, only just keeping the irritation out of his voice.

Wilbur pursed his lips, spoiling the determined expression with a sniff “We would like you to come to headquarters to help with some inquiries, about the…incident at the university. Which I assume you know about.” he pushed forcefully.

“Can’t I help here?” Phoebe asked as both Piper and Leo took a slight breath “As there’s nothing I can tell you. I wasn’t there.” She swallowed a little and from the expression on both agents faces, she knew the word liar was floating around in their brains.

“We would prefer you come to headquarters” persisted Agent Wilbur controlling his irritation to be extremely polite, while his partner mouthed the word prefer as if following a mantra.

“Now would be good” Wilbur answered, clearly trying to sound as if Phoebe going to headquarters was no big deal, but shuffling in the direction of the front door.

“Sorry not convenient” Cole told him mildly while Phoebe bit her lip showing her concern, despite her bravado which both agents noticed.

The agents’ expressions were decidedly superior “Its in your interest to help us…in our enquiries Dr Halliwell” Agent Wilbur informed her his voice hard and superior.

“We’ll see, shall we?” Cole stood up to his considerable height looking down on the agents. “This afternoon. Say three o’clock” he glanced at his watch.

“Of course, not” Agent Wilbur replied. “Why would you think we would want to arrest Dr. Halliwell?”

“Three o’clock then” Cole told them. The two agents exchanged glances and then made a decision. Both nodded

As Phoebe stood up, Cole put his arm around her “Cheer up” he told her “Worst is over. You’ve lied to the FBI. The rest is just follow-up.”

She smiled with some bravado then nodded. “Are they going to arrest me?” she asked trying to keep her voice bright. “Is that why downtown?”

“Got the security film I’ll bet” Cole answered glancing at his watch “And they wanted you in the car, away from lawyers. To bully you into saying something.”

“Don’t ask” Cole warned them “You haven’t got privilege. Where are Paige and Charlie?”

“I’ll call” Cole decided “Better not talk to them about anything. With luck they might not recognise them on the video.”

Leo took a deep breath “Is it really necessary to piss them off?” he asked. “Doesn’t common sense say better to cooperate? Try not to lie to them?”

“Unfortunately, in this case, the truth hasn’t got much to do with common sense, for mortals at any rate, so we don’t have the truth option” Cole answered. He thought about it “Well Leslie thinks truth will work for a lie detector because it will screw their minds.”

“Yeah” agreed Cole. “Phoebe and the girls didn’t do anything wrong but try and explain the truth and they’ll likely be accused of lying and charged.”

“Perhaps exposing magic to the world is better than having the FBI chasing around. Those two could be reasonable types.” Leo insisted.

“No, they aren’t” Piper informed him forcefully “You can’t help it can you honey? Deep inside despite everything we’ve all been through, you’re still the sweet innocent the ‘world is a good place’ whitelighter.”

“And” Phoebe pushed before Leo could answer, for all her bravado a little shaken at having her head on the chopping block “If we’re believed, what are the chances our law-abiding friend Agent Wilbur will let the matter drop. He’d have to sacrifice himself by not reporting it, because the reports of the massacre at the university are all over the news and he has to tell his Powers That Be and the public something. Do you think he’d lie for us?”

“No” Leo agreed. “Not the type to sacrifice a whole career just to protect innocents.”

“That’s what we do, protect the innocents, and in this case the innocents are us,” Piper told him. She put her arm around her sister. Phoebe was very grateful to have a big sister because the strain of the last week was starting to affect her. “Because” Piper asserted “If magic is exposed, our family will be held to ridicule, the kids will get hammered by their friends and the neighbours will have fun telling the media about the weirdness they’ve seen around the manor. What chance would the boys have of ever playing a friendly game of tennis with their school friends?”

“One of the many ways to vanquish witches. Bugger up their lives.” Cole agreed. “Fortunately, the law allows reasonable doubt, so we stick to it and if those FBI guys are honest, pissed off or not, they and the world will have to accept it. And live with an unsolved case.”

“In that case I get a call about justice and can fix it,” responded Cole “and you would be better off not knowing how. Best for us, best for magic if they are pissed and think they aren’t getting the truth. If the truth would set us free I would do it. It won’t trust me.” He started tapping his pockets for his car keys “I’ve got clients waiting. Pick you up at three” he told Phoebe giving her a quick kiss before rushing off.

Leo offered to make coffee and went into the kitchen, and Phoebe took a big sniff and straightened her shoulders.

“No” Piper mused. “They looked kinda … like normal people. Which is strange. I always thought FBI agents looked like Cole.”

Cole and Phoebe were nearly an hour late getting to the FBI headquarters. Phoebe was ready early for once which showed how worried she was but Cole was late picking her up because he was dealing with a witch client who was panicking over a tax audit, one Cole presumed was set up by evil. They decided to drive because Cole was certain the agents would check how they arrived, and unfortunately a traffic accident caused considerable difficulty getting parking around Market Street.

Phoebe was concerned about how pissed off the agent would be but Cole was quite pleased “Pissed off is usually irrational and with magic the true answer, the more irrational our friend Agent Wilbur is the better,” he explained. Cole gave Phoebe one more warning about answering only ‘I wasn’t there’.

“It’s registered to the family firm so as long as we create doubt about who was driving, they’ll have trouble proving it was you even if the parking was recorded.” Cole told her.

“We don’t” Cole told her firmly “We don’t prove anything. We let them find out and if they don’t all the better. And if someone else was driving it, that person can conveniently forget what day it was.”

“Lying to the FBI” Phoebe smiled. “Look what being a good witch has got me.”

“If they are trying to stick you with a murder you didn't commit,” Cole replied “they deserve it.” He suddenly smiled, a smile she well recognised, the one he saved for her. “If you ask me, being a good witch has got you quite a bit. Much more than the odd lie costs.”

“Well, even if they can’t prove anything I bet they think I did it.?” Phoebe half whispered sadly.

“Not our problem” Cole replied “Remember its what you say they record. They can suspect body language but they have to catch your words being lies. You weren’t there. Nothing else. We have reasonable doubt where you were.”

Phoebe and Cole were shown into a small room with a table big enough for four people and a large television was on the wall. Then they were left alone for some time. Two could play at being late.

“Only for it to be admissible in court” Cole explained. “They will figure they can force you to repeat anything useful if necessary. People do stupid things when freaked out by authority. But I won’t let you do that” he put his hand on hers.

Agent Wilbur finally appeared alone and politely thanked Phoebe for coming. His cold was worse and he sniffed profusely. He sat down, was silent for a while, except for loud sniffs, then finally he asked her again if she was at the university on Monday morning and Phoebe keeping her body language as neutral as possible, still denied it. He pushed hard before Cole stopped the line of questioning and then with a ‘gottcha’ smirk the agent could not quite hide and another sniff, Agent Wilbur asked her to watch a video. He pressed a remote and what was clearly security film from the university showed on the screen.

There was some luck for Phoebe because the university, as Phoebe would have told the agents, if Cole had allowed her, did not spend money on first class equipment for administration areas used by worker bees and the images were not crisp. The cameras showed, in fortunately not very clear definition, much of the fight in the second floor. Mostly they showed what Phoebe remembered, utter confusion, as she ran up walls, demons blew each other up and mortals screamed. Phoebe and Paige had their backs to the camera mostly and Charlie was a little far away for the camera on the brown’s side of the HR building to clearly be in focus. The video from the gray’s side of the hall showed several people that Phoebe knew to be demon grunts, coming from various offices and moving down the corridor crowding Charlie who was near the stairs. Fortunately, Charlie was moving around and still out of focus, although the video showed her flashing fire from her eyes and there was some blinding white light as Paige used her orb shafts. For a couple of frames, the video showed a flash near the stairs some distance from the camera when Paige orbed Phoebe, and after the flash both Phoebe and Paige had disappeared.

Video from the downstair fight was also shown, complete with date stamp. This time, the camera was located above the entrance door opposite reception but even though it was closer to the action, the visual was blurry as demon goo clouded the scene, some getting on the camera. There was also flashing light from various demon weapons and the constant movement as demons dematerialised and appeared elsewhere. A few clear frames showed Phoebe levitating off the reception desk and less clear ones caught Charlie throwing fire from her eyes again and there were a few a clear ones of Paige, fortunately with her face obscured by her hoodie, orb shafts coming out of her hand.

In the video, two mortals were seen close to the Charlie and Phoebe who had what she well-knew was a knife in her hand. Both mortals then fell, one half-forward grabbing at Charlie who stepped away, and the other crumbling at the knees. To Phoebe it was clear demon firepower took both mortals out but she doubted the agents would believe that. The video then showed Paige grabbing Charlie’s arm and a rather blurred image of Phoebe somersaulting toward them, then Paige catching her shoulder. Ugly magenta smoke surrounded all three witches, followed by a flash and the witches were gone. At the end of the video, there were more goo explosions as demons killed each other but it was all background noise.

To Phoebe despite the blurry images, the whole film looked terribly incriminating but she was relieved as she glanced at her lawyer husband because his eyes were narrowed and he had a slight smirk that was his ‘gotcha’ face.

“Are you going to deny that wasn’t you?” sniffed Agent Wilbur, all but thumping the desk.

“You’re not going to try telling me, that isn’t you somersaulting around the building?” Agent Wilbur asked in his best ‘I dare you to lie to me’ FBI voice, once again ruined by a big sniff which eased Phoebe’s fears because his sniffing was really annoying.

“He’s asking if that is you in the film.” Cole explained to her, his face blank but his narrowed eyes showing he was enjoying himself.

“Do you know what a simple declarative sentence is?” Phoebe ever the academic pedantic asked Agent Wilbur. “You need to learn the art of a simple declarative question. Without double negatives.”

“No” Phoebe answered feeling a little safer now the agent’s annoyance was clearly showing. “I.was.not.there.”

“What if I told you someone identified you?” Wilbur demanded “Recognised you.”

“They would be mistaken” Cole interrupted “My wife and client just told you she wasn’t there. And even if she was” Phoebe took a deep breath “What crimes are you charging her with. All the women in that video were doing was self-defence. I take it this is all about charging someone?” he pushed “But it won’t be my wife because she wasn’t there.”

Phoebe took a deep breath but before she could say anything Cole touched her hand.

“I am advising my client it would not be in her interests to answer that question at the present time” he insisted quietly.

“Two people can be seen clearly killed in that video” the agent pushed “Did you kill those people?” demanded Agent Wilbur, sniffing again and Phoebe positively winced.

“Did you murder those two people? Agent Wilbur persisted. “There is irrefutable evidence that you were in that fight, someone recognised you at the scene. Two people were killed in front of you.”

“My wife already said she couldn’t, she wasn’t there.” Cole answered. He smiled his demon smile, Phoebe noted. “And my friend you have no irrefutable evidence. Or you would not be trying so hard to get my wife to confess to being somewhere she wasn’t. You would charge her with something.”

The expression on the Agent’s face was extremely annoyed, although it was not, to Phoebe’s disappointment demonic. Which was a pity because she would have liked to see the agent explode into demon goo.

“So” stated Cole standing up. “If you want to lay charges great, because I’ll have a really good day in court making you look like an idiot over that film. Its doctored and you know it.”

“I used to be a prosecutor.” Cole continued” Those women, whoever they are, didn’t kill anyone either. Watch how the ah... bodies collapsed. They were… shot, knifed whatever killed them, hit from behind. Those women were in front of them. You have done an autopsy on the bodies?”

“We wish to talk to those women about the fight and how it started?” the agent insisted. “Do you know who they are?”

“I’ve heard about you Turner” Agent Wilbur, hissed and then sniffed making Phoebe wince “Arsehole lawyer.”

There was a silence for a few minutes before Cole asked. “Are you charging my wife, my client with anything?” Wilbur remained silent. “Thanks” Cole smirked a touch demonically. “As she wasn’t there, she can’t help you in your enquiries.”

Phoebe picked up her handbag and moved toward the door followed by Cole. As he was leaving Cole turned back to Wilbur’ “You know if you ever locate those women, tell them to give me a call. Honest to god, whoever did the editing on that film needs firing. I would love to defend someone charged on account of it. Easy money.”

“There are people blowing up and disappearing.” Cole told him in mocking disbelief, and Phoebe knew his demon side was enjoying the fight. “You’re not going to try and explain that in…real-time are you?”

As they left, Phoebe realised she had been holding her breath. She let it out in a big sigh. “They kinda of gave up easily in the end” she murmured.

“Haven’t given up” Cole told her. “That film won’t stand up in court, and they know it. Neither will any identification. They will just keep digging, watch the family, I assume, identify Paige and Charlie and push at them.”

“If she wants to continue working with magic, this will only be her first time dealing with the law.” Cole answered.

Phoebe nodded “You know” she reflected “If I get a cold from being in a room with that son-of-a-bitch, and the kids get it from me I’m suing.”

Cole contemplated the horrors of four kids down with a cold. He smiled, the one he saved for her. “You know my work number,” said the lawyer.