License Invoked

"A hell of a lot of help you were," Lloyd snarled at Liz.

All Fio

And Liz had no choice. The stink of malignity rose from her skin like cheap perfume.

"You say the hair on her arms caught fire?" Liz asked, wondering if she had heard incorrectly. "Not the sleeves?"

"That's it," Laura Ma

"We can't have any more delays," Patrick Jones cried, pacing up and down. "My God, if the reporters get hold of this. I'll kill myself."

"Oh, that'd be good press," Eddie Vincent growled. Nigel Peters tore his thi

Liz focused immediately on finding the source of the power. "Did anyone see where the fire came from?" she asked, but every face in the circle was blank. To them it was just another freak accident, one of many. Only Liz had felt the anger and hatred fill the arena just before the attack. It was fading quickly. They would have to work fast to find the source.

"It's symbolic that the fire was centered on Fio

"How many people could hear the stage manager?" Boo asked. "Let's ask everyone again, one at a time. I can do that. I'll bring them back to what they were thinkin' of at the last moment before it happened."

"No, that's a waste of time," Liz said sharply. Fio

"I think," Boo said, in a low tone, "you're forgetting that this is my turf. You're my guest. I'm in charge here."

"Not this again," Liz hissed. "We asked for your help. It's my case."

"It's our country," Boo said loudly, his eyes glowing with the light of battle. "You can't operate here without our permission. You might as well pack it up and go home."

"Never! My government will never take a back seat to yours!"

"We tossed you out once. We can do it again!"

"Knock it off or leave!" Lloyd shouted. "Look at her. She's hurt! Let's go downstairs, love."

Liz looked down at Fio

"We've got to work together on this," Liz said, after a moment. The tension in Boo-Boo's shoulders relaxed. She knew the two of them were thinking the same things. Here was a case where she could produce proof of an actual magical attack. If they solved the mystery this could spell credibility for their departments, assuring the budget for next year, not to mention putting Lord Kendale in their debt. It would put the Department and OOPSI into the headlines. Horrified, Liz stopped her flight of fancy. If this made the headlines the furor would never die down. The general public was not ready. They already suspected the government of prying into their everyday affairs. If they knew about the departments devoted to the paranormal, there would be open rioting out of naked fear.

Boo-Boo was thinking the same thing. "We've got to solve this and keep it quiet," he said, guardedly. "Miss Fio

"It won't be easy," Liz said. "To say we have different styles is an absolute understatement, but I'll try if you will."

"It's a deal," Boo-Boo said, holding out his hand for hers. They shook on it.

"The first thing to do is talk to our crime victim," Liz said, briskly.

Instead of occupying her grand throne, Fio

"They're here," she whimpered. "They're listenin' to me. They're comin' for me."

"Who's they, honey?" Lloyd asked, rocking the trembling woman in his arms.

"Let me see the burns," Liz said, starting to sit down at Fio

"Piss off," Lloyd snapped, glaring at Liz. "I don't want you within yards of her. This is all your fault."

"All our fault?" Liz asked, blinking at him. "Are you mad? How?"

"This has been going on all along," Lloyd said, his face stony. "She tried to tell you."

"We needed proof," Liz said.

"To hell with your proof," Lloyd said. "I'm calling this all off as of now. You're out."

"It's not so easy as that," Boo said.

"Oh, yes, it is!"

"Oh, no, it isn't!" Liz said. "You might have believed her, but what could you do to help?"

As they argued over her head, Fio

The strong arms surrounding her helped to push the bogeys away. All her friends were gathered around her. They wanted to help. They were the grownups, there to protect her from the darkness. She felt as if she was a little girl again, crying in the nursery when the lights went out. They'll make it better. But they couldn't help. They didn't understand. She had followed every one of the superstitions to the letter, even the ones that made her feel silly. It wasn't enough to keep her safe. She drew a ragged breath and burst into tears.

Oh, I want my mummy .

Fio

She felt herself being shaken. A calm voice, a familiar voice, cut through her misery.

"Fio

Oh, it was that imperious prig, Elizabeth Mayfield. Forgot to set the tables again, or was it some equally tedious House task?

"Fio