Broomstick - The Inspector Wolfe Tales, #1 - Part Eight

This is Dopey, roger. We’re in. Commence secondary diversion and deploy primary maneuvers.

Grumpy looked up. “That’s our cue. Let’s get out of these itchy bushes.” We jumped up and cut across the lawn towards the building. I felt my heart pumping like crazy as the adrenaline set in. I was going to help commit the crime of the century. And then I was going to stop the crime of the millennium. Someone needed this Nether Key, and I just knew it had to be connected with Alice’s disappearance.

“Why are we attacking at midday?” I puffed as we got to the wall of the building and Grumpy unzipped a black bag.

“Security’s worse at night, you idiot,” Happy snapped. “So we’re attacking in the middle of the day when the guards are really bored.”

“Unfortunately cannibal turkeys never get bored,” Grumpy remarked matter-of-factly as he stapled a circular length of wire to the wall and got out his wand. “All right, buckos, step back.”

His wand sparked, hitting the fuse on the wire, and with a short abrupt bang, the wall crumbled inward in a circle of plaster and brick. Grumpy led us in.

We’re in, Happy signaled.

All right, commencing secondary maneuvers, remarked Bashful with something of a gleeful tone to his thoughts.

“So we’re the primary maneuvers?” I whispered.

“No need to whisper, dolt,” Happy told me. “Of course we’re the primary maneuvers. We’re going to steal the Nether Key. The others are just distractions.”

“Except for Bashful,” Grumpy smirked. “He’s going to wreak some havoc.”

I restrained myself from asking the manner of this havoc. If I appeared to be too inquisitive, I might lose my credibility. I was supposed to be stern and tough, an overseer sent from “the three,” whoever they were.

We advanced down a corridor, torches on the walls rapidly flickering red and an alarm siren echoing through the halls along with the bloodcurdling wails of the carnivorous turkeys.

“Backup will be here in ten,” Grumpy remarked. “We’ll have to be quick.” We raced down several hallways and up several staircases until we arrived at a large steel vault door.

Diversion in progress, Bashful updated. Suddenly the noise of sirens cut, and the torches stopped flickering. I still heard the screeching of the turkeys, but overall the building was much quieter. Silent alarm cut; cancelling reserve spells. Backup is on its way, but the Peacelocks no longer have were-camera feed or communication with the building.

How is he doing that? I asked, taking advantage of the worm coiled around my brain.

He’s at the security control room, where all the defense spells were originally cast, Grumpy replied. Bashful’s good with magic.

Bashful’s thoughts came in again. Working on vault hexes now. Clock’s ticking.

I heard muffled thumps coming through the floor, and the building shook a little.

Fighting security, messaged Dopey. Taking heavy spellfire from Peacelocks. Doc’s trying to distract the turkeys but it’s not working well. Enemies headed your way.

I heard the shrill keening of the bloodthirsty avians as they drew nearer to us, getting louder and louder and rising to a discordant apex pitch.

Hexes disabled; working on wards and curses now, Bashful informed us. Backup just arrived, three regular Peacelock carriages and a Peacefire crack team. They’re fanning out and preparing to breach. A suspenseful pause, and then: Vault unlocked. You’re free to enter.

Happy shot his hand out and grasped the handle of the steel door, twisting gently and pushing the door inward. It made not a sound as it swung open.

And then the turkeys rounded the corner.