In a dark habit, a flailing figure jumped up from a boxwood hedge. Startled, Agent Tess Morganna lifted the figure up from the ground with a jerk from her head. The figure writhed until his hood slipped off revealing his turquoise mohawk and baby face. Tess let the boy down gently.

“Sorry lady I thought you were my sister.”

“No worries,” Tess said and handed the kid a pair of full-size Snickers bars from her trench coat.

“Gee thanks lady.” The cub started dancing wildly.

Smiling Tess continued up the street to the town square. Every storefront was a party with music tumbling from open doors. Young and old dressed as Modestus and Crescentia danced on the sidewalks.

“That souped up masking spell worked like a charm. I even fooled a little bear shifter,” Tess said.

A deep voice from inside her head said, “That was one of those Arktos kids. Dumb as a box of rocks. Keep your head on swivel this freak show has mad skills and I don’t want you I mean I don’t want to see anyone else get hurt.”

“Got it, ‘Bird I’m practically a sprinkler system.”

Tess could feel Thunderbird’s concern warm like sipping whiskey. Then she could feel Teddi’s giggle, Tank’s annoyance, and Lee’s surprise and remembered the group’s psychic link shared thoughts and feelings. Heading towards the hard rock zydeco, Tess picked up the pace.

Lee’s behavioral profile of the poison pen letter writer had revealed what he was and why he was tormenting the town but not who the letter writer was. So they looked for where the letter writer would be.

Saint Vitus’ Day was the perfect trap. The malicious writer couldn’t resist a big public event. He would need to be a part of the town he hates. Lee was glamoured to look like her and Tess was masked as a nondescript bear shifter tourist.

Buzzing with raucous music and food trucks, the little town of Zeus remixed all the fun parts of human holidays. Tourists had been streaming in all day. Revelers waved palm fronds and rubber chickens. Tess walked between the dancers and the laughter, searching for dark energy. Tess was exhausted, being so open.

“Need a break,” Tank said in her head

“No, I’m all right.”

“No that wasn’t a question that was an order.” Tank’s voice radiated dominant vibes.

Tess was about to remindthe bossy sheriff that she wasn’t one of his deputies when she noticed a crepe food truck. Screaming, a little wolf shifter in pigtails wearing a nun’s habit carrying a cauldron zipped past Tess.

“Daddy Daddy Taylor stole my candy. Sorry mister I thought you were my dad,” the pup careened off in a new direction screaming. Tess turned cold. She knew masking spells work by making you appear familiar yet forgettable. The poison letter writer was following her. Tess pretended to study the crepe food truck menu. His mask was excellent but Tess could smell the rancid essence of his hatred, taste his bitter envy in her mouth. She knew her team could too.

“Honey which is the one I don’t like caramel of butterscotch?” Tess asked. She touched the poison pen letter writer’s arm without looking at him as if she’s mistaken him for someone else.

“Oh sorry I thought you were my husband.”

They stared at each other. The masking spells slipped away. It was Postmaster Conjure, former mayor. The old warlock sneered. Suddenly the suspect shotgunned his magic at Tess. She threw up a glowing shield and broke his nose with a headbutt. Someone screamed and people began running. The warlock staggered back surprised. Thunderbird materialized besides her and together they began erecting energy barriers to protect the public. Lee bound the suspect’s wrists. The suspect took off running until a very large gray wolf leapt at his throat. The suspect went down hard and Lee’s magic shackled his feet. A brown bear hurried over to watch the suspect and wait for the ambulance.

The wolf shifted to Tank, town sheriff.

“No need to be alarmed folks. There was a situation and the situation has been taken care of.”

The crowd broke into applause, many assuming it was skit for the Saint Vitus day festivities. Proud of his team and his town Tank walked back to Conjure.

“So no one is going to mention he’s naked,” Tess said.

“It’s Zeus, Agent Marianna, it’s Zeus.”