Wicked As You Wish (A Hundred Names for Magic #1) - Rin Chupeco Page 0,14
and several protests both for and against Miss Hutchins’s behavior had been lodged with the education board. As per usual, commentaries were out in full swing, ranging from When Teachers No Longer Respect the System to Weaponizing Education to Sell Corporate Interests to Tell Us Your Favorite Snack and We’ll Tell You How Well You’ll Score in Miss Hutchins’s History Class. Miss Hutchins herself, though, had disappeared from the public eye despite dogged reporters and doxxing efforts. She only had one social media account, and her last post had been a resharing of a Fight For Kids account that claimed there were several children missing from a detention facility in Florida, adding “Where is the furor over this?”
“Nobody named Catherine Hutchins has ever lived here,” Lola Urduja said calmly.
The agent turned to Tala’s father. “According to our records, one Urduja Tawalisi owns this house.”
“Aye,” Tala’s father affirmed.
“A guardian to an Alex Smith.”
“Also true. Neither related nor affiliated to the lass you seek.”
“We have good reason to believe that Catherine Hutchins is in this country illegally and is in hiding on these premises.”
“They arresting white people now?” Tita Teejay muttered and was promptly shushed by Tita Chedeng.
“I’m sure ye think that,” Tala’s father said, “but y’gotta show a warrant all the same.”
The man glared. “You don’t sound American,” he accused.
“Scottish as they come,” Kay said, in his broguest brogue. “You trying tae intimidate us, mate?”
“It’s not our policy to intimidate anyone.”
“Sure.”
“We have every right to be here. We have court orders.” The man waved several pieces of paper at him, but stepped back when her father stretched out his hand. There was a faint hum as the other agents raised what looked to be radar guns. A bitter metallic taste filled Tala’s mouth, and she knew immediately they were much worse than that.
Tito Jose gazed steadily at the bunched documents in the agent’s hand, then silently caught Kay’s attention and signed hurriedly.
“On May 21, 1986, in Invierno, Arizona,” Tala’s father translated, “Millicent Cray, henceforth known as Petitioner, and Brian Appleton, henceforth known as Responder, married. An official copy of the marriage license is attached to this petition for dissolution of marriage. The—”
The agent jerked back, glanced down at the loose sheaves crumpled in his grip. “How did you…?” he began, realizing belatedly that he’d just given himself away.
“Seems like you’ve got no court orders or warrant, and you’re about to trespass. Tough luck about that divorce, though, laddie.”
The twin titas already had their phones out and were avidly recording the scene.
“We don’t need a warrant to search your place,” one of the men finally said. “We have reasonable cause.”
“Pretty sure that still needs a judge’s say-so.”
“Enough,” Agent Appleton snapped, still a crimson red. “Let’s go.”
The titos and titas watched and said nothing, but when the agents came within a few feet of Alex’s house, the humming died and the glow faded from their guns.
After some momentary confusion, the group huddled together for a few minutes. A couple returned to their cars to replace them, but with the same results. Finally they all re-holstered their devices, their leader turning away in disgust. Tala’s mother said nothing, but her eyes were narrowed in concentration, her breathing coming in slow, measured exhales.
“We can still arrest you for obstruction,” Appleton threatened.
“How so?” Tita Baby inquired. “We’re way over here.”
One of the agents took a threatening step toward them.
“No time,” Appleton snapped. “Just get in the house.”
“We’re not stopping them?” Tita Chedeng murmured, speaking in Tagalog as they disappeared inside.
“They won’t find anything,” Lola Urduja replied. “I made sure of that.”
Half an hour later the agents emerged, clearly displeased. They got into their cars without another word, and Tala relaxed once they’d driven off. She scampered out, ignoring her father’s warning look.
“Close call,” Tita Teejay muttered. “I bet you if they’d gotten those guns to work, they would have arrested us all.”
“Might come back,” Tito Jose signed.
General Luna turned away, spat. “Putanginang ICE,” he growled.
“Why are they looking for Miss Hutchins?” Tala asked. “And why do they think she’s here?”
“Because we smuggled her out of Arizona,” Lola Urduja said. “Barely. I’ve sent word to Chief Ohiteka. He and the rest of the Californians have offered their protection. They will bring her north if they can get through the next several checkpoints safely. Something must have alerted ICE to us.”
“Miss Hutchins is Avalonian,” Tala guessed. The Royal States had imposed stricter controls on immigration shortly after Avalon’s demise, and King Muddles’s hatred ensured they would be singled