December 19, 2003 – noon
"There is still a hold on your name, right?" said Erik.
"In Scotland? Why not in London?" said Henry.
"Yes, but considering Blue Thunder is technically a citizen of England, she doesn't have jurisdiction over me. I could still be walking into a trap, however, so I still made sure of that. Not sure why she wants to meet there, but I think it's better there than in London. Even with a hold on my name, I'm not too keen on walking around the SIS headquarters. Taking my flight from Scotland instead sounds like a better idea anyway."
She tried to call Frank on her way to Scotland but got no response. She hoped he was still asleep and tried not to overthink it, but she was worried. As she was hovering above the meeting spot, Frank called her back.
"That was you trying to call, right?" said Frank as soon as she answered.
"Yeah, everything okay?"
"Yes. I was in the shower. Wanted to take my phone in the bathroom just in case you'd call, but my scattered brain forgot it next to the coffee machine, so I didn't hear it. How did it go? Are you finally free?"
"I'm free, yes, but I'm about to meet with my MI6 contact. Do you have to leave soon or will you be still at home for the next few hours?"
"I only have a meeting to attend this afternoon… I hoped you'd return home today, so I ensured I wouldn't have anything tonight and tomorrow."
"I'll call you when my meeting is over and I'll tell you more. In the meantime, can you please look for a late-night or early-morning flight from Edinburgh to Montreal for me? Or from Glasgow, whichever."
"To book you a flight home? Yes, of course, I'll do that for you, luv."
"Thanks. I still have a lot of eyes on me, but you were right, I can hide in plain sight using my civil name, so I think it'd be better if I get back home by plane. You could then pick me up at the airport and neighbours won't question the story you told them."
A few minutes later, she landed near the meeting spot, behind a tree line. She put on her eyeglasses and wrist binds, and made sure that she had no elemental paraphernalia on her before stepping out of the treeline to meet with her contact.
"Blue Thunder, finally we get to meet in person again!"
"Your friend isn't here to capture me, I hope," said Coralis, looking at the man beside her, whom she remembered being from the MI5.
"No, on the contrary. You remember Mal, from our sister branch?"
"I do, vaguely, but I do remember," said Coralis, glancing at Mal.
"Nancy contacted me after talking to you on November 23rd and last night, she sent me a copy of the evidence sent to her regarding Massina's murder."
"It is not official yet, but we have recommended the removal of your name from the Most Wanted Witches and have it replaced by the name of Jorgie Fluk," said Nancy.
"Thank you for that. Even if it doesn't go through, I appreciate the recommendation."
"The people who have uncovered the truth regarding your case and gathered the evidence, are they on one of the lists?"
"Most of them. You know Andrew Waterway, he was the one in charge of my case and was with me at the warehouse that night. Sebastian Larameer has witnessed Fluk spying on me twice and helped me on a few cases. It's probably why he's been added to the Other Ones list a few weeks ago. He helped Andrew gather the evidence against Jorgie. Erik and Henry Fullemon have restored the camera footage and assembled the timeline. We think they've been added to that list because they were seen helping on my case."
Mal wrote everything down while Nancy had a small recording device turned on.
"I was impressed by their work. They have done a better job with it than the detectives on the case. The evidence we had gathered couldn't prove anything, and accusations laid against you were based on reports we received. I have a small unit who is still looking into it, someone has been covering up major details," said Mal.
"It has come to our attention that your contract with the EBEE has been dissolved following the murder accusation. Is that correct?" said Nancy.
"Yes. They have offered to reinstate me this morning, but I declined."
"Would you consider applying to work for the Secret Services?" said Nancy.
"According to information we have on you, you have been officially residing in the UK for 8 years. Unofficially, you have been residing here for 13 years. We haven't been able to confirm that, so we would need to look into it. I think you would make a formidable recruit. In this witch hunt climate, we need someone with your abilities and knowledge of this supernatural world."
"Other intelligence agencies may have a different opinion of you, but I have been working alongside you enough to know that nothing is what it seems. In my opinion, it is better to have you fighting on our side, as you have done so far than to have you against us, which is a likely outcome if global authorities persist on hunting you down over false beliefs."
"While I am genuinely touched by this turn of events, I will decline the suggestion to apply for a career in the Secret Services. As you probably have heard, I got engaged a few weeks ago. At the moment, I need to be focusing on that aspect of my personal life if I want to keep him safe despite people wanting me dead."
"We have heard, indeed. I also know that you are still contracted to an extreme sports organization called The Northerners and that you recently took down Vladina Murita. I understand why you may not want to sign up with a different institution just yet, but would you still be interested in collaborating with us as a consultant and helping us root out the actual evil witches that pose a threat to all of us?" said Nancy.
"Yes. That, I am willing to do."
A few minutes later, she was back in the air. Before calling back Frank, she updated Erik and Henry: there was a possibility that their names would be taken off the British list. She landed on the rooftop of a skyrise after ending her hologram call with them.
She sat down against the ledge, away from the cameras and the door leading to the rooftop, and called Frank. After he gave her the flight details, she told him all about the meeting she had with the EBEE elders and about the meeting she just had with the Secret Services. Frank was thrilled to hear about her news. He could finally see some light through the doom and gloom.
Her flight was from Edinburgh, with a layover in Paris, and she had enough time to make a stop by Kief and Barla Fullemon before she had to be at the airport. She made sure that they would be home before heading to their house. On her way there, she updated Hendrick about her situation: Dimitri DeMarco could be trusted.
At the airport, wanting to blend in better, she decided to shop for a headset and a device for listening to human music. She didn't know what to get. The salesperson tried to explain to her that in transit, it was better to use a device in which she could download songs she liked, but she was confused, so she walked out of the store without getting anything.
Wanting to call Frank to ask him for advice on how to listen to human music while waiting for her flight, after realizing things have changed in recent years, she stood by a store selling magazines.
She overheard conversations. Three girls were gossiping about rumours linking Frank to an actress and how they found him hot.