“To assume that they are all exactly
the same would be as ludicrous as saying that Catholicism and
Judaism are exactly the same thing. You all know, and accept I
might add, that there are numerous facets of Christian and
mainstream religions... There are the Catholics, the Baptists, the
Lutherans, and the Jewish... just to name a few. It is the same for
other faiths as well. The whole reason behind this lecture is to
show you that just because someone doesn’t follow what is
considered by the masses as a mainstream religion, it doesn’t make
them evil. Being a Druid, Buddhist, or even an atheist doesn’t mean
that you have any more proclivities toward violence than anyone
else. This seminar could be given by any open-minded individual of
any religion. It just so happens that I am a Witch.”
“I still think you’re hiding something,” the
young rookie in the front row spat.
A deeper, coarser voice issued from the back
of the room, “Then ya’ obviously didn’t pay attention, did
ya’?”
Heads quickly swiveled at the sound of the
unfamiliar voice and were greeted by a six-foot-six column of
muscle. Clad in casual tan slacks and knit sweater with a gold
shield clipped to his belt, the classically angular features of the
Native American were carved from dusty red granite. His hardened
face was framed by jet-black hair worn at a length just barely
within tolerance of his superiors. Dark eyes that had already
witnessed far too much suffering for one lifetime focused tightly
on the crew-cut patrolman. Detective Benjamin Storm pressed the
door shut behind himself and ventured farther into the room.
“Sorry for the interruption.” He nodded at me
and slid into the first empty chair he spotted. Even seated, he
towered over the rest of the group. “Please continue.”
Gnawing sensations tickling my lower abdomen
prompted me to glance at my watch. The fact that Ben was here
joined in to tell me that lunchtime was just the other side of
now.
“Well, that pretty much concludes the
lecture...unless there are any more questions?”
I can only assume that fear of retribution
from the large man in the back row kept the
heretofore-argumentative patrolman from continuing his verbal
attack. As for the rest of the officers, I was certain that their
minds were just as occupied by the thought of filling their
stomachs as mine was. The room remained silent, and not a single
hand moved to rise.
“...Then you all have my number on the
handout I gave you. If something comes to mind, don’t hesitate to
call me. I’ll be glad to answer any questions.”
Low-pitched squeals of rubber-footed, metal
chairs against unwaxed linoleum joined with the quiet mumblings and
shuffle of footsteps. As the sea of dark blue funneled through the
now-open doorway, a few of the officers took a moment to shake my
hand and thank me for the presentation. The literature-bearing
heckler, however, maintained a wide berth and held his gaze
elsewhere. As he made his way out, Ben stood and motioned him to
the side. There followed a short private exchange between the two,
and he let out what appeared to be a nervous laugh. Ben’s face bore
a wide grin as he clapped the young patrolman on the back with a
meaty paw and sent him to join his fellow officers.
“What did you say to that guy?” I asked when
the room was finally clear and my friend sauntered to the
front.
“Who? The jerkoff?” He angled his thumb over
his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. “I told him if I found out
about him harassing you on the phone or anything, that I’d shove
his night-stick so far up his ass it’d take a team of proctologists
a week just to find it.”
“You know, Ben, intimidation isn’t exactly
the message I was trying to get across to these people today.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” He brought a hand up to
smooth back his hair and left it resting on the back of his neck, a
mannerism I’d long ago learned to be a blatant signal that my
friend had something of