“So I got a lawyer, and took her to court. That’s when she came up with that crazy story about me molesting the kids. There was no evidence, and the psychologist who talked to the girls said that they denied it. But then this Jonathan guy stood up in court and started talking about how he’d seen me . . . doing things,” Ivan choked on the words, remembering how awful it had been, everyone staring at him with accusing eyes, filled with doubt that somehow changed to unwavering disgust.
“The judge believed him. The social worker there to represent the kids’ interests believed him. Hell, even my own lawyer believed him. Guy quit on me as soon as we walked out of court. That was two months ago, and I haven’t been able to see the girls since. I’m worried about what’s happening to them, out on that ranch. And I miss them so, so much—”
His voice cracked, and he had to stop to blow his nose. When he gazed across at her, Barbara asked the question that seemed most obvious.
“So this man, how was he able to persuade all these people? Bribery?”
Ivan shrugged. “I figured he was one of those really charismatic figures you hear about, like the ones who end up leading cults full of people who think they’re gods or something. But my babushka swore he was using some kind of magic.” He glanced around the inside of the Airstream, then looked at Chudo-Yudo. “I thought she was crazy, to be honest, but now, I don’t know . . .”
“Hmmm,” Barbara said. “But then why didn’t he convince you to just drop the case and leave your wife and children with him? Surely that would have been simpler than casting a spell on an entire courtroom full of people, or whatever it is your grandmother thinks he did.”
“Oh, he tried,” Ivan said, curling his lip in disgust. “He told me that I didn’t want them anymore, and to go home and forget about them. As if simply saying it would make it true. Asshole.” He suddenly remembered who he was talking to. “Sorry. I mean, jerk.”
Barbara laughed. “Don’t worry about it. It sounds like he was an asshole, all right.” She gave him a thoughtful glance from under long dark lashes. “So, how did he react when you didn’t do what he said?”
Ivan said flatly, “He was shocked. It was as if he actually expected me to give up my children, just because he told me to.”
“Isn’t that interesting?” Chudo-Yudo said, to no one in particular.
“Yes, it is,” Barbara replied. “It certainly is.”
***
Barbara tapped her fingers against her leg as she thought. There was definitely something odd going on here. But one piece didn’t fit.
“So, this Jonathan could convince a whole room full of people, including your own lawyer, but you were somehow immune to his charm?”
Ivan shrugged. “I don’t know why, but yeah. Of course, I knew I was telling the truth, and there was no way I was going to walk away from my own children.”
She had a feeling there was more to it than that.
“I’m going to test a theory,” she said, a grin twitching into place and then vanishing again like a mirage. “Don’t worry—this won’t hurt a bit.”
Chudo-Yudo sat up alertly as she swirled her index finger through a couple of arcane symbols and muttered a spell under her breath. A green light shot out of the tip of her finger and hovered around Ivan’s chest before dissipating into a mossy-looking mist and slowly sinking into the carpet.
“Hey!” Ivan said, holding up both hands in front of him defensively. “What the hell was that?” His mug, on the floor again, made a funny croaking noise and wiggled in place.
Barbara snorted down her long nose. Humans—they always overreacted to a little harmless magic.
“Don’t be such a sissy,” she said. “I was just going to turn you into a frog for a minute. I would have turned you right back.”
Her guest turned pale. “A frog? You can do that? Why would you do that?”
“It was an experiment,” she said calmly. “And it proved my point.”
“It did? What point?” Ivan patted himself a few times, as if to make sure he still had all the limbs he’d started out with. “Jeez.”
“Magic doesn’t work against you,” Barbara said, trying to be patient as she explained the obvious. “I wonder why that is.”
“Oh.” Ivan stilled. “It might have something to do with this.” He pulled a small waterproof pouch out of his shirt, where it hung from a thin leather thong. “My babushka gave me this years ago, when I left home. She made me promise to wear it all the time. Grace used to tease me about it, but it always felt like a little bit of my grandmother’s love was always with me. It was comforting, you know? Besides, you should always do what your babushka says.”