Jack's windfall

Jack Sapphire stared out his window. It had been snowing for the last few hours, and at this time of night, an unusual quiet had enveloped Rochester. He glanced at the clock, and realized it was more appropriate to call it morning. He turned around and went to his desk.

On his desk was a file filled with receipts, pictures, and documents he had found regarding the young Jaime Phelps, a missing 13 year old. His mother was searching for the boy, and was desperate. Jack rubbed his tired eyes, realizing what he had to do in order to get a clue.

He pulled out a small black book from his back pocket, and fished through the pages. Each had an esoteric symbol, a link to one of the many spirits Jack was aware of. He went to the whiteboard he had on the table, and began drawing one of them. When he finished, he grabbed a shot glass, and filled it with milk. Adding a bit of bacon on top, he placed the glass in the center of the symbol, and waited.

Soon, a haze appears around the board, and Jack stands up. He approaches the board, and sees the Daemon he summoned; Squat and toad-like in appearance, with heavy eyelids and a stench that was practically visible. It turned to him, drinking down the milk as it curdled in contact with it's foul lips.

"Spirit of filth, watcher of garbage, I have called upon you for information. I speak your name, Gamentum." With that, the mystic bindings snap into place, and Gamentum seemed to have just realized Jack was in the room. "This human child is missing from his household, and is wanted by his kin. You exist where ever there is filth. Find him and report his location to me."

Gamentum scrunched it's face, looking almost like a putrid raisin, and focused. It then spit a foul ichor, hitting a map in a specific location. The ichor stuck like tar, pointing to a location in the 19th ward. Arnett street and Thurston, near the Baptist church. Jack smiled. He could find the boy quickly with this clue. He thanked the spirit, who vanished with only the smell of garbage left behind.

He started to put on his coat and left his apartment. He got in his old sedan, and soon arrived at the church. He walked behind it, and soon found a dumpster. He focused, and could hear the child shivering. He calmed himself, picked up an empty bottle, and walked to the dumpster. As he did, there was Jaime; the boy was shivering even in his coat. The boy immediately looked up in shock.

"Hello Jaime." Jack said, holding out his hand. The boy looked years younger than 13, and obviously hadn't eaten in days. "Want something to eat?"

A few minutes later, they were at an all night diner. He watched as the famished child devoured a massive steak and eggs meal. Jack winced at the price, but knew this would help. "How do you feel, kid?"

Jaime looked down. "How did you find me?" Jack smiled grimly. "Oh that doesn't matter. You know your mom misses you, right?" The child frowned. "I just want to be me, you know? And she kept insisting I didn't know what I was. Did she tell you to find me?"

Jack shook his head. "No, you can say I work for the city. Your mother has never met me before." He opened his hands, and revealed a deck of cards. He shuffled with great speed, then dropped 3 cards face down. Jaime watched, fascinated with Jack's nimble fingers. Jack revealed the first card, a battered black Joker. "Your current state. If this was a tarot deck, you would be a hanged man, stuck in the middle of the understanding and confusion." Jack revealed the next card, 2 of hearts. "You were raised a boy, and yet, you get these feelings, these urges." Jaime's eyes open wide. "There is nothing wrong with those feelings. What your mother said was said with confusion. She has thought about it, and will probably be more accepting to listening to you."

Jaime stared at the final card. If one was the present, and the other was the past... Jack flipped it over, and revealed the Queen of hearts, smiling. "Jaime, stay true to yourself, and you will turn out ok. I am going to take you back to your mother's house, you say your peace, and you will be alright." Jaime smiled, tears overflowing.

From there, it was a short trip to drop Jaime off. He watched from his car as the boy entered his home, hopefully to stay. When Jack got back to his apartment, his door had an envelope wedged in below it. When he opened it, there was a lotto scratch off inside. He smiled. Grand prize was $2 million? That was far more than he was expecting. He recognized that this was the way the spirits of the city would pay him. He pulled out an old coin and started scratching.

"$20,000?" Jack's mind reeled at this. While no where near the grand prize, it was still far more than his usual $400 or $500. The urban shaman then realized that this was preparing him. He would need this money in the future. He just had to be ready.