Practice was over. Gregory picked up a towel to wipe some sweat from his face.

Thomas was about to towel off when a text arrived. “Son, I’ve got an emergency. Can you get a ride home?”

“No problem. Be careful out there.”

“I always am.”

When Thomas arrived at the scene, Joe approached with a grin on his face. “I can’t wait to hear why you are showing up to a crime scene looking like your wife.”

“I’ll tell you later. What’s the fuss?”

“Your man with the Gordian Knotted spells probably struck again. We’ve got three mannequin transformations that can’t be undone with standard spells. HQ sent out Amber and you know seers hate being sent out.”

“That bad?”

“The seer confirmed it’s your guy and that the spells can’t be reversed except by three separate rituals performed under separate full moons.

“It’ll take three months to restore them?”

“Given the other requirements, more like six. Each ritual also has a specific location requirement. One in Antarctica, one deep in the Amazon, and one at sea within the Arctic circle.”

“Seriously?”

“That last one is currently ice locked. Won’t be possible to get a ship to the location till May.” They entered the living room. “There’s not much to see here. But I figured you’d want to see the scene before we removed the mannequins and while stuff is mostly untouched.”

“Thanks. I’ll look around.”

“When you’re done, we’re gonna go get coffee, Mrs. Ryder.”

She just shook her head and entered the house. The three mannequins were identical and faceless. Presumably the guild would only be able to identify the victims through divination magic as well. She spent some time casting every sensory spell she knew. Just before giving up, she cast an ultraviolet sensing spell. Written on the wall of the living room was a message. She called Joe back into the room.

“If you stop looking for me, I won’t transform anyone else until you successfully release the first five mannequins I had to abandon. Otherwise, the next spell knot will require someone alive to die to release the others. Your move.”

“That’s going to involve a lot meetings with the higher up,” Joe said.

“Twenty-seven,” the seer, Amber, said as she entered.

“Coffee?”

Moments later at an all-night diner, “Let me get this straight,” said Amber. She put down the coffee cup she just drank from. “You turned your daughter’s boyfriend into a woman because they were spending time in your daughter’s bedroom. Yet, there was no evidence of any hanky-panky going on. And now they’re switching genders for the rest of their lives?”

“Yes.”

“Your son wants his marriage dance, traditionally with his mother, to be with you because if he were still a woman, she would have danced with her father?”

“Yes.”

“And they aren’t getting married for another year?”

“Right.”

“You’re up to speed,” Joe said. “The question is why are you a woman now?”

“Dancing lessons,” Amber said.

“Yes, Gregory insists we have to rule the dance floor,” Thomas said.

“So, petty revenge plays a part in this,” Amber said.

“Obviously.”

“How does Sonia feel about this?”

“She thoroughly enjoys when we body swap. She’s probably got some kind of seduction planned for when I get home.”

Amber laughed.

“You and her have sex when swapped?” Joe said.

Sonia’s face gave Amber an imploring look.

“Sorry, I am cursed to tell the truth.”

“Really?”

“What’s going on?” Joe said.

“You’re partner here is leaving out the part of the story where she enjoys having ‘Thomas’ do her far more than might be considered average and she’s excited to dance with Gregory.”

“You little slut.”

“I will go to HR and file a complaint, Joe.”

“Worth it. Who would have guessed all it takes to get prim and proper Thomas to loosen up is giving her a vagina?”

“I should never have answered the text.”

“Wouldn’t have helped,” Amber said “I didn’t know why I would be laughing in this restaurant tonight. But the vision I experienced yesterday matches what I’m seeing now perfectly. And you will look stunning in the metallic lamé, periwinkle dress.”

* * *

Thomas and Sonia lay in bed, their hearts racing, their bodies glistening with sweat. “Did you confess that we’ve been doing this every Saturday night for a couple decades now?”

“God, no.”

“You may as well. Joe’s going to razz you for months anyway. No use chancing him finding out about our weekly swap and getting razzed for an additional number of months at a later date.”

“I’ll take it under advisement.”

Sonia ran a finger around one of what was normally her body’s nipples. “You could experience this every night. We could swap in solidarity with our son. Until the wedding.”

“Begone foul tempter.”

“Drat. I far prefer being a foul temptress. Switch us back.”

Their bodies shimmered. It was now Thomas touching his wife’s nipple. “You were still erect?”

“Yes. And you know how ready my body is. What are you waiting for?”

He reached across her body so they could kiss. She shifted her legs to make it easier for him to get on top of her.

* * *

Thomas was in the kitchen making a batch of scrambled eggs when Becky entered the kitchen. “Good morning, Mr. Ryder.”

“That’s a bit awkward,” he said. “Could you grab some plates?”

She set several plates down on the table and put one in front of her seat and another where Thomas usually sat. “Awkward?”

“Call me Thomas or Dad. You’ll be part of the family soon.”

“Okay, Thomas.”

He dished out some eggs to each plate and sat down. “I didn’t think you two were serious for a long time.”

“We’re very serious.”

“I know. Do you want to know how I know?”

“I am curious.”

“Look at what you are wearing. Grace never dressed like that. Grace would wear something more Bohemian chic and frankly far more revealing. I’ve never seen you in such styles except when you were borrowing Grace’s clothes. You prefer more conservative clothes, layered more uniformly than the freer Boho style.”

“How does that make me serious?”

“You are your own woman. And you act that way. I suspect, and I have no desire to find out. I suspect if you and Greg broke up, you would remain Rebecca.”

“And Greg?”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

She nodded. “Did Greg get the desire to be a fashion designer from you?”

“No, no. I only dabble in understanding fashion. When Greg was younger, we would watch that fashion design runway competition show together. I had to learn a bit about style to keep up with her… his questions about the show.”

Greg entered the room and gave his father a hug before grabbing a plate and taking some eggs. “It’s okay if you say her when you’re referring to things Grace did with her Daddy.”

Thomas was touched. “I should get it right all the time.”

“Right is relative,” Greg said.

“Your mother is going to be mad she missed this conversation.”

Greg and Thomas nodded.

* * *

“It’s not like we have any leads as it is,” said Thomas, in his own body.

“We’re going to just leave those five women stuck?” Joe said.

“For now. It gives us time to undo the twenty-seven people found at the pool party and the three women found last week.”

“And once we free these people, how do we ask them about what happened to them without triggering our perp’s threat?”

“Not sure. We don’t have to cross that bridge today. Besides, there’s only been thirteen meetings about this. We still have fourteen to go if Amber was right.”

“I forgot about that.”

“Is that a coincidence?”

“What?”

“Twenty-seven. The alias Bernard Folkwell lived at 27 Henhouse Road. There were twenty-seven mannequins in the pool party.”

“That’s two. Two is usually a coincidence,” Joe said. “You aren’t thinking Amber’s predicted number of meetings is significant are you?”

“Should we ignore it?”

“Maybe if we find another twenty-seven. And you have to investigate it without being found out. During meeting eight of the first thirteen meetings we were told it was highly likely the threat delivered was highly possible.”

Thomas was looking through emails. “Check this out. Count all the unique people in those first eight meetings.”

“Twenty-seven. Fuck. So, in the meeting where the threat was determined to be very high, the twenty-seventh guild member was looped into this mess.”

“Looped into the meetings about the mess specifically. We had a bunch of people on the ground dealing with the entire issue up to that point.”

“Still seems a bit specious.”

“Yes, it does. Don’t tell anyone. I’ll follow this lead myself.”

“I have no idea what we’ve been talking about.”

“Good man.”

* * *

Thirteen people attended the fourteenth meeting. Before it began, Thomas interrupted.

“Before this meeting starts, I have a few things to announce.”

“We’ll miss you, Thomas,” Amber said.

He smiled. “Thanks. But, a bit too early. I was about to say I am resigning from the Guild.”

“I knew.”

“My resignation starts immediately after I make two requests:

“One. Further review of the Mannequin Maker’s ultraviolet request reveals that it can be used as part of a wizard’s pack. The Guild would have to make a public statement to the effect that they acknowledge the Mannequin Maker’s conditions. Once that happens, the Guild would be incapable of continued investigation into the identity or whereabouts of the Maker and the Maker would be barred from creating more mannequins until the original five mannequins were fully restored.

“I recommend the Guild put out a public statement after my resignation is approved.

“Two. I would request that the original five mannequins be placed in the care of a third party organization such as the company my son formed last night. His organization plans to display the mannequins in plain sight so the terms of the pact made between the Maker and the Guild can be confirmed at any time.

“Coincidentally, annual cost for the storage would be equal to my final annual salary. If these conditions are met, I will leave immediately and I would also recommend that this meeting not take place.”

“Thomas came to me with this idea last night,” Arthur said. Arthur was the Transformations Division head. “I have approved all of this. Thomas, your desk is being cleaned out right now. Meredith is consulting with Legal about issuing the statement. Let me be the second to say, we will miss you around here.”

“Thanks.”

“And unless there are objections, this meeting is adjourned.”

Everyone in the meeting offered Thomas their well wishes or thanks for his service. Joe was the last. “You didn’t warn me about this.”

“Arthur’s office and this room are guarded against eavesdropping. I didn’t want to chance the Maker finding out about this before the statement is issued.”

“You’re going to continue working on the case.”

“Not at all,” Thomas said with a smile on his face. “You will find out that anyone who ask me will tell you I’m retiring early.”

“Of course.”

* * *

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Handing in my badge was harder than I thought it would be.”

“I’m guessing since you switched us, you want to have sex.”

“Actually, no. I just want you to hold me.”

“Okay. Let me take you into my strong masculine arms.”

“Don’t make it weird.”

Sonia held his wife in his arms until they both fell asleep.

When they woke in the morning, Sonia received her first morning wood oral sensation. Thomas was lazily sucking on the cock she was most familiar with from a very different angle. When she heard him stir, she increased her effort.

“I can’t believe you’re doing that,” Sonia said.

“I’ve never asked you to do something I wasn’t willing to do,” Thomas said haltingly.

“I’d like to continue this a bit more missionary style.”

“I’m happy to do that as well.” As they changed positions, she added, “I don’t have anywhere to be today.”

“Yes, I will need my body back for work, preferably without a fresh load of cum in its mouth.”

“Are you implying I would cancel our swap spell at an unseemly time?”

“No, but even if you swallow, I’d still taste it after the swap.”

“I’m fairly certain I could have brushed your teeth before we swapped back.”

“Do you want me to cum in your mouth?”

“I’m happy with anything you want to do.”

“Maybe you should have retired sooner.”

When they were done, Thomas got out of bed first. “I’ll take your shower for you. Wouldn’t want to return you to a soiled body.”

Sonia rolled his eyes. “How considerate.” He got up and made due with using the toilet and washing his face at the sink before going to the kitchen. Gregory and Rebecca were there.

“Hi, Mom,” Gregory said.

“How did you know?”

“You don’t walk like Dad. We made eggs and bacon if you’d like to eat.”

“No, I’ll wait. If I eat now, I’ll feel funny when I eat in my own body. I’ll just have some juice. I don’t think Thomas will want coffee this morning.”

“It’s going to be odd to see him around here all day,” Becca said.

“I’m sure he’ll spend most of his time doing research in his office.”

“I know he quit his job so he could continue doing his job. But he should take a day off.”

“Don’t tell me, Greg. Tell him.”

Sonia’s voice called out from the stairs. “Ready to swap?”

“Yes,” Thomas’ body responded.

He picked up the glass. “Juice? Good call. Hello, kids.”

“Hi, Dad.”

“Hi, Thomas.”

Sonia entered the kitchen. She was fully dressed and ready to go to work. She gave Thomas a kiss and sat down. Greg put plates of food in front of them both. “What are you plans for your first day off in forever, Dad?”

“I’m going to do nothing today. I haven’t done nothing in a long time. Tomorrow we will receive the mannequins and I have some plans for that. But today, other than some Internet surfing, I have no plans.”

“We should take you to lunch,” Becca said.

“We should.”

“I’d love to go.”

* * *

The three of them went to lunch a bit early to accommodate Becky’s work schedule. They sat at a booth in an Italian restaurant the family used to visit far more often than had in recent years.

“Why did you pick this place?” Thomas said.

“Two reasons. We haven’t been here in a while,” Gregory said. “And it is close to one of the stores I’m targeting.”

“For the mannequins? Great.”

“Not because of the transformation over there?”

“Huh?” Gregory and Becky weren’t sure what Thomas was referring to. Looking where he was looking, there was a bas relief style mural on the wall. The figure of a woman was the prominent part of the mural that stuck out from the wall.

“The peasant woman?” Becky said.

“She’s alive. I think she can tell we’re all looking at her.”

Becky gave the figure a little wave.

“Oh, of course,” a man who just approached their table said. “Signor Ryder would know about Francesca's mural.”

“Luigi, it’s been too long. That’s your daughter, Francesca?”

“Sì. She is merged into the mural by a friend. Once a year, during the winter holidays, we get to see her smiling face and then after New Year’s, she part of the scenery again.”

“She was only twelve the last time I saw her?”

“That’s because you only order take out.”

“My apologies Luigi. I will tell Sonia and she’ll ensure we show up here more often.”

“Grazie, Thomas.”

After lunch, Becky and Gregory kissed good bye and she went to work.

Gregory led Thomas on foot to a nearby clothing store. As they reached the store front, Gregory said, “Here it is. What do you think?”

“Seriously, this is the place?” He looked at the store front and was not surprised that the building number was 2727. No reason to tell Gregory that. He said, “I think you picked this store because they already do transformations.”

“I knew you’d notice.” Gregory said. A very realistic mannequin stood behind the display window of the store. He pointed to it. “That’s Alicia. I’ve known her for a while.”

“Is she the one who asked me about a permanent transformation when she was like fourteen or fifteen?”

“That’s her.”

“Gregory! Is this your father?”

Gregory embraced the man exiting the shop. “Michael, meet my father, Thomas.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you Inspector. Please come in.”

“I’m not an inspector any longer,” Thomas said. “Strange as that is to say.”

“Life is all about change. Certainly a fellow transmuter knows that.”

“You’re licensed?”

“Once a cop, always a cop. Yes, I’m licensed. Would you like to restore Alicia? She would be thrilled.”

“You want me to turn her back to human?”

“Yes, she had an excellent idea.”

In a blink, Alicia was human. Conspiratorially, she said, “We should talk in the office. Good to see you, Gregory. And it’s been a while since I last saw you, Mr. Ryder.”

“You’re an adult now. You can call me Thomas.” Michael closed the door to the office. After they sat down, Thomas said, “What’s so secret?”

“Michael, light the candle.”

“Okay.” Michael took an old candle out of the bottom drawer of his desk. He placed it on the desk and lit it.

“You have a screening candle? What’s so important?”

Michael said, “When Gregory came to me about storing five living mannequins, my team, headed by Alicia, became very curious. From what we understand, the five mannequins cannot be restored by simple means.”

“Yes. All of them have to be restored at once and one of the subjects has no desire to stop being a mannequin.”

“Just like me,” Alicia said.

“You still want to be transformed permanently?”

“Well, maybe for a few decades, or so. The idea we had was, what if you substituted different people into the existing spell in order to remove the women who want to return to the living?”

“That would be simple enough based on what I know of the enchantment. That’s brilliant. Do you have four volunteers?”

Michael and Alicia frowned, “Just three. But maybe word of mouth could solve that.”

“Or maybe a rotating group of women could take turns that weren’t years at a time.”

“I wonder if Francesca would be interested,” Gregory said.

They told Michael and Alicia who Francesca was.

“This is an excellent turn of events. Let’s create some contracts and make it legal.”

---

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