Page 82 of Upside Down Magic

Theinsides were the same as any office building anywhere: beige carpet, gray walls, modern white furniture.Theman at the reception desk didn’t appear too impressed by our presence, but he was extremely polite when informing us thatCaswelldidn’t work onFridays.

“Whynot?”Iasked in what, in retrospect, was a pretty dumb way.

Thereceptionist pushed his glasses up his nose. “Becausehe doesn’t work onFridays.”

“Wherecan we find him then?”Iasked, leaning on the counter.

Theman eyed my forearms like they were sausages about to burst and spill pork innards all over the pristine surface. “Iwouldn’t know.”

“Whatabout his phone number?CanIhave that?”

Hetensed immediately, andIrealized that in my hurryI’dcommitted the ultimate offense—asking for personal information without even trying to buy into his good graces.

“I’msorry, but we can’t give away personal information,” he said very stiffly. “Ifyou want an appointment for a quote,Isuggest you use the online form.”

Alexleaned in on my other side, his charming surfer grin at full intensity. “Hey, man.Areyou sure?We’rekind of in a pickle here, and it’d help us a ton.”

Thatusually got a reluctant smile and a tendency to help out of strangers, but, unfortunately, my sin was too grave, and the man simply glared atAlexlike he, too, was a sausage about to burst and spill animal innards everywhere.

“Pleaseleave now.”

Alexpouted endearingly, but the man’s freezing stare didn’t change.Concedingdefeat,Alexstood back from the counter and lifted his hands in surrender. “We’regoing.We’regoing.”Hewinked at the receptionist. “ButIcan be back later alone if you want me to.”

Fromthe way the temperature dropped to minus degrees and the metaphorical icicles that formed around us, he did not want to.

“Whatnow?”Ipondered aloud once we were out in the much warmer, if still necessitating a good winter jacket, outside. “Anyword from your friends?”

Alexchecked his phone and shook his head. “Nothing, boss.Butmaybe we can figure outCaswell’sinfo online?Itmight be out there somewhere.Maybehis social media?”

“Goodidea.Let’scheck that out.”Ihad a sudden idea. “Weshould askApril.”

Whyhadn’t it occurred to me before?AprilwasOlmeda’stop busybody.Thanksto her long years of working at the city’s only paranormal tax accountant and aided by her insatiable thirst for gossip,Aprilknew everything there was to know about everyone.

Themoment we were back in theSUVwithRufusIcalled her.

“Hey,Hope,” she said cheerfully. “I’mso glad you called.”

“Youare?”Iasked, surprised.

“Ofcourse!Iwas starting to get worried, you know.”

“Youwere?”Iglanced atAlex, wondering if he knew why this conversation was starting so weirdly.Hewas busy checking his phone.Rufus’sunruffled doggy stare was no help either. “Isee.”

“So?”

“So…?”Iracked my brain, trying to figure out ifI’dforgotten some important date.Maybeit was her birthday?

Shelet out a good-natured sound of frustration. “Arewe in?”

“In…?”Iwinced, bracing myself for her aggravation.

“TheChristmasevent, silly,” she said cheerfully. “Arewe in?Iknow air conditioners are not exactly very festive, butIthink we can make it work!”

Thedentist’s officeAprilused to work for had shut down, so she was now working as a receptionist at a smallHVACbusiness in town.Afterher old boss’s death, one could only hope this wasn’t the start of a string of bad luck to the places that hired her.

“Hope?” she prodded.

“Yes, uh, we’ll think of something,I’msure.”Ididn’t know how anA/Ccompany fit with aChristmasevent, butIhad to giveher something ifIwanted her full cooperation.Disappointedgossipmongers weren’t as eager to share as happy ones.

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