Page 12 of Mann Hunt
“One large latte, and onepain au chocolat. Is that for here, or to go?”
“Here, please.”
“Have a seat and I’ll bring them right to you.”
He made his way to a small table in the corner where he could discreetly see who might be heading in for an interview ahead of him. Like any battle, it was important to know who the enemy was. He placed his portfolio case on the table in front of him so he wouldn’t forget it.
Gwen was there in a moment with his order. “I think you’ll like this,” she said of the pastry. “It’s my speciality.”
“You make them yourself?”
“You bet. I studied in Paris for six years.”
“And you ended up in Calgary?”
“Sometimes life has its own plans for us,” she said with a smile, then returned to behind the counter.
Charlie sipped his latte and stared out the window. No one had entered or exited the office of Declan Hunt Investigations. He must be the first interview.
He knocked back the rest of the drink. Coffee was probably not the best idea this morning. He already felt the caffeine doing laps around his circulatory system, and he knew that he’d have to pee—but not now. Not when he had the chance to go. His body would wait until mid-interview, then his knee would start to vibrate…like a five-year-old’s. He grabbed the pastry, shoved it into his mouth and bit down.
His teeth didn’t slice through it. His molars didn’t flatten it like a piece of bread. The pastry actually shattered in his mouth, like a glass Christmas tree ornament hitting the floor. His tastebuds were flooded with a burst of flavour as shards of buttery pastry flew through his mouth, across the table and all down the front of his clean white shirt. Then came the wave of chocolate. “Oh, my God!” Charlie covered his mouth, his eyes darting up to see if Gwen had seen him.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“This,” he said, holding up the pastry, “is the best thing I have ever tasted in my life! I bit into it, and it just…shattered in my mouth. You said you made this?”
“I most certainly did, and you have just given me the greatest gift a baker could receive. Thank you. And for that compliment, I’m giving you another one. And don’t you dare complain about the calories.”
She brought another pastry over and put it down in front of Charlie.
“This is pure alchemy,” he said.
Gwen laughed. “So what brings you to this part of the city? I haven’t seen you here before.”
“I’m applying for a job. Upstairs.”
“Oh,” she said with a certain inflection which elicited a “What’s wrong?” from Charlie.
“Nothing. Nothing at all.” She paused for a moment. “But you look pretty young to have much experience in detective work.”
“Oh, I’m just going for an office position. Do you know anything about the company? I mean, is it a good place to work? Did you know the person they’re replacing? Do you know why they left?”
“Slow down, and eat.” She sat down across from him. “I’m not going to be spreading any gossip aboutthe man upstairs. One thing I’ve learned in life is that when someone tells you something about another person, they’re either trying to sell you something you don’t need, or trying to stop you from buying something thattheywant. Just go in there and keep an open mind. Be honest, ‘cause if you don’t, it’ll just catch up to you. I’m a pretty good judge of character and you seem like a good kid, so just be yourself, and don’t let Declan scare you.”
What Charlie heard from Gwen’s speech was “I’m not going to spread rumours” and “Don’t let Declan scare you.” He started to panic then took a bite of the secondpain au chocolatand the calm washed over his body again.
“So,” Gwen interrupted him, “what time’s your interview?”
“Eleven.”
“Then you’d better go and take advantage of the washroom, brush yourself off and head up there.”
Charlie took her up on the offer. Before he left the washroom he brushed off any crumbs remaining on his shirt, fixed his moppish blond hair as best he could and returned to pay the bill.
After the transaction, Gwen handed him a box. “Here. Give these to Declan. If he says anything, tell him Iorderedyou to bring them up. Use those exact words.”
“Will do. And thanks for everything. I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
