Page 60 of Slouch Witch
‘He didn’t speak to me very often,’ Weathers answered. ‘But I’m only a Neophyte and I don’t have much aptitude for magic. I mean,’ he said hastily, with a backward glance at Winter, ‘I can do the basics but I’m not that talented.’
‘Maybe you just need to find your niche,’ I suggested.
‘I thought I was doing well,’ he said in a low voice. ‘But Adeptus Diall set me straight. I have a lot to learn. I’m not sure I’ll ever progress.’
I nudged Winter meaningfully. Maybe Diall hadn’t just worked on elevating those whose talent was inferior; he might also have tried to keep down those with genuine abilities. So much for Order honour.
Winter nodded, acknowledging my meaning. ‘What have your duties been?’ he asked Weathers.
‘Manning the desk. That’s what I do.’
‘You’ve not been sent out on any recent errands?’
Weathers let out a humourless laugh. ‘No. I don’t go anywhere.’
No doubt Winter would insist on double-checking this but I was certain that the receptionist was telling the truth; we weren’t going to find anything more useful from him.
‘You know,’ I said, feeling sorry for the young man, ‘we would make a great team. The three of us, I mean. We’d be Wilde Wintry Weather. We should start our own agency immediately.’
Winter raised his eyes to the heavens. I shrugged. I thought it was agreatidea. Judging by the way Weathers’ shoulders were shaking, he did too.
Weathers deposited the pair of us in a pentagonal meeting room; another acknowledgment of the abilities of Geomancy no doubt. Seemingly from out of nowhere, Winter pulled out a sheet of paper with a list of names on it. I peered over his shoulder. There had to be at least twenty people. I heaved a silent sigh of despair. We were going to be here forever.
‘You should take the lead in the interviews,’ Winter said, surprising me.
I blinked. ‘Why?’
‘Because people seem to like you. You have a way of getting them to open up. Look at that man there. Weathers. I thought he was going to tell you his whole life story.’
I pursed my lips. ‘I’ve been a taxi driver for quite a few years,’ I said. ‘And people like to chat. Maybe it’s rubbed off.’ I grinned. ‘That, or I’m supremely talented.’
Winter smirked as if the idea were ridiculous and I punched him in the arm. He yelped, startling the first interviewee who almost backed out of the room again.
‘Come in, come in!’ I called out cheerfully. ‘I’m just beating up my associate.’
The woman shuffled into the room, throwing me a wary glance. She sat down on the chair in front of us, perching on the edge in case she had to make a run for it. So much for my winning ways.
I knitted my fingers underneath my chin and relaxed. ‘Hi.’ I checked the sheet. ‘Bethany.’
‘Hi,’ she responded.
I thought about how to start. Given how many names there were on the list, and that I wanted to get home again before the next millennium was up, I decided there was no point in beating around the bush. ‘Have you ever stolen anything for Adeptus Diall?’
Shock rippled across her face. ‘What? I … what? No!’
‘What was the last thing he asked you to do?’
‘Make him a cup of coffee.’
I leant forward. ‘How did he take his coffee?’
‘Three sugars.’ She stared wildly at Winter as if praying he would rescue her. He didn’t.
‘You may go now,’ I said, dismissing her.
‘But…’
‘Go! Shoo!’ I waved her off. ‘Send in the next one.’
