Dead Witch Walking

I'd gotten another yummy look at him last night when he took off his jacket after everyone went home. The man had a very strong back. Why he kept it hidden behind that jacket was both a mystery and a crime. His tight stomach was even better. He had to work out, though I don't know where he found the time. I would have given anything to see him in a bathing suit—or less. His legs had to be just as muscular, being the expert rider he was reputed to be. And if it sounded like I was a sex-starved nympho… Well, I didn't have anything to do but watch him.

Trent had worked long after sunset yesterday, seemingly alone in the silent building. The only light had been from that fake window. It slowly paled as the sun went down, mirroring the natural light outside until he clicked on the desk lamp. I had caught myself drowsing several times, waking up when he turned a page or the printer hummed to life. He hadn't quit until Jonathan came by to remind him to eat. I guess he earned his money, same as I did. 'Course, he had two jobs, being a reputable businessman and drug lord both. Probably filled up one's day right nicely.

My hammock swayed as I watched Trent choose a disc. It spun up, and the soft cadence of drums drifted into existence. Eyeing me, Trent adjusted his gray linen suit and smoothed his wispy hair as if daring me to say anything. I gave him a sleepy thumbs-up, and his frown deepened. It wasn't the stuff I liked, but it was okay. This was older, carrying a forgotten sound of bound intensity, of lost sorrow chained to stir the soul. It wasn't half bad.

I could get used to this, I mused as I carefully stretched my healing body. I hadn't slept this well since I quit the I.S. It was ironic that here, in a cage in a drug lord's office, I was safe from my I.S. death threat.

Trent settled himself back at his work, his pen occasionally accompanying the drums as he paused in thought. Obviously this was one of his favorites. I slipped in and out of sleep as the afternoon wore on, soothed by the rumble of drums and whisper of music. The occasional phone call sent Trent's mellow voice to rise and fall in a soothing sound, and I found myself eagerly waiting for the next interruption just so I could hear it.

It was a commotion in the hall that jerked me from sleep. 'I know where his office is,' boomed an overly confident voice, reminding me of one of my more arrogant professors.

There was a half-heard scolding from Sara Jane, and Trent met my inquiring gaze.

'Turn it all to hell,' he muttered, the corners of his expressive eyes crinkling. 'I told him to send one of his assistants.' He dug about in a drawer with unusual haste, the clatter bringing me fully awake. I blinked the sleep from me as he pointed a remote at the player. The pipes and drums ceased. He tossed the remote back into the drawer with a resigned air. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that Trent liked having someone to share his day with, someone he didn't have to pretend to be anything but what he was— whatever he was. His anger at Francis had set my creepy meter off the scale.

Sara Jane knocked and came in. 'Mr. Faris is here to see you, Mr. Kalamack?'

Trent took a slow breath. He didn't look happy. 'Send him in.'

'Yes sir.' She left the door open and her heels clicked away. They soon returned as she escorted in a heavyset man wearing a dark gray lab coat. The man looked huge standing beside the small woman. Sara Jane left, her eyes pinched in a lingering worry.

'Can't say I like your new secretary,' Faris grumbled as the door closed. 'Sara, is it?'

Trent rose to his feet and extended his hand, his distaste hidden behind his sincere-looking smile. 'Faris. Thanks for coming on such short notice. It's only a small matter. One of your assistants would have been fine. I trust I haven't interrupted your research too badly?'

'Not at all. I'm always glad to get up into the sun,' he puffed as if winded.

Faris squeezed the bites I had given Trent yesterday, and Trent's smile froze. The heavy man wedged himself into the chair across from Trent's desk as if he owned it. He propped an ankle up on one knee, sending his lab coat to fall open to show dress slacks and shiny shoes. A dark stain spotted his lapel, and the smell of disinfectant flowed from him, almost hiding the scent of redwood. Old pocketmarked scars were scattered across his cheeks and the skin visible on his beefy hands.

Trent returned to behind his desk and leaned back, hiding his bandaged hand under the other one. There was a moment of silence.

'So, what do you want?' Faris demanded, his voice rumbling.

I thought I saw a flash of annoyance cross Trent. 'Direct as usual,' he said. 'Tell me what you can about this?'

He had pointed to me, and my breath caught. Disregarding my lingering stiffness, I lurched into my hut. Faris levered himself to his feet with a groan, and the sharp scent of redwood crashed over me as he came close. 'Well well,' he said. 'Aren't you the stupid one.'

Annoyed, I looked up at his dark eyes, almost lost among the folds of skin. Trent had come around to the front of his desk, sitting against it. 'Recognize her?' he asked.

'Personally? No.' He gave the bars of my cage a soft thunk with a thick finger.

'Hey!' I shouted from my hut. 'I'm really getting tired of that.'

'Shut up, you,' he said disdainfully. 'She's a witch,' Faris continued, dismissing me as if I were nothing. 'Just keep her out of your fish tank, and she won't be able to change back. It's a powerful spell. She must have the backing of a large organization, as only they could afford it. And she's stupid.'

The last was directed at me, and I fought the urge to throw pellets at him.

'How so?' Trent went to rummage in his lower drawer, the chiming of lead crystal ringing out before he poured two shots of that forty-year-old whiskey.

'Transformation is a difficult art. You have to use potions rather than amulets, which means you stir an entire brew for only one occasion. The rest gets thrown away. Very expensive. You could pay your assistant librarian's salary for what this stirring cost, and staff a small office for the liability insurance to sell it.'

'Difficult, you say?' Trent handed Faris a glass. 'Could you make such a spell?'

'If I had the recipe,' he said, puffing up his substantial chest, his pride clearly affronted. 'It's old. Preindustry, perhaps? I don't recognize who stirred this spell.' He leaned close, breathing deeply. 'Lucky for him, or I might have to relieve the witch of his library.'

This, I thought, is becoming a very interesting conversation.

'So you don't think she made it herself?' Trent asked. He was again sitting back against his desk, looking incredibly trim and fit next to Faris.

The heavyset man shook his head and sat back down. The shot glass was completely unseen, enfolded by his thick hands. 'I'd stake my life on it. You can't be smart enough to competently stir a spell like that and he dumb enough to be caught. Doesn't make sense.'

'Maybe she was impatient,' Trent said, and Faris exploded into laughter. I jumped, covering my ears with my paws.

'Oh, yes,' Faris said between guffaws. 'Yes. She was impatient. I like that.'

I thought Trent's usual polish was starting to look thin as he returned behind his desk and set his untasted drink aside.

'So who is she?' Faris asked, leaning forward like a mock conspirator. 'An eager reporter trying for the story of her life?'

'Is there a spell that will allow me to understand her?' Trent asked, ignoring Faris's question. 'All she does is squeak.'

Faris grunted as he leaned to set his emptied glass on the desk in an unspoken request for more. 'No. Rodents don't have vocal cords. You plan on keeping her for any length of time?'

Trent spun his glass in his fingers. He was alarmingly silent.

Faris smiled wickedly. 'What's cooking in that nasty little head of yours, Trent?'

The creak of Trent's chair as he leaned forward seemed very loud. 'Faris, if I didn't need your talents so badly, I would have you whipped in your own lab.'

The large man grinned, sending the folds in his face to fall into each other. 'I know.'

Trent put the bottle away. 'I may enter her in Friday's tournament.'

Faris blinked. 'The city's tournaments?' he said softly. 'I've seen one of those. The bouts don't end until one is dead.'