Industrial Magic
Page 51

Ive still got a few things to figure out, but yes, Im pretty darn happy.
Good.
As I zipped up my makeup bag, Adam slid off the bed, walked to the window, and looked out. I watched him for a moment.
Still mad about Miami? I said.
He turned. Nah. Sure, Id love to help and, yeah, Im a bit pissed at being left behind, but Lucas is right. His dad already made a point of introducing himself to me and dropping hints about post-college employment opportunities. Im probably better off avoiding the Cabals until I get my shit together. Which reminds meyou were saying last month that we need to do something about Arthur.
Definitely. We need a necromancer on the council, and it does no good to anyone to have one whos never around. That whole fiasco with Tyrone Winsloe? Arthur didnt even return our calls until it was over. Ive been hinting that he should find a replacement, but he ignores me.
Guys a misowhat do they call it? Doesnt like women? Not g*y, I mean, but
Misogynist.
Yeah, thats it. Adam perched on my bed. So I was thinking, maybe I should talk to him instead. What do you want me to do?
Advice flew to my lips, but I bit it back. What do you think?
Maybe if hes ignoring us, we should ignore him. Just get a replacement and let him find out about it whenever he bothers showing up at a meeting. Hows that?
I stifled the urge to give my opinion. Difficult bordering on painful. Weyou could do that. Maybe ask your dad if he has any suggestions for a replacement.
I noticed Lucas walk past the doorfor the second time. God forbid he should interrupt a conversation. When I called out to him, he popped his head in.
Ready if you are, I said.
He disappeared, then returned, pushing a wheelchair.
That better not be for me, I said.
Youre quite welcome to attempt walking. However, if you pass out halfway to the front door, you may wake up back in this bed, recuperating, while I interview Weber in Miami.
I glared at him and waved the chair over. Adam laughed.
Oh, hey, Adam said. Before I forget, what do you want to do about that motorcycle?
Lucas helped me into the wheelchair. I should wait. Its hardly a necessary expenditure
Tell your friend yes, I said to Adam. I looked up at Lucas. You want it. I know you do. Take the bike and if you dont want to use your insurance money, consider it an early Christmas gift from me. I know you dont have a place to work on it yet, but you will sooner or later.
Probably sooner, Adam said, grinning. Then he looked over my shoulder at Lucas and the grin vanished. The, uh, housing markets good right now, I mean. Its always slow in fall, so maybe youll find a place.
No rush, Isaid. Were still settling in.
Adam looked at Lucas again and I craned my neck, trying to intercept the look that passed between them, but it vanished before I could catch it. Lucas reached for his satchel.
Here, let me take that, Adam said. You get the girl, Ill carry the bags. A quick grin. Not exactly fair, but I wont be doing the grunt work forever. You just wait. He looked at me. As soon as I get home, Im asking Dad about those necro replacements for Arthur. Ill have that all set up by the next meeting.
I smiled. Great. Ill leave you to it, then.
Adam accompanied us to the airport, where we thanked him for all his help, and I promised to keep him updated on the case. Then we said our good-byes and boarded the plane.
Highly Inappropriate
WE TOOK THE CORTEZ JET BACK TO MIAMI. LIKE STAYING in their hospital, using their jet was a question of safety versus, well, safety. Was I in greater danger on their plane or on a commercial flight? Id have been happy taking my chances on a regular plane. Not that I expected to be attacked in mid-flight by Cortez hitmen, but because it was in my nature not to make a fuss where my own health was concerned. Lucas disagreed and, considering I couldnt yet sit upright for longer than a few minutes, he was probably right.
Back in Miami, Benicio was scrambling to make peace with Lucas in the only way he couldby arranging for us to see Weber. Although Weber was being held in Cortez custody, each Cabal had assigned a guard. Such cooperation would be heartwarming, if they hadnt done so only to safeguard their own interests in the prisoner. No one, not even the son of a CEO, was getting near Weber without approval from every Cabal.
I thought our request was simple enough. Wed promised to comply with any security precautions. We were on the same side. Moreover, without us, they wouldnt have Weber. Yet, as quickly became obvious, that was probably more a deterrent than an asset. The Cortez Cabal had scored a major coup when we found Weber, and the other Cabals seemed to be refusing our request out of pure spite.
We spent the next day at the clinic, working through the case details while Benicio lobbied the Cabals on our behalf. Lucas had managed to track down the ingredients for a healing poultice and a healing tea. I prepared them myself, and he didnt argueboth were witch magic, requiring witch incantations, and although he knew the procedures, I was better at them. Thats not ego talkingwitches are better at witch magic, just as sorcerers are better at sorcerer magic. This was also my first field test of a stronger healing spell that Id learned from the tertiary-level grimoires Id found that spring. I cast it on the poultice, where it was supposed to not only speed healing, but act as a moderate-strength topical analgesic. To my delight, it worked even better than I expected. By the end of the second day, I was out of bed, dressed in my normal clothes, and feeling more like someone under house arrest than a patient.