Industrial Magic
Page 15
I stopped, suddenly aware that a dozen pair of eyes were on me. I could imagine nothing more humiliating for a witch than this, to sit in a room filled with sorcerers telling you that one of your race, who pride themselves on their family bonds, had let her teenage daughter live on the streets. Not only that, but she didnt even care enough to come to her daughters side when she lay comatose and alone in a Cabal hospital. It was inconceivable.
Maybe if I could speak to her, I said. There might be a misunderstanding
Or we could be lying, the sorcerer said. Heres my cell phone. Anyone got Lyndsay MacArthurs number? Let the witch
Enough, Benicio said, his voice sharp enough to cut diamonds. Id heard that tone beforefrom his son. You are excused, Jared.
I was only
You are excused.
The sorcerer left. I struggled to think of some way to defend my race. Lucass hand squeezed my knee. I looked at him, but hed turned to the table, mouth opening to speak for me. I quickly interrupted. As much as I longed for the support, the only thing that could make this worse would be for him to jump to my rescue.
Is Danas father aware of the situation? I said.
Benicio shook his head. Randy has been in Europe since spring. If hed known about Danas estrangement from her mother, he would have requested leave to come home.
I meant the attack. Does he know about that?
Another head shake. Hes currently in a very unstable location. Weve tried contacting him by telephone, e-mail, and telepathy, but havent been able to deliver the news. We expect him to be back in a major city within the week.
Good. Okay. Back to the case, then. Im guessing were here because you want Danas attacker found.
Found and punished.
Somehow, I doubted that punishment would involve the local authorities, but after hearing what had been done to Dana, I couldnt bring myself to care.
But the Cabal can investigate by itself, right?
A reedy voice from down the table answered. Mr. MacArthur is a class C employee.
I looked at the speaker, a specter-thin, specter-pale man dressed in a mortician-black suit. Necromancer. Its a stereotype, I know, but most necros have a whiff of the grave about them.
Paige, this is Reuben Aldrich, head of our actuarial department. Reuben, Ms. Winterbourne isnt familiar with our designations. Would you explain for her please?
Of course, sir. Watery blue eyes looked my way. Employees range from class F through A. Only class A and B employees are entitled to familial violenceinsurance.
Familial?
Lucas turned to me. Its insurance that covers corporate investigations into criminal matters such as kidnapping, assault, murder, psychic wounding, or any other dangers ones family might face as a result of their employment with the Cabal.
I looked at Reuben Aldrich. So Mr. MacArthur, being class C, isnt entitled to a paid investigation into his daughters attack. So why bring it to usto Lucas?
The Cabal is offering to hire him, said the man beside me. The reallocation of resources and man-hours would make the cost of an internal investigation prohibitive. Instead, were offering to retain Mr. Cortez in a contract position.
Lucas folded his hands on the table. Paying for an outside investigation into an assault not covered by the benefit package is a generous and considerate offer, but He met his fathers gaze with a level stare. unlikely to meet corporate profitability standards. You mentioned to Paige that the attack on Miss MacArthur wasnt the first.
Theres a second, possibly related, case, Benicio said. Dennis?
Dennis explained. Eight days ago another Cabal employees runaway teen had been attacked. Holden Wyngaard was the fourteen-year-old son of a shaman. Someone had followed him for several blocks at night, then jumped him in an alley. Before anything could happen, a young couple had wandered into the alley and Holdens attacker had slipped away. The Cabal was not investigating.
Let me guess, I said. Mr. Wyngaard is a level C employee.
Level E, Reuben said. Substance-abuse problems have caused his status to drop. He is currently on suspension, and therefore entitled only to the most basic health-care benefits.
But you think the cases are connected?
We dont know, Benicio said. If we had clear proof of a pattern, wed conduct our own investigation. As it stands, its a troubling coincidence. While the expense of a full-scale investigation isnt warranted, wed like to be proactive and hire Lucas to look into the matter.
Not me, Lucas said, his voice soft, but firm enough to carry through the room. Paige.
Of course, if Paige was interested in helping you
Im currently in the midst of defending a client, and couldnt possibly pursue this in the timely manner youd require.
Benicio hesitated, then nodded. Understandable. You have other obligations. I cant argue with that. If youd like to set Paige on the case then, and supervise
Maybe if I could speak to her, I said. There might be a misunderstanding
Or we could be lying, the sorcerer said. Heres my cell phone. Anyone got Lyndsay MacArthurs number? Let the witch
Enough, Benicio said, his voice sharp enough to cut diamonds. Id heard that tone beforefrom his son. You are excused, Jared.
I was only
You are excused.
The sorcerer left. I struggled to think of some way to defend my race. Lucass hand squeezed my knee. I looked at him, but hed turned to the table, mouth opening to speak for me. I quickly interrupted. As much as I longed for the support, the only thing that could make this worse would be for him to jump to my rescue.
Is Danas father aware of the situation? I said.
Benicio shook his head. Randy has been in Europe since spring. If hed known about Danas estrangement from her mother, he would have requested leave to come home.
I meant the attack. Does he know about that?
Another head shake. Hes currently in a very unstable location. Weve tried contacting him by telephone, e-mail, and telepathy, but havent been able to deliver the news. We expect him to be back in a major city within the week.
Good. Okay. Back to the case, then. Im guessing were here because you want Danas attacker found.
Found and punished.
Somehow, I doubted that punishment would involve the local authorities, but after hearing what had been done to Dana, I couldnt bring myself to care.
But the Cabal can investigate by itself, right?
A reedy voice from down the table answered. Mr. MacArthur is a class C employee.
I looked at the speaker, a specter-thin, specter-pale man dressed in a mortician-black suit. Necromancer. Its a stereotype, I know, but most necros have a whiff of the grave about them.
Paige, this is Reuben Aldrich, head of our actuarial department. Reuben, Ms. Winterbourne isnt familiar with our designations. Would you explain for her please?
Of course, sir. Watery blue eyes looked my way. Employees range from class F through A. Only class A and B employees are entitled to familial violenceinsurance.
Familial?
Lucas turned to me. Its insurance that covers corporate investigations into criminal matters such as kidnapping, assault, murder, psychic wounding, or any other dangers ones family might face as a result of their employment with the Cabal.
I looked at Reuben Aldrich. So Mr. MacArthur, being class C, isnt entitled to a paid investigation into his daughters attack. So why bring it to usto Lucas?
The Cabal is offering to hire him, said the man beside me. The reallocation of resources and man-hours would make the cost of an internal investigation prohibitive. Instead, were offering to retain Mr. Cortez in a contract position.
Lucas folded his hands on the table. Paying for an outside investigation into an assault not covered by the benefit package is a generous and considerate offer, but He met his fathers gaze with a level stare. unlikely to meet corporate profitability standards. You mentioned to Paige that the attack on Miss MacArthur wasnt the first.
Theres a second, possibly related, case, Benicio said. Dennis?
Dennis explained. Eight days ago another Cabal employees runaway teen had been attacked. Holden Wyngaard was the fourteen-year-old son of a shaman. Someone had followed him for several blocks at night, then jumped him in an alley. Before anything could happen, a young couple had wandered into the alley and Holdens attacker had slipped away. The Cabal was not investigating.
Let me guess, I said. Mr. Wyngaard is a level C employee.
Level E, Reuben said. Substance-abuse problems have caused his status to drop. He is currently on suspension, and therefore entitled only to the most basic health-care benefits.
But you think the cases are connected?
We dont know, Benicio said. If we had clear proof of a pattern, wed conduct our own investigation. As it stands, its a troubling coincidence. While the expense of a full-scale investigation isnt warranted, wed like to be proactive and hire Lucas to look into the matter.
Not me, Lucas said, his voice soft, but firm enough to carry through the room. Paige.
Of course, if Paige was interested in helping you
Im currently in the midst of defending a client, and couldnt possibly pursue this in the timely manner youd require.
Benicio hesitated, then nodded. Understandable. You have other obligations. I cant argue with that. If youd like to set Paige on the case then, and supervise
