Page 66 of The Nowhere Witch
Zab made a snoring noise. Musso grunted. The monkeys started playing “Rock-a-bye Baby.”
Hawk strode into the office.
Bibbi shook her head. “I don’t think I’m strong enough,” she said to me.
Hawk walked over toward me, stopping at Bibbi’s table.
“You look very pretty today, Bibbi,” he said, smiling at her.
Then he turned to me with a look that said,Satisfied?
Actually, no. He wasn’t supposed to tell her she was pretty. He was only supposed to acknowledge her. If he took it too far, she’d end up more into him. Unless he really thought she looked pretty. He never said that to me, no matter how cute I dressed.
“We’ve got an appointment,” he said, narrowing his eyes at the two cocoas on the desk.
“For what? I’ve got a lot of appointments set up for today.” I took the lid off the second cocoa, put it on the floor, and made a clucking noise.
“Zab and Musso will have to cover them. It’s something for the wall.” He was watching as I put the cocoa on the floor, as if it was a key to some mystery.
“I thought we were partners. You’re supposed to confer with me, not dictate.” I was already standing and piling up my slips to give to Zab.
“An opportunity arose that I had to take. If you don’t want to come, I’ll handle it alone.” Hawk headed out the door.
“Oh no. You’re not going without me.” I grabbed my jacket, running after him.
He was already halfway down the block when I caught up to him.
“Where are we going? Who are we meeting?”
“It’s a connection of Mertie’s who can supply us with something to help repair the wall.”
“Mertie? The demon from the factory? What kind of connections does she have?” Mertie and I hadn’t really hit it off. Who knew what she might’ve repeated to her connection? Hopefully it wasn’t much, or we wouldn’t be getting anything.
“Where’s the appointment?” I asked.
“It’s difficult to describe. You’d be hard-pressed to find it on a map,” he said, seeming a hair more intent than normal.
“Hey, Tippi,” one of the customers I knew from Zark’s said as he passed us on the other side of the street. His smile faded and a more dignified and resigned expression came over him as he said, “Hawk.”
“Hey, Buzzy.” I waved. Did I have him on my list? I didn’t think I’d written his name down. He might be willing to stand up as a reference for me on immigration day.
“How do you know Buzzy?” Hawk asked.
Hawk was probably annoyed I might be developing friendships in Xest because all the people should belong to him.
“Zark’s. Is that a problem?” I asked.
“No. Is it an issue that I ask?” he said, mocking my tone.
“Why would it be?”
We took a couple more steps in silence before I saw another familiar face.
“Felix, hope you’re not hitting the hills too hard,” I said as a man with waist-length hair came by, his best friend beside him. “Helix, you keep him under control.”
“You know I can’t,” Helix said as the two passed. “When you coming back to Zark’s?”
“Not sure, but I’ll let you know.”