“Golly, how lucky I am to be getting a personal visit from Office 87’s number one cutest Auditor.”

  The bandages were off her hands, and Chloe Sharp struggled to keep them from curling into fists and driving into Erwin Alcatraz’s smug face. Instead she walked over to one of the multiple very cushy chairs dotted around the dazzling extravagance of Floor 50 – formally know as Special Response offices and breakroom, more commonly known as the Special’s Palace – and sat back into it, pulling out her pen and giving it a comfortingly familiar spin. She did her best to avoid limping as she walked, but while she was at least mobile, she was still well short of fully healed. The night before, perhaps a little over-excited she’d finally been able to visit the gym again, she’d tried breaking into a run on her way home, and the resulting jolt of pain that followed her the rest of the evening had her anxious she’d broken something and would be stuck at home for another 2 weeks. After returning to her apartment, she’d done her best to relax in a warm, sudsy bath, and started reading a new book, and by the morning her knee seemed to have forgiven her for her exuberance. Despite the lingering discomfort, being able to visit the gym had felt like a purification ritual, and returning to the office for work felt like rebirth. Visiting Alcatraz, on the other hand, was hell.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather a love seat? It would make it so much easier for us to sit together.”

  Of course, bandages and a busted knee were hardly a full measure of the problems Chloe Sharp was facing, which was what had brought her face to face with the smiling brat in front of her. As much as she’d prefer to avoid him as much as humanly possible, the sabotaged entropic round was the easiest of the problems on her plate to follow up on. Trebira and the Alpha life-support equipment had vanished without a trace. Any of the 417 staff working out of Office 87, a handful of bureaucrats from Office 01, and a half-dozen Security divisions could have leaked the Grand North operation, and there weren’t any leads to narrow down the field. And hunting sprites were notoriously untraceable unless their summoner got sloppy. Chloe had to hope that picking at the loosest end of the tapestry would help unravel the rest.

  “Please focus. I need you to remember as much details as you can about who handled your entropic rounds during the Eingopher incident.”

  Alcatraz had started circling around Chloe’s chair. As she finished talking, he reached out, and brushed his fingers against the edge of her hair, “Your hair is so smooth. It smells nice, too, what kind of shampoo do you use? Strawberry?”

  Chloe turned in her chair and in a single motion stabbed her pen in the direction she’d felt Alcatraz’s hand. For all the good it did – Alcatraz had already taken a single step back, which was enough for him to be safely out of her reach. Since Chloe didn’t like her chances of closing that distance with a still-healing knee, he had nothing to fear from Chloe’s anger, no matter how pointed her pen was. “Alcatraz, that’s completely unacceptable!”

  If Alcatraz noticed her anger was tinged with fear, he didn’t show it. He backed off, hands up in a gesture of feigned surrender. “Oops, I got scolded. Haha, sorry Miss Sharp. Please don’t write up an HR complaint!” He lay back in a love seat opposite her, his legs draped over the armrest, and turned his head towards her. “I thought your people had already vetted everyone in the Eingopher mess?”

  “They didn’t find anything. Which is why I’m here, asking nicely if you can remember anything that might help.” Chloe was grinding her teeth. She wanted nothing more than to punch this smug, purring brat in his smug face.

  “Well, fortunately I have a fantastic memory. There were three support staff that day: John Butler, Karen Draper, and Ben Temple. There were plenty of people who could have messed around with the rounds before that point, but they’d have no idea which ones would actually get used, so sabotaging just one and hoping I picked it wouldn’t make any sense. If the round was sabotaged by an android, it would be in their memory logs and even your daft Audits friends would have caught it. Of course, the supporters were all interviewed too, but maybe someone clever like yourself will be able to learn something the other dull Auditors missed.” He winked at her. Chloe just scowled as she wrote the three names into her notepad. If he’d mentioned this during the first interview she wouldn’t have needed a second – which she was certain was deliberate.

  “Anything else?” she asked.

  “Nope.” He hopped to his feet. “Are you leaving already?”

  “I have to follow up with your supporters, and I have a half-dozen other open files to work on as well. I won’t take up any more of your time.”

  He touched his finger to his lip pensively. “I really don’t mind. You can take up as much of my time as you want.” As was his way, his tone was innocent and his insinuation anything but.

  “Goodbye, Alcatraz. I won’t report you to HR, but you need to learn to respect personal boundaries.” They both knew HR wouldn’t do a damn thing about it.

  “Yes mom. Mmm, you know what, I bet you’d make a great mother.”

  Chloe clenched her pen and notebook and attempted to hold a neutral expression until she was safely out the door. It was only once the doors of the elevator closed, that she finally allowed herself to release a long, unsteady breath. The climate control was pleasantly warm, but she was shivering. Every time she met with Erwin Alcatraz, he seemed to take another small step away from juvenile joking banter towards something more adult and decidedly more sinister. For now, he still came across as boyish rather than predatory, but how much longer would that last? Even if it was just her hair, this was the first time Alcatraz had actually touched her – the older he got, the more comfortable he was becoming prodding at the limits of common decency. And as a Special, there was no one who’d hold him to account if he crossed a line, and no consequences for his indiscretions, and he knew it. Chloe didn’t know what made the Specials special, but from the vague whispers and office rumors it wasn’t just their training. She couldn’t decide which disturbed her more: if no one cared to reign in Alcatraz as long as he did his job, or if no one actually could.

  ************

  John Butler was an older, silver-haired gentleman with an impressively muscular physique. “I’m an advanced field technician. My responsibilities were carrying the equipment up to the firing point and ensuring it was in good order.”

  Chloe nodded, and jotted the statement into her notebook. “Did you have any contact with the entropic rounds themselves?”

  “Miss Draper was the conceptual toxins expert responsible for the ammunition, I just looked after the railgun. I didn’t touch the rounds themselves. In the interest of disclosure, I was close enough I could have handled them had I felt so inclined.”

  “I appreciate your honesty. For a final question, what are your thoughts on Erwin Alcatraz?”

  “Hum. One of my mentors once said that in times of crisis, we must put aside our desires for the world as it should be and learn to work with the world as it is. Sir Alcatraz has the skills needed for his role, and that role is vital to our survival. Speaking personally, although his personality could use some polish and his behaviour is admittedly boorish at times, I do believe the young man has his heart is in the right place.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Chloe very much doubted that, but she didn’t bother saying so. “Just before you leave, that mentor… do you mind me asking who it was?”

  “Not at all. He was an esteemed Professor from my university days. Mr. Alfred Niirisu – he was tremendously knowledgeable, but was also very wise. I bid you a good day, Miss Sharp.”

  Chloe spun her pen through her fingers pensively, before returning to her notebook and circling Niirisu’s name for emphasis.

  ********

  Karen Draper was an owlish young woman, with soft features but a sharp, penetrating stare. “I’m a conceptual toxins expert. I look after the conceptual toxins.”

  Chloe nodded, and jotted the statement into her notebook. “Did you notice anything out of the ordinary with the entropic rounds you handled?”

  “Nope. Entropic rounds are pretty straightforward as far as conceptual toxins go – there’s no symbology, you don’t need to align them to the phases of the moon, they’re just really cold. If the mechanical readings are green, the round is good, if one is red, the round is no good and you don’t use that round. Easy.”

  “You studied conceptual toxins in university. Do you remember a Professor Niirisu?”

  “He’s the reason I majored in CT. You don't get awards, but when things go wrong in another department, everyone looks for a conceptual toxin to fix the problem – it’s important work. Professor Niirisu was a seriously great professor – he has open lectures every month or so, you should definitely listen in some time. You’d learn a lot."

  “Thank you for the suggestion. One more question – what are your thoughts on Erwin Alcatraz?”

  “When I need to move toxins from preparation to a target, he doesn’t miss. As a delivery vehicle, he’s perfectly functional, so I can’t complain. Although he is a pain in the ass.”

  It was a refreshingly blunt appraisal. “I see. Thank you for your time today, Draper.”

  The whole interview Karen Draper hadn’t broken eye contact for a second. While Chloe approved of proper eye contact, too much was exhausting in its own way. Once she was gone, Chloe gave her notebook an affectionate pat, quietly grateful it had given her an excuse to periodically look away. Then she opened it and circled Niirisu’s name for emphasis.

  *********

  Ben Temple was a tall, gaunt young man with a twitchy smile, wearing slightly loose Security fatigues with a distinct pendant with a white sun partially covered by a black crescent moon. “I’m a driver. I, um, drive the car. With the railgun. And the entropic rounds.”

  Chloe nodded, and jotted the statement into her notebook. “That pendant. Do you mind me asking what it symbolizes?”

  “The God of the Eclipse. We gather in the park to offer our prayers. Once a week. Lots of new members after the Eingopher incident.”

  Chloe nodded in understanding. Small, loosely organized cults like that tended to pop up whenever people were presented with such a brazen display of their own powerlessness. Security hated them, since they were stuck with the thankless task of making sure the city’s cults never made contact with the object of their worship, but they were usually harmless enough. Although a cultist of the Eclipse being on the scene when an entropic round conveniently failed and caused the Eclipse to manifest was at least a little suspicious.

  “How long have you followed the Eclipse?”

  “Six years. Since the first incident.”

  “Did you have access to the entropic rounds?”

  “Sure.”

  “Did you access them?”

  “Nope. Karen would have my head.”

  “I see. One last question: do you know a Professor Niirisu?”

  “Yep. Genius. Hoped to get him to speak to our gathering,” he touched his medallion, “He’s very busy, though. Always busy.”

  “Thank you for your time today.”

  Chloe felt a headache coming on as she once again circled Niirisu’s name for emphasis.

  *********

  William Stocks’ face, to Chloe’s surprise, was fast becoming a familiar one – the slightly tired eyes, the slightly tired moustache, and the slightly tired necktie. His office offered no surprises - it was as dustless, drab, and monotonous as she’d expected. The chairs were decent, at least – her perhaps optimistic amount of walking today had left her quietly appreciative of the value of comfortable chairs. “Auditor Sharp? I confess this is something of a surprise. What can I help you with? I’m afraid I don’t have any updates on the Trebira case.”

  And there was his slightly tired professionalism – mild and inoffensive to the point of being irritating. Chloe wondered if it was deliberate, or just something he picked up from spending too much time in an office. “Today isn’t about Trebira. Not directly, anyway. Have you heard of a university Professor named Alfred Niirisu? There are some things I need to ask him, but I’m afraid he’s likely to be on his guard around me.” Chloe didn’t add that ‘being on his guard’ could potentially involve hunting sprites.

  His android assistant spoke up from across the office, “Mr. Niirisu is certainly popular, isn’t he?”

  “The fellow does seem to be very much in demand. Davis and I have a meeting booked with him for tomorrow, and the young lady from the hunting sprite incident… … … Olivia – it sounds like she was planning to meet with him as well. I gather he’s well respected in his field, but I’m afraid I don’t know much else about him.”

  Chloe felt a momentary twang of guilt as she realized she’d never properly thanked the girl for carrying her out of the park that night. “Where’d you run into her? Never mind, that’s not important. Why are you and Davis meeting Niirisu?”

  Davis again! William didn’t seem to notice how crisply she’d said his name, or at least had the decency to not point it out. He paused for a moment, as if unsure he should say what was on his mind, then lowered his voice and responded, “We’re trying to keep this somewhat quiet, but we need an expert not related to the corporation. Davis is concerned there was a leak in the Trebira case, and I think he’s rather on the money that it’s someone from within the company.”

  Chloe allowed herself a moment of quiet vindication – this is why you spoke to people face-to-face, instead of relying on video calls! “Strictly off the record, Audits has come to the same conclusion. Niirisu may not be directly involved, but he does seem to be a common link between the Eingopher incident, Trebira, and possibly even the hunting sprite. It’s actually very convenient that you’re already meeting him, but be cautious. And if you get a chance, maybe advise the girl to check with a different professor.” A thought struck Chloe, “She wasn’t asking on behalf of the priestess, was she?”

  “I can’t say for certain, but it seemed to be a personal inquiry.”

  Chloe wasn’t sure what she was worried about, but she still breathed a sigh of relief. She gave William a quick explanation of the questions she wanted him to ask Niirisu, then took her leave. As the door closed behind her, Chloe caught a fragment of a sentence, “See Four, isn’t it lovely when a visitor uses the chair, instead of ignoring it and sitting on my desk?” She could immediately guess who he was talking about, and chuckle escaped her lips despite herself.

  *********

  She couldn’t run, and her gym routine was significantly abridged, but Chloe still felt more alive returning home than she had in… well in almost exactly two weeks. From her first steps through her front door, she looked to her kitchen and just saw a kitchen. Not an office, not a grim reminder of a lack of separation between work and home, just a kitchen. When she looked around the rest of her apartment, beautifully furnished with her precious antiques, there was no weight pulling her back towards a screen awkwardly set up on her counter. She felt lighter, like a weight had been released, and after a warm bath and a ravenous amount of reading, she went to bed feeling things might finally be returning to a wonderful, comfortable normal.

  The next morning, she awoke to find a single voice message on her phone. That in itself was hardly unusual – she turned off the phone outside work hours to avoid being disturbed. The message itself, though, was anything but usual: “Hi! Ah… mmmm… Sorry, it’s been ages since I left a voicemail. I’d like to meet with you. I know you’re leading a certain investigation, and, hmmm… it’s very important. Please call me back. Or just text message, that might be easier. Does your phone even have text? Connecting was surprisingly difficult. Oh, my name’s Angela. Angela Trebira. Talk soon, I hope! Um, bye? Is that how you’re supposed to end a messa----. *Message complete. You have no more messages.*”