Chapter 17 #2
“Brandon, how can I help you today?” Mia asked. “Do you need to plan an event?”
“Not unless you’re agreeing to join the coven. Then we’ll throw a huge bash, but we probably should wait until the solstice or at least a full moon. so more power will be available for us. Miss Adams, how are you feeling?” Brandon turned his cat-that-ate-the-canary smile on Christina.
“Fine, thanks. Mia, I’m going to grab some breakfast. I’ll meet you in your office,” Christina added as she narrowed her eyes at Brandon. “Unless you need me to stay.”
“I’ll be fine.” Mia sat on the couch across from where Brandon had been sitting. “I’m sure we can deal with this out here, in the open.”
Brandon blinked, realizing that he wasn’t in charge of the meeting, and sat back down. “I’ll be quick and you’re perfectly safe with me. I can’t believe you would even think otherwise.”
“Brandon, a woman is dead and we don’t know why. I’ve heard that maybe she and you were an item, so forgive me if I don’t think meeting you in a private, secluded spot is a great idea. Speaking of that, I wanted to ask you who assigns hellhound training slots. Is it you?”
The change of subject surprised him, forcing him, as Mia had hoped, to give a true answer before he could think about it.
“No. I don’t deal with the animals. Familiar issues are handled by Aaron Harding, but hellhound training runs through Marsha Fieldstone.
She’s amazing at keeping the scheduling and records, and since she had an incident with one many years ago, she has a vested interest in making sure the animals pass their certification.
I thought you knew that because she was part of Cerby’s original discovery. ”
“Marsha schedules the training too?” Now Mia was confused. If her theory was right, the hellhound training was specifically scheduled to keep Trent out of Mia’s life for six weeks.
“For the last twenty years. Although Cerby and Tempest are the first hellhounds we’ve had arrive in Magic Springs for more than ten years.
Because the McManns’ training program is in our area of concern, the coven uses Marsha to coordinate with the other covens who send animals to be trained.
We like to have a heads up on hellhounds coming into the area.
Just in case they get loose. Why are you concerned about the training?
Isn’t it going well?” Brandon asked. It was obvious that he hadn’t expected to be chatting about hellhound training.
“It’s fine. I was just wondering who coordinated all that. Do you handle the witch testing? Or is that someone else, like Sabrina?” Mia continued to pepper him with questions, hoping she’d continue to get honest answers.
“Sabrina does the recruitment, but someone else schedules tests. Sabrina isn’t keen on completing tasks or following through unless it’s to go out to eat or coordinate a party.
No, the scheduler is someone on her staff.
It used to be a woman, but she was promoted to National.
All our strong witches are, which is why I believe you’ll be leaving the coven for a better position as soon as you decide to join. ”
“If I decide to join. Is Cleo the test scheduler?” Mia tried to steer him away from talking about her possible commitment.
“No, Cleo’s too busy for that. Let’s see. When Karen left, who took her spot? Oh, Jullian Barnes. I’m not sure you’ve met. He doesn’t much care for the parties or meetings. He mostly just works. He’s a favorite of the old guard, though. Between you and me, I think he has a benefactor in the coven.”
“A benefactor?” Mia leaned forward. “Who?”
“Now, listen to me spilling all the coven secrets to an outsider. Of course if you joined, I wouldn’t have to worry about what I said.
” He met my gaze. “Would I? I’m just here checking in to see if I can answer any more questions about joining.
Your first level five payment should be in your account by now. Have you looked?”
“No, I’ve been a little busy.” Mia thought Brandon had led her down the primrose path, but she was too smart to fall for his trickery.
If she joined the coven, it would be because she thought it was best for her, not because Brandon wouldn’t tell her something.
She could find out what she needed without him.
She had in the past. “If that’s all, I’d better get to work. I have a staff meeting coming up.”
“Of course. Thank you for taking time to talk to me. It was most … illuminating.” Brandon bowed slightly and then headed to the door.
Mia watched him leave. Whatever he’d come for, it wasn’t just to ask her if she’d received the money from Nationals.
He’d been looking for something, and her questions had distracted him.
Something that he hadn’t had to deal with for a long time.
As he was coven leader, people usually deferred to him and answered his questions directly.
Mia probably just frustrated him. She headed to her office.
A piece of paper was taped on the door, and she ripped it off as she unlocked the door and went inside.
She set the note on her desk as she took out her planner and put away her tote.
She hung her jacket on the coatrack, then opened the note.
She read it aloud. “‘What have you done? Come to my office as soon as you arrive.’”
Blake had scheduled the meeting with the National Office tomorrow. Mia wondered if Blake thought Mia had turned her in for what she’d done. Or she might have seen Brandon sitting in the lobby, waiting for Mia. Whatever it was, Blake was freaking out. The handwriting was even a little shaky.
Mia booted up her computer and answered some emails.
She wanted Christina in her office before she went to see Blake to verify the time Mia spent with her boss.
She didn’t trust Blake not to put her under a spell again, which, as she thought about it, was not a very good sign for their professional relationship.
She knew why Blake didn’t trust easily, but that didn’t excuse what she’d done to Mia.
As the saying went, Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? Shame on me. She wasn’t going to be the girl who was too stupid to live, like some of the characters in Christina’s books.
“I brought you coffee and an apple turnover. I bought two, but I already ate mine,” Christina said as she came into the office.
She set down the bag and coffee carrier and hung up her coat, setting up her temporary workstation as she talked.
“James is so cute. He really knows his stuff in the kitchen. He just hired a new pastry chef. Maybe I should have gone into that instead of event planning. I love a good cookie.”
“Sorry to break into your dessert dreaming, but I need to go to Blake’s office.
Can you time me?” Mia held up her watch.
“If I’m gone more than ten minutes, go to the kitchen and get James to come with you to get me.
Tell him my grandmother called and she’s sick or something. Just get me out of that office.”
“You don’t think she’s going to try to read you again, do you?” Christina checked her watch and wrote down the time. “I’ll set an alarm too.”
“I don’t know what she’s planning. I just don’t trust her. I’m probably overreacting, but …”
“Fool me once,” Christina said, mimicking Mia’s earlier thought.
Mia met her gaze. “Exactly.”