“You got us a break in the case. I’ll take that.” He waved them to the nearest available seats even as he got out of his. “Give me a minute.”
Casale left the conference room. Patrick shrugged and chose the nearest chair to sit down in. The other three glanced at each other before sitting down on the other side of the conference table in an us-versus-them arrangement. No one spoke until Casale returned five minutes later carrying a large carton of what smelled like Chinese food, a bottle of Gatorade, and an industrial-sized bottle of Tylenol. He set all three in front of Patrick.
“Eat,” Casale ordered.
Patrick stared at the food. “Did you just steal someone’s dinner?”
“Of course not. I gave him money to go buy more and extra time on the clock for his break. Now eat.”
In the field, Patrick had always carried extra ration bars hidden away in his pockets and field pack because using magic used up energy, and he required calories to replenish both. Alotof calories. His old team knew he’d be an irritable son of a bitch until they got food in him after any fighting. They’d taken to carrying extra rations along with their own to keep him fed.
It’d been a long time since Patrick had worked with a mundane human who understood what it took to keep a magic user healthy.
Patrick grabbed the plastic fork sticking out of the carton and stabbed a piece of General Tso’s chicken. He popped the piece into his mouth and started chewing, watching as Casale took the seat at the head of the table. Casale turned his formidable attention on the other three first.
“Jonothon de Vere,” Casale said in greeting. “Do Estelle and Youssef know you’re here?”
Jono leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his broad chest, giving Casale a thoughtful look. “I’m not acting on the god pack’s behalf, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Then you should go.”
“He’s a witness,” Sage countered.
“Ms. Beacot, so nice to see you again. This case really doesn’t need your presence,” Casale said.
“I’m Marek’s counsel of record for when his sight is requested. You shouldn’t have even seen him today without me present,” Sage replied coolly.
“The situation required some immediate answers, which we still haven’t received.”
“The City knows the cost of requesting his sight. Until such payment is made—”
“It’s all right, Sage,” Marek interrupted, settling his hand on hers, which were clasped together on the table. “Just this once, they don’t have to pay the fee.”
Sage gave him an incredulous look. “Marek—”
“No. Don’t argue. This situation is different.”
“Because it concerned you personally?” Casale asked, his voice dry as a desert.
“Because I didn’t see it coming, okay?” Marek snapped.
Casale stared at Marek with an unreadable look in his eyes. “I don’t care that Jono is a witness, and I don’t care about your counsel. What we need to discuss regarding your sight and this case is restricted.”
Marek shook his head. “Jono and Sage are staying.”
“This isn’t a negotiation, Marek.”
“Theystay.”
Patrick paused in midbite, looking across the table at Marek. The seer had lost a bit of color in his face, eyes a little too wide as he argued with Casale. Maybe the situation was out of the ordinary, maybe it was the hint of fear in his eyes; either way, Casale caved.
“What is discussed in this room stays here,” Casale said in a hard voice. “There’s too much at stake regarding this case if information is leaked. The usual paperwork is being drawn up regarding your sight, Marek. It will apply to all of you.”
“We’re not signing anything until I see what contract you’re giving us,” Sage replied.
Patrick kept eating his stolen Chinese food, watching the conversation be punted across the table like a tennis match. The chicken was actually pretty good, as far as greasy takeout was concerned. The Gatorade left an artificial aftertaste in his mouth he could’ve done without though.
Someone knocked on the door ten minutes later before opening it. The uniformed officer handed Casale a manila folder and a couple of pens before leaving without a word. He thumbed through the papers before sliding it across the table to Sage.
