“Including stealing ours from a lockbox in our house and leaving said replacement,” Beatrix said, drawing the contract from her coat. “And he’s insisting we pay him for our quote-unquote reservation.”
Hickok frowned over the contract. Then she turned a beady eye to Beatrix and said, “How did yougetthis film?”
“I can’t reveal who gave it to me, but as you can see, Mr. Dockett had no idea someone put a camera in his office.”
“Don’t move,” Hickok demanded.
She returned with a notepad and pen, then replayed the film three more times.
“So you’ll write about this?” Beatrix said, trying to keep the hopeful note to a minimum as Hickok switched the light back on.
“Are you offering it to me as an exclusive? It’s too late now to get this into tomorrow’s paper.”
“We’re going to play the film for the League tomorrow—somewhere. TheNews-Registermight see it then. But you’ll have the jump on what passes for competition.”
Hickok’s snort gave way to a grimace. “You do realize I’m not your advocate.”
“Yes,” said Beatrix, not sure why she would feel the need to point this out.
“Your sister’s keeper—Mary?—informed me last month that I ought to write more stories about the League and Lydia Harper, quote, for the good of women everywhere, unquote, then reminded me in no uncertain terms of my own gender.”
“Ah. Rosemarie—that was Rosemarie. I’m sorry.”
“You tell her I’m not a woman, I’m a reporter,” Hickok said, then added in what for her could almost be called a whisper: “It’s a fabulous comeback, and I’m aggravated I didn’t think of it at the time.” She cleared her throat, putting pen to paper. “Now—when did you discover the contract dates were wrong?”
Peter,catching sight of Miss Harper leaving theStar’s building, started his car and pulled onto Light Street to pick her up. He didn’t have to ask how it went. He’d felt her intoxicating rush of success fifteen minutes earlier.
“Where now?” he asked as she slipped in, cheeks flushed with victory.
“Home,” she said, smiling at him, which made his stomach twist as he realized it was the first time she’d done that since he’d made her take the Vow. “I think we’ve accomplished all that can possibly be expected in one night.”
“What about a venue, though?”
Her smile faded, and he was sorry he’d mentioned it. “Other leaders from the League were working on that,” she said. “Let’s hope they managed to find something.”
He hung a right on Lombard and took Paca back to Route 40. She said nothing through the entire maneuver. Then the words burst out: “Do you really think Wizard Garrett is behind this, or was your question to Dockett part of your campaign to separate us?”
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He had her full attention.
“Both,” he said.
“Omnimancer ...”
“Iamtrying to separate you, but it’s not just because he’s hoping to dig up dirt on me.”
This prompted a snort. “You’re looking out for my well-being, are you?”
“What has he told you he does for the Army?” he said, stopping for a red light.
She shifted in her seat. Uncomfortably, if he wasn’t mistaken. “He said he solves problems. He couldn’t be more specific because it’s classified.”
“Army wizards who don’t work as battlefield medics are either researchers or covert agents specializing in spying, assassinations and sabotage. Which do you think he is?”
“Oh,comeon.”
“It’s the truth,” he insisted.
She stared out her window. “I can’t believe you.”
