Max leaned forward in his seat and studied him. “I’m sorry. No. Have we met before?”
Howard shrugged. “It was in passing. We didn’t speak to each other. I just remembered you because you were so tall. Also, I liked your huntsman outfit with the cool broad-axe. You were standing with Astrid and her husband, Bubba.”
“At the Black and Orange Ball?” Max flashed back to the crowded party and searched his memory for a hint of where he might have seen this guy. His face did not look at all familiar, just his manner, perhaps. Something.
“Yes. That’s right.”
Max lifted one shoulder. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember you. Were you dressed in a costume?”
Howard nodded, but didn’t say anything. He reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulled out a small dark blue bottle. It looked like a tiny aerosol can of spray paint.
“What’s that?” Max asked.
“Something brand-new,” Howard said. “Something I need to test.” He pushed the button on the top of the bottle with his forefinger, like he was about to freshen the smell in the room with a floral scent. A wide mist came out, spraying Max right in the face before he could move or dodge it.Space potatoes!
Max closed his eyes to keep from getting any of the mist in his eyes. He waved his hand in front of his face to disperse the vapor and hoped the man hadn’t just sprayed blue paint in his face or his favorite red shirt and jacket.
“What are you doing?” he asked, wishing he’d given Astrid the go-ahead to kick Howard—who wasnothis friend—out on his butt.
When the vapor dissipated, Max blinked his eyes open, testing to ensure no mist remained in the air or decorated his clothing. “What was that?” he asked angrily, ready to throw this dude out of his cubicle and let Astrid deal with him. Max blinked again. Howard was gone.
Max closed his eyes and opened them again as if that would help bring the strange little man back. But he was gone. Max stood up and wobbled on his feet. His whole body was sluggish and a little stiff, as if he’d sat way too long. Odd.
Before he could whisk the curtain open, he heard Astrid’s voice right outside his room.
“Max?” she called. “Are you back from lunch and ready for your next client?”
“Next client?” He looked around, puzzled. He wanted to know what had happened to his last client. “Wait a minute. Back from lunch?”
Astrid parted the black velvet curtains, stepped into the cubicle and stared at him. “What’s wrong?”
“That guy just sprayed something in my face and then he must have run out of here.”
“What guy?”
“Howard.”
Astrid’s face changed into one of a concerned mama bear. “Max, what’s wrong with you? Howard left half an hour ago. He told me you asked him to tell me you were taking a half hour lunch.”
Max’s stomach growled, ensuring everyone within hearing range understood he’d missed an important meal.
“Half an hour? No. That can’t be right. He was only here a moment ago.” Max pulled his phone out of his pocket and realized forty-five minutes had gone by without him noticing.Crazy.
“I promise, Max. He’s been gone for thirty minutes. He told me how happy he was that he’d come here to talk to you and that you’d done a marvelous job. He promised to bring loads of business our way because he was so delighted with you and his reading.”
“But…” Max was worried now. He’d lost so much time. “How long was he in my room?”
“Ten or fifteen minutes.” Astrid had a seriously worried look on her face. It was an expression he was all-too familiar with. The one that made him nervous. Like maybe they’d think he was crazy and fire him, sending him back to Alpha-Prime in further shame.
Max’s stomach roared again, sounding like a mortally wounded sand-claw beast caught in a trap in the outer rim.
“Maybe we should call the doctor in Alienn and have a phone consultation.” She pulled up her phone, ready to set up Vis-a-Med, an App from Alienn, Arkansas that connected them for emergency medical issues.
“No.” He put his hand on her phone to stop her from insta-connecting with an Alpha medic. “That’s sweet of you, Astrid, but I’m fine.”Except that I was drugged by a strange little man who wanted to know if I recognized him and then stole time from me.
“But if you’ve been unconscious for over forty-five minutes, that’s serious.” Astrid put a hand on his arm.
“I don’t feel bad at all. Just super hungry. I don’t have anything to tell a doctor.”Please don’t make me do this, Astrid.
