“I’m telling you,” Andy insists. “Something’sgoing on. And I intend to find out what itis.”
“Watch out, Taskio,” I tease. “Detective Andy is reporting for duty.”
“You know it. I think I could pull off one of those trench coats, don’t you?”
This is a classic Andy “joke”—one where he’s being funny, but also not remotely kidding.
“You could certainly try,” Isay.
He thinks he’d look hot in a trench coat. He probablywouldlook hot in a trench coat, but would ruin it with his awareness of that fact.
“Well, good luck to you, man,” Leon says, slapping Andy on the back. “Can’t say I’m pissed that this isn’t my problem anymore.”
“What will you do, Lee?” Iask.
“I’ve got a buddy over at TrustPilot, he’s going to try and get me in. What’s next for you, Annie? You moving back to Canada?”
Andy is confused. “Why would you move to Canada?”
We stare at him like he’s insane.
“…Because I’m Canadian.”
He looks dumbfounded. “You are?”
For a second, I think he might be kidding. “I mean, this isn’t exactly new information.”
“Dude,” Leon says. “How did you miss that? She literally has a bottle of maple syrup on her desk.”
“I have no idea,” Andy says, with a shake of his head.
I have no idea either; I’ve told him multiple times.
“Anyway,” I say, moving the conversation swiftly along. “I’ll hopefully get moved internally.”
“Nice one,” Leon says. “How’d you manage that?”
“Funny story. I didn’t see the call invite this morning and missed it. I didn’t know anything was wrong until I got here and my keycard didn’t work.”
Andy winces. “Ouch.”
“I went up to HR and Carrie had to lay me off in person,” I say, pulling a face. “But she’s trying to get me moved into one of the other open roles.”
“What’s new with Carrie these days?” Andy asks. “Is she still seeing that guy from Merrill Lynch?”
How doesheknow about that?
“Erm, no. They broke it off a while ago.”
Andy makes a little noise likehmm,and I get the distinct impression he’s trying to look less interested in that information than he really is. Before I can go any further down that rabbit hole, his attention is caught by the arrival of his deskmate, and he moves off to go and say hello, leaving me alone with Leon.
“Question,” I say to him. “Do you know anyone in Data Strategy? They sit up on twenty-four.”
“Data Strategy, Data Strategy,” Leon muses, scratching at his chin. “No.”
“The department head is Naomi Evans,” I prompt.
“Oh,them,” Leon says. “Yes, I do, actually. Is that what they’re called?”
