“Sure. I’ll text you if a big rush happens.”
I crossed the room to stand in front of the crystal door. The afternoon was sunnier than it had been yesterday, and tiny rainbows danced across the surface. I wondered why the light didn’t cast rainbows on the walls, like a prism. It made me realize I didn’t really understand how illusions worked, despite my reading up on them back when the oracle was under attack by the Mercy’s paper magi. If it fooled the brain, then it shouldn’t stop the door from shedding rainbow light all over the place, and only I would be able to see it. Or maybe I was wrong, and the illusion on the door altered its nature. It was a fun distraction because it didn’t matter if I figured it out.
My phone rang. I took it out and saw Malcolm’s name. “Hi. Is everything all right?”
“Yes, and no,” Malcolm said. “I’m afraid I have to go to Baghdad in two hours.”
“I hope that’s the good news.”
Malcolm laughed. “I know you worry when I go into danger. This is…it’s a tricky situation. The Well is inactive, but it hasn’t aggressed on al-Hussein’s people, and he thinks that means we have a chance of retrieving the former custodian’s body and cleansing the Well.”
“That is good news.”
“You may not think so when you hear the rest. Al-Hussein needs glass magi to locate the body, and steel magi to go in after it. But the protections on the Well are similar to an invader’s attack. When they tried to break through—not even to get the body, just to see if it was possible—it nearly killed the steel magi who tried. So al-Hussein wants to use the new steel magi to see if the alloy aegis is a more effective protection.”
I sat on the stool, feeling the need for its support. “Meaning he doesn’t know if it will work.”
“No. The odds are good, though, and we won’t take chances.”
“I know. The truth is, Malcolm, I really want not to be the only named Neutrality. That outweighs my fear for you. And I have faith in your abilities.”
“That’s reassuring. What I did not want was to leave knowing that you were miserable.”
“I won’t be miserable. Worried, yes, but I always worry, and that shouldn’t stop you.”
“You’re the strongest woman I know, love. We will survive this. With the Well and Abernathy’s…they’re the two most powerful named Neutralities, and they will make a difference.”
Surprisingly, I felt better. “I’m glad you’re able to do this. Al-Hussein couldn’t have a better partner.”
Malcolm laughed. “We’ll see if he still thinks so when this is all over. We’re both strong personalities who like being in charge. I’m steeling myself to be a helpful subordinate.”
That made me laugh. “I wish I could see it.”
“I’d say the same, but I’m relieved there’s no reason to bring you with me. This will be dangerous.”
“I know. I’ll be fine here. I miss you. I don’t suppose I’ll see you before you leave?”
“Unfortunately, no. I’m pushing it to be ready in two hours. But I’ll call you the moment it’s over. I’m having someone drop your car off at the store so you can get home.”
“Thanks. I love you, you know.”
“And I love you. Take care.”
Malcolm hung up, and I sat staring at my phone for a few moments. I’d been telling the truth; my fears about being the last named Neutrality standing were greater than my fears for Malcolm. Maybe some of that was not knowing the details of his mission, and maybe some of it was the numbness that still hovered nearby after witnessing the destruction of the Sanctuary. But I had faith in Malcolm’s abilities, and it relieved my mind to know that he would be one of those tackling what might be the biggest challenge to the Wardens in modern times.
The day wore on—almost literally, since it felt time had slowed to a crawl. I managed not to check my watch every two minutes, counting down the time to when Malcolm would leave. I cleaned every surface of the store’s front, starting with squeegeeing the windows and ending with mopping the floor. I polished the crystal door and regretted that no one but me would appreciate it. I dusted the bookshelves and moved a few piles from the floor to the empty spaces on the shelves.
That took forty-two minutes.
Inspired, I took my cleaning show into the break room, scrubbed the microwave, wiped down the refrigerator, and mopped that floor too. I didn’t mop the office, just swept it, but polished Silas’s picture and then removed it and scrubbed the front of the wall safe. As I replaced the picture, Judy came in from the back and said, “I’m about finished packing. I was going to offer to clean, but it looks like you’ve already done more of that than any sane person should do.”
“I’m tackling the basement next.”
“Oh, I can do that.”
I set down my bottle of cleaner. “Malcolm’s going to Baghdad in less than an hour. I need something to distract me.”
“Oh.” Judy nodded. “I’ll sit up front and holler if someone comes in.”
There really wasn’t much to clean in the basement. The wooden file cabinets needed dusting, as did the metal safe deposit boxes, but we never did more than dry-mop the floor so the file cabinets wouldn’t take water damage. I’d always wondered why someone, maybe Silas, had opted for wood instead of metal, but it was one of those questions I would never have the answer to. I scrubbed the porcelain sink in the corner and put away all the cleaning supplies, feeling tired and satisfied. I might even be able to sleep tonight.
My watch told me it was 5:32. Less than half an hour before I could go home. I remembered I didn’t want to cook and began going over options. Fast food? Leftovers? Could I drop in on Harry and Harriet without warning? Thinking of Harriet reminded me that she was a glass magus with experience in the Middle East. It wasn’t impossible that al-Hussein might call on her to help, in which case Harry might want company.
I texted Harry as I went up the stairs: MALCOLM GOING TO BAGHDAD, HARRIET TOO? No response.
Judy was flipping idly through the pages of a Stephen King novel at the counter. “I’m so bored,” she said. “Are you done cleaning? We should plan something to celebrate Viv’s aegis. Oh, and how she’s alive.”
“They said it would be a few days before she’s released. Saturday? We could do dinner and a movie.” It felt so odd to be making ordinary plans when the world was in such turmoil.
“Sounds good.” Judy closed the book and slapped it down on the counter. “Have you heard the conspiracy theory?”
“About what?”
“That reporter the invaders killed. There’s a theory going around that he surprised a black ops group that has been spreading the bioweapon.” Judy smirked. “They got part of it right, anyway.”
“Interesting. Who’s the black ops group supposed to work for?”
“I have no idea. There’s lots of theories. I like the one that it’s really our own government spreading discord so the President can take a hard stand against terrorism and look good.”
“That’s absurd.”
“Is it?” Judy’s phone buzzed. “Looks like Mike’s here a little early. Mind if I—”