It didn't take me long to remember all the details I could from the vision. I wondered how Pendragon would put it all together just from the bit of information he received, nevertheless he seemed confident as he entered and locked his back office.
The day went on as usual. Every now and then I checked the news for information about a killing or some kind of blip on the face of the customers that told me someone they knew had passed. But no one had so much as dropped by to offer condolences about Pendragon's son, let alone for this most recent stranger. I would've asked about that, but the no questions policy forbade it.
Near the end of the shift with Pendragon still in his office, I told Aine I'd be back shortly and stepped out 'to run an errand'. I lied. I was headed to Veniero's to pick up something baked with sugar for Aine. She'd minded her business like a real champ these last two days and I appreciated her not dragging information out of me about things I couldn't even explain. And how do you thank a bipolar gothic princess? Treats.
Equipped with a box of assorted butter cookies I walked out of the bakery and back towards The Shop. I must have blinked at the wrong time though because I was suddenly falling backwards with the box spilling all it's contents on the ground. Above me, some guy extended a hand downward to help me up.
'Sorry about it,' he said lightheartedly as he helped me up. 'Didn't see me, huh?'
It's not every day someone explains to you why you bumped into them, but I just nodded and rubbed the back of my head to check for a lump. 'Guess not,' I replied, finally looking down at the crumbs below.
'Bummer,' said the guy. 'Here let me get you new ones,' he added quickly reaching into his jeans pocket to retrieve some cash no doubt. He was maybe a couple years younger than I was, and looked like a regular guy who didn't mean to ruin my cookies. Judging from his scruffy face and bed-head look, he could probably use the money he was about to give me.
'Don't worry about it,' I offered. 'I gotta get back to work anyway.'
'Suit yourself,' said the guy with a shrug, and then he stood there as if expecting something me to leave first or change my mind.
I left first. Something about the way the guy looked was a bit weird to me. It's like he was excited to have bumped into me. He didn't seem sorry in the least. I pushed it from my mind and returned to the Shop empty handed.
I was, of course, not asked where I went. So I chose not to tell Aine how close she came to having a buttery cookie. She would have been devastated.
Lucky I returned when I did, though, as Pendragon's office door opened and he shouted for me to join him in the backroom.
He had an apartment for the mage I had seen killed. And he wanted me to break in.
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