He nodded in acknowledgment, then said, "I'll pay your asking price, minus a thousand for trying to cheat me."
Wig nodded enthusiastically. "Y-Yes, sir, very good, sir, thank you. And please keep the novel as a gift. It's a very good book."
"My dad liked it," I put in.
Owen nodded, not taking his eyes off his new toy. "Go down to Accounting. They'll cut you a check. And, no, we won't pay you in cash. For a transaction this large, we need a paper trail."
"Of course, sir, thank you." Wiggram stood, collected his bag, then bowed to me and handed me a card. "Please keep me in mind for your rare book needs. I've also got a wide selection of nonmagical books." I took the card, even though I doubted he'd have copies of any of the out-of-print romance novels I was looking for. He hurried out of the office like someone had set his coat on fire.
Owen still sat poring over the book. He seemed to have forgotten I was there. "So, that's why you need people like me," I said.
He looked up, blinking. "Oh. Yes, yes, that's why we need people like you. Thank you. You were brilliant. There's more to verification than just telling the truth, you know. If you present the truth in the right way, it can be quite effective."
"I guess it's showbiz, as much as anything." I glanced toward the doorway where Wiggram had disappeared. "You're letting him wander free like that in the building?"
"He's being monitored. And I have his book already, so he's going to want his money. Speaking of which, excuse me for a second." He put his hand on the crystal ball thingy that sat on his desk, but he didn't speak. After a second or two he withdrew his hand and turned back toward me.I knew he wanted to look through his new book, but I also wanted some answers.
"Thanks again for the books you sent me. They're really interesting. I do have a question, though."
He smiled. "Yes, he is."
I shook my head. "You don't know what I was going to ask."
"Yes, I do."
"How?" I hoped it wasn't mind reading, not after the mental image I'd had a few minutes ago.
He shrugged. "I just do. Besides, you're smart enough. I was sure you'd eventually see the connection."
"Would it have killed you to tell me up front? It can't be too big a secret, not if you were willing to give me those books that made it so obvious."
He looked enigmatic, which must have been a real trick for him, given that his emotions were usually so visible on his face. "Let's just say that it's not a secret if you've got the initiative to do research and the brains to figure it out, but it is a secret if someone has to tell you."
"So we're working for the real Merlin, as in Camelot, and all that?"
"Not quite like in Camelot . That was highly fictionalized. But yes, he's the real thing."
"Why was he brought here now? It would have to be something pretty big, right?"
"That, I can't tell you."
"Because you don't know, or because I'm not supposed to know?" He continued to look enigmatic. "Okay, I get it. Company secret. Fine. But I want it on record that I'm not happy that you hid the possibility of a crisis from me when you were hiring me."
"Would it have changed your decision?"
I sighed. "Probably not. You guys did a great sales job."
"Don't worry. You'll find out eventually."
"Or I'll figure it out." I tapped my forehead. "Smart, remember? Now I'd better head back to the pit of despair." I got out of my chair and headed toward the doorway.
"Thanks again for your help," he called after me, but before I was out the door he was already buried in his book.
The laboratories were busy, but the hallway leading to the exit was nearly empty. I noticed a man coming toward me, not wearing the white lab coat that seemed de rigueur in these parts. As he approached, I smiled and nodded, but he didn't respond at all. He acted like he couldn't see me—or like he thought I couldn't see him. I didn't recognize him, but I didn't know most of the people in this department.
"Hi," I said to him. His eyes cut my way, then he went back to looking right past me.
Either I'd come across the least friendly employee in the whole company or there was something fishy going on here. "Hey!" I called out. He flattened himself against a wall, like he was trying to look invisible. I noticed he had something hidden beneath his jacket. That was definitely not right.