3:25 PM; midweek?
Professor Paige Anders residence.
Paige Anders, Dawn Greencrest’s niece, “You’re late.”
Dawn, “I know, my apologizes.” And the aunt and young, much shorter niece kiss each other on the cheeks.
Paige, “Well sit down, you look like you could use it.”
Dawn, “I certainly could.”
Paige, “Tea?”
Dawn, “Yes, dear.”
Paige, “Well, out with it. You look like you have something you want to ask. But first you have to eat,” and Paige slides a plate of bread, cheese, and fruit towards Dawn. Dawn picks up a slice of bread and starts on it.
Dawn, “Can you do the . . .” and Dawn points up and twirls her left hand around to mean the room. Paige nods and magically soundproofs the room.
Dawn, “What do you know about Mathew Serig?”
Paige, Taking a sip of tea. “He rich. A prince of privy paper!”
Dawn, “How about in regards to magic and the Academy?”
Paige, “He’s taking a class with me right now. He’s of course easy on the eyes. Pleasant. On the quiet side. Quite studious. Always prepared. I think he’s been going to the Academy for about four years now. Started by being tutored by Melinda Cartright. From how she talks about him, she liked to tutor him in more than the magical arts.”
Dawn, “Paige.”
Paige, “Well, that’s what she says.”
Dawn, “How is he, at magic?”
Paige, “Still a beginner, but he has potential.”
Dawn, “Do you know about his accident where he nearly killed himself?”
Paige, “Which one?”
Dawn, “What do you mean which one?”
Paige, “Yes, which one? There were two.”
Dawn, “Maunch told me about the one at Serig’s workshop, what’s this other one?”
Paige, “In a laboratory at the Academy, nearly poisoned himself to death?”
Dawn, “Poison . . . how?”
Paige, “Apparently he’d been working on an air cleansing potion but instead he made a air toxifying one.”
Dawn, “What happened to him?”
Paige, “He was found, collapsed, halfway out the doorway of the laboratory. Lucky fellow. It wasn’t his fault. The investigation of the accident showed that one of the component vials he had used was mislabeled, or the vial had been filled with the wrong component.”
Dawn, “His mistake?”
Paige, “He said no. It could’ve been one of his fellow students that was a bit careless. No one came forward.”
Dawn, “Do you know if he’s studied poisons?”
Paige, “I’m not sure. Why?”
Dawn, “That’s right, you haven’t heard, you’ve been out of the capital for a few days. Serig’s cousin, Tom Pardino, and Tom’s favorite prostitute were found in back alleys a few mornings ago. Tom drunk, the prostitute murdered. Both had green discoloration under their nails. We’re pursuing one line of inquiry where Serig had them poisoned so Tom wouldn’t marry the prostitute and dishonor the family or cause some scandal. From all that I’ve heard about Mr. Serig from the Academy and elsewhere his reputation is above reproach.” Paige nods.
Dawn, “There’s more.”
Paige, “Of course there is.”
Dawn, “The prostitute was murdered in a fashion similar to the killings back home.” Paige goes silent for a moment. Out of her quietly rolls out, “How far does this go?”
Dawn, “I don’t know.”
Paige, “I don’t get that impression, not even a hint of that from him.”
Dawn, “You don’t quite have your mother’s gifts in that area.”
Paige, “No, barely at all.” Some pause. Paige, “This changes things a lot. I don’t know if I can look at him the same way now.”
Dawn, “Serig may not be involved. It may be Cristos Mineeo.”
Paige, “Now that I can believe.”
Dawn, “Mineeo bought Tom’s very sizeable debts. Having the prostitute killed may have been a way to send a message to Tom to keep him in line.”
Paige, “Another pawn for Mineeo.” Dawn nods her head.
Paige, “What can I do?”
Dawn, “Just keep your ears open at the Academy this week.”
Paige, “And if Mr. Serig should come to my class?”
Dawn, “Can you talk to him without trying to torture information out of him?”
Paige, “I think so . . . for now.”
Dawn, “We don’t have any evidence that he did anything wrong, we’re just pursuing all avenues. He could be completely innocent and in danger himself.” Paige nods, “So what are you going to do?”
Dawn, “Herris and I will pay a visit this evening to Tom’s sister, Anne, at her night club. It’s just as likely she wanted the prostitute dead as much as Serig.”
Paige, “They could both be working together.”
Dawn, “Yes they could.”
Paige, “You know he supposedly up for a knighthood?”
Dawn, “Yes, I do.”
Paige, “Politics. I hate politics. It’s so much easier when you can just blast a monster away.”
Dawn, “Yes it is.”
