Enter Jasin

Tolly's view of the previous posts

Beginning

Previous

The next section is narrated by Jasin, Belinda’s husband, talking to Tolly.

I tried several times to get a decent picture from Bing of the office scene. This is the closest. Once again, a beard. And don’t ask me why they’re made of plastic.

Jasin

I glanced up as the big guy walked in and plopped himself down on the couch in my office. I immediately returned to checking the column of numbers I had been working on.

"I've been meaning to get rid of that couch," I muttered darkly.

Tolly grunted, but didn't say anything. Not that I expected anything else. But then he continued not saying anything, which made me keep glancing at him as I finished my task.

"Well?" I said, after a moment. "Is something wrong, sir?"

"Hmm?" After a moment, he went on. "It's that art cataloger I hired."

"What about him?" I said, after Tolly didn't say anything more for a moment.

"Her," he said automatically.

"What about her? Did you change your mind?"

"What? No, of course not. It's not like I'd be doing the work myself. And she's definitely more than qualified."

"Then what is the problem, sir?"

"Hmm?" He stopped and peered at me again, then shook his head. "I'm thinking she might be in trouble of some sort. I'm wondering if I should do something about that."

"Trouble? What sort of trouble?" I looked up at him. He sounded unusually subdued.

"I don't know. Something's not right." He paused for a long moment. "She fainted when I first talked to her."

"Fainted?"

"Just turned pale and collapsed. Frightened me. I wasn't expecting that. Almost didn't catch her."

I put my pencil down, and turned my full attention to the big guy.

"Maybe you should start from the beginning, sir."

He peered over at me, and then nodded. "I was a trifle late. Jelana had called me because somebody was poking around Daved's woods, and they didn't want him around."

"Why didn't they take care of him themselves?"

"It's that time of year. They didn't want to be disturbed. And Jelana said that there was something off about him, they didn't want to show themselves."

"That time of year?" I made a note. "I'll make sure to tell Belinda."

He grunted and shook his head. "I didn't think you'd need that kind of help," he said.

"No more we do," I said.

The big guy continued, "I left a note and went up there. There was a car parked by the side of the road, but I didn't see anyone. Went into the woods, made some noise, and heard a scramble, saw the car drive off. Then I came back."

"And that's when she fainted?"

"Right. I walked in as Ms. Hoi was ambling about the inner office, looking at things. She was looking at that shelf I have of the girls' drawings and artwork, you know the one. She didn't hear me, apparently, I walked right up to her, made a sound, and she suddenly jumped and half screamed." He half chuckled. "I tend to cause that reaction."

I nodded. "I know. I've never figured out how you can move so fast, and quietly."

"Then we talked for a bit, and I put my hand out to welcome her, and she just collapsed." He paused. "She was looking pale a bit beforehand."

I frowned. "She went down when she touched you? Some magic sustaining something or other, maybe?"

"That was my first thought. I picked her up, and carried her over to a chair, and watched over her a bit. Then she only came partly conscious, and jumped me."

"Jumped you? While she was only partially conscious?"

"I know, it sounds odd. She looked at me, gave a little cry, and threw herself into my arms."

"Maybe it was your dashing good looks?"

The big guy snorted. "Don't be ridiculous. I wasn't expecting it, I was balancing badly, and down we both went." He shook his head again. "After a bit, she woke up more, apologized profusely, said I reminded her of a dead friend."

"You're right, that does sound . . . odd." I picked up my pencil again, and twirled it around a bit. "Possible, I suppose."

"She said she didn't have any magic sustaining her. And that she'd last eaten in Haranbeth."

"Hmm." I realized I was sounding like Tolly, and shook my head. "Do you believe her?"

"She was more bewildered than anything when I asked. Like she'd never heard of such a thing. A flat denial, that'd be one thing, but bewilderment?"

"I see what you mean." I thought for a bit more. I glanced over at Tolly. "This bothers you, doesn't it?"

"She's tiny. Not much taller than Jelana. And she felt so lost and frail."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really, Tolly, how long has it been since you held a woman in your arms?"

"Hmm?" He looked at me for a moment, before saying dryly, "You mean besides your wife and sisters?"

"Yes, exactly," I began, then stopped. "Wait, what?"

"I meant hugging friends who are close enough that I almost think of them as relatives."

"Sure, that's what you meant," I muttered, shuffling some papers around.

"And she has a black eye," Tolly said. "Or had one. It looked faded. I could barely see it under her makeup. I only saw it because I was about an inch away from her face at that moment."

"Hmm," I said again.

"Stop that."

"Anything else?"

"The story she told about how she got that black eye didn't hold together. She started it with a fake laugh. Otherwise I might have bought it."

I put my chin on my hands and thought a bit. "It could be nothing. She could belong to one of those groups that go out on the weekends and hit each other with blunt swords."

"Never did see the point of that," Tolly rumbled. "I've seen too many sword wounds. But no, I don't think so. They're usually proud of their bruises. And I'd think she'd have more muscles if that were the case."

"You really were paying attention when you held her, weren't you, sir?"

"Shut up."

"Don't mind me." I paused again. He wasn't going to like this idea. "Or it could be that her boyfriend likes to play rough."

"Boyfriend?" He was suddenly alert. I had to bite back a laugh.

"Is she pretty?"

Tolly snorted. "Very."

"Then she has a boyfriend." I shook my head. "And you can't save everyone." I think I sounded sadder than I intended.

He sat still for a long moment. "True enough, I suppose."

"Well, how was she once she recovered from fainting?"

"Fine. Very smart. Wanted to get to work right away. I wouldn't let her, made her eat something, told her to take the day off. It's not like those paintings are going anywhere."

"We'll help keep an eye on her, Tolly. See what happens. It might not be anything."

"I suppose so." He stirred a bit. "I think I'm going to do a complete background check on her, though."

I looked up at him sharply. "Didn't you do that before you hired her?"

"Of course. But that was only cursory, to make sure that she was who she said she was, actually did the work she claimed to, that sort of thing. This one will be much more in-depth, see where she's been, who her friends are, boyfriend, things like that."

"Do you do that often?" I asked. "Deep in-depth background checks?"

"On occasion. Did one on you when you started hanging around here. Had to see if you were good enough for Belinda."

I shot him a sharp glance. "And?"

Tolly snorted. "Not even close. Not that Belinda listened to me."

"Ha ha," I said, picking up my pencil again.

"Seriously, Jasin," Tolly said, "All I found out was that you were still very young. Just some youthful hijinks. Everything I found showed you to be exactly who you appeared to be. And that's what I told Belinda." He paused a bit. "Not that she listened to me."

"Thanks, sir," I told him.

"Besides, I'd already figured out that, just like with her mother, the restaurant ran smoother if I kept her happy." He smiled again.

"I try, sir," I said. Then I went back to an earlier topic. "But perhaps you should have thought a bit about going straight from Daved's woods in the heady springtime straight into an interview with a pretty girl."

"Hmm? What?" He sat up straighter at that. "You don't think? But the effect isn't that strong. And it wears off pretty quickly."

"It's not that strong, when you think about it. And you didn't even consider it, did you?"

He sat back a bit. "It's never been an issue," he muttered.

"Just be careful, sir." I shook my head again. "I just don't want the whole thing to be some sort of feint for her to grab herself a rich husband."

"Why would she think I was rich?"

"She's organizing your art collection, sir."

"Oh." He thought about that for a bit. "I'll keep that in mind, and be careful, Jasin." He grabbed his cane, and used it to hoist himself up, and started limping toward the door again.

"What happened to your leg?"

"Old war injury," he said, without looking back.

"I know that," I said. "I even know which war. But what happened recently? You've gotten to the point you hardly need the cane at all."

"I fell," he said shortly. "Twisted it, maybe." Probably when she jumped him. He glanced back at me. "Don't tell An, will you?"

"I wasn't planning on it. But get it seen to, all right? You don't want to be limping like that when she visits again, right?"

He sighed. "I'll have it seen to," he agreed, then continued out the door.

I watched him go, then, still in thought, picked up the phone to call Belinda.

Next