Anna was making final preparations to leave when a woman in her mid-twenties knocked on the open door. She wore an elegant pantsuit, which stood out considerably more than the bland, off-the-rack varieties the Network typically mandated. It was not an outfit that would be mistaken as the garb of a mid-level government worker. Her Mediterranean heritage had given her a swarthy skin tone and dark hair, which were set off attractively by the maroon of her outfit.
“Miss Karadeniz,” Anna greeted, continuing to transfer items from her desk to her briefcase. “What brings you back to Sydney from the vaunted heights of the International Committee office?”
“The IC wants a representative in this negotiation. And please, Anna, since when is it Miss Karadeniz?”
“But you’re all fancy now,” Anna said with a smile.
“I was always fancy,” Asya said.
Anna chuckled. “It seems odd that they sent someone from magitech research.”
“I’m just an administrator there,” Asya said. “My job is to keep the people doing the actual work happy and funded.”
“Don’t you come from the Mid North Coast?”
“That’s why I requested the slot,” Asya said. “I went to school with Jason Asano.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh, yes. I even had a bit of a thing for him, but he was obsessed with some basic white girl. There’s no accounting for taste.”
“You can offer us some insight, then,” Anna said. “Contrast him with his pre-magic self.”
“That’s why they approved the assignment, although it’s been a number of years. I went to his memorial service, so I was quite startled to hear his name in relation to the Sydney incident.”
“You’ve read the reports?”
“Oh, yes,” Asya said. “His showing up in your kitchen was interesting. I wouldn’t be too worried about reading it as a threat. He always did like to unbalance others for social advantage. Also, he’s unlikely to despoil a kitchen.”
“Glad to hear it. About my wife. I don’t particularly care about the kitchen.”
Asya laughed. “I’m more interested in the paintings he obtained from your wife.”
“You think they matter?” Anna asked. “I figured it was just a power play, to show us we aren’t untouchable.”
“Jason prefers having more than one reason to do a thing,” Asya said. “Both paintings were by the same artist, as your wife no doubt told you.”
“Yeah, some kind of wannabe Banksy, playing it all mysterious.”
“I’d appreciate if you could task some people with looking into the artist more closely.”
“I can do that,” Anna said and fished out her phone to make a call. “Aram,” she greeted. “Do a deep dive into the artist whose paintings Asano purchased from my wife. Dawn, that’s the one. Thanks.”
Anna returned her phone to her pocket.
“Done,” Anna said.
Keith arrived outside the office.
“Miss Karadeniz, always a pleasure.”
Anna’s office had been Keith’s when Asya was still a member of the Sydney branch.
“Mr Culpeper,” Asya greeted.
“Anna,” Keith said. “How would you feel about riding up the coast with Miss Karadeniz? The contingent has grown sufficiently that an extra car might not be a bad idea.”
“How many people are we up to now?” Anna asked.
“There’s us three,” Keith said, “plus the government liaison. We’ll be meeting Craig Vermillion once we reach the town.”
“Who’s the liaison?”
“Gordon Truffett,” Keith said.
Anna and Asya both groaned.
“He’s not that bad,” Keith said, at which both women gave him a flat look. “Okay, he’s a little pushy.”
“Why would they pick someone like him?” Anna asked.
“I heard he’s close to the Prime Minister,” Asya said.
“The Prime Minister chose him personally,” Keith confirmed.
“Then I will ride with you, Asya. If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.”
“Anyone else?”
“Gladys is coming along,” Keith said. “She’s going to check in on Asano’s grandmother. We’re also bringing Nigel.”
“What for?” Anna asked.
“We suspect Asano has a means to advance without monster cores. I thought bringing our own non-core obsessive might prompt Asano to open up.”
Anna and Asya had also never used monster cores, but that was a matter of policy. All executive-level Network personnel were given essences to raise them to category one, but cores were mostly saved for the lower-ranked enforcement team members who served on the frontline of Network activity. Only committee members like Keith were raised up to category two with cores.
“That’s a good idea,” Asya said. “Jason could be quite passionate when he got caught up in something. Nigel might get him to drop some useful nuggets without costing us any concessions.”
“How well do you know him, exactly?” Keith asked.
“It’s been a long time,” Asya said. “I think making too many assumptions based on the way he was seven years ago has the potential to cause more mistakes than playing it by ear.”
“Probably sensible,” Keith said. “Shall we go, then?”
While Keith’s car was an unremarkable sedan with government plates, Asya’s car had the appearance of a 1962 MGA Roadster. It was another hot day and they had the soft top down, Anna and Asya enjoying the coastal drive.
“So, you’re from Casselton Beach?” Anna asked.
“Definitely not,” Asya. “I’m not poor.”
Anna gave her a sideways glance.
“My family didn’t invent capitalism,” Asya said unashamedly. “We just won it. Of course, I know my way around Casselton Beach. It’s where all the interesting boys came from. Children are so often tedious.”
Anna gave Asya another look.
“I won’t apologise for being exceptional amongst my peers,” Asya said.
As they reached the outskirts of Casselton Beach, Anna started feeling slightly ill. Gladys called her on the phone.
“Are you feeling that?” Gladys asked as Anna put the phone on speaker.
“You too?” Anna asked.
“I’m pretty sure it’s worse for me. I think something’s wrong with the magic here.”
“Was it like this when you were here last time?”
“I didn’t come here last time,” Gladys said. “The hospital is in a different town.”
Anna turned to Asya.
“Is there something weird with the magic in this town?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” Asya said. “I’ve been here since getting essences, but there wasn’t anything like this.”
“Maybe Vermillion will have answers,” Anna said.
Vermillion’s home was a mansion nestled amongst rich bushland, just a few minutes out of Casselton Beach. The Network negotiation team arrived at his place prior to the meeting and he met them in his wide driveway. Asya parked her car, got out and gave Vermillion a quick hug.
“This is where the Burman family used to live,” Asya said. “The first time I ever got drunk was in this house.”
“Small world,” Vermillion said. “How’s the car treating you?”
“Oh, I love it,” Asya said. “I did have a few modifications made.”
“I could tell. That engine noise is artificial, right?”