Swordplay

Part 23

The clock in the entrance hall rang six. End of shift. Moira dropped everything and went into the entrance hall. She looked for Excelsior van Steen because she didn't want to leave the archive unattended but couldn't lock it without a key. She looked over to his personal desk on the side behind the fence near the fireplace. A couple of gadgets stood on half of the big wooden table and papers covered the other half. Since she thought Excelsior close, she walked over and called for him.

"Monsieur van Steen?" Her gaze looked at the chaos on his desk. Right on top, she noticed a sheaf of paper with the patent office's logo. Curious, she picked it up and read. It was a patent application for the burning box. Moira's eyes widened when she noticed Excelsior had given his own name as inventor. What a twerp! He adorns himself with borrowed plumes. Just you wait until I tell Sabio. She replaced the application exactly where she had found it and walked back into the entrance area of the vaults. She had hardly closed the mesh wire door when Excelsior came in.

"Shouldn't you be at work?" His voice cut the air like a knife.

"It's past six."

"Oh. Well, then." He walked past her without looking at her. "Don't be late tomorrow."

Moira didn't think it her duty to remind him that she wouldn't be working on the weekend due to her status as aspirant on probation. He'll find out eventually. As fast as she could, she ran to Sabio's office but it was locked already. Drat, he's gone already. She wondered who might know Sabio's private parlebol number when Semra walked along the corridor.

"What luck to meet you," Moira said. "Do you know how I can reach Commissaire Marten? It's important."

"I don't think you'll get him today any more. He's been called to another murder. That's the sixth homeless." Semra shook her head. "Poor Sabio. He hardly gets time to rest. I don't know when he's going to take the days of he's accumulated in overtime."

Moira thanked her for the information. Sure, she was miffed that she couldn't tell Sabio about Excelsior's betrayal immediately, but she understood that his work came first. She could tell him the next time she saw him. She wished Semra a good weekend and left. In the exit door, she slammed into Druidus.

Before she caught herself, he kissed her cheek. "Moira! There you are. I wanted to ask you if you would go out with me tonight."

Moira's nostrils flared. He was the last person she wanted to see today. "I'd rather go out with your father. With him, I know he can't stand me." She pushed past him without taking in his surprised face. Pain shot through her heart and it shocked her to realize how much her own words had upset her. Why does it hurt so much to know that Druidus is a typical male? She bit her lip to keep from crying and walked faster. Footsteps echoed behind her, and Druidus grabbed her arm.

"Moira, I love you. I would never lie to you."

She turned. "Is that so? And because you love me so much, you smooch with another woman right in front of my eyes?" She ripped her arm from his grip.

"What are you talking about? I didn't smooch with another woman."

"Stop lying! I saw you very well yesterday. I'm not blind."

He slapped his hand against his forehead and laughed. "Oh, that."

Moira turned wordlessly and walked away.

Again, Druidus grabbed her arm. "Wait, I can explain."

"No more lies."

Druidus' gaze hardened. "Do you really think I'm an ass like that?"