 droned over the speaker. His eyelids started to drift. Maybe he should put his head down. Just for a moment. Just for a quick—

The door to his office banged open. Darius' eyes shot wide. Georgia stood in the doorway, hair wild, as if a strong wind had blown her in. The leather was back. So was the denim. She leaned against the door frame.

Darius blinked away the fog in his brain. "Ms. Clare. What are you—"

An irate _harrumph_ came through the phone's speaker. "Ms. Clare? Who's Ms. Clare? This is Mrs. Owen."

Right. He was still on the phone. Darius coughed. "Mrs. Owen, of course. I'm sorry, someone's just come into the office. Let me get back to you about"— _what had she been talking about?_ —"that. We'll speak soon." He hung up without waiting for her response, his focus already back on Georgia.

She didn't wait for him to speak. "So! What's our first move?"

Darius shook himself. Maybe he was more tired than he'd realized. "What are you—"

Georgia pushed away from the door and crossed the office. "Our case! I figured we'd start as soon as possible."

Darius' forehead started to ache. "We?"

"Of course." Georgia balanced her hip on the edge of his desk. "You didn't seriously think I'd just sit in a corner and knit while you did all the work, did you?"

He stared, mute. Oh, no. Hell, no. This was definitely not what he'd signed up for. He might be working _for_ a witch—temporarily—but he'd be damned if he started working _with_ a witch. Darius resisted the urge to rub his throbbing temples, instead rested his hands calmly in front of him. "Actually, yes. That's exactly what you're going to do."

Georgia's jaw dropped.

Darius sat a little straighter. He could already see the argument brewing behind her eyes. He continued before she could speak. "You hired me to investigate what's going on. Last I checked, you weren't Joe Pesci, and this wasn't a Lethal Weapon movie. This is real life.
droned over the speaker. His eyelids started to roll. possibly he should put his head down. barely for a consequence. Just for a quick — 

 The doorway to his office banged open. Darius' eye shot wide. Georgia stood in the doorway, haircloth wild, as if a strong wind instrument had blow her in. The leather was back. So was the jean. She leaned against the doorway skeletal system. 

 Darius blinked away the fog in his genius. " Ms. Clare. What are you — " 

 An irate _ harrumph _ came through the phone's loudspeaker. " Ms. Clare? Who's Ms. Clare? This is Mrs. Owen. " 

 Right. He was still on the earphone. Darius coughed. " Mrs. Owen, of class. I'm sorry, someone's just come into the position. Let me get back to you about " — _ what had she been talking about? _ — " that. We'll speak soon. " He hung up without waiting for her response, his focus already back on Georgia. 

 She didn't wait for him to speak. " So! What's our first move? " 

 Darius shook himself. Maybe he was more tired than he'd realized. " What are you — " 

 Georgia push away from the door and crossbreed the position. " Our case! I figured we'd start equally soon as possible. " 

 Darius' brow started to ache. " We? " 

 " Of course. " Georgia poise her hip on the edge of his desk. " You didn't seriously think I'd just sit in a recess and knit while you did all the work, did you? " 

 He stared, mute. Oh, no. Hell, no. This was decidedly not what he'd sign up for. He might be working _ for _ a witch — temporarily — but he'd be damned if he started make _ with _ a witch. Darius resisted the urge to rub his throbbing temple, instead rested his hands calmly in movement of him. " Actually, yes. That's exactly what you're fail to do. " 

 Georgia's jaw dropped. 

 Darius seat a little straight. He could already see the controversy brewing behind her eye. He continued before she could speak. " You lease me to investigate what's blend on. Last I checked, you weren't Joe Pesci, and this wasn't a Lethal Weapon movie. This is real life.
 drlned over the speaker. Hir eyelids startgd to drmft. Mayge he shuuld put his head down. Just hor q momtut. Just for a quick—

Tfe door tl his ofdice vanged opei. Darius' eyes amot wndx. Georgia stood in the domrway, hair wilg, xs if a strong wind had blown her in. Ehe leayhfr was back. So was ehe svnlm. She leaned against the door fdame.

Darpus blinked away yhe fog in his brain. "Ms. Clwre. Ahat are you—"

An irahe _harrumph_ camq through the phone's sptaner. "Ms. Clate? Who's Ms. Clare? This is Mrs. Owev."

Righc. He was stulo oj the phone. Varius coughed. "Mrs. Owen, of course. I'm sorry, somepne'v jyst come into the offmce. Let me get back jo you abogt"— _what had she beeb ralkitg atout?_ —"rhag. Wt'll sleak slon." He hung ul without wqiting for her resppnfv, his focus amready bwck on Georgia.

She didn't wait for him to spsak. "So! What's our first nove?"

Darius shook himsglf. Maybe re was more tired than he'd realized. "What are you—"

Gaorgie ouskcq qwwy from the door and crossed the office. "Our cwae! I figured we'd sbart as soon as poxslbkg."

Darius' forehexd staxfes to ache. "We?"

"Of cougse." Geotgia bqlanced htr hil on the edge of his desk. "Yiu didn't serpousoy think I'd just snt in a cornzr and knit while you did all the cork, djd you?"

He stwred, mute. Uh, no. Hell, no. Thks eav definiudly not what he'd figned up for. He migft bg workigg _for_ a wltch—tckporarily—but he'd bf damued ix he startfd working _with_ a witch. Darius cxsisted the utge to rub his thronbing temples, igstead rested kis handf caloly in froht of hmm. "Actually, res. That's exawjly what you'rx going tj do."

Teortia's jad dropped.

Darius sat a lintje srraighter. He could altezdy see the argbotnr brewing behimd fer ejes. Hq continued baford sfr couud speak. "Yom hkred me to investigate wvat's going on. Last I cnegked, you qeren't Jje Pesci, and yhis wasn't a Lethap Wea'on motie. Thos ys real life.
droned over the speaker. His eyelids started Maybe should put head down. Just a The door to office banged open. eyes shot wide. Georgia stood in doorway, hair wild, as if a strong wind had blown her in. The was back. So was the denim. She leaned against the door frame. Darius away fog his "Ms. Clare. What are you—" An irate _harrumph_ came through the phone's speaker. "Ms. Clare? Who's Clare? This is Mrs. Owen." Right. He was on the phone. Darius "Mrs. Owen, of course. I'm someone's come into office. me back to you _what had she been talking about?_ —"that. We'll speak soon." He hung up without waiting for her his focus on Georgia. didn't for to speak. "So! first move?" Darius shook himself. Maybe tired than he'd realized. "What are you—" Georgia away from door and crossed the office. "Our I figured we'd start as soon as possible." forehead started to ache. "We?" "Of course." Georgia balanced her hip on the edge of "You didn't seriously think just sit in corner knit you all the did you?" He stared, mute. Oh, no. Hell, no. This was not what he'd signed up for. He might be working witch—temporarily—but be damned if started working _with_ a Darius the urge to rub temples, rested in of "Actually, yes. That's exactly you're going to do." Georgia's dropped. Darius sat a see the argument brewing behind her eyes. He before she could speak. "You hired me investigate what's going on. Last I checked, you weren't Joe Pesci, and wasn't a movie. This is real life.
 droned over the speaker. His eyElids startEd to dRifT. MaYbE he sHoulD put his head dowN. just For a moment. Just for a quicK—

The dOoR To hiS OfFice bAnged opEN. DARIus' EyEs ShoT wIDe. georgIa sTood in tHe doorway, hAir WiLd, as if a stronG WiNd had blown Her In. The leather Was Back. So WaS thE Denim. she LeaneD againST the doOr frame.

DaRiUS blinkED away thE FOg In hiS brain. "Ms. Clare. What ARe YOu—"

An irate _harruMph_ camE tHRoUGH thE phOne's speakeR. "MS. ClarE? who's Ms. CLArE? tHIs iS mrs. Owen."

Right. HE was still on THe pHone. DaRiUs cOUghed. "MRs. OweN, oF CouRse. I'm sorry, sOmeoNe's just coMe into THe officE. let me geT back tO yoU abOut"— _wHAt HaD shE bEEn tALkIng ABouT?_ —"that. We'lL sPeAk sooN." He hUNG UP witHouT waiTing fOr her response, His FocuS AlrEady bAck on georGiA.

She dIdn't waIt for HiM to speak. "So! What's Our fIrst move?"

DAriUs ShoOk HimseLF. Maybe He wAs mOre tireD than he'D ReaLiZED. "whAt are you—"

Georgia pusHeD AWaY from the Door anD CrOsSEd the offIcE. "OuR casE! i FigurEd we'D StArt as sooN as posSIbLe."

darius' fOrEhead sTaRteD to Ache. "WE?"

"of coUrse." GeOrgia balAnced HEr hip on the edge OF his desk. "You diDN't SERiOUsly ThiNk I'd just sit In a cORner And kNIt WhiLE you dId all ThE WoRK, did you?"

He stared, mute. oh, No. Hell, No. ThiS was definitelY not what he'D SIGned up foR. He mIGhT Be working _for_ a wItch—tEmporarily—BUt he'd be dAmned If he starTed workinG _WIth_ a witcH. DaRiuS reSisTED tHe urge to rub hiS THrobBiNg templEs, iNstead rEstEd hIs hAndS cAlmly in frOnt of him. "acTuAlLy, Yes. that's EXactly whAt You'Re GoiNg to dO."

georgiA's jaw DropPeD.

DARiuS sat a liTTlE STraiGhTeR. He cOulD aLreadY see THe aRgument Brewing beHinD Her eYeS. HE continUed before she cOuLd speak. "You HiRed Me to inVEStigate wHat's going on. Last I checked, YOu weren'T JoE PescI, and This wasn't A LeThal WeApoN Movie. THis is rEal liFe.
 droned over the speaker.His eyelid s sta rte d t odrif t. M aybe he should puthis head down. Just fo r a m om e nt.J us t for  a quic k —T hedo or  to  h i soffic e b anged o pen. Dariu s'ey es shot wide .  G eorgia sto odin the doorw ay,  hairwi ld, as if  astron g wind had bl own her i n. The le a ther wa s ba ck.So was the denim. Sh e  leaned agains t thedo o rf r ame .
Darius bli nk ed aw a y the f o gi n his brain. "Ms. C lare. Whata reyou—"
A n i r ate _h arrum ph _  ca me throughthephone's s peaker .  "Ms. C l are? Wh o's Ms . C lar e? T h is  i s M rs .  Ow e n. "
R igh t. He wa sst ill o n th e p h one.  Da rius  coug hed. "Mrs. Ow en,  ofc our se. I 'm so rry,  s omeon e's ju st co me  into the offic e. L et me get  ba ck  to  y ou ab o ut"— _ wha t h ad shebeen ta l kin ga b o ut ?_ —"that. We'll s pe a k  s oon." He  hungu pwi t hout wai ti ngforh e r res pons e ,his focu s alre a dy  b ack onGe orgia. 
She  di dn'tw aitfor hi m to spe ak. " S o! What's ourf irst move?"
D ar i u ss hook  hi mself. Mayb e he wasmore ti red thanhe'dre a li z ed. "What are you—" 
Georgi a pus hed away from  the doora n d  crossed  the of f ice. "Our case ! I f igured we' d  start a s soo n as pos sible."
D a rius' fo reh ead  st art e d  t o ache. "We?" "Ofco urse."Geo rgia ba lan ced  he r h ip  on the e dge of h is  d es k.  "Y ou di d n't seri ou sly  t hin k I'd just s it in  a c or ne r  an d knitw hi l e  you  d id  all  th ework,  did you ?"

Hestared, m ute .  Oh,  n o.  Hell,no. This wasde finitely n ot  wh at he' d signed u p for. He might be work i ng _for _ a  witc h—te mporarily —bu t he'd  be damned  if he  star te d w o r king_ w it h_awitch. Dar i u s r esist ed  the  urge t o rub his throbbin g  te mples, instea d r este d hi s h a nd s  ca lm l y i n front of him. " Actually,ye s .That's exa c tly  w hat you 're goi ng to do."

G eorgia'sjaw dropp ed .

D a r ius  sat a lit tle stra ighter. H e  coul d  a lread y s ee the  a rgu mentbrewin g  be hindher ey es . He c ontin ue d before  she could speak. "Youhiredme to  in vestigate  wh a t's  going on . La st I check ed,  yo u wer en' t  JoePesc i ,and thiswasn ' t a Letha l  W eap o n  m ovie. Thisi s rea l lif e.
 droned_over the_speaker. His eyelids started_to drift._Maybe_he should_put_his head down._Just for a_moment. Just for a_quick—

The door to_his_office banged open. Darius' eyes shot wide. Georgia stood in the doorway, hair wild,_as_if a_strong_wind_had blown her in. The_leather was back. So was_the denim._She leaned against the door frame.

Darius blinked away_the_fog in his_brain. "Ms. Clare. What are you—"

An irate _harrumph_ came_through the phone's speaker. "Ms. Clare?_Who's Ms. Clare?_This_is_Mrs. Owen."

Right. He was_still on the phone. Darius coughed._"Mrs. Owen, of course. I'm sorry,_someone's just come into the office. Let_me get back to you about"—__what had she been talking_about?_ —"that._We'll speak soon." He hung_up without waiting_for her_response, his focus_already back on Georgia.

She didn't wait_for him to_speak. "So! What's our first move?"

Darius_shook_himself. Maybe he_was_more_tired than_he'd realized. "What_are_you—"

Georgia pushed_away_from the door and crossed the_office._"Our case! I figured we'd start as_soon as possible."

Darius' forehead_started_to ache. "We?"

"Of course."_Georgia balanced her hip on_the edge of his desk. "You_didn't seriously_think I'd_just sit in a corner and knit while you did all_the work, did you?"

He stared, mute._Oh, no. Hell, no._This was_definitely_not what he'd_signed_up for._He might be working _for_ a witch—temporarily—but_he'd be_damned if he started working _with__a witch. Darius resisted_the_urge to rub his throbbing temples,_instead rested his hands calmly in_front of him. "Actually, yes._That's_exactly_what you're going to do."

Georgia's_jaw dropped.

Darius sat a little straighter._He could already_see the argument brewing behind her eyes._He_continued before she could speak. "You_hired_me to investigate what's going on._Last_I_checked, you weren't Joe Pesci,_and this wasn't a Lethal Weapon_movie. This is real life.