Page 142 of Gates of Tartarus

The receptionist, a woman I’ve met several times, greets me with a tired, but polite, “Hello, Ms. Reed.”

I raise my eyebrows and incline my head toward the unexpected chaos to my left. “What’s all that about then, Rose?”

She rolls her eyes and is about to speak when an imperious voice breaks in behind me. “Excuse me?Excuseme! I was asked herepersonallyby Ms. Cole for an interview?” There is a... tight – there’s no other word for it – young woman behind me with an arrogant, knowing look on her face. Her hair is wrenched back into an immaculate bun; her clothes are perfectly tailored; her nails done; the bottoms of her shoes flashing red. Leaning over the desk, she invades Rose’s space and taps imperiously on the book in front of her. “I’msureshe’d be upset if you knew you kept me waiting.”

The poor receptionist’s face smooths into cool marble. “You can wait over there with the rest of the applicants.”

“Maybe you didn’thearme. I’m Mayor Brooks’ daughter.”

I can’t help it. I burst into laughter, having never actually heard someone drop the whole “do you know who I am” line. The girl – now that I can see beneath her pancake makeup, she seems about 19 or 20 – turns to me, sneering. “Something funny?” she snipes, and I just shake my head, still laughing, then turn back to face Rose.

“She expecting you?” Rose asks, and I nod.

“Yup.”

“Do you mind just heading back by yourself today? I need to gate-keep pushy applicants.”

Grinning, I wave, feeling guilty about leaving her on her own to deal with the uppity teen, who is apoplectic that a no-name woman in motorcycle boots and a leather jacket just skirted the line. The halls on the way to Elizabeth’s office are busier than usual, and I wonder what I’m missing as I arrive at her office, knocking on the door.

Her tired, clipped voice snaps out, “Come in!” and I open the door to see her sitting at her desk on her phone, eyes narrowed as she argues with someone. Waving her hand to indicate the chair in front of her desk, she rolls her eyes slightly at me as she says brusquely, patienceclearlyin short supply, “And asI’vetoldyou, Congresswoman, that is proprietary information. There isnothingyou can do to…” Elizabeth exhales sharply through her nose, and I’m surprised I don’t see smoke. “Let me be crystal clear, Congresswoman. The support of your party is meaningless to me. We are an apolitical foundation. Our goals don’t align with yours. We’re here solely for the betterment of the people.Notfor monetary gain… Yes. Well. Thank you foryourtime.”

Almost slamming her phone down, she presses her long fingers against her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, before exhaling slowly and turning to me, clearly making an effort to make her face amicable. “Ah, Kailani. Here for the employee files?” Sighing deeply, she presses a button in front of her and requests they be delivered to her office.

“You okay, Elizabeth?” I ask gently. “This is... this is chaos!”

Laughing mirthlessly, she shakes her head. “Oh yes. The annual Gaia hiring fair. Is it terrible to say it completely fell off my radar this year? Just –” she makes an exploding motion by her temple. “Honestly, I’m at sixes and sevens at the moment.”

“Well there are about fiftyveryeager applicants chomping at the bit out there.”

“Any to avoid?” she asks me seriously, and I smile.

“I wouldn’t place much faith in Mayor Brooks’ daughter.”

Rolling her eyes, she says, clearly exasperated, “Oh Lord. She’s here?”

“Your personal bestie, from her description.”

“Thank God I’m not part of the lower-level hiring. Ah, yes. Just set the files here, please.” A short woman scurries in, drops off a thin group of folders, and scurries back out.

“Where’s Fallon?” I ask, suddenly realizing I don’t see the ever-present Ms. Agnew, and Elizabeth points at the screen in the back corner of her office.

“Tucked away reviewing higher-level applicant files. Isn’t that right, Fallon?” Elizabeth calls, raising her voice, and suddenly I see Fallon’s face poke around the corner of the screen, looking flat-out exhausted.

“Did you need me, Ms. Cole?” she asks, voice dull.

“No. I’m sorry to disturb you.” Without replying, Fallon ducks back to her quiet area. Picking up the files, Elizabeth passes them to me, smiling tightly. “Now then, I’d love to chat more – you know I value your presence – but I am bogged down at the moment. You’re welcome to head to the executive cafe if you need a drink before you head back to work.”

Flipping through the files, I frown slightly. “This is all? Not trying to question you, but there are, what, fifteen people here? I think Smith was hoping for a full roster to show the victims.”

“Really, Kailani,” she snaps, her voice slightly tighter than normal, without its usual edge of humor, “at some point you’re going to have to think for yourself, not just ape Agent Smith…” She breathes deeply, making a visible effort to smooth her tone and features, pressing a manicured hand lightly to her forehead. “I’m sorry, Kailani. That was uncalled for. I’m... This situation is rapidly spiraling out of control, and the limited help I promised has somehow ballooned into a massive storm that is threatening the legacy my parents created and splitting my focus at a key time. We’ve been working non-stop for weeks now, at all hours. The US government is demanding patent release, threatening us with a monopoly. The British government is pressuring us for the St Cosmas formula. We’re dealing with the aftereffects of the factory discovery. We’re in the midst of our largest and most important hiring event of the year.Andwe’re planning our largest fundraiser for the year – a masked ball taking place in London in just over a week. That fundraiser singlehandedly raises enough money to finance the European outreach branch of Gaia for almost a full year.” Hands shaking slightly, she pours herself a glass of water and takes a steadying sip, before continuing in a low voice, “We are all exhausted, falling asleep on our feet. And I have made commitments to you that I’m struggling to fulfill. I am, as they say, at the end of a fraying rope.”

I smile at her sympathetically. “I totally understand. Is there any way I can hel–” I begin, when an odd, strange emotion pulses off Elizabeth, and I jerk my head up unintentionally, a mountain lion that has scented unexpected prey.

“What’s wrong?” Elizabeth asks sharply, and I hold up my hand to still her.

“I thought…” I whisper quietly, standing and moving noiselessly towards the door. “I thought I heard something.” Leaning against the door, eyes closed, I force my shields to drop, though the effort curdles my stomach, and wait. Again, the pulse of emotion pushes out – frustration, poorly concealed impatience, condescending superiority, heavy, smug arrogance, and longing. Longing so thick it’s smog, flooding my lungs in a black tar, making it difficult to breathe.Jesus. Fucking. Christ. Oh Jesus Christ!I think, panic bubbling in me like a volcano. Pushing my features into an exaggerated frown, I turn around.

“I’m sorry,” I sigh. “I could have sworn... but it was nothing.”