Page 29 of The Tribes of Magic (Paragons #3)

She looked so different in a black pants suit and heels rather than the loose dress and flour-dusted apron I’d seen her in before.

Her hair was darker and smoother, and she wore it down.

The tips just touched her shoulders. She was wearing makeup too.

Between the hair, the clothes, and the makeup, she looked at least ten years younger.

“That’s the woman who pretended to be your grandma,” I told Brett.

“She looks scary.”

The woman moved toward us at a brisk pace, unhindered by the gravel and grass and debris, despite her stylish high heels. “I’m Agent Mackenzie. I work for Gaian Intelligence.”

She showed us a smile. It was the same smile she’d given me the day I’d met her in the kitchen—just a little sharper. Her eyes were bright and intelligent, but there was a hint of the kind grandma persona she’d put on for my benefit. Maybe it hadn’t all been an act.

Agent Mackenzie turned to Kato. “The General called me. He said you’ve found the witness. I’m here to collect him.” She snapped her fingers, and a Watcher moved to either side of Brett. They escorted him to one of the SUVs.

“What are you going to do with him?” I asked.

“Don’t fret, Savannah Winters. He will not be harmed. In fact, we’re going to take very good care of him. He’s our star witness.”

“In the case of the mysteriously-appearing Government supplies.”

“My, my, you have been a busy little bee, haven’t you?”

I folded my arms over my chest and met her eyes. “Yes, I have been busy. Because you sent me to find him.”

“You have a knack for solving mysteries. I had a mystery in need of solving. Crates of Government supplies were mysteriously popping up, and no one could explain where they’d come from or who had sent them.

I tracked the supplies down to the Park.

When Mr. Ashbridge went missing, I believed he was involved in the deliveries.

The truth turned out to be a tad more complicated. ”

“The truth usually is.”

Another black SUV had just arrived. Watchers hopped out and headed straight for the mercenaries, who were still trapped under the glowing net.

“It’s magic,” one of the Watchers said.

“You don’t say.” Agent Mackenzie gave the Watchers a wry smile, then her gaze slid back to me. “That is your spell, I presume?”

“Yes.”

“Can you unravel it so my men can secure the prisoners?”

“I’m not actually sure I can,” I said honestly.

“I’ll do it.” Kato joined the Watchers by the sizzling net, leaving me alone with Agent Mackenzie and her impressive aura. The woman exuded competence, professionalism, and even a little spunk.

So I had to ask. “Agent Mackenzie?”

Kato had expelled the net that held the mercenaries, and the Watchers were marching them toward the parked SUVs to load them inside.

Agent Mackenzie turned her eyes from them to look at me. “Yes?”

“Why were you at the conference center, pretending to be a chef?”

“The General wanted eyes on the delegates, the staff?—”

“The Apprentices?”

She chuckled. “Yes. He wanted eyes on everything that was going on at the Summit, so he sent me and my team in undercover.”

“Did he ask you to spy on me?”

“Your name might have come up.”

“I knew it.”

“You don’t know anything, Savannah Winters. When the General sent me in, he didn’t single you out as the person to watch. After your little performance there, however, that might have changed. You certainly have the General’s attention now.”

“Swell.”

She patted me on the back. “Don’t worry about it. The General has his attention on a lot of people. But unlike most of them, you don’t look like an insurrectionist.”

“I’m not.”

“If that’s true, you have nothing to worry about. Just keep your head low, and the General will eventually forget about you.”

“Yeah, so I’m not really very good at that. Keeping my head low.”

“I figured that out. Why do you think I asked you to find Mr. Ashbridge?”

“So about that… Why did you put on this whole show, pretending to be his grandmother?”

“I’ve studied your file. I decided that story was the one most likely to help me achieve my aim. You have a soft spot for lost children and despondent family members.”

“You manipulated me.”

She shrugged. “I did my job. I knew you’d find him before I did.

I’d read you were scheduled to train in the Park today, and I knew he was here.

I also knew, based on previous reports, that it was likely you’d have an incident of explosive magic, and your mentor would send you off alone for everyone’s protection.

Mr. Ashbridge is shy, but he’s very curious about magic.

As long as you were alone, he was very likely to approach you. ”

“Yes, at which point, I talked to him and realized that you are not his grandmother.”

A smile stretched her lips. “And how did that make you feel? Even more curious to get to the bottom of things, I’d imagine.”

Honestly, I didn’t know what to say. Agent Mackenzie was deceitful, manipulative, and deviously intelligent. If I weren’t so mad at her for lying to me, I might have even liked her.

“Well, then, Savannah Winters, I have a witness to question and prisoners to deliver. You have a good day. And do try to stay out of trouble, dear.”

She bowed her head to me, strode back to the SUVs, and climbed into one of them. The pair of vehicles drove off down the gravel road, leaving me alone with Kato—and a whole lot of questions.