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Paloma blanched when she saw us coming, then tried to play casual by flipping the “Open” sign to “Closed.”
“Wow,” Theo said. “I don’t know if we should go in now that she’s turned that sign around.”
“Yeah,” I said, pushing open the door. “It’s a real obstacle.”
There was a handful of humans in the store, most near the windows and on screens, reporting what they’d seen—or trying to figure out exactly what it had been.
“I’ll keep an eye on her,” I said. “Can you take care of them?”
“My pleasure.” Theo pulled his badge, raised it. He didn’t have any jurisdiction here, but it wasn’t like anyone was going to read the fine print. “Sorry for the interruption,” he said, “but we need everyone to vacate the premises, please. If you could just all step outside and be on your way.”
Helpfully, he held open the door, waited for them to file out, and closed it again. Then he flipped the lock, turned back to us.
“What are you doing?” Paloma asked, skittering behind the counter as we walked toward her.
“We’re here to get the truth,” I said, idly picking up a geode, examining the crystals inside, then setting it down again. “Because we’re very sick of being lied to.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Paloma said, but her hands were shaking. When she realized we’d noticed, she crossed her arms, hiding her hands.
“I didn’t introduce myself,” Theo said, taking out his badge. “I’m with the Ombudsman’s office. Do you know who they are?”
“Yeah, I know. You don’t have any jurisdiction here.”
“No,” he agreed, “I don’t. But what I do have is information. You also have information, Paloma. And you’re going to give it to us.”
“I don’t know anything.”
“Oh, but you do. Because you’re the only one who could.” Theo looked at me. “Did you know I spoke with the Order earlier today?”
“You don’t say,” I offered, feigning surprise. “And how are things in Milwaukee?”
“Efficient. They keep really good records, and our Paloma here is the only sorceress—registered or otherwise—in the area.” He turned to Paloma again. “This begins and ends with you, Paloma. Would you like to be honest now, or should we just call the Order and let them deal with you?”
She turned her gaze to the window and looked absolutelymiserable. “I didn’t know they’d turn into... that,” she said, then looked back at me. “That’s the absolute truth.”
“You’ll pardon me if I don’t believe you,” I said dryly. “Especially since, despite your powers, you stood there and watched. You didn’t even try to help.”
“There was nothing I could do.”
Theo looked at me, brows knit in false puzzlement. “Nothing she could do, Elisa. Doesn’t that seem strange?”
“It really does,” I agreed, enjoying the banter more than I probably should have, given what was at stake.
“You don’t have to believe me,” she said. “Maybe I wouldn’t believe me if I was you. But again, it’s the truth.”
“We’ll believe you if you tell us the truth,” I said.
Paloma rubbed her forehead. “Can we—can we go sit down? I’m getting one hell of a headache. It’s the magic. It gives me migraines.”
She rustled through a bead-covered doorway along the back wall.
We followed her down a hallway that led to a restroom and a small office. The office held a desk and two visitors’ chairs. It was organized but full of boxes, paperwork, and collectibles. A paper lantern hung from the ceiling, and a poster demonstrating yoga poses was stuck to the brick wall. And the room was thick with old magic, pungent layers that seemed to permeate the air and the furniture and left the air feeling oily.
She sat down behind the desk, closed her eyes, and rubbed her hands over her face. Then she sighed heavily, seeming to contract in the room, and put down her hands again. She looked tired and miserable. Unfortunate those feelings hadn’t pushed her to find us before.
“He came to me because he had a problem.”
“He who?” I asked.
