My old mentor never batted an eye at the faux pas.
“It’s not really an assignment. More a busman’s holiday. I was going to do a little work on my own time. A favor for a friend who can’t afford our normal fees.”
I should have been suspicious right then. If I’m at all money-grubbing, it rubbed off from Aahz during our association. Anytime Aahz starts talking about giving something away that we could sell, like our time, I should know there’s something afoot.
“Gee, Aahz, I don’t think I could take the time. I’ve been really busy.”
“… Levitating pencils and checking for embezzlement of funds that are all gravy anyway?”
His attempt at an innocent smile was short enough of the mark to be a deliberate botch.
“C’mon, Aahz. That’s not fair. I have been working hard. I just need a break once in a while. That’s all.”
“My point precisely,” my partner said, springing his trap. “It’s about time you got out of this office and out in the field before you become a permanent part of that chair. You don’t want to get too far out of touch with the troops, you know, and this little chore is just the thing to remind you what it’s like to be on assignment.”
I could feel myself being outflanked the longer he talked. In desperation, I held up a hand.
“All right, all right. Tell me about it. Who is this friend of yours?”
“Actually, he’s more of an acquaintance. You know him too. Remember Quigley?”
“ Quigley? Demon hunter turned magician? That Quigley?”
Aahz nodded vigorously.
“That’s the one. It seems he’s got a problem he’s not up to handling himself. . . which isn’t surprising, somehow. I thought you might be interested in lending a hand, since we were the ones who set him up for it.”