The Wizard Table: Chapter Two: Arnold & Maddie

Benni, a fifteen year-old swindler, is having trouble within her ranks.

Benni heard a bang at her door, she sighed and tied up her long brown hair.

“Open the door Benni.” Maddie said kicking at it with her leg. Benni walked over and unchained the door. Already Benni had put on her professional face; it was the same one she used during their poker games.

Maddie placed the tray she had been carrying on a cleared table. She then looked up at Benni and frowned.

“Who died?” Maddie asked not looking Benni in the eye.

“I’m not sure he’s dead.” Benni said staring at Maddie’s sad expression.

“Who is it?” Maddie repeated.

“The professor.”

“Oh,” Maddie replied relaxing. “I thought it was someone we knew.”

Benni watched as Maddie laughed and practically skipped out the room. Sometimes Benni wondered if they’d been in this business too long. Suddenly, Benni realized she’d forgotten something important. She picked up the phone and waited for Arnold to answer the phone.

“What?”

“Book out tickets to Toronto Canada. We need to be there within the week.” Benni instructed authoritatively.

“Why don’t you do it?” Arnold asked with hardness in his voice.

“I have other work to do. Unless you want to destroy one of my aliases, find a PI and track down a contact we could use in Canada?”

“Fine.” Arnold said hanging up.

Benni sighed and sat down for the first time since she’d discovered the letter. It was only then that she prayed that calling a detective wasn’t necessary and that Phrixus had escaped with his life.

Benni went back to her desk and began to destroy her Eliza alias. 

When Benni had finally figured out the perfect way to break off Eliza as a person she heard a knock at her door.

Frowning she checked her security camera and saw a tall blond figure leaning at her door. Her frown deepened as she let Arnold into her room.

Benni went back to her desk before asking. “What is it Arnold?”

Arnold slid a file across her desk and took the seat across from her.

Benni raised her eyebrow as she opened the file. She went through the first few pages without saying a word, but then as she came near the end she hissed, “What’s this?”

Arnold only shrugged his shoulders and Benni read the rest of the file. Benni glared at Arnold as he cockily leaned back into his chair. He rested the back of his head on his hands as he smirked at Benni.

“That was my job.” Benni said angrily.

“Yeah, but I finished everything else. I figured I’d help you out. That wasn’t a problem was it?” His smirk widened as he watched Benni grinded her teeth together.

“You know what the problem is.” Benni replied leaning forward.

“Do I? I didn’t know there was one. I found a perfectly good PI and contact for us to use.” He said innocently. “What’s the point of having me if we don’t use my contacts? It’s how this team works right? You’re the planner, Maddie’s the muscle and I’m here fix things when you mess up and to have a place to stay whatever country we decide to go.”

“You didn’t ask me before you went off on your own. Do you realize that now I can’t go around asking for people with the same skills without too many questions being asked.” Benni said with a look of disgust.

“Does that mean we aren’t going to use these guys?” Arnold asked with a small smile.

“Fine.” Benni relenting. “We’ll use James and the Henderson fellow.”

“See.” Arnold said grinning. “Was that so hard?”

“On condition, that you give me everything you have on them and I do the background on Henderson the PI.” Benni interrupted the gloating she knew he was about to give.

“Sure, what ever you like.” Arnold replied pushing back his curly blond hair. “But I’ll have leave for Toronto tomorrow.” He said standing up.

Benni resisted the urge of screaming and breaking something, like Arnolds kneecap. Instead she slammed her clenched fist on the table and went back to work. She ignored Arnold as he walked out the room and wished he’d stop undermining her authority.  She hated to admit it but he’d done a good job in less time then Benni thought possible.

Reviews

[PurpleQuartz]

You have a great writing style. This chapter is really good, I like the suspense that you finished it off with!

[Sara]

Thank you very much!