Congratulations all around

After an exhausting, but thoroughly enjoyable night, you head off to work in the morning with a big smile on your face. Having told your coworkers what your plans were, you get a lot of congratulations from everyone around the AWIO offices. After sharing a slightly abridged tale of the two proposals thus far, you settle in to get some work done.

It’s actually pretty quiet lately. The initial rush caused by the opening of the cafe has subsided, and things have returned to a normal pace. You find that you actually prefer it this way, as you’re able to spend more time on each individual case. While you haven’t heard about any problems, you worried that dealing with too many sponsors would lead to more people slipping through the cracks and getting into bad situations. Fortunately, it seems like that hasn’t happened.

You’re just wrapping up some paperwork, when you look up and are startled by a big man standing in front of your desk. You jump slightly, and he chuckles, shaking his head. It’s Roz, the lamia-blooded head of the so-called ‘security team’ at the AWIO. His reptilian eyes are full of amusement as he crosses his muscular arms. It never fails to amaze you that someone that big can move that quietly.

“Hey. Didn’t mean to startle you, Brian.”

You chuckle and shake your head. “No problem, Roz. You’re just so damn sneaky.”

He grins. “What can I say, lamia heritage has its perks. So, I wanted to come by and say my congratulations. I heard what you’re doing for your girls, and I think it’s really nice.”

He sighs. “I see a lot of the bad side of things in my job, so it’s good to have a happy ending to look at sometimes.”

You nod. “Well, it’s not exactly an ending, more of a new beginning. But I get what you’re saying.”

Roz shrugs. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end.”

You blink in surprise. “You’re quoting Roman philosophers? I didn’t expect that from you.”

He laughs. “You should know by now not to judge by appearances. But actually, I heard it in a song, and thought it was fitting.”

You shrug. “In that case, it’s a bit odd that you picked up an obscure reference from a random ‘90s rock band.”

Roz manages to look a bit sheepish. “Well, I’ve been to…a few bars, and at closing time, it’s a popular song.”

You chuckle. “Fair enough. Well, thanks for the well wishes. I’m sure you’ll hear more, I’ve got three proposals to go.”

Roz nods. “I look forward to hearing about them.”

He starts to turn away, but you interrupt him. “Hey, before you go, can I ask something?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Possibly. Ask away.”

“I know you’re keeping an eye on Kelly, my ex. And she disappeared. Has there been any word in her? Any leads?”

Roz seems to stiffen, and he somehow looks a bit nervous, an is expression on such a big man. “I can’t really discuss an ongoing investigation, sorry. The council would have my head. You’ll have to take it up with them.”

With that, he hurries away. You watch the big half-lamia go, wondering what bothered him so much.