Magpie by Kim Dare Page A

man’s mind to believe he didn’t need the stuff.
    “I take it you haven’t had any training in a particular profession?” Everet asked as they each pushed near empty plates aside.
    He’d obviously been right to keep the question back until Kane had finished his breakfast. The magpie leaned back in his chair and pointedly turned his attention away from Everet, in a complete and instant sulk.
    “In that case, we’ll start you off with something that you don’t need any training for. It will give you a bit of structure while you’re settling in here and—”
    “I’m tired. I need to rest now.”
    Everet didn’t even miss a beat. “The avian in charge of the day to day maintenance of the nest is a barn owl. His name is Mr. Johnson. We’ll go and speak to him now—he’ll know what jobs are available.”
    “Didn’t you hear me?” Kane demanded.
    “Yes. You’re tired.” Everet held Kane’s gaze, almost daring the other man to look away first. “If you really can’t manage to join me, I suppose I can ask Ambrose to take you back to the apartment. You can rest there while Mr. Johnson and I decide how you’ll spend your time for the next few weeks.”
    “Like hell you will.” Kane launched himself to his feet. His cutlery clattered to the floor as he carelessly pushed it off the table.
    Everet remained in his seat, tilting back his head so he never once needed to look away from Kane’s eyes. “You said you were too tired to speak to Mr. Johnson yourself.”
    “Where is he?” Kane demanded.
    Everet raised an eyebrow.
    “This Mr. Johnson,” Kane snapped. “Where is he? I want to speak to him, right now.”
    “Sit down.”
    “I said—”
    “I heard you, so did most of the men in the room. Sit down. Pick up your knife and fork and put them back on the table. Then, when you’re calm, I’ll take you to see Mr. Johnson.”
    “No.” From the way he said it, Kane seemed to expect some sort of dramatic reaction to the pronouncement.
    Everet merely settled himself a little more comfortably in his seat. He had plenty to think about to pass his time. At some point, he’d have to get back to his regular duties at the nest. No doubt everything had gone to hell when he’d been distracted by Kane’s illness.
    He’d have to sort out the mess the other men had made of his attempts to set up a system where avians who, while not exactly breaking any of the nest’s laws, had mistreated or taken advantage of lower ranking men, could be recorded and monitored.
    “Are you just going to sit there?” Kane demanded, his voice still a dozen decibels louder than it needed to be.
    “Yes, until you’re ready to leave, that’s exactly what I intend to do.”
    “I’m ready now!” Kane actually stamped his foot. He was obviously used to getting his own way whenever he threw that kind of a fit. It would have been amusing if it hadn’t reduced a man with Kane’s potential to something so far beneath what he should have been.
    “The way to show me you’re ready is to sit quietly in your chair, with your knife and fork back on the table.”
    “Seriously? This is what you want to make a stand over?”
    Everet shrugged. It might as well be. The point that he wouldn’t be influenced by hysterics would have to be made sometime. “No time like the present.”
    Kane dragged his chair back several inches, making the legs screech against the floorboards. He snatched up the cutlery and tossed it on the plate with a clatter. Shoving one hand into his pocket, he dumped himself into his seat as if the chair had personally offended him. Although why Kane should think anything in its right mind wouldn’t love to be pressed up against his arse—
    Everet cut that line of thought off very sharply. If he went down that route, they’d never get anything done. He stood up. “Good. Well done. Mr. Johnson’s office is this way.” He held his arm out, letting Kane precede him between the rows of tables.
    Kane still didn’t