had asked a
simple question and it had brought the bittersweet memory -- and
its consequences – back to the forefront of his mind.
As he perused each portfolio and filed it
accordingly, he felt himself feeling somewhat envious of her.
She could still feel love. She possessed a
desire within her. Her lover was still present to receive that
emotion, whether Maggie Devon realized it or not.
John envied them both. It was a feeling he
had never thought he would experience ever again and it troubled
him deeply.
10: The Queen That Never Was
It had taken them a week to go through the
past due files. John worked every night reading portfolios as if
they were resumes after Brigit had gone home. When she would return
in the morning, he would hand her a pile to go through as well,
asking for her opinion in his choices. If she agreed, the
portfolios were slipped into the top right drawer. If she
disagreed, the portfolios were returned to the assignment due box.
When the last portfolio had been read and categorized, John had
looked at her with a triumphant gleam in his ice blue eyes.
“We’re done sorting,” he announced.
“Really?” Brigit looked up from the foremost
box of assignments due.
“We are,” he confirmed. “We’ve only lost a
week. Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?” she asked.
“I don’t think I could have gone through this
all without some sort of direction. So, thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Brigit replied. “So what’s
next?”
John looked at the four separate stacks of
boxes. They had categorized the boxes by: Most Immediate
Assignments, Children, Adults and Potential Problems. Neither
Reaper was in any great hurry to begin the assignments contained
within the last stack of boxes.
“Do you feel that you’re ready to take on
some solo work?” he asked.
“Sure, if you think I’m ready,” Brigit
answered. John nodded his answer as he reached around her and
withdrew a couple of portfolios from the Most Immediate Assignments
box and extended them to her. He had observed the ease with which
she wore her new duties during her training. Eventually, John knew,
Brigit would be a first class Reaper; but for now, he would start
her out with some light solo flights.
“Try these and then return to the office.
They should be relatively easy to accomplish. You can give me a
briefing and we’ll discuss what you could have done differently if
they turn out not to be so easy,” he instructed. Brigit took the
portfolios and slipped them into the hip pocket of her coat. “If we
were operating at full capacity, I would accompany you to observe,
naturally. As the case is, I think I should be in the field as well
so we can start to catch up on this.”
He waved an arm toward the stack of Most
Immediate Assignments. Unfortunately, this particular stack was
twice as tall as the other three. Brigit nodded in silent
agreement. She watched as John turned and withdrew a thick pile
from the box. As the portfolios were relatively thin in girth, he
was able to grab fifty or more at once. He had only given her two
to complete for the moment. She hoped that soon she would have the
knowledge and ability to accomplish more.
“Take off then,” John instructed. “Be sure to
take your umbrella. Good luck, love,” he wished her as she walked
to the door of the office.
She thanked him before plucking her umbrella
from the stand where John stored his black walking stick.
Lightheartedly, she hooked the handle over her arm and began the
long walk down the hall to the main entrance of 666 ½ Bleecker
Street. She paused at the great door to withdraw the first
assignment. Quickly she scanned the location before opening the
door and exiting the building.
The assignment was located at 72 St. Marks
Place. If memory served her correctly, it was the address of an
abandoned cabaret theater. She remembered the article in the
neighborhood press regarding its closure. There had been enough
incidents involving drugs
simple question and it had brought the bittersweet memory -- and
its consequences – back to the forefront of his mind.
As he perused each portfolio and filed it
accordingly, he felt himself feeling somewhat envious of her.
She could still feel love. She possessed a
desire within her. Her lover was still present to receive that
emotion, whether Maggie Devon realized it or not.
John envied them both. It was a feeling he
had never thought he would experience ever again and it troubled
him deeply.
10: The Queen That Never Was
It had taken them a week to go through the
past due files. John worked every night reading portfolios as if
they were resumes after Brigit had gone home. When she would return
in the morning, he would hand her a pile to go through as well,
asking for her opinion in his choices. If she agreed, the
portfolios were slipped into the top right drawer. If she
disagreed, the portfolios were returned to the assignment due box.
When the last portfolio had been read and categorized, John had
looked at her with a triumphant gleam in his ice blue eyes.
“We’re done sorting,” he announced.
“Really?” Brigit looked up from the foremost
box of assignments due.
“We are,” he confirmed. “We’ve only lost a
week. Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?” she asked.
“I don’t think I could have gone through this
all without some sort of direction. So, thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Brigit replied. “So what’s
next?”
John looked at the four separate stacks of
boxes. They had categorized the boxes by: Most Immediate
Assignments, Children, Adults and Potential Problems. Neither
Reaper was in any great hurry to begin the assignments contained
within the last stack of boxes.
“Do you feel that you’re ready to take on
some solo work?” he asked.
“Sure, if you think I’m ready,” Brigit
answered. John nodded his answer as he reached around her and
withdrew a couple of portfolios from the Most Immediate Assignments
box and extended them to her. He had observed the ease with which
she wore her new duties during her training. Eventually, John knew,
Brigit would be a first class Reaper; but for now, he would start
her out with some light solo flights.
“Try these and then return to the office.
They should be relatively easy to accomplish. You can give me a
briefing and we’ll discuss what you could have done differently if
they turn out not to be so easy,” he instructed. Brigit took the
portfolios and slipped them into the hip pocket of her coat. “If we
were operating at full capacity, I would accompany you to observe,
naturally. As the case is, I think I should be in the field as well
so we can start to catch up on this.”
He waved an arm toward the stack of Most
Immediate Assignments. Unfortunately, this particular stack was
twice as tall as the other three. Brigit nodded in silent
agreement. She watched as John turned and withdrew a thick pile
from the box. As the portfolios were relatively thin in girth, he
was able to grab fifty or more at once. He had only given her two
to complete for the moment. She hoped that soon she would have the
knowledge and ability to accomplish more.
“Take off then,” John instructed. “Be sure to
take your umbrella. Good luck, love,” he wished her as she walked
to the door of the office.
She thanked him before plucking her umbrella
from the stand where John stored his black walking stick.
Lightheartedly, she hooked the handle over her arm and began the
long walk down the hall to the main entrance of 666 ½ Bleecker
Street. She paused at the great door to withdraw the first
assignment. Quickly she scanned the location before opening the
door and exiting the building.
The assignment was located at 72 St. Marks
Place. If memory served her correctly, it was the address of an
abandoned cabaret theater. She remembered the article in the
neighborhood press regarding its closure. There had been enough
incidents involving drugs
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