Once Upon Stilettos

“Good idea, both the productivity bonus and the treasure hunt. They seem to be having fun, and it looks like we might even get through this without anyone killing each other. The hats might be overkill, though.”



He grinned, and I swayed and had to catch myself on the banister. “The hats are enchanted,” he said.



“They’re what?”



“A subtle spell that gives a sense of well-being to the wearer. We thought about doing something to the building in general, but this is more direct and efficient.”



I went up one step so I could move myself out of his sphere of influence and think more clearly. “So you put the whammy on the company?”



He gave a casual shrug that made my heart skip a beat. I moved up one more step. “It was Mr. Mervyn’s idea, but I came up with the idea of doing ball caps. I notice you’re not wearing yours.”



“Hat hair avoidance,” I explained.



“Not that the spell would affect you. Good luck on the hunt. You should have a good team.”



I was glad I’d more or less ruled him out as a suspect, because his mention of my immunity made the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up. But unless he was veiling his real expression along with his real face, I didn’t think he meant anything by it.



I got upstairs to find a grinning Merlin, still wearing his ball cap, waiting for me. “This plan of Mr. Gwaltney’s should be quite entertaining,” he said. “We always found that a good tournament helped keep the knights from killing each other between battles. This appears to work on the same principle.”



“It is one of the better team-building activities I’ve seen. It might even be fun.”



He gestured me toward his office, then once we were seated, he asked, “Now, how is your investigation progressing?”



“I’ve made absolutely no progress on finding the spy. I’m right where I started, and I feel like I’m going in circles.”



“Someone must have thought you were close to have bothered attacking you the other night,” he said mildly, raising one eyebrow.



“If I am close, I don’t know it. I have no real suspects. I have no evidence. I’m at the point of hoping they do something else that will give me more clues. I’ve even resorted to wondering if maybe the attacks were personal, but I couldn’t think of anything I have or anything I’ve done that would set someone off like that. Idris seems to want to make me quit, but I can’t see where that would do him much good.”



He remained unruffled, even as I was close to tears. “Let’s consider the evidence you’ve gathered.”



“That’s just it, there is no evidence. Everyone in the company suspects everyone else, and nearly everyone could have had motive and opportunity if you look hard enough for it.”



“Then let’s see who had the most opportunity. Most of the damage was focused on the R and D department, right?”



“Yes. But that doesn’t narrow it down much. It’s the biggest department in the company.”



“True. Did you say anything to anyone Friday that might have given them an impression you knew more than you really did?”



“I was in R and D, but for an entirely different reason,” I said, hoping I didn’t blush.



“I know you’ve been assigned as Santa for Mr. Palmer,” he said gently. “That was at my suggestion. I felt he’d be more comfortable with someone he knew, and it would give you broader access for investigation.”



“Well, while I was down there I talked to Ari and Jake, but a lot of others saw me and thought I was investigating. Or else they thought I was the spy.”



“I propose you focus on that department. You have an excuse to be there.” He smiled. “I believe Mr. Palmer is going to find himself awash in holiday treats in the days to come.”



He was a sneaky old man, but as comfortable as I felt with him, I didn’t dare say so to his face. I shouldn’t have been surprised, though. He’d put kings on thrones. This was small potatoes to him.



“So, hanging out in R and D, then,” I said, feeling a little better. If only I could deal with my magic problem the same way.



He took a flat crystal from his desk. “This should get you past security there. The spell is on the crystal, so you don’t have to worry about a lack of magical ability.” No, I just had to worry about wards I could no longer get through, but I didn’t have a pressing need to get into Owen’s office. “And I can keep Mr. Palmer busy so you’ll be able to snoop without giving away your Santa identity.”