The office was set up exactly the way I would have expected it to be. The layout was completely open, there were precisely four desks pushed together with dividers for privacy. Three desks were filled to the brim and designed specifically to match their owners. I could immediately tell I was seated right next to Astrid. While pristine, it was also overflowing with books. She was always learning something new, languages, skills, you name it. My eyes wandered to find the other side of the empty desk to see Howl’s. A large number of post it notes were eating away at his desktop. With an endless amount of exclamation marks, it was clear to see that he needed to get things done immediately. In addition to the stressful looking pieces of paper was a neatly organized area of unopened chocolate cigarettes at the ready. 

Howl casually slid into his seat and started reading all the sticky notes tossing them one after another  into different piles. Some fell immediately into the waste bin and others into the drawer. He mentally  took note of each task. One would assume he would forget, but he had a tremendous memory. From the elegant flow of the cursive, I could tell that the ones that went into the waste bin were from Astrid and the carefully taken care of notes were Tatum’s. It was easy to tell who he was smitten with. 

Like Astrid’s desk, there was also a neatly formed tower on Tatum’s, only instead of books there were journals. Of course, her obsession was also on full display with a pyramid of mini creamer cups that she drank often enough to have them stockpiled. 

From what I knew, Tatum often travelled for work due to her thriving investigative journalism career. She was notorious for getting the scoop no one else could dream of getting. As it would turn out, she moved as my father’s right hand. Tatum was remarkable and talented in every way humanly possible. If there was anyone you wanted on your side it was her. 

“Hey!”

A crumpled up ball of paper suddenly hit my head. Howl hit me not only with paper, but a wicked glare and a deep grimace that told me to get away from the desk. Ignoring him, I fell into my seat. Before, I could ask a single question, a glass door that I hadn’t seen earlier flung open. Right as it opened the frosted glass shifted and I was able to see a meeting room. My father was leaning against the table as Astrid came out. 

She looked as if there was a lot on her mind, however the worry immediately left her and she put on a calm and collected expression. She gave me a little smile and took her seat next to me. My eyes wandered to my father. Like her, he fixed his expression and beckoned me. I left my seat, hearing both Astrid and Howl bicker as he crumpled up more of her notes and was now throwing them at her. 

Once the door closed, the glass was frosted again. He looked at me, clearly gauging on how to speak to me. 

“Today, you’ll join Astrid and Howl on some field work. They will be wrapping up a case that will give you some crucial first hand experience. Our next endeavor is our most important one yet. You must be ready.”

He handed me a small file and took a seat. 

“As for what occurred earlier, I am more than aware that our values align, if they didn’t you wouldn’t be here. I won’t ask anything further, except one thing. Have you been okay?”

His blue eyes were once again filled with worry. I was sure that this question was referencing my connection to Salvatore. 

“Of course, I’m fine. I just got rid of a huge thorn in my side and the job I’ve longed for is finally mine.” I smiled reassuringly. It seemed that these days I needed to comfort others more than myself. Something was eating away at everyone and I have no idea what it is. 

His eyes wavered, but like everyone else, he adjusted his expression. 

“Good, you know you can always come to your mother and me with any concern or even just for a simple chat.”

He seemed happier, but he still looked somewhat melancholy. He was truly in a tug of war with his emotions. With every moment I shared with this entire team, I felt sad not knowing how to rightly comfort any of them. 

“You should probably get going. They might kill each other if you don’t.”

I turned around to see a clear display of Astrid and Howl at each other’s neck. 

“I’ll make them your problem at work now too. There too much for me to handle these days.” He simply laughed as he finished his sentence and pushed me out the door.

After playing peacemaker, we found ourselves driving to a Howl’s internet café. It was explained to me that they were currently looking into a hedge fund. More specifically, it’s manager. I was told that he was embezzling funds and was also an absolute tyrant to his staff. He was currently blackmailing those who worked directly under him to do his bidding. At the moment, Astrid had full access to documents that could prove his guilt in the case. In addition, she also brought the closest staff members to her side that were set to be blamed for his misdeeds. 

The case was certainly closed, they just had to wrap up loose ends with a person they met along the way while looking into this man. Howl was quick to state that this person was a diamond in the rough. So much so that she was being properly recruited today. 

Had she not helped them, they said this win wouldn’t have been possible in the slightest. Hearing such compliments made me wonder just who this person was. 

When we arrived it was extremely difficult to get a parking. Even though it was barely noon, the internet café was already booming. Before everyone was out of the car a small girl popped up with a tray of coffees and a bag of what I assumed was pastries. She looked ridiculously young, much younger than I assume she is. 

“Emmie, you’re here!”

Astrid exclaimed happily as she hurried to help her newest recruit.