The issue was, their role extended far beyond its original purpose. Helena took over as head of the Department of Alternate Studies six months ago, a department with a government budget ten times of what was officially declared in the treasury accounts. What went on there remained a mystery, but its goal was a mixture of keeping secrets secret and something they liked to brand as ‘utilising alternate methods in the war against terror’. Her predecessor had been woefully ill-equipped to cope with their kind, which had cost him dearly. All credit to Helena, she had not entered this unprepared. She was a bulldog if ever there was one and Meyer thought, chosen as a fair match for Wade. She had even mastered mental blocking, which said something about her resolve and determination. Meyer often watched Wade trying to read her and took enormous amounts of pleasure when he failed, pearls of sweat glistening on his head as frustration overtook his wrinkled face.

“My dearest Helena,” Meyer said, as genuinely as possible for the time of night.

“What are you doing here? You aren't part of the council.”

“And it is lovely to see you again too.”

“Wade is late.”

“Wade is always late.”

“We don't all have time to waste,” Helena said, glancing around the room.

“I'm sure we don't.”

“Your services are required tomorrow, the usual car will be sent. We have a selective mute for you to interview,” Helena said.

A selective mute meant a suspect or interviewee held by the department that they could not break using human methods of interrogation. That was where Meyer's particular skill set came in handy.

Helena turned and walked away, not waiting for any form of a reply. As she left, Meyer noticed the young man who had been standing beside her, following in her shadow like a dog with its master. He didn't recognise his face, but he appeared the government sort. A well tailored suit made from a dark material, perfectly groomed from his side swept hair to his finely trimmed beard and built like someone who incorporates the gym, of all things, into their daily routine. Meyer wondered how much training he had been given by Helena. He was guessing not a lot, which meant that perhaps tonight wouldn't be so dull after all.

Ruth joined Meyer again with Alice in tow and the three engaged in further polite conversation, Ruth speaking enough for all of them. Meyer let the conversation drift over his head, his attention was better spent watching Helena, or more accurately, watching the reactions of those she approached. To say they became tense would have been an understatement, hopping from foot to foot as they fidgeted nervously, their bodies turned slightly away as to make best of any opportunity for escape.

The door to the council chamber opened and everyone was ushered inside, that was, apart from Meyer and Ruth. Before Helena reached the door, Meyer called out to Helena's assistant, “Boy?”

The man turned, the two making eye contact for a brief second.

“Et cogitationibus tuis,” Meyer said under his breath, before coughing to conceal his words. “Good luck boy.”

The man took a double take, confused by the interruption. He turned to ask Helena, but she was gone, having already made her way into the chamber without him. He ran into the room to catch up with her, oblivious to what had happened.

If one could see magic, and there are those in the alternate community that can, then this spell would have been anything but concealed. Lucky for Meyer, there were no Binders here to catch him. To them, after the glow of purple in Meyer’s eyes, they would see the spell ignite as a wisp of fire and smoke, twisting across the room as it homed in on its target. To Helena’s assistant, the whole spell appeared invisible, bar the goosebumps it produced down his neck.

“Excellent,” Meyer thought.

This man, Charles, for he now knew his name, would be useful. Wade might not have wanted Meyer to be in the meeting, but just because he couldn't enter the room himself, it didn't mean he wouldn't be able to find out what was going on.