Page 18 of (Mostly) Human Resources

“You know what, don’t worry about it. I’ll call Zach and get his help instead.”

Nic’s response was immediate and stern. “Absolutely not.”

“Oh, I see, it’s not just HR you distrust, it’s your own research team too.”

He sighed, a sound of deep suffering. “If I allowyouto bother my researchers, I will have to allow everyoneelseto bother them too, which, consequently, would render them completely useless to me.”

“Then give me the report on time, and I’ll leave them alone.” She hoped she also came across sternly—two could play that game.

“Fine,” he relented. “I’ll have it in your inbox Tuesdaymorning. But you’ll have to expedite sign-off from there.” That was good enough for her. Alexys said as much and hung up before he could change his mind.

CHAPTER 10

“When the devil swept through our town, I knew real fear. He came like the sudden summer rain without clouds of warning. A pale man in the town square, taller than any man I had seen before. He did not look kind. He looked like jagged stones on an ocean shore that promised wreckage to any boat that should approach. He wore death like a coat, and he wore it well.”

The Fairchild Grimoire,1590 Entry by Constance Fairchild

Nic stifled a yawn as he emerged from the Archives.

He’d been at it for hours, thumbing through every single case he could find pertaining to District 13 since hearing of the Hollow Walker news the best part of a week ago. He had the faintest suspicion that some of the Hollow Walker’s previous activity had been mistakenly miscategorized, and he wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d personally combed through them all.

Ever since his call with Elliot Harman, Nic could think of nothing else. The creature that had so consumed him for all these years, his professional dangling carrot, wasfinallywithin reach.

Or so he hoped, at least.

When he’d first left the UK, his friends and family struggled to understand why he couldn’t pursue his research there, instead. It was true, the British Isles had their own fair share of Witches, Werewolves, and Fairies, but there was nothing quite as fascinating as the creatures that roamed the continental United States.

He’d been bewitched by Bigfoot and Mothman as a child, by demonic possessions and ancient, evil creatures. His appetite was insatiable, as was his curiosity. And so, when he came across that first mention of the Hollow Walker some 12 years prior, he’d never been able to shake it. An ugly, terrifying creature, old as time itself, roaming the Appalachian Mountains and feasting off the flesh and bone of those it encountered. So little was known about it, despite his late nights trolling Reddit forums. But there were whispers of it, suggestions that maybe,just maybe,it was still out there.

And if it was, it was Nic’s understanding that it would have a century’s worth of experience. Finding it would prove tricky—unless itwantedto be found.

Nic was running over a potential bait-and-switch scenario when Zachary rounded the corner.

“Oh, there you are,” Zachary said. “Elliot Harman called, three times.”

“Three times? Has he found anything?” Zachary fell in step beside Nic, following him back toward his office.

“That’s the thing, he was barely making any sense. Something about some guy he spoke to. He said he emailed you about Mercyhill.”

“Stop.” Nic halted and turned to face Zachary. “Mercyhill?” he repeated.

Zachary looked at him with wide eyes. “Uh, yeah, Mercyhill. What? Am I saying it wrong?” Nic shook his head.

“What about it?”

“He said he was heading up there before his evaluation, and, er, he wanted to run something past you first.”

“Damn!” Nic bolted down the hall, and a bewildered Zachary ran after him.

“Hey! What’s going on?”

Nic raced into his office and picked up the phone. He dialed Elliot’s number just as Zachary rounded the corner, panting. “Nic?” Zach asked, aghast. Nic appreciated that no one had ever seen him move with such urgency, but he didn’t have time to explain himself.

“Come on, pick up,pick up,” Nic murmured. The call went to voicemail. He hung up and redialled.

He drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently, but again, the call rang through to voicemail.

“You’re freaking me out,” Zachary said. “You want to fill me in here, boss?”