Chapter Text
A few weeks later, Supervisor Meero was called to Major Partagaz’s office regarding a certain attendant. She’d been dreading this moment. While she’d refused to put her name on a report that Heert had allegedly written based on evidence from the Twisty Man, she had been unable to stop Heert from submitting the report for review independently.
Perhaps Heert had realized the error of his delusions, for he had taken the day off for a medical appointment. Regardless, he would have to face the consequences when he returned tomorrow. It was a shame to see the young man compromise his career over something as ridiculous as imaginary clairvoyance.
“Lieutenant Meero, come in,” Major Partagaz said. “This should be brief. I hadn’t realized Attendant Heert was off today.”
“Yes, sir.” Meero sighed. She felt obligated to offer some defense on Heert’s behalf, though she wasn’t planning to take it too far. “For what it’s worth, Attendant Heert has performed well overall during his two years here as an attendant.”
“I can see that from the report,” Partagaz replied. “I wanted to inform you that we’ve already made an arrest based off of his proposed link between the Aldhani Theft and the murder of Attendant Corv.”
Meero hid her mortification behind a stony visage. It was bad enough that the report had reached the top command of the ISB. She hadn’t known that they’d also wasted resources on Heert’s alleged superpower.
“Did you read his source for the evidence?” Meero asked.
“Ah yes, Karis Nemik, the so-called ‘Twisty Man’ whom Heert threatened with salt.” Partagaz chuckled. “To think that getting him to talk was that simple.”
“Sir.” Meero hesitated, wondering whether she’d misheard the Major. “You don’t find it at all odd that Heert interrogated a man whose dead body was found on Aldhani?”
“No,” Partagaz said nonchalantly. “Attendant Heert sees dead people. Don’t you?”
Meero opened her mouth to reply but found no words. Fortunately, Partagaz was not offended by her silence.
“Very well then, Lieutenant,” Partagaz said. “That will be all.”