The door of Magus' office opened and a middle aged man stepped out. He paused and looked at Claudia. He shook his head and started to take a step. He paused once again. Finally, he said, "That is a brilliant man."
"I agree," Claudia said. This wasn't the first client of Magus to call him brilliant.
"A year ago a friend of mine in Washington D.C. told me to take my problem to Solutions Incorporated. I took my friend's advice and went to visit Magus. I gave him ten dollars to solve a problem for me. He took my money. After listening to my problem, he said that he would work on it, but he couldn't make any promises on finding a good solution. I didn't hear back from him. I didn't even know that he had moved here from Washington. I just figured I had wasted ten dollars on another Beltway Bandit and forgot all about it," the man said. "Today he gave me back my ten dollars ten thousand times over."
"Congratulations," Claudia said.
"Amazing," the man said. He shook his head and looked back in the office. "The world needs more people like him."
Claudia watched the man leave the office wondering what Magus had done for him. The fact was that she was curious about all of the kinds of things that Magus did. It seemed to her that he was always busy even if no one came into the office for weeks at a time. Her job was pretty boring and she wondered why he bothered to have a receptionist. She wasn't going to complain about being bored. The job was helping her get through her divorce.
She sighed and looked at the clock wondering if it was too early to head out for lunch. Her thoughts were interrupted when a man entered the reception area and stopped in front of her desk. He said, "I have an appointment with Magus."
Claudia pointed towards the door and said, "Go right on in."
"Aren't you going to announce me?"
"Magus, your appointment is here," Claudia shouted.
Magus shouted, "Send him in."
The man looked at Claudia for a moment and then shook his head in disbelief. He entered Magus' office and closed the door. A minute later, he opened the door and leaned out. He said, "Magus wants Stephen to bring the Marks manuscript with him."
Claudia shouted, "Stephen. Magus wants you to bring him the manuscript."
"Which manuscript?" Stephen shouted back.
"The Marks manuscript," Claudia shouted.
"Okay," Stephen shouted.
The man stared at Claudia and asked, "Haven't you ever heard of an intercom?"
"Yes, but Magus prefers an old fashioned bellow over a new fangled device," Claudia answered.
"If you say so," the man said shaking his head in disbelief. He figured that she couldn't figure out how to use the intercom system.
"I bet you thought it was a blond thing," Claudia said holding out a lock of her hair.
"Not at all," the man said looking away from her.
Claudia asked, "Has anyone ever told you that you're a lousy liar?"
"Not lately," the man answered.
"You are a lousy liar," Claudia said. She opened her desk drawer and pulled out a nail file. She made a rather big production out of filing her nail.
Stephen walked up carrying the manuscript. He looked at Claudia and asked, "Did someone treat you like a dumb blond?"
"What do you think?" Claudia asked. She looked up at him while filing her nail madly.
"I'd say yes based on the fact that you're pretending to be an airhead," Stephen answered.
"I didn't say anything to imply that she was a dumb blond," the man said.
Stephen asked, "Has anyone ever told you that you're a lousy liar?"
"Yes," the man said looking over at Claudia.
Stephen handed the man the bound stack of papers and said, "Here is the manuscript."
"Thanks," the man said. He stepped back in the office and closed the door.
Smiling, Magus pointed to the chair and said, "Have a seat, Mr. Benjamin Franklin Kite."
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Ben?"
Magus said, "I just really like saying your name. It must be the patriot in me."
"What's the deal with the manuscript?" Ben asked taking a seat.
Magus said, "I need you to read it. I want you to return in twenty-four hours and give me your honest opinion of it. I want to know if it is ready to be published as a book."
"I publish a newspaper; not books," Ben said.
"You know how to read, don't you?" Magus asked.
"Yes, I know how to read," Ben said rolling his eyes.
"Then read it and give me your honest opinion about it," Magus said.
"You were squirrelly when I met you in Chicago and you've gotten a thousand times worse since then," Ben said.
"I blame it on the fact that you stole my receptionist from me by marrying her," Magus said. Rhetorically, he asked, "How low can a man go to get good help?"
"By the way, Bernadette sends her regards," Ben said.
"Does she still dream of me?"
Ben said, "She still has the occasional nightmare. The therapy has been quite successful. She doesn't quiver upon hearing your name any more."
Magus laughed. He said, "You can still dish it out. Give her my love."
Holding up the manuscript, Ben asked, "Is this the only reason you called me over here?"
"Yes," Magus answered.
"Is this the favor I owe you for getting me set up as publisher of the Five Millville Times?" Ben asked.
"No."
"What is it?" Ben asked.
"This is the Quo. Tomorrow you will get the Quid Pro," Magus answered.
Ben stared at Magus for a second trying to puzzle out what the man meant. "I get it — Quid Pro Quo. What have you got for me?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow," Magus said.
"Has anyone told you that you're a pain in the ass?" Ben asked.
"Yes. My receptionist tells me that quite frequently," Magus answered with a smile.
Rising from his chair, Ben said, "That alone tells me that she's too smart to be a natural blond."
Magus grinned and waved. He said, "Have fun reading."
"Yeah," Ben said.
After waiting until Ben reached the door, Magus said, "By the way, you might want to send some flowers to Claudia when you get back to your office."
"Why?" Ben asked.
"If you don't, she'll stab you with her nail file when she sees you tomorrow."
Ben stepped out of the office. He looked at Claudia and said, "He wants me to come back tomorrow at the same time."
"Okie Dokie," Claudia said. She twirled a lock of hair with her finger while batting her eyes at him. She blew a bubble with her bubble gum.
Magus shouted, "Claudia!"
"What?" Claudia shouted back.
"Tell Igor that I need a dolly," Magus shouted.
Ben leaned over to Claudia and patted her hand. He said, "My condolences on having to work with him."
"Thanks," Claudia said. She shouted, "Will a Barbie Doll do?"
"Not that kind of dolly. I need the kind you carry stuff on," Magus shouted.
Claudia was returning from lunch when she noticed three very large men following her. The men were wearing dark suits, sunglasses, and highly polished shoes. She was pretty sure that they were carrying guns. She quickened her step and practically ran into the office. Sitting down at her desk, she picked up the handset of the telephone and prepared to call Phil to tell him about the men who were following her.
It was about that time when she noticed the package stashed away behind her chair. She hung up the handset and had turned to examine the package when the three men stepped into the office. She nearly jumped out of her chair at finding they had followed her into the office. The oldest one said, "We have an appointment with Magus."
Pointing to the door, she said, "Go right on in."
"Aren't you going to announce us?"
"Who are you?" Claudia asked.
"I'm Special Agent Matt Sanders of the FBI."
Claudia shouted, "Hey, Magus. The FBI is here to see you."
"Send them in," Magus shouted.
Matt turned to one of the men with him and said, "I'm sitting at home having a nice romantic dinner with the wife when my phone rings. It is the director. He tells me to haul my ass over to Solutions Incorporated and talk to Magus. I hang up and start swearing like a sailor because my romantic evening with my wife has been ruined. For some reason that escapes me, my wife thinks I'm swearing because of something she did. Now I'm here and she's at a lawyer's office getting ready to file for a divorce."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Matt said, "That's only one reason I hate Magus. I have a million of them. Do you want to hear some of the others?"
"No, sir."
"We've already heard hundreds of them, sir."
Matt said, "Let's get this over with."
The three men entered the office and closed the door behind them. Thirty minutes later the three men exited the office with a dolly loaded with boxes of papers. Holding up an envelope, Matt said, "If what is in this envelope is correct, I'm going to be an assistant director."
"He's never been wrong before, sir."
Matt sighed and said, "There's always a first time. That would give me a million and one reasons to hate him. Did I ever tell you reason nine hundred and eighty three?"
The door to the hallway closed behind them before Claudia could hear the answer. She was about to return to dealing with the package when the door opened again. Two men entered the reception area. One of them said, "We have an appointment to see Magus."
"Go right on in," Claudia said gesturing towards the door.
"Thank you," the man said. The two men entered the office and closed the door behind them.
She turned to the package stashed behind her chair. The door to the hallway opened before Claudia had a chance to grab it. It was one of the FBI agents. He pushed the dolly into the room and said, "I'm just returning the dolly."
"Thank you," Claudia said. She watched the agent leave the room.
She was about to return to dealing with the package when the office door opened. One of the men stuck his head out and asked, "Where's the dolly?"
"Right over there," Claudia said pointing at the piece of equipment.
"Thanks," the man said. He grabbed the dolly and wheeled it into the room shutting the door behind him.
Claudia picked up the package and tore off the wrapping. For a few seconds, she studied the contents. It was the painting she had been waiting for. She mumbled, "This is perfect."
The door to the office opened and the two men left with the dolly loaded with boxes of papers. One of the men asked the other, "Have I ever told you why I hate Magus?"
"Many times, sir."
Ignoring the reply, the man continued with his story. "The stupid computer kicks out this tax return because there is no last name on it. I'm assigned..."
The door closed before Claudia could hear the rest of the story. She was half tempted to follow them to hear the rest of the story.
Claudia picked up the painting and carried it across the reception area from her desk. She was in the middle of hanging it when the hallway door opened. David entered the reception area. She set the painting down and said, "Hello David. How was school?"
"It was okay," David said looking a little sad.
"Magus is waiting to talk to you," Claudia said.
"That's good. I wanted to talk to him," David said.
Claudia said, "Why don't you talk to him while I get your milk and cookies ready?"
"Okay," David said. He went in Magus' office to talk. He had some bad news to deliver.
Magus watched David enter his office. He smiled and said, "Hello, David. How was school?"
"It was okay," David answered.
"I have your manuscript out for review," Magus said.
"What does that mean?" David asked with a frown. Sometimes Magus talked to him using words and terms that he didn't understand. Still, it was nice being treated like he did understand rather than like a child.
"I have people reading it to tell me what they think of it," Magus said.
"Oh. I hope they like it," David said.
Magus said, "I'm sure they will."
David sighed and said, "I guess since I finished writing the biography that I won't be coming here after school."
"What will you do?" Magus asked.
"Aunt Sophie has moved in with us. I'll be staying with her after school," David answered.
"Ah," Magus said, "Do you like your Aunt Sophie?"
"I guess," David answered. He didn't really know her all that well.
Magus said, "I heard that she makes great cookies. I'm sure that you'll like them."
"I will," David said. He leaned forward and whispered, "Don't tell Claudia that the cookies she buys aren't the ones that kids like. It would hurt her feelings."
"I won't say a word to her," Magus said.
"I won't be here tomorrow," David said.
"We're going to miss having you around," Magus said.
David said, "I'm going to miss coming here. I like how you all yell at each other."
Magus said, "Go have your milk and cookies. Then tell Claudia that you won't be here tomorrow. I believe that Stephen wants to take you to the toy store to buy you a game that you can play with your Aunt Sophie. He'll take you home."
"Okay," David said brightening at the thought of getting a new game.
Magus came around from the desk and gave David a hug. He said, "I'll be seeing you soon."
"I'm going to miss you," David said with a tear in his eye.
While David was talking with Magus, Claudia finally finished hanging the picture on the wall. She stepped back and admired the reception area. After working there for nine months she had finally finished decorating the reception area. She smiled and said, "Perfect."
David came out of the office and looked at the new painting on the wall. He said, "What's that?"
"It is a painting," Claudia answered.
"I know that. What is a painting of?" David asked.
"It is an abstract painting. It isn't a picture of anything specifically," Claudia said.
David said, "It looks like someone dribbled paint on it."
"Yes," Claudia said.
"I think it looks stupid," David said giving the kind of honest judgment that only a child can achieve.
Claudia said, "I got your milk and cookies on my desk."
"Today is going to be the last day I come here," David said. He picked up a cookie. It was one of those hard things without any chocolate, cream filling, or fruit filling. He dunked it in the glass of milk to soften it and took a bite out of it.
"Oh, I'm going to miss our little chats over milk and cookies," Claudia said while returning to her desk.
"Me too. My Aunt Sophie moved in with us and Mom wants me to keep her company after school," David said.
"I'm sure that your Aunt Sophie will be happy to have milk and cookies with you," Claudia said. She took a sip from her glass of milk.
David giggled and said, "You've got a milk mustache."