The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell

Author:Nathan Lowell [Lowell, Nathan]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Nathan Lowell
Published: 2020-03-17T22:00:00+00:00

* * *

When Roger opened the door the next morning, he decided that Amos Featherstone looked like a 50-something accountant. He stood there in a navy blue wool-blend suit with a white shirt and badly knotted tie, blinking at Roger through tortoise-shell glasses that distorted his eyes. “Mulligan? I’m Featherstone.”

“Good day, Mr. Featherstone. Please come in.” Roger stood back and led Featherstone up to the library. “Mr. Shackleford is expecting you.”

The man followed along behind, seeming uninterested in his surroundings.

At the library, Roger knocked twice and entered. “Mr. Featherstone has arrived, sir.”

Shackleford stood and met Featherstone as he entered, holding a hand out in greeting. “Amos. Thank you for coming. Again.”

Amos shook Shackleford’s hand and smiled. “You found another lead, I take it?”

“I have. DNA testing. Amazing stuff.” Shackleford’s normally laconic delivery took on new excitement with Featherstone. “Would you like some coffee?”

“Yes, please. That would be lovely.”

“Mulligan, a tray if you please?”

“Of course, sir.” Roger bowed himself out of the room and headed for the tray in the kitchen. He’d anticipated the request and had it waiting. By the time he got back, Shackleford and Featherstone had their heads together in front of the computer monitor. “Coffee, sirs.” He put the tray on the table.

“So you see, Amos? She could be the one.” Shackleford pointed to some detail on the screen.

Featherstone nodded. “Yeah. I never would have found her.” He paused and looked at Shackleford. “You sure you want me to look into this?”

Shackleford sat back in his chair. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Featherstone shrugged. “Money does funny things to people.”

Shackleford nodded. “Just get me some background on her, Amos. Find out what kind of woman she is.”

“All right. Usual fees.”

“After all these years, you know I’m good for it,” Shackleford said with a grin.

Featherstone chuckled and turned to the coffee. “Never a question, Joe.”

“Will there be anything else, sir?” Roger asked.

“Thank you, Mulligan. No. I think we’re fine for the moment.”

Roger nodded and left them there. Featherstone seemed to be a shrewd operator and apparently knew what the old man needed. Or at least wanted. Roger returned to his morning routine and wondered what he’d do if some distant relative offered to pluck him from obscurity the way Shackleford seemed to be considering for this Barbara Griffin woman. Looking around at the house, he chuckled. Naomi Patching wasn’t a relative but her influence had certainly pulled Roger into a world he never knew existed. He wondered, not for the first time, if she knew that Shackleford was indeed a wizard.

The thought that she might know left him disturbed but he forced himself to shrug it off and work through the weekly grocery order. Regardless of what Patching knew or didn’t, they still had to eat and Shackleford relied on him to make sure the pantry stayed stocked.

Shackleford called him to the library to show Featherstone out about half an hour later.

“I look forward to your findings, Amos.”

Featherstone shook the old man’s hand. “Don’t get your hopes up, Joe. How many times have we done this so far?”

Shackleford shook his head.

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