Free The Time Travel Directorate by Penny Kim Page B

” Quill responded succinctly. “At the very least, it’s all I can do to stay involved.”
    “I’ll buy your dinner ,” Vin shot back with a smile.
    “Only the finest cafeteria food, what a generous man you are,” Quill responded.
    After an excruciating hour in the classroom, they reconvened in the mess hall. Vin picked at his turkey sandwich while Quill neatly devoured a pizza, talking in-between bites.
    “ Julius first overstayed in Salem,” Quill began.
    Vin took a bite of his sandwich, quickly wishing that he hadn’t. The turkey was dry and tasteless.
    “What happened?” Vin asked, removing the stale bread and picking at the turkey.
    “Didn’t Chief Smiley tell you?” Quill responded, a sardonic grin on his face.
    “ He transferred your case files, but I didn’t have a chance to review them before I came here,” Vin replied, easing into what felt like an easy banter.
    He wondered if Kanon Hay ever felt this way, chatting comfortably with a fellow inspector. Poor thing couldn’t hold a candle to either of them. Vin had been thinking a lot about her, unable to get their dramatic meeting out of his head. Bizarre he should be so captivated—she was only with him for a matter of hours.
    “ Smiley was supposed to prepare the warrant for his arrest—we don’t mess around when it comes to apprehensions. By the time he got it straightened out, Julius jumped ship.”
    Ah ha , Vin thought, that’s why Chief Smiley was so skittish .
    It was his fault Julius slipped through the Directorate’s fingers.
    “Where did he jump to?” Vin asked, his curiosity growing.
    “ The Middle Ages, he created a nice identity for himself, lord of a castle and all that rot. When I arrived to build my persona, he traveled again, presumably to go after Kanon Hay in the French revolution,” Quill said, licking his fingers.
    Shaking his head at this, Vin stared at the remnants of his sandwich, realizing he would be hungry if he didn’t eat something else. Looking up from his plate, he met Inspector Quill’s intense gaze.
    “So Vin Damato, the storied Vin Damato,” repeated Quill, taking a sip of his drink.
    Vin realized he was growing a reputation.
    “ Well, what have you heard?” he asked.
    Inspector Quill shook his head.
    “Everyone knows, man. You rescuing Director Hay’s daughter like that? Snatching her off the guillotine? That’s right out of a movie.”
    “A bad one ,” Vin admitted, opening a bag of potato chips. “So, I’m the big story these days?” he asked, his pride swelling.
    “ More like gossip. But hey, it’s a good thing. Now you have the Julius case. You could have a shot at Chief Smiley’s job if you play this one right. But,” Quill continued as Vin’s head was filled with visions of traveling around with Director Hay, “that’s only if you find Julius. I’m amazed you were able to get so close to him in the first place. What was your cover?”
    They weren’t supposed to share details of their missions, but Vin was proud of his accomplishment. Surely he could trust a fellow inspector.
    “ A guard assisting in the executions,” Vin responded.
    Quill accepted his answer with a nod.
    “That’s really something.”
    Vin felt himself smiling. He would have to get used to his new reputation.
    “So what’s she like?” Quill asked, fiddling with his packaged brownie.
    “Who ?” Vin asked.
    “ Kanon.”
    “Oh.” Vin stopped, thinking back to the moment he rescued her—drenched by the rain, her tiny form imprisoned in the rustic wooden cart.
    “ She’s small, only comes up to my chin. Blonde hair, blue eyes—cute,” Vin clipped off.
    “That’s it? Man, she’s like the talk of the Directorate, and that’s the description you give?”
    “Well , shit! It wasn’t exactly my main focus,” Vin laughed.
    “No , I guess not. Not many inspectors have met her since she went into the field. Where is she anyway?”
    “Chief Smiley sent her to training.”
    “Hmm. That’s odd,”