“Ronan, sorry was our meeting scheduled for eleven? I’ve been writing so many reports I’ve been running behind all day.”

Reluctantly I followed Starbuck from the sea edge back to his office cave. Headquarters were damp and dark and pretty much impossible to heat. The brownies had moved into a modern office park on the outskirts of Glasgow and the wee fairies had left the clover patch to go completely remote. I sighed as I sank into Starbuck’s dank office chair.

“How are the kids? Nick and Nora, right? And the wife.”

“Mick and Moira are well, but Jemina is still recovering—“

“Excellent, happy wife, happy life. Well I won’t keep you on tenterhooks. Management has been impressed by your hard work. We like how you’ve handled surveillance of the northern and southern fishing fleets as well as volunteer coordinator for the Selkie/Mermaid Alliance. We have all been overworked and understaffed. You’ve stepped up.” Starbuck shifted through the haphazard piles of papers and fish heads. Willing myself to stay awake, I covered my mouth to camouflage my yawn. Early morning sea shifts and endless night meetings were wreaking havoc with my sleep. This morning I put a cup of coffee in my briefcase and tried to drive stick in my seal form. Starbuck pulled a file folder from beneath half a haddock. I gave him my brightest smile as I open the folder.

“We want to offer you a new manager position, Director of IT Integration. Isn’t that exciting,” Starbuck said, clapping his hand fins.

My head began to spin. A growl escaped. I masked it with a fake cough.

“I know what you’re thinking—“ Starbuck said.

“I’m okay with tech but I’m not an IT,” I said

“No worries before Colleen heads to Shetland for her new position she’ll give you an overview. And good news we will let you continue to support your previous departments while embracing your new opportunities.”

The downy hair on my neck prickled as if I were lost in open water I thought about the new salary, which was uncomfortably close to my original salary. I thought about the days of long hours stretching. Drowning in air I pushed from the desk and ran from the network of caves. I snatched at my clothes, leapt into the ocean shifting in mid air. As I sank below the surface I heard Starbuck shout, “I’ll leave your paperwork under this shoe, will I.”