Deep Waters

thing."
    "Did he?"
    "Yes. He was always muttering weird little Zenny comments about water."
    "Zenny?"
    "You know, Zen-like. He once told me that he was a student of some sort of ancient philosophy that had been forgotten by almost everyone. He said there was only one other person he knew who also studied it."
    "Hayden was more than a student. He was a master."
    "You knew him?"
    "Yes."
    "I see." Charity forced herself to a more confident pace. She held her clipboard in front of her as though it were a talisman and summoned up what she hoped was a bright smile. "Well, on to business. I realize that you haven't had a chance to get settled here on the Landing, but unfortunately the lease problem can't wait."
    "Lease problem?"
    "The shopkeepers have decided to band together as a group to deal with our new landlord, Far Seas, Incorporated. We'd like you to join us. We'll have a great deal more negotiating power if we go in as a united front."
    Elias lifted a simple brown teapot with a curiously precise but fluid motion. "What do you intend to approach Far Seas about?"
    "Renewing our leases." Charity watched, fascinated, as Elias poured tea. "As you no doubt know, this pier was owned, lock, stock, and barrel, by Hayden Stone, the former proprietor of this shop."
    "I'm aware of that." A muted shaft of sunshine from one of the ceiling-high windows slanted briefly across the right side of Elias's face. It revealed a bold, hawklike nose and savage cheekbones.
    Charity drew a deep breath and tightened her grip on the clipboard. "From what we can gather, at the time of Hayden's death, the ownership of the Landing was transferred automatically to a company called Far Seas, Incorporated."
    A low hiss interrupted Charity before she could continue. It was a familiar sound. She spared a brief glance for the large, brilliantly plumed parrot that was perched arrogantly atop a fake tree limb on a stand behind the counter.
    "Hello, Otis," Charity said.
    Crazy Otis shifted from one clawed foot to the other and lowered his head with a menacing movement. His beady eyes glittered with malice. "Heh, heh, heh."
    Elias examined the bird with interest. "I sense some hostility here."
    "He always acts like that." Charity made a face. "He knows it irritates me. And after all I've done for him, too. You'd think that bird would show some gratitude."
    Otis cackled again.
    "I took him in after Hayden died, you know," Charity explained. "He was extremely depressed. Moped around, let his feathers go, lost his appetite. It was terrible. He was in such bad shape I was afraid to leave him alone. During the day he sat on the coatrack in my back room office. I kept his cage in my bedroom at night."
    "I'm sure he's grateful," Elias said.
    "Hah." Charity glared at the bird. "That bird doesn't know the meaning of the word."
    Crazy Otis sidled along the tree limb, muttering with evil glee.
    "You don't know how lucky you were, Otis," Charity said. "No one else on the pier was willing to take charge of you. More than a couple of people suggested that we try to sell you to some unsuspecting tourist. And one individual, who shall go unnamed, wanted to call the pound and have you taken away. But I was too softhearted to allow that. I gave you shelter, food, free rides on Yappy's carousel. What did I get in re turn? Nothing but nasty complaints."
    "Heh, heh, heh." Otis flapped his clipped wings.
    "Take it easy, Otis." Elias reached out with one long-fingered hand and scratched the bird's head. "An obligation exists until it is repaid. You owe her."
    Crazy Otis grumbled, but he stopped chortling. He half-closed his eyes and promptly sank into a con tented stupor as Elias stroked his feathers.
    "Amazing," Charity said. "The only other person that bird ever treated as an equal was Hayden Stone. Everyone else is just so much old newspaper beneath Crazy Otis's grubby claws."
    "Otis and I had a long talk after Newlin brought him over here yesterday," Elias said. "He and I have decided that we can share this shop together."
    "That's a relief. To tell you the truth, when I sent Newlin down here with that nasty beast, I expected you to refuse to take him. In all fairness, Crazy Otis isn't your responsibility. Just because you took over Charms & Virtues doesn't mean you have to take charge of him."
    Elias gave her a long, considering look. "Otis wasn't your responsibility either, but you took him in and gave him a home for the past two months."
    "There wasn't much else I could