Rook

give me a moment to get my flesh to stop crawling.” Was it her imagination or was her secretary regarding her with a hint of sympathy? “Yeah, all right, Ingrid. Show Rook Gestalt in.” She got up to scurry around her desk and compose her face into an appropriate mask of authority.
    For a moment, Myfanwy wondered if she had time to put her hair up in some sort of professional style; right now it was just pulled back in a clip. But it was too late.
And besides,
she reasoned,
the two black eyes are bound to detract from any air of professionalism. Plus, who knows how Thomas carries herself?
As Ingrid came in and announced the entrance of Rook Gestalt in ringing tones, Myfanwy gave a mental shrug and threw caution to the wind.
Nobody really knows anyone anyway.
    “The Rooks Gestalt, as I live and breathe!” she exclaimed in apparent rapture. Two identical blond men looked at her with startled eyes. “Gentlemen, please, have a seat,” she invited, gesturing to the chairs in front of her desk. “Well, you’re both looking very nice,” she said.
    “Thank you,” said one of them.
    It was true, she had to admit. Whatever the other bodies looked like, these two were gorgeous. Thick blond hair, blue eyes, and golden brown tans.
In
this
country? How in God’s name do they manage that? Do their weird genetic powers include the ability to bronze without sunlight?
They were clearly twins, but some care had been taken to make them look different from each other. The twin on the right hadshorter hair, artfully tousled with gel, while the twin on the left had a more standard haircut, carefully brushed. They wore different suits. One twin sprawled in his chair, and the other sat attentively, although neither of them seemed particularly comfortable. And one was staring at her thoughtfully while the other directed his attention to straightening his pants. She mentally christened them Cool Twin and Tidy Twin.
    It was downright eerie when Myfanwy remembered that there was one mind in those two heads. It was even eerier when she remembered that there were two other bodies wandering around somewhere, controlled by the same mind.
Stay calm,
she thought,
and try not to be freaked out by the fact that you’re talking to a hive mind that freaks out the freaks in the Checquy. And don’t automatically assume that this is the one behind the attack on Thomas. And even if it is, it probably won’t make a move in your office.
    “We only just got back from that operation in Essex,” Cool Twin was saying. “You’re looking, ah, a little different, Myfanwy.”
    “It’s the black eyes,” suggested the other twin.
    “No,” disagreed his brother. “It’s something else.” Myfanwy tried to look enigmatic and probably failed. She watched them shift in the chairs.
    “So, what happened to your eyes?” asked Tidy Twin.
    “Oh, uh, someone tried to mug me,” she said.
    “But you’re all right?” he said.
    “I’m fine,” said Myfanwy. “A bit achy, but fine.”
    “Interesting…,” mused Cool Twin.
    Crap, this isn’t in keeping with the traditional meek and mild Myfanwy Thomas,
Myfanwy realized. She thought about trying to appear more traumatized but instead opted for misdirection.
    “So, where are your siblings hanging out nowadays?” she asked. Thomas’s notes hadn’t included photos, and she was keen to see the brother her predecessor had had a crush on.
    “Eliza is leading a team in Aberdeen, chasing down that antler cult,” one of them said dismissively. “Robert is back in our office.”
    “Well, I hope they’re keeping well,” she said pleasantly.
ThisGestalt is good,
she thought.
It’s like they really are three brothers and a sister.
Myfanwy realized that one of the twins had been speaking and she hadn’t been paying attention. “I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
    “Alex was just explaining that we know they’re fine,” explained Tidy Twin.
    “Ah, of course, of course,” Myfanwy agreed sharply, suddenly irritated with his patronizing tone. “They’re fine. You’re fine. I’m fine. We’re all fine. Can I get you a beverage?” she offered. One ordered coffee and the other ordered orange juice. “Certainly. Ingrid?” The secretary, who must have been listening through the open door, appeared miraculously with a tray. “Thank you.”
    “I understand you came in a little late this morning,” said Cool Twin.
    “Huh?” replied Myfanwy with startling presence of mind.
    “Well,