Finding our giant slayer took more time and footwork than I anticipated. We spent the first few days back and forth from the safe house to the city, checking out all of the high rises that house businesses targeted but what I was decently confident was the spirit of Jack the Giant Slayer.

“This world may be short on literal giants, but it is full of metaphorical ones,” I explained. “Most of those giants exist in the form of companies, conglomerates, and certain influential individuals.”

“So its a safe bet that whoever is toppling these giants is connected to the person we are looking for. We just have to find them long enough to see what we need to do to gain their favor.”

“You have a mouse in your pocket there, Maguire?”

His face became a mix of confusion and concern as he started checking his pockets. “I don’t think so. How would I have gotten a mouse in my pocket? Is that a sort of prank that Stingy Jack likes to pull?”

“No, he just likes to take advantage of hospitality with limited reward. It’s a turn of phrase, nothing to worry about. You said ‘we’ three times in that sentence…”

“And that is similar to the sound a mouse makes. I get it now. You were trying to remind me that this is technically my challenge to solve,” he said.

“Exactly. Apologies for causing you concern, though I have to say, your response was very funny to watch.”

“I am glad I was able to provide some amusement during what I feel like is going to be a very long day.”

It ended up being a very long week as we chased down different leads, and as we reached the weekend I found myself growing increasingly nervous. I tried to keep it to myself, of course. No need to stress Maguire out, but we were running low on time and I was not sure how many more Jacks we would need to find before we got the boon.

“Can we try one more place before we head back?” Maguire asked. “I have a hunch.”

He had been doing a lot of research into possible targets of the giant slayer, who had made a name for himself exposing corrupt business practices at some of the business companies in the city. He also continued to adapt to the strange new world he found himself in remarkably quickly, which left me both proud and relieved.

“Well, it is almost four on a Friday, which is when a lot of people start heading home, but its your call. Whatever you think is right, I’ll back your play,” I said.

He stood and I followed him across the street to the high rise law office. We settled ourselves into the waiting room and pretended to be having some sort of discussion while we waited for whoever we were supposedly there to see, which wasn’t actually anyone, but I noted some of the names on the wall in case someone actually asked us. No one did, and half an hour later something caught Maguire’s attention.

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“I think that’s him,” he said quietly, eyes locked on something behind me. I pulled out my phone and opened my camera, turning it around and holding it up so I could see what was behind me while I pretended to use it like a mirror. It took me a second to figure out who he was talking about, but surely enough there was a young man dressed in a fine suit strolling purposefully towards the door, hand clasped tightly on his briefcase. I couldn’t put my finger on what it was about him, but I knew in my bones that he was the one we were looking for.

Then I saw one of the security guards stepping forward, likely to perform a random search on whoever was nearest. Who just so happened to be the young man. I mentally ran through a few scenarios of things that could possibly go wrong, and decided that he could probably use a hand.

“I am going to inquire with the front desk to see about our appointment this afternoon. Why don’t you go and catch up with your old friend?” I said pointedly. Maguire’s brow briefly furrowed, but he nodded.

“That sounds like an excellent idea. I will see you back home?”

“Sure.” I stood quickly and walked up to the desk, and Maguire crossed behind me with equal urgency to go an intercept the young man in question. I watched them both out of the corner of my eye as I ran the woman behind the desk through a few different people who I might possibly have a meeting with, only to find out I had no meeting scheduled with anyone in the building. “Oh dear, I must have gotten my dates mixed up. Or maybe it was my names? I am so sorry to have wasted your time. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.”

“It is no trouble. Have a lovely Friday!” The woman said with a signature customer service smile.

I pulled out my phone as I left, tracing a sigil on the front to activate the tracker I had on Maguire’s phone. He knew about it, of course, but I had no intention of explaining how he could turn it off until he had spent at least six months in the modern world. The last thing I wanted was for him to get lost and me not be able to find him. Not with no other Jacks around to help.

I found them both walking through the parking lot, halfway to our car. Maguire had his arm looped through the young man’s arm and they chatted amicably, drawing a few strange looks but no suspicion from what I could tell. I picked up my pace just enough to catch up with them before they reached the car.

“There you are,” I said. “How are my boys doing today?”

“Better now that I know why two strangers decided to give me a hand,” the young man.

“We Jacks are always happy to help a friend,” Maguire said.

“This is one gift horse I am not going to look too closely at, but you have certainly earned yourself a favor. You helped me get information that will allow me to expose some very bad people. Is there a way I can return the favor?”

“You strike me as someone who understands the value of bringing the truth to light, especially when it comes to people who use their power to hurt others,” I said. “If I were to give you some names, could you keep me in the loop about what you find?”

“It is certainly a possibility but I can’t make any promises. I have a code, you know.”

“And I would never expect you to break it. There’s a possibility that one of these people took something very important from some friends of mine, and I’d really like to help them get it back.” I palmed the list in my pocket, trying to gauge the young thief's reaction.

“I’ll consider it, once I'm done with my current projects. In the meantime, I think it's best if we part ways.” He held his hand out and I shook it, leaving the list in his hand. Then he turned and set off across the parking lot to another car. As he got in and drove away, I wondered idly how long it would be for the car to be reported stolen.

“Now what?” Maguire asked.

“Now we go back to the safe house, see if there is anything there. Also, get some food. I don’t know about you, but I'm starving.”