The Shrink Program

"Hi Mattie!" Peri called, waving his arm enthusiastically as the giant man made his way into the room.

Winkle raised an eyebrow at the newcomer, blue eyes sceptical.

"Don't call me Mattie." Mr Folics muttered automatically, giving the tiny interrogator an irritated glance.

"Since when have you been this kid's lawyer?" Winkle demanded, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed.

"Since I lost a bet to Green." Mr Folics muttered, sounding as if he didn't want to admit it.

Elegantly, he took a seat opposite Winkle, sending his cool gaze down on me.

I turned away and made a point of ignoring him, not caring if he thought it was rude. I didn't need his help with this interrogation.

After all, Winkle was already beginning to crack, and it was only a matter of time before Peri followed...

"I'm glad you're here anyway," Winkle muttered irritably. "This damn kid seems to keep forgetting that we are the ones interrogating her."

Well... He wasn't wrong...

"Maddison will make sure to remain on her best behaviour from now on, won't you Miss Tramph." Mr Folics said, his calm voice making it very clear that any argument on my half would likely result in death.

I place a hand over my heart. "Scouts honour."

Not that I've ever been a scout, but what Mr Folics didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

"Good. Let's get this over with." Mr Folics rested his chin on his laced his fingers, meeting Winkle's eyes calmly. "Start whenever you're ready."

Winkle flattered, seeming a little uncomfortable to be under the lawyer's cool gaze.

With a small sigh, he pulled out a note pad and pencil before lowering his gaze down to me.

"Fine. First of all, would you care to explain yourself, Maddison?"

"I wanted to get off the train," I said.

He scribbled briefly onto the pad.

"For what reason?"

"I spotted something outside the train window."

The pencil stopped.

"... What exactly did you see that was so important that you had to cause a riot?" Winkle questioned slowly, obviously running out of what little patience he had managed to accumulate since Mr Folic's arrival.

I tilted back on my chair again. "A Shoe Sale. Half price on all stock."

The pencil snapped in half.

Winkle didn't even seem to notice as he lifted his gaze to stare at me, fighting to remain calm.

"....I find that hard to believe."

I raised an eyebrow, trying not to feel unnerved by the near unconscious show of strength.

Watching someone snap a pencil is a lot more intimidating when you happen to be the size of one.

"Don't underestimate the importance of a shoe sale to a teenaged girl." I smiled sweetly.

"I don't see how that's possible." He smiled back as he played along, the expression trembling in pure irritation. "Since we don't have any retail outlets at our Facility."

"Damn." I sighed in defeat. "Guess it must have been a hallucination brought on my sore feet. That's what happens to people when they don't get a seat on the train, you know."