This time he took the couch the critic had been sitting in. His back faced the door, his bald patch showing. He ran a hand over the bare spot as if he knew I was watching him, and then dropped the hand to his lap.

WHEN HAL LEFT LATER THAT afternoon, he conferred with his assistants first, speaking in a low, intense, praising voice, gesturing at what they’d done. I couldn’t hear his words, but I saw the effect, how they nodded and sat straighter, basking in the light of his scrutiny. Then Hal began grilling each student as he gestured at the columns and arches, and they answered, one by one. By the time their conversation ended, it was clear whose artwork Shoe Cathedral was. Even if he hadn’t personally made much of it.

Afterward, Hal came by my desk. “I’m sorry about my outburst,” he said to me, not sounding sorry. “But if you want to get ahead in this business, the first thing you need to learn is tact. You were tactless to interrupt us. Who cares if those buzzy little bloggers had to wait? Time doesn’t matter. Power matters. Influence matters. Time is just—” He made a sprinkling motion with his fingers, and his face went suddenly kind. “It’s the most expendable thing you have.”

Then he strolled toward the door before I had a chance to respond.

“We’re getting there. Go celebrate tonight,” he shouted back to the assistants. “I owe you all . . .” He paused, opened his arms. “Everything.”

The assistants waved. In three faces was the same thirst for Hal’s approval. In the fourth, a shrouded mutiny. The door shut behind him.

Zania noticed me watching her and walked over. “Did you get hell from Hal?” she said.

“Oh no,” I said. “I was just trying to do what Nelson asked.”

“We came in while Hal was chewing you out,” Zania said, holding her slim body erect and looking down at me over her long nose. “But don’t mind him. Tomorrow he’ll tell you that your organized mind is exactly what he’s missing and thank you for keeping him on task. Chastising you is the first sign that he likes you.”

“I’ll be okay,” I said, embarrassed. “This is my last shift.”

“Then you should come celebrate with us,” said Zania. “We’re having people over at my father’s house. Pearson says we owe you because you carried all those shoes.”

“I’ll take some payback,” I said, hiding my surprise. Though I’d wanted a chance to observe the crew longer, I hadn’t expected it to happen. Mentally I’d been preparing to return home to my notes, pondering how to pursue Brenae’s story without Janis’s endorsement.

“You look like you need a good time.” Layla smiled at me, but her head shook no at the same time.