Max looked around the basement library. Some of the books called to him, he wanted so badly to add to his collection. But it didn't seem right to take anything, any more than it would be to take a dead man's wallet. Someone had worked hard to obtain these books, probably very hard indeed given that it was a teenager in a rural area. Max had no right to them. No money had exchanged hands, no agreements had been made.

Max was suddenly struck with the uncomfortable thought that he was at least partially responsible for demon's claiming the kid's soul. Just a kid on a stupid power trip. Sure, said kid had endangered thousands of innocents simply for kicks. But still. A kid.

He straightened his necktie, bowed his head. [i]"Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, dayan ha-emet."[/i] The words brushed past his lips, soft and almost unheard in the basement room, tinged with regret. And with that, he stepped through the portal back to the office.

Max forced a smile onto his face as he walked into the office. "Good work, team," he said with maybe too cheerful of a tone. "Really. I don't know about you guys but I could definitely use a little warmth in my belly." Making a show of flexing his fingers over the radiator, Max reached into his desk drawer and groped about until he found what he was after. A handful of small glasses, and, of course, a bottle of slivovitz- Eastern European plum brandy. Vile stuff, but a sip of that would have them all feeling their toes again. He poured out a few glasses, offered them to anyone who was interested, before offering a toast. "Well, here's to the first of what I hope will be many successes. I feel honored to call you coworkers." His smile was maybe too wide, too bright, but at least partly genuine.