"No' maybe? I dunno." At least he was decisive on the matter. He wasn't sure how to actually talk about the thing that had him in knots. Instead when they stopped at the next light he grabbed his phone, and pulled up the photo library. It took longer than the light stayed red, much to the chagrin of the car behind him that had taken to beeping loudly and for prolonged periods. He stopped on a particular pic, and handed the phone. "Here, research for you." It was a simple enough photo, him and a couple of women. One blonde and petite clinging to him, the other darker but clearly the two were related. Once he'd handed the phone off he started the car moving again, one large hand going out the window to say hello to the driver behind him in a very Eddie Blake fashion. "I told you I just got back to town." It had been several months now, and he'd driven the whole way rather than take a flight. He may have made a lot of stops along the way, but those were different stories altogether.

"You did, yeah?" Tahlia flipped back, the faces familiar from a huge spread near the center fold. "Huh"Foxglove Foundation Announces Memorial Gala...Celebs slated to attend...Miranda Foxglove...in memory of her departed sister, Melinda?" Jade eyes ticked from the photo in her hand to the glossy posed shots the magazine had highlighted. "...died of Long QT Syndrome...genetic...funds will go to research?" She glanced over at him, one brow raised - not quite disbelieving, but his reaction giving her a little insight to the man beside her. "Let me guess, you're the?" She glanced back down to check the quote. "Former lover cleared of involvement in her death" Were you?" It was a logical question, in her mind. She doubted it...the kind of men who killed women for money didn't usually respond the way he seemed to be...or keep pictures of their victims on their phones...But she had to ask.

Silence met her question, maybe it was the music, or paying attention to the road. He said nothing letting her direct their course until they hit the parking lot of a beach. No cars was an excellent indicator that the place was abandoned for the night. A slow roll, the car coasting into a spot before he shut the engine down. "Usually, I'm a parasite on my best days." Eddie didn't fault her question, not in a place like this where the meekest looking people could be the guiltiest of killers. Anywhere else, and Eddie could, would be the worst thing out there. "I like nice things, there's nothing wrong with that." His hand took hold of the crank for the window and rolled it upwards, clear evidence that he fully intended to exit the vehicle. "Yeah, initially they were a mark, meant to get me what I wanted. Miranda seemed like the perfect choice, second daughter, a bit plain and ignored. Give her a little attention and reap the benefits. Then I met Mel. She was sweet, probably too much so, and far too vulnerable to someone like me. Bad as Miranda had it, I really felt like Mel needed me more. She took care of me, and I in turn took care of her." The driver's side door opened abruptly, releasing Eddie from a feeling of being cooped up as the breeze off the water hit him in the face.

"She was improving, that's what her doctor said at least. Then she took a turn and nothing seemed to help. She was gone in a few short weeks. Some thought it was suspicious, I was the one they looked at. Soon as they changed where they were looking, I took my stuff and got the hell out." Talking was supposed to help, wasn't it' So far it hadn't. If he were analyzing himself he'd probably say it was because things had been repressed too long, and now it would take time too. Problem with that was, Eddie didn't believe in psychobabble. Shrinks were just legal con artists, and there was something that he couldn't lay his finger on that really bothered him.

She listened, the magazine still open on her lap, while they came to a stop, and the engine left a strange silence in its absence. Still holding his phone, she studied the two women in the picture, studied him, a half smile pulling at the corner of her lips. She followed him out of the car, coming around to lean against the warm hood, the cooling tick of the engine the only sound until she pulled the pack from her pocket, and the snap of flame flared for an instant. Holding the phone out, she stared out at the ocean, and blew out a smoke-tinged breath. "Nothing wrong with nice things...nothing wrong with getting someone else to pay for it, either?" Moonlight glazed her skin, her lashes falling to kiss her cheeks for a breath. She certainly hadn't paid for anything she was wearing, and the outfit had to have cost a few grand. She cut a glance in his direction, memories of a ranch, and a sweet cowboy who'd likely curse her name with his dying breath too close for comfort. "Pick your target...make the deal. You don't think I can afford a penthouse on a part-time bartender's pay, do you? Not here, anyway?" Taking another drag, she shook her head. "I know you thought I was some smart-mouthed party girl...the night at the fights" And I am. But I learned long ago what I had...and what had value. And I know you didn't do a thing to Mel...not to hurt her." Because she recognized the tone in his voice...it was the same one in hers when Tex came up. And the best thing she'd ever done in her life was break the man's heart. "So, she died, and the sister's raising money in her memory...and still blaming you, is my guess. And it bugs you?"

The wind on his face felt good, it was still far too warm for him to be wearing that heavy coat. He made a show of pulling it off, draping it over an arm as he moved back towards the car, or rather the blonde leaning against it. He waited for her to raise the cigarette to her lips, and stole it quickly. The lit end warmed his palm as he took a hit from the butt end, keeping the things length cupped in his hand. He was just as quick to deposit it right back between her lips, exhaling as he opened the car door and laid the coat inside. A long arm reached behind the seat and freed a bottle of dark bourbon with a white label. "Yes, and no. She died and Miranda will likely always blame me. I think the foundation's a great idea, but that's not what bugs me." The lock was depressed and the door sent home. Eddie's fingers worked the top off of the bottle, offering it to her first. He seemed to have his own ideas about clothes tonight. Heading further onto the beach, bits of him came away in a line heading for the surf that ended in a sprint towards the waves which had him diving. Now he might be cool enough. He'd wanted to give a better answer, would have if he had one. There was just something about the whole thing that seemed wrong to him though. Tahlia was free to watch the show, or join in as she pleased.

She couldn't quite hide the warm smile at the sight of that coat of his...the last time she'd seen it, it had been the only thing touching her skin but him. Left with a cigarette, and a bottle of respectable bourbon, she thought about tossing both aside and following him into the water...but she'd be freezing afterward, and getting him to warm her up, while tempting, might preclude any further conversation. Maybe it was payback for him choosing not to give her a kiss hello...maybe she was simply content to watch the muscles shift beneath his skin in the reflected moonlight. She stayed where she was, leaning against the car, alternating between sips of bourbon, and drags from her cigarette. He likely wasn't wrong - you didn't live the way they did without learning to get a sixth sense for this sort of thing. The question was what he wanted to do about it. Setting the bottle down, she looked back at the picture of the two women on his phone, and let that spark and dance in her brain while she enjoyed the sight of him cavorting in the surf.

Much as he would have enjoyed the company, the lack of it paired with the saltwater gave him what he'd needed at that moment...separation. Not so much from Tahlia, after all he had invited her to come out and play. Thoughts, and things far worse, feelings were buried beneath the surf, stripped away with every wave that washed over him. He was Eddie Blake, and he didn't feel things. He left the person who'd gotten out of the car behind, like a message in a bottle caught in the tides. What emerged, was the person she knew best all cocky grins and laughing at himself and anything that struck his fancy to do so. Water sprayed from his hair as he shook his head, then ran fingers through the tangles smoothing it into something far more normal. One piece at a time he reacquired his clothes, though most of them he chose not to don. He simply hitched on his pants and carried the rest back to where Tahlia stood indulging in her own vices. "I want to check it out, if it's nothing. I'll let it go, but like calls to like" and something feels off." He laid his clothes on the hood of the car, stealing the bottle for a quick drink before turning his boots over and pounding them to get all the sand out. "You up for a field trip?"

"Hmm?" Ok, so the sight of him naked and glistening with seawater was more than a little distracting, and it took her a minute to bring her thoughts back to the task at hand. Not to mention the hitching of pants over...smoke burst from her lips in a torrent of coughing. Might have forgotten exhaling was necessary. Just briefly. "I don't think you're wrong...there's something there...something in the eyes." If she was an expert in anything, it was sibling rivalry. Even in a photo...they said the eyes were the windows to the soul. She wasn't sure she had one, but if she did...she'd given and received that look a thousand times. Tilting her head to the side, she batted her lashes and let a wickedly mischievous smile dance across plush lips. "With you? Sure thing, puddin...what did you have in mind?" She could guess".and she'd been the bait in honey traps like this her whole life. Well, maybe not exactly like this"

A lean against the grill of the Road Runner, just enough to lift his feet one at a time, brush away the sand and send them home into his boots. "Two words" Bake Sale."

"There's always after?" Because, really...she could certainly use a soak in the hot tub after all this. Whether he was joining her or not remained to be seen. Nodding, she turned her attention to the door, shifting to hook her thumbs into the belt loops of her shorts, and propping one Burberry heeled sneaker up onto the toe, idly swinging it back and forth. All that was missing was the pop of bubblegum as the door cracked open, and she turned a wide eyed gaze on the tall, slim sliver of wannabe badass that came into view. "Is Reggie here" I hafta give him sumthin?" The hoodlum cracked the door wider, leaning against the doorjamb and leering through red-rimmed eyes. Muttered voices came from the shadows inside..multiple men, multiple voices...hard to tell more than that in the backlighting from computer screens inside. "And who should we say is calling, dollface?" Sarcastic sneering from the gatekeeper with the shaved head - she could see what he wanted, it was painted all over his face, and writ in the unsubtle shift of tightening pants. "Tell"em it's his cousin...he'll know." She smiled, bright and sweet...and barely refrained from making him embarrass himself in the doorway.

The music swelled for half a heartbeat before dropping low. Eddie was grateful at first, at least now he could tell what was his heart and what was bass drum. His hands were at his back already, fingers closed around pistol grips, and he was breathing slowly. He bided his time, listening to Tahli and the voice behind the door. Muffled within he heard someone ask the question. "Should we let her in?" A second voice saying, "...she could be anyone."

It was the third voice that did the trick. The man at the door spoke up over ruling both of the others. "Dude I don't care this **** is ****en hot." From his position, Eddie could hear the subtle changes in the tone of the voice. Clear at first, as he spoke directly through the open crack then fading as he turned his head back to address his fellows. Quick as darkness being chased by a star, Eddie pivoted and his 6"6" frame leaned back and let his boot fly towards the door. The body that had been blocking it was knocked back. His hand hit the stereo, and the music level rose to heights that left the sounds of three shots buried in noise. There had been four men inside, three of them were on the floor. One was handcuffed to a chair and looked like he'd been worked over pretty well. Much as Eddie wanted to help the man, he wanted to stop that annoying sound coming out of the man's speakers.

"...Jesus Christ Eddie!" The cuffed man's, more a kid really, mouth had been moving and it was only once the stereo was turned off that Eddie and Tahlia would hear exactly how loudly he'd been yelling. Apparently he hadn't known either because three short words and he stopped speaking altogether.

"Reginald T. Barnes" Tahlia Faras" You can just call him Bake Sale." There was a slight grin on the big man's face as he kept his eyes on the blonde woman while Reginald went on and on about hating that name, and it's not Reginald it's Reggie" only his grans called him Reginald.

Tahlia didn't even flinch as Eddie spun and his foot passed close enough that she could swear she felt the edge of the sole brush her ribs. The noise however, had her taking half a step back, and resisting the urge to cover her ears at the noise. Even if she'd heard the gunshots, it wouldn't have mattered...much as she tried to avoid it, for her own safety...violence had always been a part of her world. She took a few steps inside, once the music had died away, a subtle shiver dancing across the exposed bronze of her skin, a whispered moan that might sound more than a little familiar to his ears teasing from her throat as she looked over at the rapidly spreading trio of crimson liquid. Carefully picking her way into the apartment, she flashed a smile over at the restrained teen, the caution bringing still more attention to racetrack curves and cornsilk hair, especially once she caught the glint of metal against a still chest. "Eddie...so glad we saved your little bakery buddy here, but....I'm thinking maybe we might want to do this elsewhere" Unless you've got a killer cleanup crew?"

"What did you do, Reg?" Eddie's eyes were on the body Tahlia had been looking at. He sighed ignoring the exasperation from Reggie. He shook his head at Tahli, but he did have a plan. He bent down, and pulled a key from one man's pocket placing it in Reggie's palm. "Get what you need, and get ready to travel a bit." He disappeared deeper into the apartment, returning moments later with a rather large and assorted bag of narcotics. He spilled them across the coffee table at the center of the room, much to Reggie's disappointment. The pair of pistols were wiped clean and dropped in the center of the room a few bills scattered. "I said only what you need Reggie."

"Yeah, but I really needed that." Reggie looked longingly at the table as Eddie had Tahlia usher him out the door. He did nothing more, the scene would stand as it was. It was the evidence that would be misleading. He looked back once as he stepped over the body closest to the door and headed off after the other two in no particular hurry. Not until he got into the car at least. Then he drove as hurriedly as he could without looking like he was trying to do so. "Damn, those were my favorites" though, maybe now I have a new set." He looked at Tahlia and winked. "Once I retrieve them."

"****, I'm sorry Eddie" glad, but sorry. I owe you one." Reggie was in the back, stretched across the seat. In part it was so he could look out the back window, the other reason had to do with the figure riding shotgun.

"No, you owe me two." Eddie put his hand behind him opening it to reveal a rolled something which Reggie took with an odd sigh of relief. "You're just going to pay back one of em right now" Foxglove Foundation' you can use my phone for a mobile hotspot." The hand offs done, he needed something to hang onto. There was a perfect leg not so far away.

Tahlia did not utter a word until they were in the car and moving, chewing on the inside her cheek and reaching for her phone out of reflex before pulling her hand back. Calling Simon would only complicate matters, and she knew it...but it had become a hard habit to fight. Dropping into the seat, she was just reaching to pull the pistols from the small of her back when Eddie spoke, and she settled back with wink, and a blown kiss. They would wait until he could retrieve them himself. Jade eyes ticked back to the skinny pothead in the backseat, and she shifted, back arching enough to make the boy groan under his breath. Because she could, mostly, and because it brought her thigh in perfect reach for Eddie hand...perhaps a little higher than he'd intended. She had a particular reaction to violence, had since...well, since she was younger. Purring softly, she glanced over a shoulder to check on Reggie, her nose crinkling as a familiar scent reached her nostrils. "Bake...ah. Makes sense now. Let me guess...someone rises to the occasion when he's toasted?" Half rising, she leaned over bringing her lips a breath from Eddie's ear, watching Reggie as he tried his best to juggle phone, joint...and trying not to look like he was watching her every move. Smirking, Tahlia purred and nuzzled. She could guess what the kid was good at, but she was having fun.

Reggie couldn't hide from the rearview mirror. Eddie almost felt sorry for the kid" but not quite. Truth was that while he hadn't expected Tahlia to move, he was glad she had. "Reggie's just misunderstood." That got a chuckle out of the backseat, obviously an inside joke. Tahli wasn't only making it difficult on the kid, she was making it hard on Eddie too, right about the moment the nuzzling started. He checked the road, before turning his head to whisper two soft words into her ear and adorning her with a very serious look before directing his eyes to the front once more.

She could have given Eddie that insight, at least on the subject of Reggie's tastes in porn, but she kept it to herself. For now. Let the kid think all she was was curves and heat and breathless moans in the night. She was trusting Eddie with enough. "There's a charger on the counter, you can plug in there...and then you can tell us what you found. About the Foundation?" Without moving too far from Eddie, she opened the fridge, splashing a dollop of cream into her coffee, and passing the third mug, and the creamer, over to the techie. "And would you two eat something" If I have that many carbs I'll turn into a blimp?" A lie. But it was the kind of thing the kept pet of a rich man would worry about...and for now, she was sticking with that perception.

Trust was something they both held a bit in reserve. Eddie shook his head at the offer of food. "Not that I don't eat sweet things?" His lips held a private smile for Tahlia. "...I'd like to be closer to my toothbrush before indulging in those" not that you're going to have a problem finishing anything." Reggie had remained silent, still not quite certain how talk to Tahlia so far as Eddie could tell. He certainly remembered that he'd been on quite the binge last night. He took his coffee and added enough sugar to form an island in the south sea, then turned it almost white with cream. A nod from Eddie, definitely sweet and light. The kid's hands were full in no time, a mountain of munchies waiting to be scarfed down in that way only a teenager could manage.

"So, I'm looking into this foundation thing, right' lot of back doors there, and I had to do this without my crawler" but you said I owe ya and I always try to make good. But, I'm searching for port access on this place and every time I find what I think is my access I'm looking at a shell company' Not a huge deal, even for the up an up places right' I'll be honest, I got tired of looking" it was easier to build a crawler into your phone and let it do the searching." Most of what Reggie said was audible, some things were wrapped around a bite of food, and even among the words he could hear, Eddie understood less.

"All right' so what did your creeper find?" Eddie's question had brought the first serious look to Reggie's face that didn't involve some aspect of a blonde in a robe.

"Crawler, man' a creeper is something else entirely." He actually pointed at Eddie quite forcefully, though he seemed to realize what he was doing and backed off quickly. He'd probably just remembered what had happened less than twelve hours ago. "Anyway' It all comes down to one thing" Better call Saul."

Snickering as Reggie looked to make a decent dent in the basket all on his own, Tahlia reached for a cream filled eclair, and set it on her plate. Her eyes widened as the sugar-downing teen seemed to grow a backbone, if only short-lived. Color her surprised. Still, it wasn't nearly enough to have her thinking of him as anything but a kid...certainly not with Eddie still standing close enough that she could feel the heat of his skin against her back, and the slight flush of pink to her cheeks. She had some very happy memories of just what the man seemed to think of certain sweet treats, at least. With a shake of her head, and a shiver, she turned her attention back to what Reggie was saying.

She understood about shell companies...there were a few between her and the spoils of her labor. The truth was she didn't really need to live the way she did anymore...but it was all she'd ever known. And on her own...away from her family...better safe, than penniless. Taking a bit of eclair, she seemed unaware of the bit of cream that had squirted out the side, and glazed her lips. She was too intent on the implications of what Reggie was saying. Not that she expected him to answer her. "So...wait. The Foundation is...backdoored...by all these shell companies?" Lots of corporations, sure..but a charity' "Why would you...and who's Saul?" She ignored crawlers and creepers and the rest. Because at the end of the day...all that mattered was the money. Follow the money.

Reggie didn't disappoint, staring at Tahlia and stammering before shoving a danish into his mouth and chewing, then pointing helpfully. Couldn't talk with a full mouth' It would be rude.

Reggie hadn't needed to point, Eddie missed very little about some things. He raised his finger too, though it ran slow across her lips and came away with the offending cream that seemed to have the kid going mute. He held it up so that Tahli could see as well. Saul, that was a name that both of them knew well enough. "An attorney for some less than legitimate clientele. He does a lot of things really, represents and doesn't much care about guilt or innocence. His rates are pretty good too all things considered. Depends on what you're into."

Eddie talked, Reggie emphatically nodded his agreement with him. "Can't hurt to see how far he leans when straddling a line."

Anyone who expected her to deny herself that opportunity clearly did not know her well. Poor Reggie might not survive their association, but he was certainly going to die happy, and better educated. Wrapping one delicate hand around Eddie's wrist, she looked up from beneath the thick feathering of her lashes, sought his deep brown eyes and held them fast while her lips wrapped around the cream laden finger. Not much cream, comparatively, but then she'd proved more than once by now her utter dedication to leaving not a drop behind. Certainly not when it was being presented by someone who had, not so long before, proven his silver tongue adept at so many other things. Hers took the initiative, rasping along his finger, curved just enough to be certain she had as much contact as possible...and then retreating to send the little dab of cream down her throat. A little nip of white teeth, and she relinquished her hold on his finger with a moux of disappointment, and promise. No need to kill the boy...but she would be damned if she didn't let the man know exactly where her attentions lay.

Wood squalled across marble in Reggie's general vicinity, followed by a half mumbled "I need a shower?? and the sound of hurried steps away from the kitchen. If Tahlia hadn't had Eddie's undivided attention before, (she'd certainly had a good percentage of it) she did now. That move of hers had him right where she wanted him, or at least very close to it. A voice that sounded a lot like himself was shouting, though it seemed to be coming from a very deep hole. Something about needing to make a phone call. Need, that was a word, and the only one he latched onto.

Thankfully, he seemed inclined to trust her that much. Ignoring the snickering and marginally audible commentary from the peanut gallery, she led Eddie down the hall toward her bedroom, and the master bath therein. Closing the door behind them, she turned to take both his hands, a nervous edge just visible in the sharp exhale before she spoke. "Eddie...I can do this. I don't have to be sick...I just have to look sick, right' I can do that...and no-one will be able to tell. I can do a little illusion magic. It's a family thing. Luke's better than I am, but I think I can do this?" She turned them both until they were facing the mirror, with him behind her. Stripping off the sweater, she met his eyes in the mirror. "Tell me what it looked like when Mel was sick. Marks...bruises?" She could guess sallow was a given, and as he watched, the golden glow of health faded, leaving her looking pale, and washed out, although no less pretty than she ever was.

Reggie winced under the look that Eddie sent his way, like he'd just been accused of something unforgivable. He had no idea how Saul had taken it when the same one fell on the screen. The man had gone quiet again though. He pushed a hand through long dirty blond hair, watching Tahlia lead Eddie from the room, and expecting to hear a bit of temper on the man's part. Things were too quiet there. He'd have given almost anything for his earbuds and some loud guitar music.

On the other side of that door, with rooms between the two parties to prevent voices from carrying he suspected, Eddie was about to give "Harley' every reason why she shouldn't be involved. Except that she'd begun to change and he could only mouth the things that were missing and watch them appear on the blonde. Tan skin had gone shades lighter, and looked off. That was more than appropriate. "She'd had a lot of blood drawn too. They were constantly checking her. She joked that she'd fit in at any drug house in the city." He schooled his features with a practiced ease. His ace in the hole had become a simple deuce, and someone had removed the wild cards. Appearance would not be the thing to keep the blonde out of this.

"You heard what Saul said, these guys are animals" and maybe I do remember Donnie" or the pieces of him that popped up from time to time. It's bad news Tah' Harley...." adding a dig wouldn't hurt right' "You're the only real good news there is around me right now."

Bruises bloomed on her inner arms, with just the hint of tracking below. There was shadowing beneath the pale green eyes, every new addition combining to present the appearance of someone who might not be long for this world, but was still well enough to stand and walk. Her lashes fell over her eyes at the shot, and she took a deep breath before bringing them back to his. For the first time, there was something close to fear shimmering across their surface. "All the more reason to keep me close, right puddin" Besides...I'm not exactly helpless?" She couldn't blame him if he thought the goons were what had her frightened. They didn't. Not really. She'd faced their ancestors, and won. If her back was against the wall, she'd make them all pay in blood. And she felt truly sorry for them if Simon got wind she was in trouble...especially after their little bet. She left the evidence on her skin - no reason not to show the other two. Although she expected Reggie, at least, assumed they were up to other things, and she had resorted to old tricks to convince Eddie to let her try.

"You'll be with me the whole time. I'll be safe. You just have to promise me two things." She reached back, seeking his hand and clinging tightly. The tremors in her fingers betrayed that this was the real cause of her fear. Not the animals, or whoever else they might run into. "One...no-one but you knows how I do this. Let Reggie and Saul think its makeup and acting. I've never played sick before, you're going to have to show me how...but this...this is our little secret. And two?" Her eyes searched his...of the two, this was clearly of more importance. Wetting her lips, she trailed her free hand along the marks of blood draws and IV's done with such frequency as to never heal. "You can't let them take my blood. Not for anything. Not even for show...we'll have to find a source, and rely on sleight of hand. But they can't?" She took a deep breath, shaking her head unconsciously, her voice dropping to a choked plea. "You can't let anyone take blood from me...tell them you're the only one, or I'll have an attack...please?"

Jesus he needed a drink. Why did they always want in, must be some character flaw in him that made it seem okay. No! Except he couldn't deny that she looked now, for how good she'd looked before, Exactly like she had Long QT Syndrome. NO! Except she was, at least in his circles anonymous. NOOO! Except she wasn't a bad actress, was available and he was short on time. "Okay?" Eddie hated himself.

"A gig like this, we can't have them take your blood anyway. Too many markers that need to be present. We've got time to work out the details." Please no. "There'll be a lot of things that need to be worked out." Eddie pulled away from Tahlia, it was the first time that she'd been close when he hadn't found his hands on her" alone at least. "Gimme a minute, doll" I need to think." Eddie watched her go, for once watching her, instead of checking her out. When he could see her no more, his attention returned to the reflection in the mirror. He locked eyes with himself, doing his damndest to make the man in the mirror blink before he did. She'd taken him to the sea, whether she understood what it meant or not. All he could to do reciprocate was put her in harm's way.

"Dick." Karma, he was pretty sure he was going to be it's bitch sometime soon. It would have to be enough. He had a plan though' a ludicrous one. He wasn't sure how long he'd stayed there staring at himself, everyone was there still, and Reggie had stupidly come out of the shadows. Damn kid never did know when to stay under wraps. "I need a name Saul." It wasn't a question, and he wouldn't accept anything less from the man on the screen.

Tahlia had ducked her head and retreated to her bedroom, cursing herself in every language she'd ever spoken. Why had she thought he'd react any other way' A few nights, a few laughs...and she'd lost her chill and assumed he'd protect her...let him see her weak spots. Three centuries, and you'd think she'd have learned. He'd let her do this because it made sense. Because he needed it done. She was a tool, nothing more. Maybe this had been the play all along" Had she honestly lost her edge" Maybe she needed this as much as he did...sure, there had been Rocco, but that had been easy. To get taken in by another pro' She could hear Luke laughing at her from here. Wiping at her eyes, she waited until she heard him leave the bathroom, staring out the window at nothing until he'd left the room.

She was calm and collected as she followed him into the room, and settled on the couch, one leg crossed over the other as she reached for a pack of cigarettes and lit one. Foot bouncing slightly, she couldn't quite bring herself to look at Eddie, or, for that matter, at Reggie or Saul. To see the distance there. She couldn't figure out why it hurt...and that set her to cursing herself even more. A few months out of her sibling's clutches, and she couldn't seem to stop her feelings...rookie mistakes, and one's she needed to get on top of, and fast. Lost in her own thoughts...she might have missed the plan. It didn't matter, really...she'd agreed, and now she would do what she'd promised. Someone would tell her what to do, where to stand. She was bait. She'd been bait her whole life. This was just a different trap.

Saul and Reggie seemed to be having quite the laugh. It was also clear what it involved as Eddie and Tahlia re-joined the room. Things went quiet, especially after he'd spoken. "Reggie" go make me a drink, something strong" and make it take a while."

Eddie was done being sly, and subtle. He wanted the boy out of the room. And that was what he got. "Now Saul" the name."

"I thought we had a name, Miranda Foxglove. A nice little four way split"."

"Five. We need medical covered." His words were clipped, and his demeanor far more blunt than it had been at any other time.

"Still a pretty penny, and the Chernobyl works perfect?"

Eddie had a fabulous grin, it could light rooms and draw looks. He wasn't using it, the look on his face was in a word" severe. "No' not that. If we're going to do this, we're doing it right. Two words, Saul, Atomic Blonde. Now give me a name." The name change might be enough to garner attention. It was subtle, and if looked at logically it would make sense. One indicated an accident, something that happened that had far deeper repercussions. The other" well there would be a hell of alot of fallout from it.

"Are you nuts! Do you know what comes from that?" Saul looked ready to back out' to hang up the phone and pretend that this conversation had never taken place.

"Of course, which is why I need a name. And you only need to ever remember one when we're done" you feel me, Saul" One name, ever." There was a set to Eddie's jaw, an all business look to his face and a cross of arms over his chest that may have betrayed his intentions. All eyes on him' one name.

"Fine! Big Tony' You want one, that's it." Saul looked like he was hating himself for speaking.

"I thought he was" retired."

"He is, which is why it works. Little Tony convinced him to let go of the reins. It never really sat right." Saul" motormouth, snake oil salesmen, looked like he'd just given away the secret ingredient to his masterpiece.

"Two things" First, you don't know who the fuck Harley is. Second" set up a meeting with Big Tony' I know what you're going to say, just do it. We'll work it out." Eddie's brow dropped low over his eyes. He didn't like the Capani's, junior or senior. It was quite fair as they didn't like him much either.

"Give me a couple of days. I'll get back to you? now, if it isn't too much trouble" I need to go, I need to change my goddamn shorts." Saul didn't wait for permission. He pressed a button and the screen went blank.

A decent chunk of that had gone over her head, as she sat and smoked, and tried not to feel so helpless. Eddie was all business, and she had gotten played, and good. Except that he was changing the game...changing the rules. And Saul was shitting bricks. She snapped her gaze up beneath those muddy blonde bangs, watching the tall, confident figure insist Saul didn't know her. Of course he didn't...she was new. Wasn't that the point' She'd never learned the games others played...they'd had their own, and they worked.

Saul blinked out, and Reggie hadn't returned...it might take him a bit to find the bar, and figure out what to give Eddie?Mal hadn't scrimped there either. At least she'd have this, when it was all over.

Mannish Boy

Now when I was a young boy, at the age of five My mother said I was, gonna be the greatest man alive But now I'm a man, way past 21 Want you to believe me baby, I had lot's of fun ~ Muddy Waters

Friday, July 29th, 11:23 AM

Saul looked at the face on his wrist, the purple band of his watch drawing his attention and distracting him, if only slightly, from the actual time. It was a nice watch, reasonably expensive (though he had some which cost more), eye catching without being too flashy. It was a gift, and if there were any fault at all that Saul could find in the watch, it was in the placement of the minute hand. It was already ten minutes past the appointed hour and there was no sign of either of two people.

Saul was mildly uncomfortable, part of that had to do with the heat of the day. This meeting may have been better served in an office somewhere, but Anthony Capani, Big Tony, didn't go to meetings. Meetings went to Big Tony, who felt like this was a good day to take visitors by the pool. He wasn't wrong, it was a good day for that if you weren't wearing a three piece suit and slightly overweight. It wasn't hard to see how the man had gotten his name. He stood a few inches over six feet tall, that was actually fairly standard around these parts. It was his girth that had gotten him the moniker. Tall as he was, he weighed in at nearly three hundred pounds. In his youth it had been harder, but time and likely his semi-retirement were taking their toll on the man.

Joey Sarducci was there as well. Ever present at the older man's side, Joey served as bodyguard and right hand man. Saul remembered Joey from school, he'd always been a mound of odd shaped muscle that had earned him the name No Neck Joey. The man's shoulders were so big, you'd swear he was wearing shoulder pads constantly. If he were though, they were buried beneath his skin considering he was dressed for swimming. Joey had always been a bit sadistic, but in a fight there weren't many people better to have on your side. He was loyal too, a fact that Big Tony had picked up on at an early age. Saul was quite convinced that Joey would gladly shield Tony from a hail of bullets if it came. Then again considering the man's size and shape, those bullets might swerve out of fear.

Saul had requested this meeting, as he'd been asked to, of course. It had seemed unwise to go to Big Tony, without at least trying to include his son. Little Tony had taken over the reins not too long ago, and the entirety of Market District was, on a whole, worse than it ever had been. Still the man had agreed to come, oddly enough even he wouldn't have required Big Tony to venture to far from his home in New Haven. Being dad still had some privileges it seemed. Little Tony, a name given to him only because his father had Big on a lockdown, had seemed distracted when talking to Saul. He had his doubts whether the younger Capani even remembered there was supposed to be a meeting happening, let alone one he'd actually show up to.

Eddie was another story. He'd asked Saul to set this up, yet here was Saul sitting in the sun sweating through Armani waiting. At least Eddie had the decency to call and explain that he was caught in traffic, but another five ticks had gone by on the minute hand of the watch that he'd gifted to Saul. It was fortunate though that Big Tony insisted they meet by the pool, it made it clear that Eddie had arrived as the rumbling growl of his car pulled up out front and shut off. Saul was tempted to watch the second hand move, timing Eddie from car to front door and then door to poolside.

"Deepest apologies, Don Capani for my tardiness. I hope that I haven't inconvenienced you too greatly." Saul wanted to be cross with Eddie, would have been if he hadn't started out apologizing, or been so goddamn pretty.

Saul had been afraid that the man would show up completely under dressed for the occasion. Tony may have been only in a pair of trunks, but even he would have frowned on the big man if he'd shown up in the usual jeans and a t-shirt. Instead he had joined Saul, donning a linen suit that was so white that it made his skin look like bronze. True, he hadn't worn a tie, but there was something about that lavender shirt, and the way he had it unbuttoned that made a tie seem like a criminal act. Even his shoes were pristine. Eddie seemed to be wanting to get all his bright colors in before labor day, though perhaps someone should have told him that when wearing those shoes it was a bit cocky not to have socks on.

"Joey! What the hell have they been feeding you, man. You seriously look like you could beat down a cement truck." Saul tore his gaze away from the vision in white as Eddie addressed Joey, looking more at Big Tony for a reaction than anyone else. Joey would do nothing unless Tony gave him the go ahead.

Sunlight glinted off of the gold crucifix on Tony's chest as he made a gesture with his hand. Drinks were brought out, almost like that hand, or maybe the ring on its pinky had summoned servers waiting in the shadows. It would have been rude to refuse, no matter what the man had provided. Fortunately, Eddie seemed to know that as well, and took the offered shot glass. Saul's wound up on the table in front of him, he counted to three before gathering up the nerve to lift it and swallow the burning liquid down. It took effort not to cough, though he appeared to be the only one having a problem with it. Nerves most likely.

"It's been a long time since you've come to me, Eddie Blake. What is it that you need from me?" Tony's meaty hand rose to drink from his glass, the swallow followed closely by a pull from the imported cigar that graced his left hand.

"I have a proposal for you, though I had expected that your son was going to be here too. I can hold off, if you'd prefer to wait...Godfather." Saul went very still at the last word out of Eddie's mouth. The grip he had on the table tightening in an attempt to stop himself from shaking.

"Tony's a very busy man, he'll be here, or he won't. If it's important enough, he'll call on you himself." The old man didn't seem to be bristling, but Saul had known him long enough that he was wary. Tony was annoyed. In part that came from his son not being here, and he was sure that a large measure of it was Eddie vocalizing the fact.

"No, of course, you're right. I'm sure that dealing with the Vicelli's is taking up a lot of his time. Still, from what I hear from folks in the marketplace, they wish your hand was on the tiller for this." Saul looked at the apparition that stood just outside the entry to the pool. It looked like Eddie, even sounded like Eddie if he were to drop down the audacious six or seven levels. It even annoyingly refused to sweat mockingly at Saul the way Eddie would. But the lack of wisdom in the words said it simply couldn't be.

"He's not lying Don Capani, the people do miss you down there." Saul was so shocked to hear the words from Joey that he forgot to react, probably a small favor but definitely the thing that kept Tony from getting upset. Leave it to Eddie to manipulate No Neck Joey, that hadn't changed since high school either. Of course that was when they played ball on the same team. Eddie could always get the best, and worst performances out of Joey. Of them all only one of them had what it took to go all the way, but the big Tight End had little interest in playing ball for a living. Not when it was so much more fun to shave points, and ensure that the team never beat the spread.

The only game Eddie had ever been interested in was the next big con. He was good at it too, able to make money fast, keeping it was another matter. If the watch on Saul's wrist proved anything it was that. No, Eddie did much better with someone else holding the purse strings. The blonde girl, Harley seemed to have a good hand for it, if the little he'd been able to see of her place was any indication. It was just hard to know who was playing whom there.

"The Vicelli's are a bug, and soon to be crushed beneath a heel. They're not the first to try this, won't be the last either." Tony's tone was dismissive, clearly he wouldn't talk about the family business to a total stranger. Saul of course knew better, he knew that the old man was concerned because it seemed like his son was actually backing this invading syndicate. It was even starting to look like consolidation of the red light districts in all the territories were starting to feel the taint of the Vicelli's. Well except for the asian communities, but those people had such weird customs.

"Then, I suppose, to be honest. I don't really need anything from you per se beyond permission. I mean the game I'm running isn't even in your city. However, Saul counselled me that it would be unwise to proceed without getting the nod from your family." Tony's gaze suddenly fell on an unprepared Saul, and he silently cursed Eddie for throwing him under the bus.

"He's going after Foxglove. I've listened to his reasons, and he does have grievance." Saul fell back on his courtroom demeanor. That was something at least that he could count on.

"They're the ones that handle that matter for us, right Saulie." That name" he hated it, but endured it because it was better than being called something like nine fingered Saul. He liked that he had ten, and was aiming to keep it that way too.

"They handle matters like that for a lot of people, but my concerns are more for you and yours." Saul could use every adjective and adverb alive to dance around a subject. It was what made him good at his job.

"So, we let him do his thing, and pull our investment out' Is that what you're proposing?" Tony's attention turned from Saul, thankfully. Of course it fell on Eddie, and the big bastard was wearing that stupid cocky assed grin.

"Well, sir, that's not exactly what I am saying. See, if you pull your investment, then everyone else will as well. No, I'm suggesting that you secure yours, but make it seem as if nothing's changed." The more Eddie talked, the further around Big Tony turned. It had begun simply enough, an owl twisting its head, but the body began to follow.

"If I do that, then the others will want open war. Nobody wants that kid. Especially you, considering that Carmine Logan seems to be resurfacing. It's only because I asked nicely that he stopped coming after you and Saulie." Something about Tony's words had Saul's lips going dry, and no amount of licking them could relieve it.

"If the Vicelli's are going to be stomped out, like you're telling me, then there's a war coming for the territory. Wouldn't it be prudent to ensure that the Capani's are the only family with the funds for such a war" You win the territory through superior means, then parcel it out as a peace offering. Everyone wins, and the paltry numbers that my crew takes is barely missed. After you've taken your percentage of course. I may not be running this in your neighborhood, but I do have to come back here, no?" Saul wanted to shake his head, he was good at dancing around a subject, but there was only one Fast Eddie. The carrot being dangled was more than just a territory, more than just money. It was about respecting Big Tony, and the old man was a sucker for that.

"I never liked you, Eddie. Not in the least. You've got no sense of when to be afraid, and no compunction to back off no matter whose lawn you're shitting on. But, you come to my home, call me a friend, call me godfather. As cocky a sunuvabitch as you are, you're always polite about it, respectful. You do your thing, but Saulie, he's gonna protect my investment. Ain't that right, Saulie?" Tony hadn't stopped looking at Eddie in White, it actually took several seconds for Saul to realize he had been talking to him.

"That is what you hired me for, Big Tony." Saul should feel honored, Tony didn't let just anyone call him Big to his face.

"Good, good" okay then. You have my blessing, Eddie, but screw me over and you won't have to worry about if you can come back or not' because where I send you there is no coming back from that....Capice?" It was the first time Joey had moved since the conversation had begun, and that movement was every bit the threat that Big Tony had uttered.

"I've never let you down before, godfather, today's not the day I start." He moved forward, and bent to kiss the pinky ring of Big Tony. As Eddie finished, there was another of those summoning gestures from Tony, and more alcohol was brought to seal the deal. It was at that precise moment that Little Tony made his appearance, taking one of the shot glasses for himself. Not that Saul minded, it was the one meant for him, and he wasn't sure he could keep two down.

Little Tony Capani was at least as big as his father, perhaps even a little bigger, but even with that he would forever be known as Little. Where Big Tony wore a crucifix, and pinky ring. Little Tony was laden with gold chains, and had no less than three diamond rings on his hand. He caught the position that Eddie was in, and a dark expression swept across his face. "I'm here" so what did I miss?"

Saul sighed, about to begin the explanation for Little Tony when the voice of his father broke the silence. "Eddie here was just here to pay his respects, and let us know that he has something going. It's not something that will affect us any, but he wanted to be sure to follow tradition."

"So' I came all this way for nothin?"" The younger man was quite put out about that.

"Did you say hello to your mother" She's made her Cannoli, I bet she's got some for you." At his father's question Little Tony looked guilty. He gave all four of them a quick once over before heading into the house. The calls of "Ma", and Cannoli were quite clear even if the rest were inaudible.

"Eddie" take Saulie home. I had Joey pick him up." That meant only one thing, both of them were now dismissed. Saul was more than ready to get out of there. Being anywhere around Eddie could become volatile quickly, and never ended well.

Saul said nothing more until they'd reached Eddie's car. In fact it was Eddie that broke the silence. "Just move that stuff out of the front seat."

Saul looked at the mass of plug wires that lay on the leather, and looked at Eddie curiously. "What' You think I was actually caught in traffic" I may have borrowed some parts from Little Tony's cars. None of this would have worked if he were there, the prick."

"Nice" perfect. You vandalize his cars and he's the prick. Jesus, one of them is going to end up sending Carmine for me." Saul didn't know if Eddie heard him or not, the engine had roared to life, and Saul couldn't really even hear himself. There was a big hand on his chest though, he followed it along Eddie's arm and looked at his face.

"Do you trust me, Saul?" Every bit of frustration left Saul as he looked at Eddie. Damn him for being so pretty. Saul couldn't answer, just nod.

"Carmine's not coming for anyone?" Eddie threw the car into gear and rocketed off down the driveway. Once again Saul couldn't hear a thing, and it was difficult to tell what else the driver had said, but it looked like his lips formed the word, ever.

Saul's mouth moved, lips pursing up to form the words to ask Eddie what he meant. No sound came out, hell his lips never fully parted either. He sat back into the seat, looking out the side window thinking. Two words, Saul. Plausible deniability.

Long minutes passed between turning off the water and his reappearance. The shape in the mirror was obscured too much by the sheen of fog across its surface. "There you are, I knew you were in there all along." The outline was there, but the details were fuzzy. They could have been anyone. It was probably a sad statement about him that he was more comfortable seeing this version of himself than anything clearer. Feeling cleaner, Eddie opened the door, releasing the haze in his wake as he moved through the place like he owned it, or maybe like he owned the girl who was paying for it. The deep tan on his skin darkly contrasting the towel that he kept wrapped around his waist, the folded tuck drawing attention to the line of hair that ran from his navel to some point hidden beneath the cloth. Deft fingers plucked the lit cigarette from Lizzy's fingers, and ran the water over the cherry end of it. He didn't say anything, not this time. She already would know.

She did - the sudden flush of her cheeks gave her away. Turning, pack in hand and offering it out to him, she felt her mouth go dry, the color in her cheeks spreading down along the delicate line of her throat. Even after everything...he could still render her speechless, and her free hand pressed against the sudden jump of deeply buried muscles that quivered at the thought of everything he'd shown her. Taught her. Coughing as her lungs reminded her how desperately she needed to breathe, the tip of her tongue slid over her lips, and she struggled to bring her eyes up from the towel to his face. Although it was well worth the effort.

"Lunch is here...I had them put the dressing on the side so it wouldn't get soggy while you were in the shower. I was just getting plates...they sent those cheap paper ones, and they won't stand up to the salad." The words came in a rush, as if talking about food would cover the slight tremor in her voice, the flush that was only now beginning to subside. She didn't acknowledge that he'd caught her - stating the obvious wasn't her way. He'd caught her misbehaving and they both knew it. It was just that being good was so hard, when you'd been used to not having any worries at all. But it was her life on the line...and she knew why he was so strict. Mel had been doing so well before her last illness. As much as he tried not to let her see how much he worried that the same thing would happen to her, she knew it was there. Ever present. Much like the genetic quirk that held her hostage. But she tried to stay positive...after all, she had the best care anyone could ever ask for.

Eddie's hand slid beneath Lizzy's chin. He locked eyes with her, it was easy to get lost in the hues of the sea. "I know you're doing your best." He claimed the pack of cigarettes, and placed a kiss on her forehead that was almost chaste, there was a blurring of the line from how long he lingered there. "I'm glad you did, those things are so difficult to eat when they've gone soggy." His hand slipped from her face, sliding down her arm and giving a squeeze to her elbow before breaking from her completely. He took his place at the table, across from Lizzy, so that he could see her better when they talked, and maybe she'd run her instep along his calf. "I might be curious where you keep getting them from though. If that friend of yours is supplying you, I will have a talk with' what was his name again? Reggie" that was it." For now, it paid for some kind of tie to remain with the kid, considering how integral he was in pulling off this made up life" or almost made up at least.

Eddie began with the salad, right hand manipulating his fork, while the left stretched across the table to take Lizzy's. "I'm sorry to be running around like this. I honestly feel like I've been living in those clothes for the last week. I can't seem to find anything to wear either. Well, except for you know who's, and they're far too small." Eddie spared Lizzy, so often she would wince a bit if he mentioned Antoine by name. There was a winner, and honestly Eddie was hoping to run into him. He didn't even care if there were an alley close enough to drag the guy into. He'd hurt her, and that would need to be paid for. "Think it's possible to get something sent up" Not that I mind the way you've been looking at me."

Lizzy bit at her bottom lip, her lashes settling against her cheeks as a tiny mew of pleasure squeaked between her lips, and then fluttered open with a start as she felt him move toward the table. Chewing on the inside of her cheek, she gently set herself across from him, her foot rising to stroke his calf as she set her chin on an upturned palm. She didn't want to rat Reggie out...he was almost the only connection she had left...but Eddie would find out, he always did, and then he'd be even more upset with her. "He only got them for me because I asked...I"might not have told him I'm not supposed to."

Mirroring his movements, she laced her dainty hand into his, only the stark contrast of their skin tones keeping it from disappearing completely. For a moment, the fork hovered just shy of her lips as she remembered the way his hands looked against parts of her that rarely saw the sun, and that led to the way they felt...blushing furiously, she realized he'd kept talking, and blinked to pull the words from her subconscious. "Oh! There's nothing to be sorry for but...we should absolutely get you something you can go out in." The implied individual caused her to bite into her poor salad with determination, chewing and swallowing before she continued. She didn't want to think about her ex, or see him...she would have blocked him, but Eddie said it was better to know what the weasel was planning. She could understand it...but it didn't make it easier. "I'll make a few calls - we haven't gone shopping for you in forever. Maybe I'll pick up a few things...in case we decide to go away?" Taking a bite of her sandwich, she licked at a stray bit of mayo, and watched him for a moment. She loved watching him...his eyes were like glazed terracotta tiles, only they held so many wonderful secrets...they drew her in and held her until she simply couldn't think. She didn't mind at all. He made sure she took her medication, and ate, and did her exercises...plus the other exercises. She liked those the best, but she couldn't possibly tell the doctors that. "Scruffy...I know I'm supposed to be careful...but do you think we could go to the beach' Soaking up some sun might help, couldn't it?"

"I'll be sure he knows" just talking, I promise." Threatening was talking, right' That was easily put aside for a possible shopping trip. Eddie loved it when she dressed him, it made his spell on her work so much better. He did care for her, and even she'd seemed to understand that he had his own wants. There was no way he could ever hope to fit into her world, not with those faded dungarees and torn tee shirts. They looked good on him, gave him a certain off the streets look that helped in some situations. The only thing was, that Lizzy didn't get into situations where that look was necessary. All he did was serve to embarrass her when he dressed that way. That is something he didn't want to do, ever. "Something really nice" I'd like to be able to take you to places and not have to borrow one of their jackets and ties."

He'd picked through his salad, eating everything that wasn't a piece of lettuce first. He'd go back for that later, now he leaned forward, lifting her hand so that he could place a kiss on her palm. When he looked up at her over their hands, he had a wickedly secret grin on his lips. "Maybe you'll get something lacy' and purple. You look so good in purple, songbird." The look, and that name, it would say enough to Lizzy to send her skin to new shades of pink, and Eddie would drink that up.

"I won't tell if you don't, I've never seen a bit of sun and sand as a bad thing. It's good for the soul, Liz" You deserve so much more than that." The corner of his mouth moved, and just to remind her of that pet name she had for him, he brushed his five o"clock shadow along the palm he'd just kissed hoping for a bit of a scritch from her fingers. "Just, give me a little time I'm not really anxious to put those clothes back on." Those words threatened to knock Eddie out of character, but he held on doggedly.

"Of course - a few sports coats, maybe a suit or two...everything. You're so good to me...it's the least I can do. And some things for the beach...maybe just a few for out in town...you'd wear a tux for me, wouldn't you?" She scritched her nails along his jaw, her cheeks turning the shade of pink usually associated with roses, she ducked her head, corn-silk hair smoothly shading her face. "Oh...Eddie?" Just the beginnings of the tremulous notes that earned her that nickname from him, but it was enough to let him know he'd got her thinking...and that there would be at least one thing fitting that description in her lingerie drawer before too much more time had passed.

"No...I-I know. But I was...maybe...renting a boat?" She stammered, her breath catching in her throat, pupils wide and shimmering as she glanced back up at him. It was her fortune, after all - she didn't really need his permission to spend money, and she could more than afford anything she might desire. Except that what the sheltered heiress desired more than anything in the world was sitting across from her in a towel. And she would do anything to make him happy. She'd already done things she'd never dared imagine...and likely would again at the earliest opportunity. "Just something small?" Translation, a 2 bedroom yacht with crew, which, to be fair, did count as small in her world.

"Take as...much time...as you need?" And her mind was back on the heat of his hands, his lips...the kiss soaking into her palm and spreading like a fire through her veins. Her pulse began to hammer in her ears, throb in her wrist, and she tried to calm her breathing. In hindsight, the cigarette had not been such a good idea.

"I'm a blank canvas, or maybe I'm clay because I like the idea of being molded." That required fingers, her fingers. Maybe he'd been too subtle" Eddie wouldn't let her look away from him for long. "Hey' I'm over here, and I might miss seeing those pretty eyes of yours." It seemed to be the perfect mingling of characters, she'd make him look impressive, give him a place to hang those clothes. He'd in turn give her a bit of stability, keeping her to a schedule with her medications, at least dropping her into moderation with that bad habit of hers, until he could wean her entirely of it. There hadn't been a better fit, since" well he wasn't going there right now.

"You know, that might be an even better idea than just a trip to the beach' It'll give you time to enjoy the sun, and a place to get out of it and rest when you need to. I knew it' You're brilliant. Brains and beauty, a guy like me doesn't stand a chance with you." There was the faintest sound of an alarm going off. It was coming from an entirely different room, but the sound had Eddie moving. He gave her a sympathetic look as he stood, leaning over to kiss the top of her head on his way by. When he returned it was with a handful of pills for her to swallow. "It seems like time is against us" It passes so quickly that' okay, let's go through them one at a time. Got to make sure I don't miss any, right?"

"How does Saturday sound" Just the two of us and the open sea." Not that they'd get too far from land. Maybe he should consult the doctor just so he knew what he might need in case she had a seizure.

There was no mistaking the pout for anything else. She knew she needed to take her medications...knew that even if it didn't always feel that way, they were helping to keep her healthy. But she was young, barely past her 21st birthday, and the thought of having to take so many pills, every day...sometimes it strained even her sunny personality. And the fact that she was feeling...off...after her little indulgence, only made it worse. Batting those aquamarine eyes up at him, she allowed her bottom lip to quiver...not enough to be overdramatic, but enough to hint at threatening tears. Somehow, taking her pills didn't seem so bad while she was settled on his lap, curled up against his chest. If she played her cards right, he might even reward her with a kiss for each. The look was usually enough, but this time she held out her cupped hands in addition. "I'll count if I can sit in my favorite spot while I take them. Promise." A little childish, perhaps, but she only ever did it when the two of them were alone. She let him see her vulnerable...something she fought still to conceal from the rest of the world.

She knew each pill, plus the ones she didn't have to take every day. Inderal to slow her heart, Mexiletine to fight the arrhythmia, potassium and spironolactone to fix the things she was missing that made her likely to faint, or seize, phenobarbital to keep the seizures to a minimum and a fish oil supplement, because it couldn't hurt. The last one made her nose wrinkle just a little...and usually required something to help her forget the taste. She had to take a few of the supplements, and there were always stashes of the nitroglycerin that would stabilize her in the event of an attack. It had taken Eddie to get her to understand and accept how important those were...before him, after the nightmare with Antoine...some part of her had thought it might be better to just let her heart fail her if it was going to. She hadn't ever said it...but some part of her suspected he knew.

Eddie pushed his seat out and sat down, her favorite seat ready for her. He didn't put the pills into her hand though. He laid them on the table and took them one by one, holding them up so she could see them. The first of them went up, and Eddie leaned his head in towards her ear. He moved his fingers making the pill dance a bit, then spoke in a really high voice. "Hello, Lizzy' my name is Indy' and I can tell when your heart starts to beat waaaay too fast. I'll help you, if you let me" but you have to swallow me. I'm a little afraid, it's dark down there and I don't like the dark so much. But this is what I was made for" specially for you? just read the bottle! Your name's allll over it."

One by one, and each with a different name and a different voice, Eddie relished the little giggles that would come from Lizzy as he acted like a fool for her. One of the last ones, the phenobarbital, had a very deep voice. "I'm sorry, Lizzy, I'm good for you, but I make you reeeaaallly tired. That's not always a good thing, but I think someone in the room would like nothing more than to snuggle up with you while you sleep a little. I'm not sure where this person is" because I don't have eyes, but I can feel his presence, and it's very close. Do you know anyone like that' If you do, and you think this is something you might enjoy, then please" take me and it'll happen" I promise with all my heart."

Eddie gave her the last pill, holding her tight against him, and kissing the back of her shoulder. "I can't promise that this will ever go away, but I'll be here no matter what." His arms tightened around her, holding her against him. "I promise."

This was why she hardly missed a dose of her pills anymore. He made her laugh, each pill followed by a sip of water, and then a chaste brush of lips that left her smiling before he even presented the next. Sometimes she'd rest her head against his shoulder, her laughter bubbling up to tickle his skin, before opening her mouth obediently to take the dancing pills from his fingers. That she occasionally held on a little longer than strictly necessary...well, that could be squarely placed on his shoulders as well.

The phenobarbital didn't make her giggle, although a soft smile remained on her lips as she nodded, and took a deep breath. The anti-seizure medication did make her sleepy, and she had always hated taking it. Perhaps out of fear that she wouldn't wake. But ever since Eddie had come into her life...it hadn't seemed so frightening. He always stayed with her, letting her curl up against his chest and drift, so that he was the first thing she saw when she woke up.

She swallowed the last pill, and took a sip of water to wash it down...and curled tight against him, burying her head in his shoulder. "I know...I know you will. I just...I couldn't get through this without you, scruffy...I just couldn't??.

August 7th, 2:12 PM

My Medicine

Somebody mixed my medicine I don't know what I'm on Somebody mixed my medicine Now baby it's all gone ~ The Pretty Reckless

Housecalls, Dan didn't do them, he hadn't done them even before the trouble had come. He certainly had no need to make any now. Damn Saul, damn Eddie and whoever this Harley was. The elevator stopped often, people getting that last long vacation in before classes started once again. Honestly that wasn't much of a concern for Dan either beyond having to wait through it. He stood outside the door debating whether or not he was going to knock. If he were going to back out, this was kind of his last opportunity.

Hell, who was he kidding, there was no backing out. Not this time at least. Dan knocked on the door hard enough to make his knuckles hurt. Just a bit of leftover frustration and jitters. He'd already done the hard work. He fired off a quick text to Saul, letting him know he'd arrived. Even if he hadn't managed to quite get inside yet.

Harley answered the door before the last knock, her hair in twin braids that lay against her shoulders, and wearing a cropped t-shirt and yoga pants, paired with a set of heeled sneakers - she couldn't do much about the fact that even Reggie towered over her, but she could keep herself out of flats, at least until Lizzy took over. Aqua green eyes batted up at the handsome doctor, and she took a good, long look from head to toe before taking a step back, and gesturing him inside. "You must be Dan...come on in?"

She didn't wait, turning on her heel and sauntering back into the penthouse. She just assumed he'd follow behind, and know to close the door behind him. She also assumed he'd be checking out her rear, and added a little extra sway to her step. She wasn't sold on the idea of using an actual doctor, but she recognized that she didn't have the resources here that she was used to. "Can I get you something to drink, Doc?"

"And you're obviously Harley, though no one gave me a last name to go with it." He may have been a bit surprised by the quality of girl who answered the door. Then again it fit to have someone pretty, and petite enough to appear helpless. "Even Saul hasn't said much about you, beyond you were with Eddie." That could mean a thousand things of course. It really just depended on which version of Eddie and how he was with her. Dan checked her out a bit, without letting himself become too distracted.

"A drink...Just a soda or water." Dan stayed away from anything harder whenever possible. Something else he'd left behind in that other life. "I almost feel like I should be asking you questions like how you know Eddie, and what it is you're trying to get out of this." He hadn't asked though, let her associate the questions or not. "Speaking of Saul" What has he said about me?"

She ignored the comment about last names - he wasn't going to get one. For these purposes, Harley she was, and Harley was all he needed to know. Opening the fridge, she bent to look at the shelves - not that there was much there. "I have water or coke?" Glancing back over her shoulder at the good doctor, she let out a low chuckle that could mean any number of things. "Saul's a smart guy. Yeah...I'm with Eddie...we met at a bar, hooked up a few times, and here we all are. I fit what he's looking for, y"know?" Winking, she grabbed both the can of coke, and the pitcher of water, and set them on the counter. Opening a cabinet, she rose on tiptoe to grab two glasses. "As for what I'm getting out of this" The same thing as everyone else...there's a payday at the end of it. Plus...I happen to like helping friends out?"

Setting both glasses on the counter with a clink, she tilted her head and regarded Dan with an amused little smirk. "Surprisingly, he didn't mention how handsome you were...but then, he's usually pretty busy mooning over Eddie. He said you were a doctor - you guys have known each other a while I guess." Harley flirted like she breathed, and about as naturally. It was a habit, and one she had no intention of breaking. Twisting men around her finger got her what she wanted...and in this case, it would distract him from the questions she had no intention of answering. "He told me you could be trusted not to".**** things up, I think, was how he put it...and you knew enough about Long QT to fill in the blanks."

"I know enough?" He reacted a bit to the compliment, but Dan knew the game pretty well too, even if he was nearly five years out of practice. "I was an interventional Cardiologist. So Longs was at least in my field of study. I've also been out of the game long enough not to bring up any red flags." Especially after Reggie fixed up a few things about his past, and his present. He took the coke, and was all set to lean against the counter when something sent him off towards the parlor and a chair to himself. "I've known them both a while, but honestly haven't seen any of them for a long time. Not since" well that's less important, right' I probably wouldn't have agreed to this if it weren't for Eddie, though."

Bits of information found their way out of him, though it was worse than a thousand piece puzzle to put together. "Saul's always had a bit of a crush on Eddie. I think he felt a bit guilty about the Carmine thing. That's kind of when we all lost touch. Eddie disappeared, Saul just stopped calling. I saw the kid a time or two but even that only lasted through the first year." Dan was only beginning to realize exactly how long it had been since he'd been in their loop, or since they'd last trusted him.

The sudden retreat quirked her brow, but she said nothing, simply pouring a glass of water for herself, and following to curl into the corner of the couch, facing him, her legs tucked beneath her. "The Carmine thing" I've heard the name?" She'd only heard the name, although context lead her to infer a few things. Twisting one braid around a finger, she took a sip of her drink, and watched him over the rim of her glass. "Things like that...sometimes everyone needs a chance to get away from each other. It's easier to focus on anything else. Everything else." Setting the water aside, she set the party girl demeanor aside, for a moment, and looked at the man across from her. "Saul's got a crush on him, Reggie thinks he's the coolest things on two legs...you're coming out of retirement for him. Eddie's a force of nature. There's really no denying him."

She could figure that they all owed him something. Something big, to accept her so readily, to take him at his word almost without question. Eddie had a silver tongue, that was for sure...and the kind of personality that swept everyone along in his wake. "So here we are - repaying a debt, at least in your case...I'm just here for the fun of it. Besides...Eddie seems to like having me around." Dan was clearly the outlier...she'd caught that the other three had brought him on more because of what he knew rather than by choice. But this was all new for her - working with a team other than her siblings. She had to follow their lead. "Ok, Doc...what do you need to know?"

"Hitter" kind of brutal." Dan's mouth clamped a bit after giving that away. There was more that needed doing here before story time, right. He nodded at her a few times as she spoke, choosing to focus on the last question first. "What you need to know is all in the bag I've brought. You'll have your meds" obviously they won't work on anyone else. Placebo, but they look good. There's more detailed descriptions of symptoms of Long QT" But most importantly' you need to know that you know more than most doctors about your illness. Be assertive" or perhaps the way we're running this Eddie will be the assertive one." He took a long drink from his glass, watching Harley to see if she understood what he was saying.

"What I need from you is simple. Blood type, so that I know what to look for in a donor. You can be pretty sure that this will require some onsite test results. The rest is easy. Just be, who was it again? Lizzy?" It may have seemed much simpler to Dan than it did to her. It was difficult to get an actual assessment on her ability at this point. He did give her time to take both the fake meds and the information to look through.

"Hopefully you don't somehow find yourself on the I owe Eddie train. It's not all it's cracked up to be." He did owe him though, and it was enough that he came out of retirement without question. "Some of us owe more than others I guess. Kind of wish he'd waited a little longer, but at least this one is going to get us out of town for a bit. There's no way I want to work here, right now."

"Oh' Plan go wrong?" Not that she particularly wanted to be working in town herself. Too many risks...too many faces that might recognize her by a different name. But that was more information than she was quite willing to share. She thought for a moment about owing Eddie...for the moment, those slates were clean. If she owed anyone...it was Simon, but that thought...that thought reminded her that there were a lot of reasons to move this along. "I don't think I have to worry about that, much. Eddie and I have an...understanding." It sounded better than the truth - than the fact that she couldn't seem to resist him, that he made her forget that she was working with an untried net, a new crew, new game, and no idea why she trusted him more than anyone save the blond tattooed fighter who'd spent the past few months becoming too much.

"O+." The answer didn't really matter, since no-one was touching her blood anyway. "Eddie explained to you that you're not actually taking blood from me, right' Not even to switch out?" She tugged at her braid, showing every sign of nerves. He couldn't get blood without her consent, but there was no reason for him to know that. She glanced through the materials, noting the different pills, colors, markings...the kinds of things that would clue her into a substitution, nodding as she did so. This is where her faith in Eddie had to carry her - she didn't know the doctor from a stranger on the street, and had no reason to trust him. Not that the medications would do anything more than make her sick - another detail Dan didn't need to know.

The braids served a dual purpose...the face that turned back up to him subtly younger, the eyes a little wider, the angle of her body serving to make her smaller and frailer than the reality. Nibbling at her bottom lip, Lizzy's voice lilted out, her lips curving into a sweet, trusting smile. "Eddie says I can trust you, Doctor...that you'll take excellent care of me. He says you'll do everything you can to keep me as healthy as possible, as long as I take all my medications." She paused, as if trying to remember an exact phrase, a slight blush rising to her cheeks. "He said making sure nothing happens to me is just as important to you as it is to him...and it's the most important thing in the world to him. Isn't he just wonderful?" "Wrong would be an understatement. He kind of saved me" kind of killed me too." Plenty to raise eyebrows there, right' "You don't have to worry, I've been briefed on it. More or less the blood will need to come from the right person. It'll need to match what is in your files" and gods forbid something weird happens" what?s actually in you. I don't expect weird, but never can tell when that step off a curb is going to end with a crunch." It was morbid, but it was the kind of thing he'd been thinking about since Saul had laid out the play on this.

"I should warn you against getting too close to him. The closer you get, the harder he'll push you away. You also should follow your own instincts about things. Eddie doesn't necessarily worry enough about some things. That seems to be rubbing off on Saul, but you listen to me" Lizzy?" She'd been the one to put on the face and the voice after all. "You see a guy Eddie's size coming at you? and it ain't him' you run and don't look back." It was the best advice he could give her. "I know that probably just gives you more questions, but' you'll have to ask me."

Lizzy disappeared as quickly as she'd appeared, Harley and Tahlia flowing seamlessly together in her place. "There aren't any files. Not here. Not anywhere. And I promise you, I'm not some weird alien who's going to bleed green goo, or anything. I'm just as human as anyone here - I just happen to be kinda attached to staying a ghost, you get me?" Given where they were, it wasn't an untrue statement...and as far as she knew, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but. "You look good for a dead man. So does Saul. And Reggie. And you all seem to have the same man to thank for that. Somehow...I think I'm as safe with him as I am with anyone." Especially given the way he'd argued to get her out...not that she was looking for trouble. She'd had just enough of that, lately. But if the **** really hit the fan"well, if there were any Vicelli's left to ask, they could testify at the lengths Simon would go to make certain she was safe. Something told her Eddie wasn't going to be any kinder if it came down to it.

"Carmine." It wasn't a question. "Everyone seems terrified of this guy. Saul said he thought he was back in town"just how big a bogeyman are we talking about?" She knew better than anyone that whoever the guy was, he wasn't responsible for the latest bodies...but that was between her, Reggie and Eddie. She could guess why they'd been laid at his door, and that...that was between her and Eddie. What she didn't know was how this connected to anything else. And she didn't like not knowing. Not when an entire family was dead, and there was a one-armed limping woman out there who could connect her to them. Not with everything she'd done. "And why do I think all three of you owe Eddie for saving your asses from the same guy?"

"There's files, they're mostly made up, but the critical stuff needs to match. Reggie'll scrub them when it's done. The thing is, you're the bomb on this" and everyone will be looking at you and failing to notice what the rest of us are doing." That was what this play was all about. When the bomb went off, there'd be fallout in places no one expected. "You're plenty safe with him, He just has a way of making you feel it too much maybe. But yeah, This thing with Carmine" kind of my fault."

"Seemed like the perfect set up. Saul and I would work a mark, and let it go bad" or seemingly bad. We'd set up Eddie as Logan' they were similar enough. Eddie would go after them, spook em really good, get them to pay double not to go through with the hit. It worked great until someone figured it out. That wouldn't have been so bad, except they called in the real Carmine Logan." Dan shifted a bit on the couch, his drink was in his hand, but it was almost like he couldn't really see the thing, or feel it's weight.

"He wasn't really happy that someone was saying they were him. He came after us, Eddie found out, and well" he killed me first. Saul did what he did, but I mean' Eddie's had to keep moving. Stay a while here or there until Carmine shows up, then he's gone again. So, you can depend on him to look out for you...But there's no way he's sticking around for long." Dan drank down the soda like he wished it was something much harder. "Just kind of warning you about that."

She'd taken a sip of water while she listened. It made sense...as much as anything did in this world. She had no idea what too safe might be...she wasn't even sure she was particularly sure what 'safe" was. She liked dangerous men too much, taking risks and playing the cards they were dealt. Keeping her hand in the game meant surviving. It meant staying alive. Not depending on anyone - except that now she was. And it wasn't blood that bound them, but something she didn't even begin to understand.

"Thanks for the warning...but like I said. He and I have an understanding. I know what he wants from me, and he knows I'll do my job. Beyond that?" She shrugged, shifting slightly against the cushions. She was still a little sore. "The day this is over, we all go back to our lives, right' A little heavier in the purse, and maybe we remember each other when we pass in the street. Maybe we work together again, maybe we don't. This isn't exactly my first time at the table, Doc." And maybe she was trying to convince herself it didn't matter if Eddie Blake disappeared from her life when this was done. Maybe she even knew that was a lie.

"I won't hold my breath about it. I'm not so sure that they'll bring me in for anything else. Saul made it really clear who was taking point on this. Once upon a time that was me. You asked if we went way back, and I guess we do. I found Saul, he found Eddie. Chain broke there, not a big surprise. He was a bit of a natural, just needed some seasoning." That and to get away from the influences that would have pulled him an entirely different direction.

Dan pushed himself upward. "Look" I should go' so unless you have anything else for me, questions" anything. I'm going to start preparing for the trip to Westport. That means tracking down an LQT O positive blood source. It's a big city though, I'm sure one can be found." Especially if he used his more hidden sources.

Harley set the glass aside, rising and sauntering over to the good doctor. The heel's gave her a boost, true, but he still topped her by a good 6 inches or more. Just enough to justify her tilting her head back, batting wide aqua eyes up at him with every sign of innocence. She knew Eddie would be arriving shortly, but one had little to do with the other. Everyone had a weakness...she just hadn't figured out Dan's yet. She could hardly be faulted for wanting to know as much as possible about the people she was working with. If anything, Eddie's arrival would serve to ensure things didn't go any farther than she wanted them to.

"Don't you think you should give me a full physical" To be thorough?? Just the barest arch to her back, a subtle twist to her hips as she popped one foot up onto a toe, toying with a braid in each hand. She might be cheating, just a little, the tip of her tongue peeking out to wet plush lips as she waited for his answer. This was, after all, what she did best - it wasn't just her looks that had gotten her past Eddie's concerns.

August 8th, 11:40 A.M.

Tainted Love

Once I ran to you (I ran) Now I'll run from you This tainted love you've given I give you all a girl could give you Take my tears and that's not nearly all ~ Performed by Marilyn Manson

Eddie had said he had some business to handle, so Lizzy sat alone for the moment, the breeze ruffling a few errant strands of bright gold, her hair gathered in a half braid that pulled the rest back from her face. A slim gold chain hung around her neck, setting off matching gold hoops, and the perfect subtle accent to her outfit. A lavender scoop necked top exposed her collarbone, but didn't dip down low enough to expose too much, although it did blend nicely with the subtle bruising along the inside of her arms. Which was sadly visible as she raised a glass of water to her lips, her eyes focusing down the sidewalk. Seaview was full of cafes and bistros, and the weather was perfect for an outdoor lunch.

Denim shorts flashed as she shifted in her seat, a slight blush tinging her cheeks as she thought about the man she was waiting for. He'd been such a surprise, but everything she could have ever hoped for - caring, kind, intelligent, with a sense of humor that made the worst treatment sessions easier to bear. She'd been taught that some things were worth waiting for...so she had. And she was so glad she had. Eddie had been...perfect. So different from...before. Lizzy shuddered, and tucked a stray strand behind her ear. Hopefully Eddie wouldn't be too much longer.

She was watching the wrong way. The seat across from her was suddenly occupied, though it wasn't the man she was expecting. His eyes were almost too blue, and far too deep for someone so young. That with his pale hair made him seem more pretty than rugged. The kind of face that when he smiled like that could make a girl stare. The way he focused that on Lizzy, it was obvious that he knew it too. Antoine DeMarco was dressed casually, for him that meant a pastel Izod shirt, and white deck pants. On his feet a pair of leather docksiders, the man was obviously here to take out the family yacht. That had been his plan, but then he'd spotted Lizzy, and things could wait. He was a DeMarco, everything waited for him. "Well, isn't this a surprise. I figured you'd be out slumming it with your nurse, Elizabeth. Where is the blue collar trash anyway?"

His hand moved over hers, possessively, sliding onwards and squeezing the small wrist in his hand. The edges of perfectly manicured nails nipped at her skin, but at least his palms were soft. A sure sign that he wasn't anything close to blue collar. "I miss you? Don't you miss me" We had such plans for our future." She was an adequate match for someone of his stature. Very complementary in look and breeding. There were empires that could be forged in such a union.

"Antoine! I -" Lizzy's eyes were wide as she tugged her hand away, or tried to. His hands might be soft and manicured, but Antoine was not a weakling by any stretch. Keeping her voice low, she tried to keep calm, knowing that he could likely feel her pulse against his fingertips, thready and rapid. They'd been together for years, until her diagnosis had widened cracks in their superficial facade. "Eddie's not my...and no, you had plans for our future. You and our parents - no-one ever asked me what I wanted. It certainly didn't include you sleeping with my nurse while I was in the other room!" As outwardly idyllic as they had been, the end of their relationship had been anything but.

"I don't miss you. At all. And you've been horrible ever since I kicked you and that...hussy...out of my life. How is she anyway' Still giving bedside service" I'm sure your parents can't think she's an appropriate replacement - no family fortune, for one." Elizabeth Davenport was, generally, calm and pleasant - but the pretty boy with a grip on her wrist brought out a sharp, if inexperienced tongue. She tried to remember to breathe, to stay calm to keep her heartrate down, but it was hard when she was caught between making a scene, and embarrassing them both, or maintaining decorum.

"We need to talk, but not here. You're coming with me. There are things that I need to say to you." Antoine's voice was low, but that didn't detract from how haughtily he spoke. So far as he was concerned, Liz didn't get a choice, she would come. He kept the grip on her wrist as he stood, and began to tug her from her seat as well. There was a sneer on his face when he saw what she was wearing. "Denim, really' I see that oaf has infected you." Antoine's pull increased at the thought of it, his pretty looks nearly ruined by the disdain on his face which was entirely directed at her.

"Stop fighting me on this, you must come with me so we can work this out. We all need to know our places, Liz. Yours is at my side, or wherever I need it to be." She'd wanted to know about the nurse" what was her name again? He'd stopped seeing her the moment that Liz had let her go. There was no longer a use for her after that. "I'm quite free of the trollop, if you really want to know. She had been getting these ideas, as if I could marry so low." He dug in with his heels and pulled hard at the little blonde. She'd get to her feet or land on the floor then come along in embarrassment. It'd been a long time since he'd seen that blush, or the acquiescence that went with it.

"There's nothing to work out! Antoine! You're hurting me!" She wrapped her other hand around the arm of her chair, but he was winning. Pain shimmered across those sea-green eyes, and she bit at her bottom lip. "He's not an oaf! He loves me, and I love him - you're just jealous because he's a better man than you'll ever be - that he".AAhhh!" The grip on her wrist cut the rest of that sentence off with a muffled cry, although she managed, just barely, to stay in her seat. The pulse in her wrist was racing, and starting to stutter. Antoine had always been full of himself, convinced of his own superiority. Before Eddie, she hadn't known men could be any different.

"Antoine - let me go! You just used her...why' To get what I wouldn't give you?" Lizzy's cheeks were flushed as she kept trying to pull free. They were starting to gather some attention, which was bad enough - but to be discussing such intimate topics on top of that...she could hardly bear it. "There's nothing you can say to me to make me take you back. We're through - I'm with Eddie now, and you need to just accept it!"

"All that holier than thou drivel you spouted. "I'm waiting until after I'm married?" then you give it up to the help, and you're throwing accusations at me" That's going to cost you, L?" Antoine wanted desperately to continue his tirade, to dominate the blonde in front of him with his superior size and breeding. The pain pulsing through his wrist had stopped his tongue, and forced him to release Liz. He turned into the grip, trying to bowl over whomever had him, only to find that his shoulder had run into the chest of someone as much bigger than he as he was of Liz.

"Unhand me, right this instant before I have your hand removed." He'd wanted to put much more force behind his words, might have been able to if he hadn't swallowed slightly when his gaze turned upward into the utterly dark expression of Eddie Blake. To his credit, the man let go of his wrist, of course it was just so he could get a better grip at Antoine's throat. He felt his feet rise from the floor a full half a second before he was being lofted across the open patio to slide bodily on the concrete. The points of contact felt slick with blood, a result of friction against his skin. The look on Eddie's face had Antoine afraid that Eddie was going to close the distance once more. He scrambled to get up, turning to look behind him, but the big man had simply picked up Liz and sat her across his lap.

August 8th, 9:35 pm

Secrets

Oh, got no reason, got no shame Got no family I can blame Just don't let me disappear I'mma tell you everything ~ OneRepublic

Lizzy watched Eddie lead Reggie down the gangway, towering over the teen, his dark head of hair bent over Reggie's ragged blond mop. She wasn't really certain what the conversation was about...he'd tucked her into one of the deck chairs, an oversized sweater (one of Eddie's) over her bikini, and a blanket over her legs to keep her warm as the sun turned the water into a van Gogh painting. Pinks and purples swirled with golden red, the blue lights along the hull dancing across the waves. Once Reggie was gone, they'd be alone, away from prying eyes...well, except for the captain and crew, but they hardly counted. It had been a chaotic day, and she looked forward to enjoying an idyllic evening to make up for it.

Eddie walked with Reggie down the dock, the purple side of the 44 meter yacht catching the setting sun and deepening the color. He actually put his arm around the kid's shoulder, the sound of his keys jingling in his hand. "You know that when things are important, there's rules right?"

Reggie looked at the keys, his eyes brightening some at the prospect of being able to drive the muscle car. "I know." He did, this wouldn't be the first time Eddie had given the teen the rules.

"So, what are the rules?" It would be best to know what bore repeating and what had stayed in the teens mind.

"No driving under the influence. No more than two guys in the car, or one girl. No racing for a pink slip that I don't have" Uhm' bring it back with a full tank."

"And the rules about?" Eddie canted his head towards the direction they were heading away from.

"Sometimes everyone needs a break" and it's got nothing to do with me personally." That got an approving nod from Eddie.

"The rules about girls?" He might have taken a bit of enjoyment at the way the question flustered Reggie.

"There's protection in the glove compartment' always use it, always replace it' not that it'll come up." Eddie stopped before the turned from wooden slats to concrete. His head tilted slightly as he looked at Reggie.

"What about my rules about Reggie?" This question drew silence from the kid, but Eddie wasn't going to let him talk anyway. "Be confident in who you are kid. That matters more than what you are. Now be back tomorrow, we're counting on you."

He broke away from Reggie, turning back towards the gangway for the ship, and for the company that was waiting for him. Once he was on board, the crew drew in the crossover and the boat made ready to pull away, and drive into the setting sun.

Lizzy couldn't help smiling, the closer Eddie got, the more of a curve her lips took on, until she was beaming, and then ducked her head to try and regain just a measure of calm. She'd never dreamed she could be this happy...even with her diagnosis. The pills, the treatments, the stays in the hospital...she could endure all of it with him at her side. Snuggling under the blanket, she reached for the mug of tea on the side table, drinking him in as she watched him over the rim of the mug. "You're letting Reggie drive your car" Oh, scruffy...we could have just taken a car here. I know how much you love it?" She knew who the car was from as well, although that bit of information they glossed over by mutual unspoken agreement. Much as Eddie seemed happy with her, there was some part of her that worried she would never live up to Melinda's memory in his mind.

One night. In the morning, Reggie would be back with the car, and they'd be off to Westport, and the meeting with the Foxglove Foundation. Of course she supported research into Long QT, especially since she might live long enough to benefit...long enough to have more time with Eddie. But it was Melinda's sister Miranda organizing everything...in Mel's memory. With a gala set for her birthday. The visit from Antoine had re-opened old insecurities, and the heiress found herself wondering if this was all just Eddie's way of resurrecting the woman he wished she was.

Eddie pulled Lizzy into an embrace, liking the way her head felt against him. "He was pretty disappointed about not being able to come along. He needs the distraction, besides I trust him with it." The boat rode slowly through the docks, never really opening up until they'd put some distance between them and any others that would get caught in their wake. Together they watched the orange globe of the sun disappear on the horizon, it's absence making the wind of their passage feel chillier. They had the blanket though, and each other, that was more than enough for him. He'd been pretty down on his luck before he'd run into her, though he did his best not to let her know how far down he'd sunk. So far a fight here and there had gotten him through. It had been luck that brought them together, no matter what anyone else thought.

"Tomorrow is pretty big, right' Part of me just wants to stay right here, really make this our island away from the world. But that would be kind of like giving up, and I won't give up on you Lizzy." A crew member worked her way around them, offering drinks to them. Maybe he should have said no, but something strong seemed appropriate after the day they'd had. Too many ups and downs, and her mild seizure earlier had frightened both of them, though they were toughing their way through it to minimize the affect her ex had on her. "One day, when they find a way to cure you, we should sail around the world together."

"I'd like that?" She snuggled closer against his chest, soaking in his warmth, her eyes settled on the moonlight gilding the water, the shore disappearing into the darkness. "It is a big deal...the Foundation is doing important work. More research...better treatments?" She couldn't let herself think of a cure - think about having a life, building a life - with him. Not that they'd ever discussed such things. But she couldn't help dreaming sometimes. Tilting her head back, she nuzzled along his jaw, breathing him in - the musky scent more intense, blending with the smell of the ocean surrounding them.

Lizzy hardly noticed the crew, she'd been surrounded by servants her whole life - save for an automatic half-smile, she didn't feel the need to move. Besides, she was warm. It was hard to think of much else...but she still felt restless, bothered by Antoine and the threats barely hidden in his voice. At least the attack had been mild...and she should be ok for the night. They rarely came closer than 24 hours, and even that close was an aberration. She wasn't as serious a case as Mel, which meant she might have a chance. "I want to go swimming." It was dark, and the water would give her a chill - but that just meant he'd have an excuse to warm her up, preferably down in one of the staterooms...she'd had them all decorated in purples as a surprise. Just for him. Along with the purple lace negligee she'd sneakily picked up just before they left.

A word to the crew and the yacht began to slow. The anchor chain dropped into the water, set and tightened. Lights broke through the darkness around the ship's hull flooding the water with a distinctly purple haze. Perhaps that was part of where the ship had gotten its name. The crew opened the back of the ship up, giving Lizzy, and Eddie the perfect place to swim from and disappearing when it became obvious that Eddie wasn't planning to go below and don a pair of trunks. He was incorrigible, and lacked the modesty that Lizzy had. Not that her bikini covered much, but those most important bits were hidden.

They stood on the deck, just above the water. Eddie, not quite ready to take the plunge spent a long time slowly kissing Lizzy to the splash of waves against the hull. About the time that he felt he had her convinced that maybe a swim could wait, Eddie tightened his grip around her waist and held her to him as he jumped from the boat. For his own reasons, he didn't let her stop kissing him, even as the chill of the water pulled them into it and assaulted their skin. He didn't let go until they broke the surface once more, that was purely for the possible need for defense against any assault of the splashing kind from the frail Lizzy. "Sometimes, it's just better to go all the way." He might have been talking about the cold water, but that grin was so wicked.

Stripping off his sweater, she'd just about warmed up again, wrapped in his arms in the gathering darkness, Eddie's kisses sending tendrils of heat through her body. She'd wanted to swim for the clarity...the danger of it, seeing as the doctor would have thrown a fit if he knew, but he offered a much better alternative. As soon as she needed to breathe, she might mention that. Only he didn't give her a chance. Before she could blink they were in the water, lips still pressed firmly together, and her arms clinging around his shoulders.

Breaking to the surface, she gasped for air, clinging to his shoulders as he grinned at her, the two of them barely illuminated by the purple lights dancing along the water. Blonde hair clung to her neck and shoulders, the lights adding a hint of violet to those sea blue eyes. "I think I remember you saying that the first time, too?" She was a decent swimmer, on her own, and the water made the height difference less of an issue. Drawing closer, she leaned forward, looking for all the world like she was looking to get a little frisky in the middle of the vast ocean. And she was...after the minor splash fight she started with a bubbling laugh.

Elizabeth Davenport would never have held that look on her face. Lizzy however was learning some very bad habits from somewhere. It was enough to suck Eddie in and expose him to the quick dousing of water that she sent his direction. It was successful, but the clear laughter said it was just the beginning of a longer battle. She was almost a fish, not quite but fish didn't have arms and legs and look quite so irresistible. For all of his wrong side of the tracks upbringing, Eddie was no slouch in the water either. There were plenty of points scored both ways, from the splashes to the dunking, their enjoyment of the water and the isolation was carried in mock yells and screeches.

She was right, he had said something very similar the first time, and had almost that same expression on his lips when he'd said it. Then she wore a blush that had her nearly scarlet. They still came now and again, always in public though. If he were being completely honest with her, he'd have admitted that part of him liked to send her mind to places that brought that out. Privately was a different matter. She tried new things, even in half whispers suggested a few. Lizzy, frail as she was, was good for Eddie. So he willingly acted just this crazy for her...with her because no one should do things like that alone. She gave him everything, and he had so little to offer her in return. There was one thing he could give her, something he'd never given to anyone else before.

"Wait. There's something" something I've been wanting to show you." Unashamed of his lack of dress he mounted the back deck of the boat and climbed the stairs picking up the leather jacket that never seemed to be too far from him.

Dashing the water from her eyes, she hovered gracefully, treading water as Eddie came out of the water. She couldn't deny the soft whimper the sight wrung from her. He was dark and dangerous and everything she wanted or needed - including the silly, sweet side only she saw. The man who made her pills dance so it didn't seem like such a chore to take them, and held her when her body betrayed her and her heart stuttered and skipped. As far as she was concerned, she could spend her entire fortune showing him how much he meant to her, and call every dollar well spent.

Tilting her head to the side, she saw him reach for the jacket, and opened her mouth to make a joke about getting the leather wet, or something equally inane...opened her mouth, and didn't get past her pet name for him. "Scruff-" The tug on her ankle came out of nowhere, and she disappeared below the water, barely managing to suck in a hurried breath before whatever it was drew her downward. Flailing, she reached down, tugging at a tentacle around her ankle. The suckers clung and stuck, and trapped her fingers as she began to panic. Lizzy disappeared in an instant, Tahlia taking over - the symptoms she'd taken on as her own would only spell her doom. But even she was nearly helpless...no cuts, no weapon...and while bleeding to death was a far cry, she could drown as easily as any mere human.

Eddie looked back at her with a grin. Lizzy wasn't going to fool him again, not with an I'm drowning act. He had only a moment to catch the massive shape swimming fast out of range of those hull lights. Even less time to register the form of Lizzy' Tahlia" both being dragged along. Within that fraction, his chest practically caved in, this was the time where he could panic or"

Eddie didn't think, he leaped from the deck, clearing the lowered dock having forgotten to leave the jacket behind. It and he hit the water almost at once. It was instinct, he didn't need to understand how the lights had attracted the beast, or that their play would seem like prey in trouble. He didn't need to know any of it, even if it was there closing in on him like the water and the darkest depths beneath him. Half a second" no time at all" Maybe if the sun were still up he'd have been able to see, but it was long gone much like the creature that had taken her" from him" His Lizzy. He dove and swam as hard as he could, but what real chance did he have of catching up"

Whatever it was, and she could just about assume some kind of squid from the shadows, although even those were barely visible the farther it dragged them from the boat, and the lights. Tahlia kept fighting, trying to conserve her air, but at this point, barring a miracle, she was going to die. Far from home, her siblings would survive, they had each other...Eddie would feel responsible, and Simon...she could hear him in her head, telling her he'd told her so. Not that she would change a thing...except drowning was an awful way to go.

Something huge and dark hurtled past, coming close enough to brush her leg, and she lost precious air in shock as she felt a heavy weight tug at her ankle. Lungs burning, Tahlia thought she must be delirious. Even drowning, apparently she was too tasty a morsel not to cause contention. It was a disturbing thought, almost distracting her from the fact the second creature seemed to tuck itself beneath her, worrying at the tentacle holding her captive with giant teeth that couldn't possibly be as delicate as it was. The smell of copper was faint, but there...assuming she dared die in the attempt, she could work with that.

Retribution: Westport

Bad Medicine

I ain't got a fever, got a permanent disease And it'll take more than a doctor to prescribe a remedy I got lots of money but it isn't what I need Gonna take more than a shot to get this poison out of me And I got all the symptoms count 'em 1, 2,3 First you need, then you bleed, and when you're on your knees ~ Bon Jovi

Miranda stood in the whisper-quiet elevator, staring at the broad burgundy-clad shoulders of the penthouse bellman. Of course the Davenport girl had booked the nicest suite in the Westport Arms - all Miranda's research had suggested the child had never stayed anywhere but the best hotels. The minute she'd received her note - an actual note, sent on hotel stationary - Miranda had started researching just who Elizabeth Davenport was. Obviously, she had money - and Long QT Syndrome...that explained the interest in the Foundation. There had been a mention of meeting 'dear Melinda" - seems they'd stayed in the the Arlen Center together. And then, of course...the pictures. Miranda wasn't much for social media, but her assistant was, and she hadn't been able to miss the squeals as the younger staff and volunteers cooed over the "total hottie" Elizabeth Davenport was seen with regularly. Curious, and expecting to see some spoiled scion of another monied family (and perhaps another revenue stream), Miranda had barely been able to hide her shock at seeing that face staring out from those pictures.

Now, here she was, brought back with a carefully covered start as the elevator reached its destination with a muffled ding. Taking a folded bill from her purse, she handed it over to the bellman, and smoothed a hand over her black pencil skirt. She'd paired it with a bronze silk blouse, and a patterned snakeskin purse. Subtle, but expensive...after all, this was a social call, at least in theory. She hardly expected to walk out of the suite with the kind of sizable donation that would help to keep the wheels greased, and the less-savory of her partners from harassing her. Miranda had finally found her way out of her sister's shadow...by using her sister's memory to her own ends. Stepping out, she eased a welcoming smile onto her face, assuming correctly that the slight blonde rising from a padded antique mahogany chair to be the woman she was there to meet.

Dressed in a simple dress that somehow managed to make her look competent and still youthful, Lizzy rose and took Miranda's hands in her own. "You must be Miranda Foxglove - Mel mentioned you often. I'm so glad I finally made it here, and in time to honor her memory. Thank you for meeting me here...the flight was more taxing than I expected." Smiling innocently, she pulled Miranda in for a hug, and gestured to a matching seat across from her own. "Tea should be ready in a moment, and please...call me Lizzy. I certainly hope we'll be friends?"

"All right, she's in...good going Tahlia The buzz of Reggie's voice cut across Eddie's earbud but that last word had him clearing his throat. The tea was nearly done, the china, another Willow pattern" what was it about that pattern that so many places picked it up" Was set on a trolley for transport. Good going, Lizzy' sorry Eddie. Remember, we need to get access to her phone. She wisely hasn't turned on the bluetooth setting, so you'll need to ping her" maybe get her to text you? just so you can exchange numbers. My hack will be in the return send" we clear"

Eddie picked up what he needed from that, wanting for the life of him to get the voices out of his head right now. "Clear the door, I would hate to mow down someone blonde and beautiful." He kept his tone playful, though he was telling them both things at the same time. To Reggie" they got it' to Lizzy' time to turn it up a little. There was steam issuing from the spout of the teapot, the damn thing matched the cups" this world could be so' disgusting. Then again, how could he really complain about the china, when Lizzy had him garbed in white again. In his head he knew that she understood" Eddie was supposed to wear black. She might be able to turn this leopard seal's spots to stripes, but she'd never take the black out of Eddie. His backside hit the swinging door that separated the sitting room from the kitchenette, the little trolley following along as he pulled it into the room, and all the way up to where Lizzy was once seated. "Plenty of time for that later, pretty girl. Right now you have a date with twelve suitors, and all of them want to be inside of you."

He parked the cart and poured out three cups of tea. Oddly enough, he wished he had a mug in his hand, and that it contained a little more than tea, but this was business. He turned and fixed a look on Miranda. "Long time no see, Trinket." Eddie was not going to pull out any stops with Miranda. He had to keep her off balance, so the old pet name that Mel used to call her was likely ideal to have her thinking two things. First, how much Lizzy and Mel were alike, and second how she really felt about him. He picked up the first cup and offered it to Lizzy, much as he had always done for Mel. The second of course went to Miranda. "Cream, three sugars" if I remember correctly." He did, unless she'd changed since the last time.

"But you? can't have some of that' but I'll make up for it later." Eddie turned an amused look on Lizzy, it was mild and filled with just as much concern. "Maybe tomorrow we can add a little sweetness."

Lizzy's cheeks bloomed an immediate crimson that in no way lessened the effect of the tiny smile she couldn't hide - even if she did drop her eyes to study the flowers across her dress, or her tea. One of the two. The movement also served to cover her subtle study of her guest. "Is it time already?" There was a moment of pouting - obviously, there would be no voices and dancing pills tonight. If she wasn't allowed sugar, odds were good the tea in the pot was uncaffeinated to boot. A double punishment - Eddie would have more than a little to make up for.

Miranda's lips had tightened as soon as Eddie had come into view - she'd done her homework, but they'd known that. The nickname had done exactly as he'd intended, although she recovered decently well - stumbling only a little as she dropped into the chair, legs crossing at the ankles. The hands she raised to accept the tea - correctly made, the bastard - didn't shake, although the look she sent him spoke volumes. Much as she hated him for choosing Mel...for abandoning her...she couldn't help but remember what he could do. What he had done. To her. With her. Memories not helped by the blush Lizzy seemed to still be recovering from. Clearly he'd done those things to her, too. "Of course. And please...you must call me Miri...all my friends do. Eddie...it's been...ages." She wouldn't give him more than that...not yet.

Lizzy was working her way through her pills, swallowing them with water rather than tea. Pausing, because a dozen pills were a lot to swallow, she let out a self-depreciating laugh. "Oh, of course - I completely forgot you two must know each other! It's the pills...they make me foggy. I don't know what I'd do without Eddie to keep track of everything for me...but I'm sure you don't need me to tell you how thorough he is?"

"Lizzy...Don't take the Vitamin D supplement...I think we're going to spend some time on the balcony this afternoon. You'll have to put on that bikini I bought you." There was an outdoor pool, down on the ground level, but Eddie knew how self conscious Lizzy could be about exposing that much of herself to the public. It had more to do with the bruising on her arms than anything else, but the last thing he wanted for her was to feel like she was being looked at that way.

He didn't like tea, not even the cold sweet tea that some places prefered on a hot day. So it would be no surprise to either lady that he went to the wet bar and poured himself a couple fingers of brandy. He managed a small grin at the little blonde, probably looking for a physical response to his desire to see her bikini clad. Eddie sat on one end of a couch that looked nearly long enough to hold even someone his size if he stretched out. It had been a long time since seeing Miranda, that should stir memories but his mind was quite blank of any endearing experience. "Don't listen to her, Miri?" She hadn't exactly asked him to call her that, and maybe his tone was ever so slightly dominant. "If it weren't for the ability to set multiple alarms for pill time, I'm sure that her doctor would want to have me prosecuted for neglect." That end of the couch was closest to Lizzy, and he had long arms. One of those stretched out and his fingers slipped, if possible, demurely between her knees, though the way they latched on said the gesture was anything but.

"Still, she did insist on coming out once she'd learned of your little foundation." He wasn't looking at Lizzy, not even as he put his hand on her. It was almost like" he'd expected her to be where he wanted her to. Eddie's eyes stayed on Miranda, the smile one she'd seen often and the look of mischief in his eyes was still ever present.

Lizzy, it seemed, was going to spend the meeting various shades of crimson. If Eddie wasn't watching her, she was certainly watching him, glancing every so often over at Miranda with an innocent smile. Dutifully, she pushed the two pills aside, and finished the rest, washing the taste from her mouth with a sip of tea. "Nonsense - Dr. Kilpatrick said you're doing a wonderful job of making sure I take my pills, and don't exert myself...too often." And there was that blush again, spreading down her throat. "You hardly leave my side...and I'm having far fewer attacks. Other than the one...in Seaview...I haven't had a spell in weeks." She swallowed more tea, her fingers tightening around the cup. She shouldn't have mentioned Seaview...but he was far too modest. "And I do want to help, if I can. After all, Melinda was so kind, at the Center?"

"My sister was exceptional...but I am certain you are as well, Lizzy dear?" Miranda spoke to the younger woman first, although she barely tore her attention from Eddie. The gesture wasn't lost on her, oh no. Mel had a spine, and for all his size, she'd been clearly in charge, at least in public. Miri knew what Eddie could be like behind closed doors, and it was nearly all she could do not to match Lizzy's coloring for a moment. It seemed his newest conquest was more malleable. Poor child - still, there was an opportunity there. If she could convince Lizzy that Eddie was no good...perhaps she could get her to will her fortune to the Foundation. Not that they were hurting, oh no - but every little bit helped. "Eddie has ...all sorts of skills. I'm so very glad you were able to convince him to come back to our little city?"

"Speaking of, he'll be in later in the week. He sent his apologies, but he did have those surgeries to perform." Lizzy'd mentioned the Antoine Affair" yes Eddie was the type to name things, and he had. His grip tightened on her knee. He was still pissed that he'd gotten there so late. He leaned over, brushing a chaste kiss across her cheek, and whispering into her ear. That was likely less chaste, she'd feel the curl if his fingertips against her skin. For all its intensity, it lasted only a moment before he had his eyes on Miranda once more.

"We never stop hoping for a cure, so foundations like this one, we believe in them with everything we have. You can't know what it's like" No, I suppose I'm wrong there. You at least do know, Miri. We appreciate what you're doing. Lizzy supports it, but she'd like to show more support. She does put everything into it when she feels it deeply." How could she not, considering her circumstances. "Mel would appreciate it as well. It's important you know that from someone who knew her inside and out very well."

"But, tell us Miri, how exactly does this work?" Take it down to brass tacks. Eddie wanted to know the scam she was running. Disguise it with whatever language you could, he would know it if it was there. He knew Miranda well too, and the look he gave her said exactly that.

Miranda couldn't help but bristle - he was insufferable! Reminding her of how intimately he had known Melinda...and her, and now this slip of a girl who could have passed for Mel, a decade or more ago. Speaking of Lizzy, she was absolutely scarlet, the flush darkest along her cheekbones, but spreading down her throat and into the neckline of her dress. Whatever he'd whispered in her ear had her nibbling at her bottom lip and nodding, her eyes fixed on the tea in her hands. "Eddie's right...I'd like to do whatever I can. After all, there aren't any Davenport's left, after me...I can't think of a better way to spend whatever I have. I was going to form a foundation, but Eddie thought this might be better?" The look she directed at the looming figure next to her, still gripping her knee, was utterly devoted.

"Work" It's very simple. You make a donation to the Foxglove Foundation,and we use that money to fund research facilities, testing...grants...all looking into ways to cure Long QT Syndrome, or at the very least make the treatments more sustainable." She wasn't lying...but there was no need to mention that some of the companies...some of the labs...weren't entirely above board. Or that she took a percentage of the funds washed through the Foundation for herself. "Of course, not all avenues are successful - there's no such thing as too much money. But we do hope to prevent any more lives being cut short." Miranda gave the speech smoothly, it was well-practiced, and rolled off her tongue without a pause.

"I think it's wonderful. Truly. In fact?" Lizzy glanced over at Eddie, and nodded. "Let me get my checkbook...It will take some time, but I'd like to make at least a small donation today. And it will give you two a chance to catch up." Completely without guile, Lizzy rose, and kissed Eddie's cheek before turning on her heel toward the bedroom.

"Of course, but how difficult is it to...say' make certain that a donation makes it to a specific facility' I'm sure you have many avenues to funnel funds through, and it's possible that Lizzy will find one or two treatment ideas more appealing than offering a few dollars to hundreds." He said Lizzy, but most of the inquiries into new research had come from him. He wasn't the biggest fan of Doctor Dan' in fact he'd called him that to his face often when he thought the man was getting too close to Lizzy' but the man did stay on top of what new developments came about.

"Don't get me wrong, Miri, I just hate pushing hard to get in if it turns out that there's something better I could be doing. I'm sure Lizzy feels the same." Eddie was calm, relaxed in his seat even as he shot a slight smirk at Miranda. "Not that she needs my advice on anything" I just want to keep her around as long as possible" forever if I can. We support research on treatments, but we'd really support a cure even more."

Sweet Dreams Sweet dreams are made of this Who am I to disagree" I travel the world And the seven seas Everybody's looking for something ~ Performed by: Emily Browning

Miranda hadn't misrepresented the cafe in the slightest. Just 10 tables, 4 of them outside, and shaded by blue and white striped umbrellas that matched the awning, and the chain and anchor motif of the railing that separated the cafe from the sidewalk. Westport had, after all, started as a trading port - one of the reason there was still so much money there. The sample had been dropped off at the lab, and rushed, per Miranda's oh-so-subtle suggestion. Scientists weren't known for playing politics, but even they knew who was responsible for funding the research, so they could focus on their test tubes and slides.

By mutual agreement, they'd kept the conversation light in the car, Miranda introducing him only as well-respected doctor with a patient afflicted with LQTS, and looking to help the Foundation with his expertise. Not until they were seated on either side of a table for two, sipping cups of perfectly brewed coffee, with a plate of pastries fresh-baked on-site between them, did Miranda lean her chin on her palm, and allow herself a moment to look Daniel Kilpatrick over...not as a doctor, but as an attractive man her own age. Eddie's dig about the age difference had struck home. Perhaps she should focus her attention on a more mature man...one with a career. "So, tell me, Daniel...may I call you Daniel" Just how did you manage to become the personal cardiologist for someone like Elizabeth Davenport?" Not that she was questioning his skill - but a doctor of his stature generally couldn't be supported by a single patient...even one as wealthy as Miss Lizzy.

"Please do." Dan added a bit of sweetener to his coffee, a little cream to turn it golden, stirring it before regarding Miranda. "Miss Davenport was referred to me through the Arlen Center. She's not my only patient, of course. The fact that I am here is because despite how she seems, she's quite stubborn. I had advised her not to come, but it was clear she was going to anyway. So, I felt that I had to come along just in case she needed me." By now, Reggie had made Dan's background rock solid, and this line of questioning made the good doctor certain there would be plenty of probing done by Miranda.

"Unlike many of my peers, I'm open to the ideas of new and better treatments. Liz is young, and highly motivated to find a way to beat this illness. I'm sure that has a lot to do with the young man who watches over her. You'd be surprised at the change in her since he came into her life. Before there was just a resignation that this was what her life would be. Don't get me wrong here" I am glad of the change, but' obviously she's chosen to be with someone far beneath her stature." Dan knew his job, mainly to get Miranda to confide in him even try to root Eddie out of her life if he could. He'd seen the way she looked at him, and fostering that wouldn't take much. "You don't like him much, do you?" Stating it as though it were obvious, and giving her the opening they both were looking for seemed to be the best course at this point. He left the cup on the table, and fixed Miranda with the same sultry kind of look she'd been using on him. "Though I feel like it's more personal for you."

"I don't. And you're right...it is personal?" Miri sighed, and set her cup aside - sitting up to set both hands on the table, not far from his. "Please don't get me wrong...I'm glad that he seems to be a positive influence on her. She's a lovely young girl...so well-bred, and with so much to give...but I can't imagine she knows just what kind of viper she's invited into her bed." Miranda had learned a little in the past year, and lowered her eyes, glancing up at Daniel hesitantly. "Daniel, I know we've just met...but I feel like I can confide in you. And I'm sure you only want what is best for Liz. We both do. I'm not certain he does...appearances aside."

Her eyes searched his face, the tip of her tongue wetting her lips as if she was debating. "No...I must tell you, although I am certain you'll think me bitter. But since it could affect her health...well. It's the right thing to do. She's clearly been sheltered and protected...no idea what to do with herself out here in the world." Taking a sip of her coffee, Miranda nodded, coming to a decision. "Before he was with Liz...he was with my sister, Melinda. She died last year...of Long QT...and he was"with her. When she died." The emphasis left little question as to just what she meant. "And before that...he was with me. Not for very long, mind you...he seems attracted to helpless young women?"

"So' so' It might explain why she asked me that not so long ago." Dan wasn't going to be that specific either. "You think that he operates that way' It's possible that I could do something about that. I mean a guy like that, no telling the ways he may want to manhandle her when the doors are closed." He took a drink of his coffee considering the things he was being told, before looking back up at her. "Well, maybe I don't have to tell you. Then again, it could be a health risk for Liz." He studied Miranda's reactions to what he was saying, watching every little tick so he would know exactly what direction her mind had taken.

"He doesn't seem like the gentle sort, does he?" His hand slid across the table and touched her arm sympathetically. "I'm surprised though that you managed to maintain control of the fortune. Do you think he just, miscalculated" What about the police, surely they?" Leave some questions open to interpretation, distract her with a touch. Gain her trust while seeming to give his own. It wasn't hard to find that motivation, just letting his thoughts drift back a little to the feelings of resentment, no matter how slight they might have been. "If you hadn't said anything, then I wouldn't know, and I wouldn't be able to help Lizzy."

His touch on her arm made her start...her mind already hurtling down memory lane. "He isn't...she's likely got bruises...bite marks, maybe...he's...a very forceful lover?" The flush to her cheeks likely gave her away...she certainly hadn't complained about being manhandled, when she was the one reaping the benefits. "They did...of course they did. But there wasn't anything definite. She was ill...the heart...they put it down to accidental death. But if he hadn't been...so...so"dominating...perhaps she would have lived longer?" Miranda took a shaky breath, and laid her hand over Daniel's on her arm. He understood...of course he did. And he'd make sure Eddie paid for what he'd done. Maybe she wouldn't even take him back.

"Why she asked you what?" The suspicious comment finally caught her attention, and she looked at him in shocked anticipation. "She didn't ask about changing her will...did she" Mel did...just before...left him nearly everything. Of course, with the questions...the investigation...I was able to leverage that to get him to sign everything over. He just took that wretched car she bought him, and left." And just in time too...given what Mel had been planning. But there was no need to mention that. Not ever again.

"Oh, well no. I'm not an attorney. No, this was a more...intimate question. I can't really talk about it. You know" Hippaa rules." But he was sure she could use her imagination. "Liz" like you said, doesn't have a lot of experience" in life." It should be enough for Miranda, perhaps enough to disturb her a bit more, knowing that she'd been with Lizzy's first. Whatever else came from this, Dan needed Miranda's mind to be anywhere but on how suspicious everything seemed.

"Of course. It would seem like just an accident, hard to prove that he intended to kill her" that way." Dan nodded his understanding to Miranda, keeping eye contact with her the entire time. "There's nothing to worry about this time, I'll see to it that nothing happens to her. Especially if your foundation manages to fund a cure. I'd really like to be part of that, and who knows" maybe other things you have to offer as well?" The tip of his tongue slid across his lip, perhaps trying to pull the last taste of coffee from it, or maybe it had something to do with the way he was looking at her. "Of course you're probably tied down already, right?"

"Me" Oh no...not at all...what with everything after Melinda's death, and the estate...setting up the Foundation...I haven't really had time for...myself." There had been a one-night stand, here and there...but nothing like what she wanted. Nothing like what she'd thought she'd had. His implication slowly filtered through, and it took her a moment to go back over what he'd said...what he'd hinted at. "Oh...oh! No, of course you can't...I wouldn't dream of asking but...my secretary said she'd had a long term...oh, really' this is just...idle gossip." Miranda flustered, taking a sip of her coffee and giving a sharp shake of her head. To think...Eddie had...oh, it just didn't bear thinking about. "We really must keep an eye out for her best interests...don't you think?"

"I can't imagine he meant to...although...there was something odd...with the pills. But I'm sure it was nothing. After all, sometimes the pharmacy switches generics...like today." It was a close slip, but she caught it. "I would very much like working with you...towards a cure, and, of course...other things. I admit I'm at a bit of a loss on the medical end of things...making sure the results are sound?" She couldn't resist leaning in, her fingertips tracing delicately over his knuckles. "There's just so much resting on my shoulders...and of course, now there's Elizabeth to think about. Perhaps...do you think, maybe, she would listen" If I told her what he's like?" She knows he was with Mel, of course...they met at the Center, apparently. But I doubt he's told her the whole truth?"

"Perhaps, she seems to like you a lot." Dan looked at his watch, and stood up. "We should head back to the foundation. I think they should have the results back, if not now then soon." He offered her an arm. "You could be the big sister she's always wanted. I mean, I'm sure you've seen how Eddie reacts too when she and I are alone together." He looked down at his shoes, and gave a small shrug. "It's quite difficult to keep her calm when he's there though. I really hope that talk about rings was just that' talk." He walked slowly, giving Reggie time to set up the next little obstacle in Miranda's life.

"Of course." Flipping the bundles over, her fingers twitched with the suppressed urge to touch the heat along her cheekbone. Taking note of the amounts and the initials, she placed the cash back into the bag, and blinked up at him. "Where the magic happens" You want to see the safe" The armored car company comes once a week. If I call for an earlier pickup, they'll get suspicious. Until then, it sits in a top of the line safe, bolted in place. You'll forgive me if I'm not inclined to give you the location and combination. Everything else?" She reached forward, hitting an intercom button on her phone. "Tabitha, I need invoices for some of our vendors. Are you ready?" Waiting for the hurried assurance, and barely hiding a smile at the note of embarrassment for her earlier fluster, Miranda calmly relayed names and amounts. "Kindly bring those to me as soon as they're finished" I've just realized the accounts are past due. Thank you." Releasing the button, she left the cash where it was on the desk. "Normally I would lock this away until I was going to bring it to the safe...I have a small lockbox for the purpose...would you like me to go over the rest of the process while we wait for the invoices?"

The diminutive brunette had regained some of her aplomb...not much, but enough to at least seem calm on the outside. Tabitha was going to see the mark on her cheek, but there was nothing for it, and the girl was nothing if not discrete. "I need the invoices in case we get audited...really, it would be much easier if your employer would provide them. The auditors might begin to question why we are generating vendor invoices...thus far, we've been lucky, because the Foundation is just starting. But it won't be that way forever?"

"Of course, you should check your email, Ms. Foxglove. The new management understands the difficulties you're faced with." Saul waited for several things to happen. For Miranda to check the incoming e-mails, and for Tabitha to make her presence known as well. "We of course respect the difficulties that you're forced to endure, leading the foundation. You will however note that some of the returns seem a little" off. That's why I'm here, to look into those slight anomalies. Quite often there has been a diversion of funds to an account called MF Withholdings. Can you shed a little light on exactly what that is?"

Saul had changed positions, no longer occupying the large chair, he'd parked his backside right on the corner of Miranda's desk. There was a slight adjustment to his jacket, the movement showing just the hint of what he was keeping beneath his arm. It was hidden quickly as he buttoned the top button of his jacket. It too was for show, but that illusion he'd been building only took glimpses and hints to make it as real as the desk on which the woman's computer sat. "As for your normal pick up. I'll be around for awhile, and look forward to getting to witness that as well." He slid his phone from his pocket, as expensive as it looked it was a burner and easily disposed of if needed. He punched in the unlock code and pushed it towards her. "Send yourself a text' that way I'll be able to reach you myself, and we won't have these, misunderstandings in the future."

A few clicks of her mouse had her looking at...invoices. And bank statements. The flash of metal from beneath his suit had her swallowing thickly. There hadn't been an explicit statement, so much as an...understanding. As long as she didn't get greedy...a little off the top was just the cost of doing business, wasn't it' They couldn't expect her to take so much risk for nothing. Looking from Saul to the phone and back, she realized she had no choice. For whatever reason, her benefactors were unhappy...and this was their response. Tapping her number into the phone, she sent herself a one word text, and slid the phone back toward the gaudily dressed man perching on her desk. She still didn't like him.

"Of course. As for the...discrepancies you mention - it was an informal understanding. A small stipend in return for processing the payments, and making sure that everything was done properly." Her agreement had been with Vicelli, and she'd simply assumed that it applied to all of the funds flowing through her hands from similar sources. Perhaps not her wisest choice. But she could assume what "hostile takeover" meant, and she doubted anyone was left to counter her version of things. "5% of the total donation. Of course, I can hardly add it to my salary here?" There was a quiet rap of knuckles on the wooden frame of the doorway, and she smoothly switched gears. "Come in, Tabitha."

Saul took back the phone, with a loud sniff that would reinforce the earlier motion that he was a user. He looked at the word she'd sent herself and let out a small chuckle. He fell quiet when Tabitha knocked. Standing as she entered, it was far from a chivalrous move. He looked more like he was ready to go off if the wind from the door hit him the wrong way. He crossed the room, at the same time Tabitha did, holding onto the door until the dark haired woman left. He kept holding it open, staring after her and only daring to close it when he was satisfied she was far enough away that their voices wouldn't be heard.

"Those emails, you'll notice that the figures don't match your books. No one expects you to do something for nothing. Somewhere though, there's a problem. You're claiming five percent off the top, but the accounts in question, they're showing fifteen. Somewhere between here and there, someone is getting greedy." Saul turned and looked at Miranda, with a hard squint that carried from his eyes right to his lips. "Believe it or not, I like you? even the you that needs to feel it rough from time to time. So, here's what we're proposing. I check your operation, top to bottom, if I find nothing well we'll look to the next stop. You help us, and there's a small finder's fee that goes along with it. You find our missing ten percent, and we'll give you a substantial bonus...maybe even renegotiate the current arrangement."

He was slow to cross the room, stopping on the opposite side of the desk from Miranda. His hand moved towards her again, the same one that had put the red into her cheek took hold of her chin and drew her face up to look at him. "That could be very lucrative for you, and gain you a lot more trust." His grip tightened on her. "You'd like more trust now, wouldn't you?" The pad of Saul's thumb ran across Miranda's bottom lip, smearing her lip color. He picked up the invoices with his other hand and sat heavily back into his chair. "Go fix your face."

"I...I swear there's nothing. I wouldn't dare?" It wasn't like her to stammer, and the tears that had threatened since he'd slapped her spilled over, tracking across her cheeks. She'd been very careful about not taking too much. But once the money left her hands...she didn't know who else could be taking so much. "Of course...anything I can do. I want to find out who's doing this?" She did, if only to save her own skin. Whoever was taking the money was putting her life at risk. Idly, she wondered if she might be able to lay this at Eddie's door as well...two birds, and all.

Saul's gesture both terrified and electrified her, and she was frozen for a moment after he'd dropped back into his seat. Flushing enough to hide the rapidly darkening bruise on her cheek, she shakily got to her feet, and headed to the private washroom at the other side of her office. She often had to change for evening events, and it simply made sense. Closing the door behind her, she gripped the sink, and tried to calm herself with deep breaths. She hadn't dared look at Saul as she'd crossed the room, certain he'd be able to tell. Taking a cloth, she ran cool water over it, pressing the chill to her neck and cheeks before carefully fixing her lips, and the faint shadow where her mascara had bled just a little.

"Did you get all that kid?" Saul kept his voice low. The program he'd forced into Miranda's system had been enough for Reggie to work his magic, doctoring numbers to make it look like something had gone wrong. It was all still there, and a visual counting would verify that. He needed to get Miranda to make that count happen, to do it herself. The implication would be obvious, someone was entering lower numbers, and taking the money somewhere between shipping it and it going into the bank that handled Foxglove's funds. It was a snipe hunt, but it was one that the team would need to make look real. He was sure that Miranda was highly motivated to find out where the problem was. Hard to say what was driving her more, the finder's fee or living to spend her share of it.

You pushed her kind of hard...but I got it. Of course now there will be a major discrepancy between the books and what?s really there" almost looks like an inside job, with a partner at the bank.

"The more I do this, the more I learn." It was meant for Reggie, but Miranda was making her appearance once again. "Who counts the outgoing money, and has been doing these invoices." He dropped several pages onto her desk, totals circled. The funds he'd brought today, those were correct, but the ones Tabitha had supplied which were older, those definitely didn't match.

The woman who emerged from the washroom showed no signs that there had been anything other than a typical conversation between founder and donor. She'd touched up her makeup to cover the bruise, fixed her lips, and settled herself. Panic would avail her nothing. Settling back behind her desk, she stared at Saul in shock. "Tabitha' It can't be. She has no idea what?s going on. Besides, she hasn't always been the one to count the money coming in?" She did always prepare the invoices though. Miranda could hardly do it herself, and her assistant was so efficient.

"Who would steal from a Foundation' There must be someone with a grudge...an axe to grind. I can't believe my staff?" But if it were someone else...it couldn't be her. She bit her bottom lip, but stopped talking. It was out of her hands anyway. There was clearly no arguing with her new...whatever he was. "I'll have the accounting department check everything again. And I'll double check the safe myself." Clearing her throat with a cough, she found she couldn't quite meet Saul's eye. She'd never been treated so cavalierly in her life. She refused to admit how she was responding...it was simply adrenaline and self preservation. Rifling through the pages to cover her distraction, all she could do was keep shaking her head. "Right under my nose...I can't believe it?"

"Trust is a dangerous thing. Perhaps you're starting to see how my employer felt." Saul crossed one leg over the other, and leaned towards Miranda. "Let me ask you this" are the men who transport the money, always the same, and if they are" do you ever notice anything between your secretary out there and them' Maybe a hidden relationship?" He could tell that her wheels were starting to turn on how far the betrayal had gone. At the very end of his forward lean, he reached out and put his hand over hers.

"I'm going to help you through this" I don't want you to worry. But there's something you should make sure of. Don't let her know that you suspect her, and be there when the money's counted on the other end. You think you can do that?" Saul was playing his role almost to the letter, come in hot and intimidating, and then offer a way out that totally depended on him. She'd either bite or start to see through the ruse. "I'm going to get out of your hair now. You're not the only appointment I have today' just the most pleasant one." He kept the illusion that he wasn't the nice guy, going so far as to insinuate that the next person on his calendar was not going to fare nearly so well as she had.

"You have my number" feel free to use it whenever you need it." He rose, and moved through the office towards the door. The entire meeting had been a success. They now had sound, and had wormed their way into Miranda's computer. That alone gave them access to everything in the foundation. A pair of dark sunglasses were pulled from his inside pocket, and pushed onto his face a moment before he shut the door behind him.

The seeds he'd planted had taken root, and she was distracted enough attempting to remember the guards, and their interactions with Tabitha, to offer simply a wan smile and a nod in response to his questions. The implication wasn't entirely lost however, she could still feel a hint of soreness in her jaw, and heat along her cheekbone - enough to serve as a reminder of just what he considered a pleasant meeting. As soon as the door closed behind him, she leaned back in her leather chair, and gave the matter some serious thought. Despite Saul's assurances, she couldn't help but worry. The people she was dealing with were dangerous...and if Saul had left any lasting impression it was that they certainly didn't think anything of using violence to achieve their aims. Even against her.

The sad truth was she didn't pay much attention to the guards...they were hired contractors in uniforms, and if she noticed anything, that was all. She supposed she would have to now. And perhaps make more of an effort to chat up Tabitha. She really didn't know very much about the girl outside of work. She was competent, efficient, and pleasant to the donors and patients who had occasion to visit the office. And that was nearly the extent of what Miranda knew. She didn't want to believe it...but missing cash was missing cash, and Tabitha was the only one who knew about the invoices and the endowment meetings. If she wasn't taking the money herself...perhaps she was feeding information to the people who were. Sitting up, she glanced down at her calendar. The armored truck was due tomorrow. She would have to make certain she was outside her office, and try to note the guards. Reaching for her phone, she tapped the number to the bank in, and tapped her nails against the desk as she waited for them to answer. She didn't anticipate an issue - after all, it was her funds, and her foundation.

Love the One You're With

Well there's a rose in a fisted glove And the eagle flies with the dove And if you can't be with the one you love, honey Love the one you're with ~ Stephen Stills

Dan had forgotten how much he missed this. Once it would have been him stuck at the hotel room while he sent someone else to be charming. Then again the kid wasn't really stuck, was he" Strange that he still thought of Eddie as a kid, there wasn't that much time between them. Fact was that Blake had come a long way, while all Dan had managed was to get rusty. It was for the best to get back to his roots on this venture. The nice part about the role was that he lived it. The ability to speak with authority on medical procedures, and ailments was a major bonus. That wasn't the skill he was honing tonight though. An impish grin as he held a door and placed his hand just so on Miranda's back. Paying rapt attention to her as she spoke, and even asking questions. The rest was just icing, there in the back of his mind and ready to slap on top of an already sweet cake to hide any baking imperfections. Bakers would make excellent grifters, in his opinion.

Miranda's status managed to get her invited to the parties of the highest echelon, good thing he'd remembered to bring something for a black tie event. The key here was to make Miranda feel special. His title certainly aided that, Dan could almost hear thighs moisten when Miranda gave it. Miranda kept herself close to Dr. Daniel Kilpatrick's side, her smile both magnanimous and vaguely feline as she introduced him around to the rest of Westport's 1%. The gown was a rich eggplant, and fit her like it was made for her, which it may well have been. She knew every woman at the party was jealous...it may have been part of the reason she had invited him. The rest, of course, being that she found herself drawn to the handsome doctor, and it seemed the feeling was mutual. She could feel the warmth of his palm against her spine, and she couldn't resist preening just a little. They all knew about her sister, of course. And a good portion knew about Eddie...and now they'd seen him with Lizzy. Rumors and looks had swirled, and now they were swirling in her favor.

After a circuit around the room, she handed Dan a glass of champagne, and found them a relatively quiet corner. "I haven't seen Lizzy in a few days. Have you? She cancelled a meeting the other afternoon...well, she didn't. He did." She didn't need to clarify, they both knew who she meant. "Said she wasn't feeling quite up to going out, and would I mind rescheduling...I'm...concerned." Not to mention she needed the extra funds, with Saul breathing down her neck. The thought of their meeting made her shiver.

"Lizzy got some bad news from home, I'm not surprised it had her feeling under the weather." Dan spoke with a certain amount of authority on the subject, it was quite likely that he knew exactly what kind of bad news that was, and who was at the center of it. He certainly wasn't going to offer it up, Miranda would need to coax the gory details out of him. She might even be trying to ply him with alcohol just so she could get the lowdown. Dan took the glass from her, and pretended to drink. It was a bit too tempting to actually partake, an act that would have him falling back into old habits that were best forgotten.

"You're quite popular tonight, I don't think anyone can take their eyes off of you." He leaned into her talking softly. There were plenty of glances in their direction, Dan wouldn't be surprised if gossip was flowing as freely as the champagne. "If it helps, I know she's committed to seeing this through. I don't think even her beau would be able to talk her out of it." He touched the side of his glass to hers lightly before taking another of those not quite sips.

"I'm sorry to hear that...I didn't think she had any family left?" Lizzy had said she was the last, and all Miranda's research had confirmed it. Perhaps a pet, or long-time servant. She was digging, just a little...but only as it pertained to her interests. It wasn't that she didn't like Lizzy...but she couldn't help seeing her sister in the younger girl, only her sister without the years that had made her strong...easily influenced without parental guidance. "I hope it wasn't anything too debilitating. The poor child is going through so much already." And she needed Dan at her side, as much as it galled her. She needed Eddie out of the way, and the obvious animosity between the two could only help, couldn't it' Miranda sighed, and took a deep swallow of champagne. She had never expected all this...she'd just wanted to win, for once.

The compliment drew her eyes up to his, with a soft smile. "Are you sure its me" You're turning quite a few heads, Dr. Kilpatrick. I'm only popular because some of these women are terrified of being left off the guest list for the gala. Making nice so I'll forget what they said about me behind my back." She hadn't meant to let that slip...Saul had her more shaken than she'd thought. "That does make me feel better. Of course, the Foundation is hardly hurting...but given the numbers she's mentioned...well, I can't help but think of all the good it would do. And as for him...I can't see how he can, it's not like she's left him in charge of her fortune if she?" A horrible sense of deja vu overwhelmed her. "She hasn't...has she?"

"What' oh, no she doesn't. There are other kinds of bad news, this one just happens to be named Antoine. That guy is very bad for her." He smiled down at her, quite certain that it wasn't him that was getting those looks. "She'll be right as rain soon enough. It's good that you're taking an interest in her. She doesn't have a lot of girl friends, but let's face it how many her age could tear themselves away from their own lives to spend time with someone who isn't able to do all the same things?" Dan set the glass aside, and guided Miranda away from their corner towards the back door and the cooler night air.

"How about a walk on the grounds?" It had to have grounds, or they wouldn't have had the party here, right' That was how these things worked. A chance for the host to show off their wealth, perhaps make a few enemies all in the name of charity. "You'd have to ask Lizzy what her plans are. I know they only get closer as time goes on. There isn't much she would deny him, unless like now her mind is dead set on a decision."

"Antoine...her ex-boyfriend" Tabitha mentioned something about twits...or tweets" Some form of social media. She said he was" "totally stalk-hating Lizzy"..." The phrasing was utterly unfamiliar, that was obvious. Miranda had never seen the point of social media until recently, and hadn't quite caught up. Following along, she couldn't help glancing back to see how many sets of eyes followed them out onto the terrace that overlooked ornamental and rigidly manicured gardens. The hosts were known for their exquisite grounds...one of the reasons this particular charity ball was held here every year. The theme for the garden seemed to be animals, but Miri was hardly paying attention.

Slipping her arm through Dan's, she rested her head on his shoulder as they slowly walked along the stones. "That's what I was afraid of. She seems completely besotted by him. Whenever we've spoken, everything is "Eddie this" and "Eddie says" and I know there is a quick mind there. She is so smart, so young...and he's got her completely dependant on him. As her doctor, isn't there anything you can do' Have you seen any...marks?" She blushed at the asking, but if there were bruises, perhaps they could get Eddie on abuse charges.

"He is rather borderline personality." Dan slid his hand lower on Miranda's back, lingering dangerously close to being inappropriate for this kind of function. "Now, that's kind of bordering on things I can't discuss about my patient, but I'd be mandated to report anything." He didn't get more specific than that, let the woman's mind wander where it needed to for a moment. Then it was time to send her in a different direction.

"Are you trying to make me jealous, all this talk about Eddie when you're supposed to be out with me?" His fingers folded around Miranda's side, gripping it a little possessively. "For now, he's just going to have to be part of her life, but guys like that can't last in her world. They just don't have the breeding for it." Still hanging on, maybe he was trying to reassure the woman with words and touch. "If you're that worried though, maybe you should get her to confide in you." They walked among the manicured hedges, neither of them paying particular attention to whatever forms were represented. "She seems quite taken with you too."

"Do you think so?" Miranda paused, tilting her head back in the moonlight, a warm smile belaying the uncertainty in her voice. He'd told her what she needed to know. If he hadn't already, it was only a matter of time before Eddie lost control and left visible reminders on Lizzy's pale skin...she knew they would bruise, they always had on Melinda. And then Dan would have to report it, and certainly no-one could look at the two of them and not assume he was hurting her. It was enough...and she could feel the tug of fabric as his fingers knotted at her side. Surely she could leave business behind for a little while...she was alone in a moonlit garden with a handsome man.

Her fingers curled around the lapels of his tux jacket, smoothing along the fabric, and smiling up at him. It had been a very long time since she had considered more than a passing fling - and those had been rare enough. She knew there were those who whispered behind their tennis rackets and golf gloves that she'd brought it all on herself...picking up some young stud from a club and not expecting him to go for the prettier sister. That those same people were whispering now, some rehashing old wounds now that Eddie was back with someone even younger and prettier, the rest wondering where Miranda had found the doctor who seemed to always be at her side. A handful had discovered the connection, and they hissed like vipers with the news that the Foundation's director was seeing the doctor of a prospective donor...and patient. "Does my talking about Eddie make you jealous, Dan' He isn't nearly the man you are. No breeding. He's just...smoldery, and intense. Good looks and muscles, but nothing behind it. You...you're handsome, and smart. Accomplished. What could you possible be jealous of?"

"Hard not to be jealous of words like smoldery. He's young too, not so young as Lizzy, so it works for them. I'd imagine that your sister may have felt more like his mom sometimes." Dan did his best to distract Miranda from thinking of anything for too long. A derisive comment on Eddie, a word here and there about how impressionable Lizzy was, then moving to touch her slightly differently. He turned to face her, pulling her a little closer and running his fingers at the edge of her hair.

"We're going to start more rumors." If he was lucky that's exactly what they were starting. Miranda was not dumb, left for too long to think on things she'd probably figure out what was really going on. That was exactly why he'd come along, and why in the very near future she'd get another visit from Saul. "You've been a bit distracted lately' something going on?"

Miranda blushed, her face turning toward the gentle sweep of his fingertips. "Just a little...accounting issue. Discrepancies in the deposits. I'm sure it's simply an accounting error, but it's still a concern." It was the most she could say...anything more would let him in too far. She couldn't possibly expect him to accept her " other investors. Or understand why she'd found herself it the position she was in.

"Do you care" If there are rumors" I was thinking it might be time to show you that you have nothing to be jealous of where Eddie is concerned. Let the children have their fun, for now...and perhaps find a more secluded venue for ourselves?" She didn't want to think about business, or Eddie...and she certainly didn't want to think about Saul. Not right at the moment, not right here.

"Not really, people are going to talk. Maybe we should get out of here, take the scenic route?" Dan moved, taking the lead and making Miranda follow. It was something he needed to get her used to doing now so that later it came naturally.

Uninvited

Like anyone would be I am flattered by your fascination with me Like any hot-blooded woman I have simply wanted an object to crave ~ Alanis Morissette

There was a problem with the van. Oh, it ran well enough and there wasn't a single blemish in the dark well waxed paint job. It didn't ride like a luxury sedan, something that Eddie knew long before picking up Celene, but it was comfortable nonetheless. It wasn't an issue with space either, there was plenty back there for her to change into something a little more stealthy.

"Don't do that, kid." Eddie reached across and flipped the sun visor in front of Reggie back up pressing the mirrored side to the roof, a move that brought a muffled groan out of the boy.

No, the problem with the van wasn't function. It was how utterly out of place it looked the further they got from the city of Westport. There was no help for it though, anything smaller wouldn't have the space for equipment, or it would be too exposed because of windows. They'd have to make do with getting close. The rest would be up to Celene.

Eddie pulled off the road at the base of a steep cliff. By the roads they were still more than a mile from the mansion in the hills of Westport. By the catburglar it was just a short climb up a dangerous wall. He twisted in the driver's seat just in time to catch a bit of bare skin as her shirt was pulled downwards, that and something else.

"That's new." It had been a momentary glimpse of a tattoo, some kind of stylized feline though he didn't get the chance to really study it.

"What is" Oh. That. Yeah." Celene smoothed the black under armor top into leggings, and strapped on what looked like a smoother, smaller version of the bat belt. "Guess I didn't have that the last time you saw me." She certainly wasn't going to give him more than that. It had been a gift to herself - something to mark a particularly large score. Her hair was already up, into a smooth, sleek ponytail to keep it out of her face. "And you might want to watch cupcake there - looks like his eyes are going to roll out of his head."

Black and skintight, that was the look, her brown eyes already focused on the job ahead. Fingers moved mechanically, checking her gear by feel...she had to be able to do this in the dark. She rolled her ankles, her wrists, shoulders, neck" "Up the wall, cross the yard...you've got a minute to kill the alarms, and the lights. In through the patio, cross the living room, into the bedroom, walk in, access panel behind the shoes. Right' Anything else I need to know?"

Efficient, calm, cool...she was already halfway up the wall in her head. She wasn't entirely certain what she was looking for - but she knew Miranda Foxglove...if she was hiding something, it would be in her house, under her control. Shrugging, Celene looked over her shoulder toward Eddie and the cream puff...there had to be something in there to make this little trip worth her while.

"Reggie will be fine, once he gets his head on straight." Even if that took a cuff to the back of his head to do it. "Just, stretch out somewhere out of view." Eddie's mouth curved into one of those sideways grins, something caught only as he turned away from Celene.

"Unless she's changed anything, but it's not like breaking into a museum. We'll bypass the alarms." He took a deep breath, brows descending to put a wrinkle between them. "Security patrols, but it's vehicular. Still I'd keep it dark. There's a lot of windows and Jeff." The nearest neighbor wasn't really that close, but if he still lived there, Jeffrey Bingham had always liked watching" with that three hundred millimeter lense of his. There had been more than one payout for images that weren't meant for public viewing. Not that Eddie minded publicity, except that it would put a real damper on his chosen profession. That wasn't exactly the kind of expose that Jeff had in mind though.

"Just saying, watch your ass."

"Jeff. Right." Eddie had already warned her about the peeping Jeff. Smirking, she turned toward the front of the van, placed a hand on either side of Eddie's face and gave him a smacking kiss that echoed in the small space. "Kiss for luck, right?" Trying to keep the laughter as quiet as possible, she slipped out with a controlled shove of the van door, and disappeared into the vague, distant sounds of upper crust living. The heels were remarkably quiet, and she kept an eye out for the approach of headlights, or the crunch of tires. This was what she did best, even if she wasn't used to doing it all with a voice in her ear. No-one directed her capers but her, at least not until now, and she couldn't say she was a huge fan.

Still, there was a job to be done. Celene took a moment to consider the wall - tracking her path, and humming softly under her breath. It was a little random collection of notes, just something to focus her attention. And then, without warning, she started up, gloved fingers and toes finding every crack, every seam, so that she literally seemed to flow up the wall the way a cat would. Rolling up and over she landed, and stripped off the overgloves, so as not to leave traces of gravel behind. Those went into a pocket - what was the point of being careful if you weren't all the way careful.

"You've never needed luck. This'll be like that time in Tuskeegee. A walk in the park." The kiss hadn't been expected, now he had Reggie staring at him again. A jerk of the head sent the kid to the back of the van. "Walk in the park for you too, right?"

Reggie talked while he worked, which would have been fine if Eddie had any clue what he was talking about. He picked up every fifth word or so as one he understood. Words like Hack, and Security mainframe were easy, but he had no idea what Reggie needed a packet for or where the hell he kept them in the van. He didn't see a cooler anywhere, and the glove compartment' well he wasn't going in there. There were some things a guy didn't need to know, right' He let the kid drone on' well drone wasn't the right word, Reggie seemed rather excited about the things he was doing. "You remember Tuskeegee, you me a late night jaunt and a Calcion 5750 integrated vault. It'll be just like that." She'd had some difficulty finessing that system, which had a lot to do with why he'd suggested it to Mel in the first place. Only the best, because he knew people and figured that the extra precaution might be warranted. Then again, Celene would never try to rob his house, right' Except' he smirked. "Maybe I should have said something sooner?" Did he hear something mumbled under her breath' "I'm sorry' I missed that."

"No, you didn't, you fink." Luckily there were enough shadows that she didn't have to bellycrawl her way across the grass. No, she could just shift from bush to tree, and then into shadows so deep that the only way she could see was to slip on her goggles, and try to bite back the smirk that tugged at her lips. "A Calcion, huh' Just had to bring that up?" A heel scraped across the patio stones, and she paused. Listened. Her internal clock was ticking, and just on time she heard the irregular tick of the security guards truck. A few steps, and she was at the patio door, and easing a tiny set of picks from a pouch at her hip. "Y"know...if you're thinking of Tuskeegee...I'm pretty sure the blonde isn't going to like how this ends." The door slid open silently, and she slipped inside, holding her breath just in case Poptart missed an alarm. So far, so good. "Your boy genius is pretty good. So far. I'm in." Smooth, silent steps brought her across the dark living room. "Any idea what I'm looking for once I'm in, or am I just...feeling around." That would have been like Tuskeegee too, although in an entirely different sense.

The banter was incidental, something to let her eyes and ears do what they needed to do. Let her brain focus on shifts of light and wafts of air. She took in furniture, art' "Doesn't look like she changed a thing. This isn't her color scheme. Too much color...are those..ocean scenes" No way"So...how well do you know this house, anyway?"

Eddie shook his head a little. "Harley's a good one, you should get to know her, I'm sure you'd like her." Tuskeegee aside, there had been plenty of bends and twists to think about, there had also been a laser grid and guards to deal with. He let her have the grid, and took the easy job of occupying the night shift.

"I've got a pretty intimate knowledge of the house. You'll know it when you find it. You already know what we're looking for. A ledger that gives the real accounting. It'll have the account numbers we need. Just use the phone that Reggie gave you to scan, the data will record here." There was a smacking sound, and a not so subdued Ow! in the background. He pulled the earwig out and started to admonish Reggie for the currently scanned images on the computer. "You really need to stop being that guy, kid."

The earpiece went back in and he started talking again like he'd never stopped. "Not sure if she changed the combination' I would have, and she's not really an idiot. Even if she hadn't before, I'd bet she did after seeing I was in town."

"So, not quite a walk in the park. Great. You know I hate that damn safe?" She left the subject of Harley alone. She doubted they'd ever get along. She wasn't big on partners to begin with. Away from the windows, she strained, sauntered...not rushing, rushing made for mistakes. Living room turned to bedroom, and it was easy to tell that Miranda was moving in, taking over Melinda's space. Taking over her life. "Looks like she replaced the bed...but not much else. You can still see where the feet of the old one left impressions. Can't imagine why?"

Once inside the closet, she slid the goggles back onto her head, and turned on the light. She was buried deep inside the house, no windows, and no walls to reflect the light toward a window. Near the back wall, there was a jacket hanging from the wall, looking like it hadn't seen the light of day for a while. Black, crushed velvet - Celene slipped it on. The pockets were good. "...Nice...fits like a glove." And it hung over the shoes! How fortunate. Lifting two pairs of Manolo Blahniks to the floor, she saw the access panel and let out a curse. "I knew it! You bastard. Ugh. Think...think Tabby think?" Tabitha knew Miranda. Knew what was important to her. "It's all about " her." 7 letters. How damn easy was that. "I'm in"Pop Tart, you let me know if you see so much as a blip. I don't care how small. These things are hair-trigger and I am not going to jail for you."

"Scouts honor, no jail time." It was beginning to feel like old times, and when had he ever let guards take her" He looked over at Reggie questioningly.

"Nothing going over the radio, and no calls. It's possible that the neighbors may be at the same function, right?" Reggie asked him, but he really had no idea. Mel and he weren't exactly hermits, but the socialites didn't really approve of him, or at least husbands didn't. "Why does she call me poptart?"

The last question made Eddie laugh aloud. "Maybe because she thinks you have a sweet filling. Ask her."

"All right, describe what you see to me. We should have put a button camera on you." Would have but that high cliff would block the signal. Kind of useless, maybe when the budget got bigger they'd get some better equipment.

"What exactly are you doing, Celene?" He refused to call her Tabitha, not when she was on a job at least.

"Me" Not a thing." The words were barely audible through the bubbling laughter she was trying to keep to herself. That was the problem with earbuds, they made it so hard to hide anything. "Well, I'm doing what you told me to do. Getting into the safe. Getting the books. Right?" Butter wouldn't melt, the way her voice smoothly danced from laughter to feigned innocence. Eddie didn't need to know she planned to scoop a few things for herself. It wasn't any of his business.

There was a barely audible click, and the middle of the wall slid open, the seams invisible until that moment. Behind the plaster was...well, it was just beautiful. Celene let out a low whistle, grinning at the rainbow sparkles from jewels, the subtle glow of precious metal...and a single, leather bound ledger. Barely half the size of a normal book, it looked incongruous against the rich black velvet displays that held what was very likely Melinda's jewelry. "Got it. And your dead girlfriend had gorgeous taste?"

One hand reached for the ledger, the other slid the skintight shirt and came out with the phone Reggie had provided. Flipping pages, she scanned with one hand, the other selecting pieces near the back - blues and greens which were too rich and bright for Miranda's coloring, and obviously not word for a while by the way they were piled and shoved into corners. She didn't need to know what the book said...that wasn't part of her game. But if it would help take down the scum who'd knocked up her mother...it was worth it. "Just tell me when."

Eddie left the telling for Reggie, he was the one with his eyes on the computer screen. There were silent spaces from him before telling Celene to turn the page. Eddie had something more on his mind, it wasn't what she'd said so much as what he remembered. "Most of those were bought before I knew her. Mel did little things to make herself feel better, less like an invalid." She'd refrained from buying what she called pretties not long after he'd moved in. He'd inquired why, of course. She had simply said, she'd found all that she really needed.

"Tell me something, Celene. That thing in Monacella, why exactly did you leave me?" Things had gone south quickly there, and yes he'd been up against it when the museum had been surrounded. It was all he could do to get to the roof, and when he did the emergency egress they'd put in place was already gone. "I've wondered, was it simply not wanting to say goodbye, or were you hoping that rotting in a foreign prison would free you of me?" He'd considered looking for the woman to find out, might have if things had gone worse. As it was, he figured they both needed a break and maybe she was feeling a little too close for comfort. They were good when neither of them was comfortable. Good enough to make Reggie blush anyway.

There was a sharp intake of breath, and he could likely guess the expression on her face. Eyes narrowed, lips firmly pressed together, there was long pause before Celene spoke. "Well puddin, you were just too slow. And I thought maybe a little bout of malaria might take you down a few." She'd used that word on purpose. He wanted to throw her off" Two could play that game. The truth was they didn't do attachments. Didn't do teams. She didn't. And Eddie...Eddie was just a bit too much trouble. "You want the truth' I heard someone was looking for you. Someone I don't want to meet one day cause he heard I might know where you are."

Reggie's voice was quiet, but clear. "You're good. We got it." Taking a deep breath, Celene slipped the coat sleeves over her hands - even with gloves, there was a chance of prints, and put the book back, then slid the wall back into place. Methodically, she replaced everything she'd undone, and retraced her steps back to the living room. She had a minute before the next patrol. "Besides, you did ok. Both sisters, and now a vapid little psycho to call your own?" Because taunting made it seem like she didn't care, right"

"Name calling doesn't become you." He wasn't going to fall into any traps with Celene. That was what he told himself, when somewhere that he wasn't going to recognize with attention knew that Tahlia, or Harley' Lizzy' wasn't vapid or psycho, nor his. They were good together, and they were good apart too. Baggage was something that both of them were carrying, even if the kind of carry on luggage were different.

"Mostly, I stuck with what I knew. Even you should understand that." In the case of Mel and Miri, what he knew was simple. Dangerous and inappropriate men were an addiction, and he liked being heroin. "I got out, but you were gone. Completely gone. It almost felt like you'd packed in advance." He didn't fault her by any means, but it was disturbing to arrive back at the hotel room and find every trace of Celene had vanished, all but the scent of her on the pillow.

"Take a few moments to breathe. There's a car coming your way." The dark sedan was passing the van now, and would be closing with the house soon enough. Eddie had dropped low in the driver's seat until it passed. "Mommy's home. Get out while you can."

"She always had wretched timing." Clutching the coat tight, she repeated the sleeve mittens to get out through the porch, and snuck back in her own footsteps across the expanse of patio, and lawn. She shouldn't be talking right now, but crouched at the edge of the wall, she could hear the gentle thrum of a luxury engine, seamlessly shifting around the curves below. She couldn't risk them looking up. Tucking herself against the stone, she marked time in her head.

"I did. Got word that morning...all I had to do after the extraction was go back, grab my gear, and get on a plane. By the time you got out, I was in Stars End, at a bar, and making a very nice profit. Picked up another job, and I was on my way. Far, far away?" There was a sudden breath, and she was up and over the wall, her feet finding the cracks as if connected by magnets. This required all her focus. One wrong move, and she'd be a broken pile on the ground.

It didn't matter that she'd debated, hemmed, hedged, paced and stared out into space...or that she knew exactly when he'd gotten back into town, and made certain she was anywhere but there. She wouldn't blame him, didn't blame him, for being angry. She'd left him behind to save her own skin - everyone who made a life in the shadows knew what it meant if Carmine Logan wanted someone. And she didn't want to be there. Didn't want to be part of it. Slowly sauntering up to the van, she couldn't resist one last jab. "Besides, you started it?"

"What?" He put on an innocent grin. He was good at innocent grins. "Nice work in there, like I said, a walk in the park." Still he looked at her as though she were hiding something, or maybe he saw something that he wasn't too sure about. "Feel like you might be hiding something." Feel like was not exactly right, he was sure that she'd come away from this with more than just a few scans of a leger.

Eddie shifted in his seat once more, checking out the woman's attire. "I'm pretty sure you're overdressed now. Did you find everything you were looking for." He didn't fault her, she was who she was. "You may not want to wear that around Miranda though."

"Me" What could I possibly be hiding?" She batted her lashes as she ducked back into the van. Sliding the crushed velvet down her arms, she caught it and folded the fabric in one smooth movement. There was the slightest hint of a sparkle against the black, and a soft tap as she bent to stash her haul, and something small and red bounced across the carpeted interior. The circular container burst open, spilling small off-white pills across the floor.

Celene didn't notice, or if she did, she paid no attention - one hand smoothing over her new acquisition. "This" No...I'm not stupid. I won't wear the jewelry around her either...give a girl some credit, would you Eddie" And no...not nearly...but I did ok. Besides, they wouldn't go with her coloring." They wouldn't go with Celene's either, but that wasn't what she wanted them for. Jewels were easy enough to sell, and she had a feeling she was going to need a nice little nest egg to get out of town.

A streak of red, a splash of white, they should have been nothing but Eddie was on the move. Not far by any means. He slid from the seat, hitting his knees and wrapped a large hand around Celene's ankle. "Don't move?" He may have grabbed hold harder than intended, his free hand going to the pillbox and drawing it close. Friday had popped open, Friday had always had that problem no matter how tightly he pressed it closed. One good jolt and it opened like a jack in the box...With less music and cranking. One by one he fished the pills up, it shouldn't matter now, Mel was gone but somehow it did matter.

Eddie remembered them all, in his head he rattled off their names as he placed them back in the box. Sure, they were a mirror for the ones that he'd given to Lizzy but he'd remembered them even before that. "We had a good thing?" He may have sounded like he was talking to Celene, or Reggie but they might as well not be there he'd have talked anyway.

"That's not right." His hold on her released, palm going up to drop the last of the pills into his palm. "This one, it should be circular, not oval...not so big either. Just a tiny little thing." He scowled at the pill in his hand before dropping it into the reservoir with the others. One long forefinger pressed the top closed before Eddie took a seat. He didn't make a move towards the driver's seat, all of his attention focused on the box of pills. He popped open the days going backwards from Friday and not stopping until he opened an empty Tuesday. It was a pause only though the popping open of an empty Monday and then Sunday seemed to take forever. The van had to move, but Eddie wasn't staking any claims to the steering wheel. "Something" off."

"Hey! Ow!" Celene started to spin back, but his grip had her flinging her arms out to steady herself against the metal wall. "It's just a bunch of old pills - what the hell" Who cares what?" Her voice faded, realizing Eddie saw something she didn't. Catching Reggie's eye, she gestured her chin toward the driver seat. Whatever was going on with Eddie...they needed to be out of there, and soon. "Poptart...you and your sweet filling get your butt up there and hit the gas. No spinning tires, no high speed chases. Just a nice, law-abiding drive home, ok?"

Once Reggie had scurried carefully forward, Celene took his seat. She might have bruises tomorrow...Eddie had a tendency to forget his own strength. "Ok, what?s up...you look like you've seen a ghost. Or something. I don't remember you spooking like this before." She could guess who the pills belonged to...and who he was talking to...but it wasn't exactly in her wheelhouse, being supportive. Patting him on the back, or something. "Are they important?"

Are they important" That remained to be seen. Eddie's mouth pulled together into a moue of deep thought. He scraped the last pill into the red pillbox, not in with its siblings. This one went into one of the empty pockets which he pressed firmly closed. The entire thing went into his pocket where his hand remained protectively. He could see the lights passing the van, feel it moving yet even with this evidence it still felt as though he were standing still lost with his thoughts and the space between question and answer drawing longer bordering on rudeness.

"I honestly hope not.?

Fall to Pieces

Its been a long year since you've been gone I've been alone here I've grown old I fall to pieces, I'm falling Fell to pieces and I'm still falling Every time I'm falling down All alone I fall to pieces ~ Velvet Revolver

Eddie rode the elevator until it stopped at the very top floor, he passed his room key through the card reader and waited as the doors slowly slid open. He'd spent last night's ride back in quiet contemplation, that was what he'd called it though he hadn't missed the word brooding from Celene when she'd been dropped off. There had been something in her voice, anger or annoyance, perhaps it was just disappointment. Had he been paying attention he might have known. She wanted a glimpse inside his head, but that was a space he no longer shared. Too many people wanted to get in there, and he dare not reveal the mess that had been left behind by the last person. He lingered inside the elevator so long that the door began closing, a large hand reached out to keep it open.

The afternoon meeting with Dan hadn't done anything to improve his mood either, if anything it left him feeling far darker. That wouldn't be an issue, except that it was far out of character. He was coming home to Lizzy, and that was supposed to make him happy to the point of being nauseating to the casual observer. After catching the door, Eddie didn't move. He stood there breathing and looking ahead, his gaze seemingly locked on the glass wall that separated the penthouse from the balcony beyond and the cityscape in the distance. Perhaps he would pass for simply transfixed with the view, unless someone got close enough to actually read his expression.

Lizzy was sitting out on the balcony, curled into a lounge chair that only served to highlight that she hadn't changed since her lunch with Miranda. It had been intended to be a girls day out - a bonding experience to bring them closer together. And it had worked, but not entirely as they'd planned. Heels tucked against her thighs, she was staring out over the city, a thin plume of smoke twisting up from her fingers. Drawing the smoke into her lungs, Lizzy coughed, releasing a cloud that did nothing to help her current state. She knew better than to sneak cigarettes...Eddie always found out, and it always made her feel so much worse. To do it after she'd already had to take a nitro pill...was near to flirting with death. But at the moment, she didn't care.

She had no idea how Miranda had known exactly where the chinks in her armor were...and just what weapon to use. Maybe it was because they were so close to her own weaknesses. Melinda Foxglove had been an accomplished woman, smart, capable - she'd run a successful interior design business, and served on countless charities - and done it all without any real enemies. Her death had been a blow to the community, and she could still see the effects it had had on her Eddie. Only he wasn't - not really. He'd never have left Melinda. She was only a substitute.

Eddie's nails scritched loudly in the stubble on his jaw before passing an hand through his hair, pushing bangs back and pressing the on switch that finally had him moving. He poured himself a stiff drink, dropping a couple of ice cubes into the dark bourbon. He knew where Lizzy was, could see the rise of smoke and knew what it meant. Disappointed, he took his drink through the glass doors stepping into the open air of a city whose noises were muted by distance and elevation. Deft fingers reached out and pulled the lit cigarette from her pounding the cherry end on the railing that marked the edge of the building.

"These are no good for you, Lizzy. I thought you were going to try." The look on his face was mirrored in the sound of his voice, he barely recognized it. He couldn't ever remember sounding that way to her before. She was trying, had done quite well at cutting them out of her life, mostly at least. He flicked the remainder out over the railing letting it crash where it would on the city below. "How was your lunch?"

"Fine." The tone was enough, and she flinched at it, knowing her own was far from its usual perky, musical self. Bereft of her distraction, she fidgeted, and smeared one hand across her cheeks. "I am trying, scruffy...I haven't had one since we got here, before that, even." Arms folded across the purple and white floral sundress. Miranda had hit her hard, and she'd long since rubbed off any cosmetics she'd been wearing. "I just...needed one."

Chewing at her bottom lip, she couldn't quite manage to look at him, blonde strands curving to frame her face, and those downcast aquamarine eyes. She had so many questions, and yet she wasn't sure she really wanted to know. He was the only thing that meant anything to her, but she couldn't quite stop herself from muttering petulantly half under her breath. "I'm not perfect, I know...not like her. I'll never be?" Biting her bottom lip, she shook her head, and plucked at the hem of her skirt.

Leaning hard against the rail he looked at Lizzy. "What is that supposed to mean?" No the need for a smoke, obviously. The last part came pretty much out of the blue. "Nobody's perfect, Lizzy. Some of us are too blind or stupid to see what?s in front of our face." No, he wouldn't go there yet. He bit down on those thoughts, holding them back to cook a little more. Hopefully they didn't cook him first.

"Why?" A change of directions would help, right' "What made you need one now" and was it only one?" He kept his eyes on her as he took a drink from his glass, doing his best to soften the look and knowing that he was failing miserably. He'd be lucky if she didn't think it was an accusation in itself.

"Maybe we just don't want to see it. And yes, jesus, it was just one - I'm not stupid enough to have more than that after a nitro do-" She clamped her mouth shut, and cringed. She hadn't meant to tell him about the pill, about the attack that had sent her running out of the restaurant, alone. She wasn't supposed to be alone after an attack, in case the nitro wasn't enough, but she couldn't bear to face Miranda, and she didn't want to pull him away from his meeting to deal with her in hysterics.

She'd taken most of it as an accusation, her cheeks burning a fierce pink that only made her seem paler by comparison. She didn't want to tell him she knew...not after everything. What if he admitted she was everything she secretly feared she was - everything Miranda had hinted that anyone who'd known Melinda was thinking.

"What happened, Lizzy' What could possibly be bad enough that you'd take that risk?" How close had he come to arriving to find her" "God dammit!" Anger was seeping through, no matter how tightly he tried to keep it reined in. He downed the rest of his drink, turning away from her clenching the railing in his hand. That shouldn't have been his reaction, wouldn't have been normally. There should have been no distance between them now, no, he should have picked her up and held her close telling her that everything was going to be all right. Something in his brain was warped tonight.

It only served to further convince her that there was something going on - something he was keeping from her. Hurt, and sniffing back another spate of tears, she wasn't thinking clearly, wasn't giving herself time to think about the things that were sitting just at the tip of her tongue. "She told me everything. How perfect you and Mel were. How surprised everyone is that you found someone else." She'd only bummed the one cigarette from the bellhop, otherwise she would have lit another, and even miserable as she was, she wasn't going to risk trying to pour herself a drink. She'd end up in the hospital again, and then she'd have Eddie and Dr. Dan mad at her.

"She told me you were with Mel when she died, scruffy. That she'd been...that you?" Her throat closed and she curled her hands into fists as if it would force the words out. "She told me about the treatments. That Mel was trying to get pregnant...you always said you didn't want kids." Sniff. "I guess you just didn't want them with anyone but her."

Silence, he didn't deny the first part of that, and maybe he blamed himself for what happened after. It was the second that had him turning on Lizzy. "That's a lie! How dare" She wouldn't have!" Eddie didn't mind children, so long as they weren't his children. So long as they were well cared for, and their parents were stable, but he had no desire to put this world onto offspring. The world was cruel, full of people who would take advantage of you for no better reason than to elevate themselves. He knew, he was one and he had no wish to bring that to his children. No want to see their trust stolen and their innocence killed.

Eddie stalked toward Lizzy, slamming the glass onto a table and bending low until his face was an inch away from hers. His hands reached out, for a moment like he would take hold of her before restraint set in and he grabbed hold of the arms of her chair instead. "I can't believe you actually buy it either. You really don't know me like you say you do!" He'd never shouted at Lizzy in his life, but there he was doing it and unable to stop himself. He ground his teeth and lunged a twisting movement with a speed that belied his size. The table that held his glass launched itself across the balcony, landing on its top and skidding to a halt inches before making contact with the glass that separated balcony from penthouse. Eddie hadn't paused to watch where the thing went or cared what happened when it landed. He was on his way to the door, pulling it open with a hard wrench. "You don't trust me" Fine! I'm going out and if I'm lucky I'll get into a bar fight. If not...it really won't matter, right?"

She was frozen, eyes wide and terrified as he loomed over her. Eddie had never so much as raised his voice toward her, and here he was, dark and full of barely restrained danger. "Eddie I...she said you knew?" her protests were small, feeble things, likely lost in the crash of patio furniture. Lizzy stared after him, "Scruffy I do...please?" Her legs wouldn't obey her for a moment, and then she was up and after him, although she had little hope of catching him, and less of stopping him if she did.

She stumbled over the carpet, and fell to her knees. Sobs racked her chest, and she could feel the stutter in her pulse, the vague ring in her ears that meant she was at risk of another seizure. Two in one day' "Eddie?? She could barely hear herself, she doubted he heard her as she reached for the little red box. He was right, she shouldn't have believed Miranda...but she had been so sure, and Lizzy couldn't think why she would lie about something so important. But he was her Scruffy...and she never should have listened to any of the gossip that seemed to fuel Seaport's elite.

Skyfall

This is the end Hold your breath and count to ten Feel the earth move and then Hear my heart burst again ~ Adele

The Affari di Famiglia was everything you would expect in a nice little Italian restaurant. Plenty of exquisite scents descending on the dining room from the kitchens, musicians playing and a knockout singer with dark hair and olive skin tones. The menu was un giorno nella vita, or at least in Saul's life. The many tables and booths were arranged in terms of rank, though only the family really understood that. Saul had his place, a quiet little booth away from windows, and listening ears. Business was business after all, and no one came close unless of course they were invited. The Foxglove woman's call hadn't surprised him, his very presence was enough to ensure that things got done, and this was no exception, but the woman had a mouth on her. There were places for talking, and places that you just didn't. That open lipped diatribe over the phone, that was the last place for it, and she should know that. By the end of the night, Saul would be certain she would. He'd said only four words to her before hanging up on the stiff little puttana. Someone ought to do something about that too.

"Affari di Famiglia, Eight thirty." He'd cut her off mid sentence, mid word even. These high society hussies always wanted to gab gab gab. Saul didn't have time, let alone inclination for that. He was here on business, and she" well she would sink or swim.

Miranda looked distinctly put out as she strode through the door. She didn't like the smarmy trouble-shooter, but their last meeting had taught her better than to ignore him. This was, in theory, a business meeting, although it was a distinctly late hour for such thing, and certainly not a venue she was familiar with. Still, she supposed there was a value in meeting somewhere they wouldn't be seen, even if he had been more unpleasant than usual.

Pausing just inside the door, Miranda slid down her sunglasses and scanned the quietly bustling restaurant. There was no way to miss the bright spot against the wall, and she strode that way, tucking her oversized glasses away, and tucked her clutch under her arm. Not pausing for permission, she slid into the seat across from Saul, and folded her hands on the checkered tablecloth. Pressing her lips together, she regarded the man coolly and with what she hoped was every appearance of calm. "I don't understand why we couldn't take care of this matter over the phone."

The man at the table with Saul started to move, stopping when Saul held up a hand. "Relax Vinny, Ms. Foxglove doesn't understand the rules yet." He reached ominously into his jacket though when his hand came free he was holding up a hundred dollar bill. "Go by a round for the bar. You can finish telling me that story about your sister in a bit." Tight lipped he watched the man depart, never taking his eyes off him until he was halfway to the bar. Taking a deep breath, Saul's elbows planted on the table, his hands folding together in a way that left a large gaudy ring prominent on his fingers. He leaned forwards, eyes coldly locked onto Miranda's, his lips pressed against the side of his forefingers.

Saul dropped his folded hands to the table, mouth pursed in distaste. "You know, Miranda" I invite you here to sit at my table" a friendly gesture. But you don't come in like a friend. No smile of hello, no I hope you've been well. You interrupt a conversation I'm having with' an old friend. Almost I feel like you don't respect me, and that hurts. I'm an upstanding fella, deserving of a certain amount of...cordiality." Saul's fist lightly pounded into the table, as he spoke, emphasizing a few words, the important words like respect and cordiality. They opened and went palm up as he continued. "I welcomed you into my presence, but I'm not sure you truly appreciate how much I'm giving you. I don't like it when my feelings get hurt, it makes this little wrinkle in the middle of my forehead. I don't say anything" keep it to myself, but my friends see that little wrinkle and they feel the need to make up for it." His hands rose from the table, as he gave a small shrug and tilted his head away. "Sometimes they go too far, but that's what friends do for each other right?"

It was subtle, but Miranda lived in a world of inflections and veiled commentary, and she took him at his word. "My apologies. I'm just so"flustered with...everything.", she finished lamely. "I do respect you, of course. And I am very aware of the assistance you're offering. Could we start again?" Forcing a smile, she took a deep breath, and tried to keep her heart from racing.

She hated this kowtowing...she'd done so reluctantly with the Vicelli's, and then with the heads of each family that heard about her services and come to meet with her. But to do it with a hireling...ran against her sense of the natural order of things. She closed her eyes, and took a moment to focus. This was about finishing what she started. Once she gave them Tabitha, and the connection with Eddie...it wouldn't be her problem. Not anymore. "Good evening, Saul. Thank you for inviting me to dinner. Forgive me for interrupting your conversation. It's lovely to see you again. I trust you've been well?" Not for nothing had she spent the last few years learning to hide her disdain behind a mask. Not following after her sister and her paramour...knowing everyone knew she'd introduced them. And now the looks were back, because he was back. And with another woman. Miranda's fingers clenched in the cloth for a moment, until she forced herself to reach for the glass of water in front of her, and take a sip.

Saul didn't look at her as she made her apologies, his attention seemingly on adjusting one of his cufflinks. When she started over, he reached out and took both her hands in his. "Ms. Foxglove, lovely as always. It's my pleasure to have you. Please eat, I recommend the the Coniglio Cacciatore. They do wonders with rabbit here." He smiled at her, a half turn to the corners of his lips as he watched her over their hands. "But, something's amiss. Tell your friend what?s going and maybe I can help you with it."

It was a far more positive reaction to Miranda than what she'd first gotten. "I apologize for being brisk with you over the phone. I find phones to be funny." That was it, if she wanted more on the why of it she would be forced to ask.

She flinched as he reached for her, an involuntary response to the memory of the last time he'd been...disappointed in her. "Thank you - I will be sure to try it, it must be excellent." The phrasing caught her off guard, and she responded out of order, not pulling her hands away from his. She had a feeling that would be taken poorly. "Funny' I've never thought of phones as funny...simply useful." It wasn't quite a question, but it was close enough.

Giving a squeeze to his hands, she nibbled at her bottom lip. "It's the matter we spoke of. I've found who is responsible. And they're connected to a very unsavory individual who I think has a grudge against me. I'm nearly certain he's behind all of it, but he's very careful?" She was going to make sure Eddie was left with nothing. She wanted him to know how it felt.

Saul disengaged a hand from hers and slid his phone out of his pocket. "Sure, I use it to listen to my music or watch those funny videos on the youtube? the ones with the cats falling off of things. Very funny. Still, I did conduct a bit of business on it, when my mama moved to the keys. Just arranging to get her things shipped, but it's too easy to hide behind a phone. Friends should talk, face to face." The phone went back into his pocket, his hand going to his face to scratch at his nose.

"What did you find?" He waved a waiter over, leaning out to order the Cacciatore and a nice wine to go with it. He remained quiet while she spoke.

"My assistant. The tall brunette?" She knew he'd met Tabitha, but not whether she'd introduced them. There would not have been a reason to, and at the time, she'd thought her innocent. "I don't know how, exactly. Not yet. But I do know she's connected to a certain Eddie Blake. And he is as rotten as they come. He has a"history with my family, and he's in town, taking advantage of a perfectly innocent little heiress. He may have something on Tabitha...be coercing her somehow. I don't know."

Miranda shrugged. At the end of the day, she didn't much care whether Tabitha was willing or not. She would have to be replaced, of course...the only reason she hadn't fired her already was so she could relay her own innocence to Saul. Hiring a new assistant would be such a chore, but she couldn't have a viper in her nest.

Saul listened and thought as Miranda relayed everything to him, turning up the charm through dinner to the point that perhaps she'd forget that first meeting" or almost forget. "Take me to her.? That was all he'd said, no recriminations or I told you so's. It would have to be her, the other, Tabitha would never open the door for a stranger. She wouldn't if the girl were as guilty as Miranda painted her out to be. Miranda on the other hand, that wouldn't be a stretch to show up unannounced. Knowing what he did of the woman who sat with him now, he'd say that it was likely expected at some point by any who were beneath her.

Final Warning

Good afternoon dear How does the rope feel around your neck" Just one more error Could be a fatal step ~ Skylar Grey

Things had almost returned to normal, although being roused by a seemingly flustered Miranda meant that Lizzy had taken her pills a little later than her usual. Considering she'd barely managed to get a robe on before the front desk had buzzed Miri up, and it had been an amusingly close thing to get Eddie to put anything on at all, she couldn't really blame Miranda for being a bit off. Or for leaving as soon as it was clear Eddie would much prefer a return to whatever she'd interrupted. Sitting out on the lounge chair, soaking in the late summer sun, Lizzy couldn't help but smile at the memory of the look on Miranda's face as Eddie had tossed her little blonde self over a shoulder, and headed back into the bedroom. It had been clear from the beginning that there wasn't ever going to be a friendly meal for those two. Reaching out to claim her drink, the heiress blew a kiss at the still delightfully, mostly bare, bronzed form stretched out opposite her.

"I suppose it was nice of Miranda to stop by and check in. Even if she did look like she'd rather be throwing you off the balcony?" There wasn't much but a delicate gold flower at her throat, and a few pieces of purple lycra adorning her skin - barely taking on the hint of a tan with all the sun exposure she'd had this trip. Shifting on the fabric, she abandoned the glass for her sunglasses. The sun seemed especially bright this morning.

They didn't have much longer before they were invaded again, still he'd enjoy the moments alone until Dan and Saul made their appearance. "I'm not sure how much of it was being nice, and how much was her being a suspicious little?" He had several names that he didn't tack onto the end of that sentence. "It's nice to know that we have a sure fire way to get her to excuse herself." He may have been annoyed if the woman had decided to stick around, scratch that, he definitely would have been annoyed. Eddie drank in the sun, and the relaxation. When this was over he would probably throw himself into something else, only closer to home. Odd perhaps to consider it home with as much time as he'd spent away from it, that and not really having stable living space. It was where he grew up though and that had to count for something.

He pushed himself upwards, frowning at the time, but things had to stay on schedule. By now Miranda had approached Saul, and that would be quite an interesting conversation. "The kids doing his thing, I think we might need to unplug him at some point before he becomes as robotic as his nanowhatsis he's always talking about." Eddie looked over at Lizzy, and smiled secretly before throwing a towel at her. "Just enough time to get a quick shower." There might be, if it were on a singular basis, otherwise the hot water would die long before they deigned to come out of it.

Pushing the glasses down just low enough to reveal wide, entreating sea blue eyes, she let just the hint of a lip quiver show. "Without me" Where's the fun in that?" She knew what that look meant, and just how late it was. She'd shotgunned the pills, no silly voices, no games...it had been late enough that she could feel Dr. Dan frowning, wherever he was. Grabbing the towel with one hand, she swung bare feet to the warm concrete, and stood, one hand pressing to the back of the chaise for a moment longer that usual. Probably just a touch of dehydration, or overheating. Sauntering past, she hooked a finger beneath the elastic of his boxers, and tugged, letting go just before the snapback would have been painful.

"How long do we have til the boys get here" And do I have to be dressed?" Blonde strands brushed against the strap of her bikini, and she reached back with one hand to unhook the bottom, or tried to. Her fingers slipped, and buzzed, and she shook the hand down at her side. Must have pinched something. The suite came with every possible amenity - including a shower that remembered their preferences, and turned on with the press of button and a flip of a switch. A smirk over her shoulder should have been enough to let him know the boys might be waiting just a little. "Coming?"

He was right behind her, and where her fingers failed, his were on point to unhook the bikini top. From there it wasn't too much of a stretch to have arms around in front of Lizzy while they made their way to the shower. "Not yet." He answered the last question first, the devil of a grin on his lips when he did. "And not long enough, but the bar is well stocked so' they'll have plenty to keep them busy." If she wasn't careful, she'd end up over his shoulder again, the shower would come much much later.

"I'd hate to rush a good cleaning." Or something as the case may be. "I didn't tell Celene to come, it's bad enough we've got Saul over. That would be too risky."

It would be a stretch to say the mention of the sneaky brunette ruined the mood, but it certainly seemed to drop the temperature in the room a degree or two. "Mmhmm. Risky. Right, that's the only reason?" She knew building Miranda's suspicion of her "assistant' was a key distraction. She'd drawn the line at letting her anywhere near the penthouse - her house, her rules. It was one of the rare things she'd put her foot down on, but there was just no way. She couldn't quite put her finger on why she didn't like Celene, but the feeling was obviously mutual.

Ducking under his arm, she turned back to snap off something witty and smooth - and felt alarms bells go off throughout her system. Something was decidedly not right. The pills she'd taken so quickly were just sugar, enough to account for the slight buzz, but not the hiss she could feel in her veins, or the sudden lurch of her stomach. She could feel the color blanch from her skin, to be replaced by goosebumps, and shut her eyes, focusing on just how bad this was going to be. Whatever it was, the reaction was fierce enough for her not to want to risk suppressing it - much as she hated for anyone to see her in the throes of what was about to happen next.

She didn't dare turn her head, couldn't even look at Eddie as she stumbled forward, and did a nearly picture perfect impression of a sorority girl in the middle of a spring break binge.

Amusement turned to alarm like the twist of a knife in his chest. The blonde had never thrown up before, not that he'd ever seen and there had been plenty of nights where the amount of alcohol could have done it. Eddie hit his knees, a hand going to her back and rubbing soothingly. His other hand had pulled her hair up out of the way, it seemed like the right thing to do, the only thing he could actually control. "What's wrong?" A foolish question to ask at least when she was in the process of losing the contents of her stomach that way. Those next few moments ticked by in slow motion while Lizzy heaved and he could do nothing to help her. His hand covered his phone and pounded out a text to the only person he knew to reach out to. Get here now, three short words that would convey everything they needed to Dan. Eddie hadn't been demanding to the man, far as he was concerned, the doc was doing a bang up job of keeping Miranda occupied. This was different though, and Dan had better take it that way or Eddie was going to show him what else he'd learned since they'd been parted.

Once she'd stopped, or seemed to have, Eddie pulled her into his lap and used the towel to clean her face. The mess could stay for now, it was of far less importance to him than the state of the little blonde. He'd known she was, it was hard to miss, she just never seemed to be quite this small to him before. His hand brushed her hair back, in part to get it out of her face, the rest had to do with feeling her temperature. "Shhh' just lay right there baby. Help is on the way." It better be!

Bare skin on tile was a bad combination, and she tucked as much of herself onto his lap and against his chest as she could manage. Shivering, she let her head sink against his bicep, and fought to hold on to the glamour that was all the rest of the team knew. Help might be on the way, but that help had no idea just what she could do, and revealing it now would cause too many questions. "E-Eddie...s-something?" She hated this, it was one of the reasons she didn't tax her gifts beyond smoking, and drinking more than anything her size ought to reasonably be able to stand. Anything strong enough to kill her left her wishing she were dead for a few hours, and took a solid day to recover from. She swallowed, and instantly made a face" "wrong. S-something's wrong. T-t-toxic, I th-think?" She could guess, some kind of poison, judging by the intense reaction - but there was no way she was going to get any of that out - she could barely stammer out one last reminder. "Do-don't l-let Doc take b-bl-blood?" She dragged in a breath, and flicked jade green eyes up to his face. "Please?" She knew Dan would want to-would expect some lingering trace of whatever it was to show up in those tests he put so much faith in. But it wouldn't. Whatever she'd ingested, her body had purged it with a fierce intensity.

The only saving grace was that whatever name she answered to, they all agreed on the current course of action. Eddie was warm, and safe, and she tucked her face into the curve of his shoulder, and breathed in salt and musk, trying not to think about how the warmth of his skin was making her look all the more pale and delicate. Curling closer, she let herself drift, shivers sending ripples across her skin. For the moment, she had to trust Eddie to keep her safe.

Serial Killer

Baby, I'm a sociopath Sweet serial killer On the warpath Cause I love you just a little too much ~ Lana del Ray

Harley stepped up to the downstairs suite, and knocked, hood pulled up to cover that distinctive blonde hair. Techno thumped louder for a moment, and then turned down to be barely audible, before the door swung open just enough to reveal Reggie, full size earphones around his neck, and a bag of cheetos in his hands, "Oh, sweet..that was fa-you're not room service."

"Good catch, sugar. And speaking of, if Eddie finds out how much you've been ordering, you can kiss driving privileges goodbye?" She had no idea whether that was the case, but she was pretty sure Reggie loved that car almost as much as Eddie did. He also wasn't supposed to be answering the door, certainly not now. Ducking under his arm, she pulled back her hood, and snagged a cheeto on her way past. "How's the corpse?"

Reggie started to stammer, and then laughed. The blonde had snuck down a few times herself, for cigarettes and junk food, or to plot the latest social media exploits of Lizzy and her Scruffy. "Still grumpy, but kinda animated for a dead girl." Closing the door behind her, he dusted the orange powder off on his jeans, and grimaced. Eddie wouldn't have done that. Dropping the bag, he tried to adopt that cool lean, and nearly fell over. Smooth, real smooth. "So, uh...what brings you down, Harley?"

The sweatshirt came off, and went over a chair, and the little blonde just smiled slowly, fluffing her ponytail, and tugging down the eggplant top to meet the black leather jeans she wore. "Why don't you take a walk, huh, Reg" Me and the recently departed need to have some girl time...do each others hair, talk about boys...you don't need to be here for that. We might even talk about shoes."

"You sure" Only...you two...well, It doesn't seem like you like each other much." Harley didn't even blink, just held out a hundred, and nodded toward the door. "That's why we need to bond, sugar. Take a walk, get yourself something to power you through the last of this...I promise I won't leave a mess." It wasn't the same as promising she wasn't going to make one, but Reggie could be forgiven for missing that little detail. Taking the cash, he slunk out, already pulling out his phone to find his connection. Harley paused only to make sure the door was locked before barging into the back bedroom, the only room with a closed door. And locking it behind her.

Celene looked up, and registered the click of the lock almost before who was standing in front of it. "Everything ok out there" I'm going stir crazy." Because acting like this was totally normal...that would help, right?" She'd managed to get in a shower, and had changed into a set of leggings and a tshirt she kept in a bag in her trunk. It wasn't much, but dead women shouldn't go shopping so soon after they'd been shot and defenestrated. People tended to react poorly. So for the moment, she was stuck until she could get to one of her stashes. "Where's Pop Tart?" She knew the kids name, she just liked how confused he got at the nickname.

"Reg" Told him to go for a walk. I thought you and I ought to have a...chat." Harley strode into the room, the knowledge that room service was expected sitting in the back of her head like a ticking clock. "About a few things. But namely, just how I expect things to go, once everything is over and done." Pulling out a chair she took a seat facing the bed, and gestured Celene to plant herself on it. She looked perfectly calm, but she was assessing every movement, every breath. "Y'see...I don't like you." Mistress of the obvious. "At all. I know Puddin says I should, and we should go get mani-pedis and go shopping, but I'm pretty sure that's because he's hoping he can convince us both to **** him at the same time." As soon as Celene took a seat, Harley was up, and moving. "It's not happening, but I hate to disappoint him. Well, not with you. Cause you wouldn't survive. You might not anyway. I haven't decided yet."

Celene gave every appearance of listening, while considering her options. She hadn't brought much with her...hadn't had a lot of time to pack. But there was a knife in a shin sheath, if she needed it. Not for the first time, she wondered where Eddie had found the little sadist - Harley seemed like a whole lotta crazy, even for him. Crossing her legs, to make the blade easier to get to, Celene held her hands up, and went for honesty. "I don't much like you either - no offence, but I generally try to avoid people who look like they're trying to decide which of twenty ways they're going to kill me." Slowly, she slid her hand closer - just because she couldn't see a weapon, didn't mean the blonde wasn't carrying.

Swift as a wink, Harley spun on a heel, and clamped a hand around exactly what Celene had been reaching for. She looked...disappointed. "Aww...Tabby...here I am, trying to make friends...and you go for a weapon. Where's the trust?" Flipping the knife in her hand, she let the light play along the blade, then slid the point below the taller woman's chin. "I'll get to it, then. Once this is over, and we go our separate ways...I don't care what happens to you, or Saul, or Dr. Dan. Reg is a good kid. And if you and Eddie want to give each other a workout in some seedy hotel...you go right ahead. He and I - well, we know what we are." The slightest pressure forced Celene to tip her head back, rich brown eyes meeting an almost electric blue.

"But if you hurt him...I swear, Tabby, if you cause that man an ounce of pain, I will carve up that pretty face of yours and leave you on your Daddy's doorstep tied with a big red ribbon, and a note telling him exactly what you've been up to. And that's only if he tells me I have to be nice. You feel me?" There was not a hint of bravado, just calm, cool, fact. Celene could see it, every bit, and knew without doubt that the only reason she was still breathing in that scenario was because killing her would be a kindness.

Ever so carefully, she nodded, and was rewarded with a bright, gleeful smile, and a tap of steel before the blade slid away. "Good. Glad we had this little chat. I don't think Puddin needs to know, do you? Girl talk always bores guys to tears?? A simple flick of her wrist, and the blade was humming in the mirror frame. One last pat to the cheek, and Harley was on her way out, grinning like it was her birthday and Christmas combined. She let the room service guy in, tipped him, and skipped upstairs, humming under her breath. It was always nice when things went the way she wanted them to.

Let Me Go

I'm breaking free from these memories Gotta let it go, just let it go I've said goodbye Set it all on fire Gotta let it go, just let it go ~ Avril Lavigne ft. Chad Kroeger

Sweet and adorable those were the traits that Lizzy would have associated with Eddie. You'd never know it by the way people scattered before him, parting like the red sea before an angry god. Maybe it was the look on his face, a mixture of concern and anger, or just knowing by seeing that to hinder him would be to need to visit the ER. Fortunately the paramedics were just out front, and there were no casualties among the people who flowed back together as soon as he was past. Then again, it could have been the dire looking little blonde in his arms. Clearly he wasn't going to wait for them to take their sweet ass time getting in to the emergency. Eddie was bringing the emergency to them, trailed by a man they'd all gotten to meet. The personal physician of the little blonde, Lizzy. There were feminine whispers in the reconvergence, murmurs of brute, though secretly many of them wished they had one of their own to show such unbridled concern for them. The stretcher had only just hit the ground when Eddie gently placed the girl on top of it. "Stay with me" you've got to fight songbird." Nothing about his demeanor had changed, and yet somehow he managed to caress the woman with an almost obscene gentleness. It caused the murmurs to change, if only a little. A second procession broke through the lobby doors, this one a parade of blue uniformed officers surrounding a brunette who looked confused at the cuffs that had her wrists bound.

"You happy now, Miranda"!" Eddie shouted at the prisoner, and her escort. "One time wasn't enough for you! I hope you get what?s coming to you!" One of the paramedics put a hand on Eddie's back and spoke in low tones about needing to go quickly. He had a choice in that moment, he'd wanted to go after the woman' but folded himself into the ambulance instead, and shut the doors.

There was no color to Lizzy's cheeks, and she didn't move, even as Eddie laid her on the stretcher, and the paramedics hauled her inside, the deep eggplant gown almost tangling in the rails before someone tucked it up and out of the way. Only the barest rise and fall of her chest signaled that the dainty blonde was still among the living. Once the doors slammed shut, and the siren began to wail, the crowds split and stared, gossip rising in a wave as the ambulance took off in one direction, and the police took off in the other, with Miranda Foxglove in custody. It was, by far, the most excitement any of them had seen at a gala since Tammy Galenville pushed Mimi Vanderwort into the fountain for sleeping with her pool boy. One heiress on death?s door, another lead away in handcuffs for putting her there - and of course, it seemed it was all over the dark, smoldering man hovering over Elizabeth Davenport as she fought for her life in the speeding ambulance.

A minute passed before those glorious sea green eyes snapped open, followed by a curve of bloodless lips. One deep breath, to fill lungs just starting to burn from all the shallow breaths before it, and one limp arm rose to brush the backs of her fingers along a stubbled cheek. Barely loud enough to reach his ears, there was no way she could hide the laughter that threatened to give her away. "Did I do good, puddin" Everything worked?" She hadn't been able to track it all mid-swoon, and there was only so much she could see from beneath her lashes, with all the lights and commotion. "Can I stop playing dead now?"

"You did good, Harley girl." Would he call her his songbird again? Somehow he doubted it. There was a chasm of difference between Lizzy, and the woman who'd been playing her for so long. Eddie nodded at her last question. "Shut the sirens down, Reg" take the next right and then kill the lights too. It's time to meet up with the rest of the crew." His gaze turned from the woman to Dan. The man was pinching the bridge of his nose as though trying to fight off a migraine.

"Do you know what a close thing that was" I mean, you realize it right?" Dan stared over his fingers at Eddie, his mouth puckered like he'd ordered a drink with a twist and only got the twist. "It's a good thing that woman's easily distracted by shiny guys."

"No, it's not a good thing, Dan. That was your job, and you did it. You think you were picked at random' I know her type, and more than that I know what she wants to make that type into." Miranda had never had a chance, stuck between three men. It was all factored into the plan. "Maybe you should consider retirement again, if you've forgotten how many times you put me in that position. And don't pretend to be some kind of moral superior either, or I'll have Reggie to the playback on your time in the lab." It had been the best time to plant the pills on Miranda, she was pretty focused on things that weren't her clutch.

"You may have been hard up, but Harley had the hard job. Do you know how hard it is to swap out videos while pretending to be demure?" Eddie reached across the ambulance and gave a tug to Tahlia to pull her into his lap. "She did it exceedingly well."

"Aw...puddin. Gotta give Reg credit for putting it all together, and on that sim card." She slid into Eddie's lap easily, twisting to grab a bag stashed under the stretcher, and haul it on top. She wasn't meeting the rest of the crew as a wounded butterfly if she could help it. And she could. "Which was probably a good thing, seeing how someone couldn't seem to keep Ms. Thing away from the projector for more than five minutes at a shot. I swear her grin got wider every time I grabbed onto the table to hold myself up. *****." She stuck her tongue out at Dan from across the ambulance, and turned to nuzzle along Eddie's jaw for a moment, watching the doc from beneath her lashes. She enjoyed making the man squirm with an almost unholy glee. And it was only going to get worse.

"We couldn't have done any of it without you, Puddin. You're amazing - so thorough, and focused...don't you think so, Doc?" She wasn't even looking at the man, or didn't seem to be, pausing in her praise to nip at Eddie's ear, and straighten up just enough to lean her forehead to his. "Not to mention if had been up to my doctor I probably would have gotten trampled, and or been stuck there til someone called the real medics."

Still happily curled on his lap, Harley reached for the zipper, and reached inside for a slim packet of makeup remover wipes. She didn't really need them, but it would cover her dropping the glamour that made her look like a dying waif.

"I didn't even have to act like anything but myself. Maybe a little nervous every time Miranda cornered me to gloat about Celene. She really thought she had something there, not even bothering to pretend to call her Tabitha. Big and dumb, that's my gig." Eddie smirked, and let out a soft snicker, head pressed to Tahlia's he gave her a bare wink. The ambulance turned into a driveway and disappeared behind a garage door that slowly slid closed. "Still, I think everyone will be happy with their split. We'll meet you up there."

Reggie knew when he was being dismissed, getting out and disappearing into the dark garage. Dan hesitated for a moment, like he was ready to say something until a look from Eddie had him almost scampering to be as far away from him as possible. Silence ruled the interior of the ambulance, broken only by the sound of his breathing. "Do you think?" Whatever he was going to say was halted, like he'd changed his mind abruptly. "We should just take a few minutes to preserve the illusion of makeup removal." It kind of went with *do you think*, right'

"I'm going to need to stay out here for a little while. There's something I need to take care of." Now obviously none of that went with do you think. Eddie fell silent, letting the words sink in or maybe just fade away. "A week, or two' and you've got things to get back to. I...well I really don't, unless you count a cheap motel room."

"Aww..Puddin...I wanted to make him squirm a little more." As soon as the vehicle stopped, she'd risen, pouting over her shoulder as she reached back to undo the zipper on her gown. Celene was up there, and besides, it wouldn't do to be boarding a commercial flight in an exquisite gown. People tended to notice things like that. Tossing the wipes aside, she let the glamour fade, regaining color and warmth. "Yeah I guess that makes sense...could you give me a hand with the zipp?" Full stop, she half-turned toward him, something undefinable causing a shimmer against her lashes. "You're not coming right back" You are..you are coming back, right?"

She turned back, eyes closed as she struggled to maintain her composure for a moment. She'd known this day was coming. Knew the job would end and she would have to face whatever it was that was waiting for her back in Rhydin proper. Which, currently, was nothing but an empty penthouse, and too much free time. "No. Of course. You...of course you have things to do. Other jobs. People." She wondered if Celene had already made arrangements to find some cheap hotel somewhere. She didn't think about why it mattered. She had a Simon, somewhere. Didn't she" "I mean, it's just the penthouse...I could let Mal know I'm back, but he's probably busy, and, well...I - yeah. I need to get back to work. Build...something." She was babbling, talking to try and hide the catch in her voice with a flood of words.

"I'll be back, right. You have someone to catch up with. Probably best if I'm not too visible anyway, right?" He could have said all this somewhere else, couldn't he" Except that there wasn't going to be time for it. He knew it even if the rest of them didn't. Eddie's brows sank, creasing the center of his forehead. Why the hell was he even doing this much' She'd figure it out when she finally got out of the ambulance. The garage was dark, but that purple beast of a car was hard to hide. "I wouldn't be much of a" a friend if I didn't give you the opportunity to be whatever you're trying to be."

It was his turn to make a change, bow tie and jacket were pulled free of him, leaving behind a white tank top. Those too shiny shoes were kicked off for a pair of boots. Eddie left them there on the stretcher, looked at Tahlia for several seconds, then leaned over to kiss her forehead. He opened the side of the ambulance and started to walk away, not the same direction that Reggie and Dan had gone. He put his back to the ambulance and the door, heading straight for the Road Runner. His phone chirped in his back pocket, and he pulled it out and hit send. "Go?" It was all he said for several moments. "Big job, that's going to cost extra" you know why." Reaching through the open passenger window he pulled that familiar mottled sealskin leather jacket out and pulled it on. "You know where?" It took everything he had not to look directly back at the ambulance, or the girl inside. He slid into the driver's seat, one covert glance back the way he'd come before firing up the engine and turning up the stereo loud enough to vibrate the foundation with what should now be a very familiar song. The garage door opened, and Eddie was gone in a flash of purple and tail lights.

She'd kept changing as they talked, not looking at him because she didn't know what she'd do if she did. Because it was easier to keep the mask in place if she didn't. The kiss to her forehead caught her by surprise as she turned to tuck her brush away. The dress, and every piece of Lizzy that had gone into the ambulance would stay there. Nearly back to herself, she reached, her fingers coming short as Eddie climbed out the side, and she caught sight of purple metallic paint. So he wasn't even coming upstairs. Her eyes closed, and she shoved a hand into the bag, pulling out a stuffed seal and clinging to it tightly. Because otherwise she would go flying out the door after him, and that wasn't how this went. She'd known that going in. The job was over. And they were going their separate ways.

Even bent over the stuffed animal, she couldn't help hearing the conversation - the roar of the engine, and the pounding bass that she would claim was the reason she sank onto the stretcher, assuming there had been anyone else to see. Stuffing the seal back in her bag, she finished getting ready as the radio faded away, her mask in place. She was going back to wait for Simon, and her cut was already all but spent in that regard. It was better this way. Throwing the bag over her shoulder, she dropped out of the ambulance, and stalked upstairs, pausing only once to watch the last tiny pinpricks of red in the darkness.