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Post by skybright on Feb 26, 2008 23:13:37 GMT -5
"You're right, of course." Marla smiled thinly and shrugged. "Sorry. I guess with all the worrying Marcus does about me, I've just sort of . . . gotten into the habit of worrying about him right back."
Her smile widened slightly as she glanced sideways at Nate. "Anyway, I'm glad both of us have some people around I know we can trust."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 26, 2008 23:35:45 GMT -5
Nate grinned back. "That's the only way to make it."
* * * *
When they neared the Cole family estate, the same produce peddler was still tending his cart by the roadside. He gave Nate a cryptic sign as they passed, and the young man smiled with satisfaction.
"That was the all-clear," he told Marla. "Looks like things got smoothed over okay. I guess your brother pulled it off."
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Post by skybright on Feb 26, 2008 23:44:55 GMT -5
Marla grinned in relief and glanced out the window at the familiar grounds of the estate. "I'm sure glad to hear that," she said, as Nate pulled the car up alongside her brother's dark-blue sedan.
The front door of the house opened before the vehicle had even come to a complete stop, and James Marcus Cole stepped out onto the porch with a haste that suggested he'd been watching out the window -- possibly with one hand on the doorknob. Marla laughed and nodded at Nate. "Think he missed me?"
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 26, 2008 23:47:42 GMT -5
"You know, it might be good for him to have a dog or something," Nate murmured, half under his breath.
However, as Cole approached, he put on a grin. "Hello, sir. Here's Miss Cole--safe and sound. We didn't have any problems."
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Post by skybright on Feb 26, 2008 23:56:56 GMT -5
Cole nodded politely at Nate, then glanced at Marla and brushed his mind against hers -- simultaneously greeting her and checking to see if Nate was telling the truth. Marla's answering touch was reassuring (if faintly exasperating), and Cole smiled. "Well, I'm glad to hear that -- and I'm glad that I can say the same."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2008 0:06:01 GMT -5
"So Tiernan bought the story about your powers?" Nate asked.
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2008 0:13:32 GMT -5
Cole nodded. "He even went so far as to give me a sample of his own . . . the more innocuous one," He added quickly, catching Marla's burst of horrified thought.
He shrugged. "I attended the business meeting -- at Tiernan's own suggestion -- and gave him reports on the attendees' emotional states afterwards, just as planned."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2008 0:20:24 GMT -5
Nate nodded thoughtfully. "I guess we dodged the bullet... for now. The problem from here on is gonna be keeping him from trying to get too much real use out of you--while still making him think you're on his side."
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2008 0:32:35 GMT -5
Cole nodded. "That shouldn't be too difficult. I overplayed my hand a bit with the details of what some of those men were feeling -- and Tiernan's thoughts made it pretty clear that I'm dangerous to him if I'm too effective. I won't make the same mistake again."
He shrugged and spread his hands. "In point of fact, I may have something else of interest for you and your father -- something else Tiernan had on his mind."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2008 0:39:36 GMT -5
"Oh?" Nate raised an eyebrow. "We could sure use a lead on what he's up to. Is it something Dad should hear in person, or do you want me to pass it on?"
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2008 0:56:04 GMT -5
Cole shrugged. "I haven't got very many details, so you may as well just pass it on to him. All I know is that Tiernan's extremely distracted with getting ready for the arrival of someone called 'Ashley'. He told me he was preparing for 'an urgent mutant-welfare case' -- but his thoughts didn't really suggest anything like that."
Marla frowned. "And that's all you know?"
Cole shook his head. "Tiernan kept getting distracted -- and you've seen what a mess the inside of his head is for me to work in." He turned back to Nate. "Anyway, he's up to something."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2008 21:24:28 GMT -5
"Hmm." Nate frowned and folded his arms. "Thanks for the tip. I'll pass it on to the Major, alright. The name doesn't mean anything to me--but I still don't have a fraction of his intel about the mutant underworld."
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2008 23:24:41 GMT -5
"I couldn't even tell if it was a male or female Ashley he was referring to. Hopefully one of your sources will know more." Cole shrugged. "I don't think the chances of my getting another meeting with Tiernan anytime soon are very good -- but if Major Vance wants me to, I'll try."
He smiled and glanced at Marla. "Meanwhile -- pass on my thanks for keeping my sister out of harm's way. And thanks to you, especially."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2008 23:46:44 GMT -5
"Oh." Nate colored slightly. "No problem. My pleasure. All in a day's work, and all that."
He grinned at Marla, then shrugged to Cole. "Well... I guess I should get going, and pass on that info to the Major."
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Post by skybright on Feb 27, 2008 23:54:44 GMT -5
Cole nodded and shook Nate's hand, then bent to retrieve Marla's suitcases.
Marla smiled shyly and held out her hands to Nate. "It really was a nice time. Thanks." She hesitated a moment, then added. "And . . . listen, I'll . . . I'll think about . . . y'know. What we talked about." She glanced briefly at her brother.
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 27, 2008 23:58:26 GMT -5
"Oh." Nate grinned uneasily as he clasped Marla's offered hands, and shot Cole a look. "Then I'll remember to duck next time I see you and Mister Cole here."
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Post by skybright on Feb 28, 2008 0:06:09 GMT -5
Marla laughed. "I'll look forward to it."
Cole raised a quizzical eyebrow at the exchange, but chose not to comment. Instead he shrugged and gestured towards the front door. "Well, I suppose we'd better get you unpacked. Thank you again, Lieutenant."
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Post by Jordanna on Feb 28, 2008 0:15:05 GMT -5
"Sure. And if we can figure out who 'Ashley' is, I'm sure we'll keep you up to date on that. Have a nice day, sir... Goodbye, ma'am," he added to Marla with another smile, then inclined his head and walked back to the car.
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Post by skybright on Feb 28, 2008 0:24:15 GMT -5
Cole smiled over his shoulder at Marla as he climbed the steps to the front door. "Good to be back, kiddo?"
Marla spared a quick glance over her own shoulder at Nate's departing car, then smiled crookedly. "I . . . yeah. Good to be back."
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