Thanks for hanging in there with us, it's been another crazy month! At least it hasn't been a full month since we posted the last chapter... Anyway, many of you have been really baffled by the Count - no worries, all will be revealed in time! And kudos to those of you who've already figured it out! Only a few more chapters before all will be revealed! In the meantime, we'd like to thank our reviewers: hope-is-4-ever, Redcliff, LilBrokenDolly, ReadingWhiz89, and the ever studious AineofKnockaine who's been waiting nearly FOREVER for this chapter to come out after getting to see Dwelllin's artwork for it! I hope you all enjoy!
"We are not responsible for any stock market fluctuations, acts of nature, or the common cold, only for the story we are submitting. If you have any thoughts we would like to hear them (kind ones are acknowledged, mean ones are fed to our pet dragon, Slumberbumpkin the Not So Fierce). We don't own Trigun, (wish we did though!) and we certainly don't own Vash (I know, I already checked into it) , and we don't own Nightow (do I need to repeat myself?), all we own is not really worth mentioning here. Please enjoy your stay and keep all hands and arms inside the ride at all times, and your seats...well, you don't have to keep them in the upright positions! Enjoy your stay!"
Chapter 9
Followed & The Alleyway
Stardate: 08-22-0110-22:00
That was it! She had her fill and wasn't going to put up with these shenanigans any longer. Meryl threw a suspicious glance over her shoulder. Goosebumps were forming on her arms and her heart was racing as her reaction swung erratically back and forth between fear and anger. She knew that she had been followed on several occasions in the past and here she was being tailed again! Of all the nerve!
It was probably that annoying spiky-haired jerk again, she fumed.
Aboard the sandsteamer there were those times when she had that feeling they were being followed, but she had never caught anyone. She had finally chalked those times up to a case of traveling jitters and working for too many hours pouring over the reports. Since arriving in town though she had that feeling again and decided she was right the first time. It had happened when she and Milly were visiting the Memorial Geo-Garden Dome commemorating those slain by Vash the Stampede. She and Milly had been solemnly strolling through the garden talking to each in the hushed tones and pointing out the different greenery and flowers.
They were impressed by the trellis arches liberally scattered throughout the path that wandered throughout the garden. The next thing that stopped them in their tracks was the stone garden with a variety of multi-colored stones with different kinds of moss growing between the artistically arranged rocks. Then came the stepping stones. Each one had a line of poetry engraved upon it starting with the line from Gunsmoke's famous poet laureate, "Holes are unwished for things,..." until the path ended with the last two stones with the ending lines "... tears are the unending stars, frozen against the night sky". Then, marking the beginning of a new path that led to another part of the garden, was a small monument that read, "Only Love triumphs over time and death." Meryl wondered if that too was a line from the famous poet before starting forward. She could hear soft sniffling coming from next to her.
The two subdued agents followed the new walkway that led the observer to a butterfly garden where a bronze plaque proclaimed the names of those who donated to finance the geo-dome garden. At the top was the name of the Count of Augusta, the major contributor.
It was all very lovely and impressive but the sight that had them misty-eyed and staring openmouthed was the moment they turned a corner and came to stand in front of, what the sign claimed was, a willow tree. Neither woman had ever seen anything more beautiful in their whole lives, except in the history books and the photos just did not do it justice. It was donated by the museum, apparently transplanted there as a special gift for this park. There was no way a tree of this scale could have been grown in the year since the incident.
They stood there enrapt at the sight for who knew how long. Finally, after casting cautious glances all around them to make sure they weren't being observed, both women kneeled, with tears dribbling down their cheeks, next to the tree and reached out hands to caress the trunk, awed and overwhelmed. To think, the planet that was the cradle of mankind had been covered with such specimens as this tree they were now touching. They could only stare at it and then at each other, the moment too deep, too strong for mere words to convey. Milly took one of the supple limbs and ran her fingers down to the end.
"It's green! And... it's alive!" She breathed with amazement. Looking over her shoulder first, she then plucked a leaf from it and slid it into the envelope of half-finished letters to the family.
"Milly!" Hissed Meryl as she whipped her head around to make sure Milly's action had gone unnoticed. Lucky for them the act had not been witnessed. She wasn't sure but it wouldn't surprise her if stealing a leaf from the tree could earn them a stiff fine or jail time. Neither would be a good thing at this point in time. "C'mon, there's still one more thing to see."
It was near the end of the garden, before the exit doors when they found the stone with the names of Connor and John placed there by their families and the Bernadelli Society. They stopped in front of the marker for a moment of silence to honor the dead men. Meryl couldn't help but wonder what it was that they had seen or even if there was information they were in possession but were unable to pass on when they were killed.
Upon hearing a sniff, she turned to see tears trickling down Milly's face. "Life is so unfair at times," the tall girl croaked out.
"True Milly, but as the old saying goes, 'it's the only boat afloat.'"
Milly looked at Meryl. "What does that mean?"
Meryl shrugged one petite shoulder, "I have no idea what it meant originally, but mainly that we are stuck with one life and one life only, and we must learn to make the best of it with the time that we have." Meryl had raised a finger and using her lecture voice. She could go on indefinitely if given the chance.
Milly grabbed Meryl in a hug and sobbed out, "That's so wise, Meryl, even if I don't know what it means."
After a few seconds of gagging noises, Milly released Meryl and set her down on her feet. Brushing at her clothes the shorter of two women cleared her throat and said, "Quite right, Milly. I'm glad to have a friend like you too. But, let's carry on now, can't get swept up into mushy, sappy emotional stuff, we need to keep a clear head at all times."
"Right Meryl. A clear head." Milly frowned so hard her face scrunched up.
Meryl rubbed her eyes for a moment before remarking, "Okay, not that clear."
"Hey, can we stop and get some ice cream? I saw a shop just a couple of streets over."
"Well, let me check my list first..." Meryl rummaged around in her cloak and pulled out a well-worn paper with a list written in neat handwriting. "Hmmm, check that, did that, mailed that, filed that, filled that out, telegrammed the chief..." She looked up at Milly's anxious expression, "Looks like we're good to go. Ice cream it is, then!"
It was right then, as she was smiling at Milly, when Meryl felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise and knew that they were being watched. Then she heard the sound of a soft scrape of a boot nearby but when she turned to look there wasn't anyone in the immediate vicinity, not anyone that she could see at least.
That was the first time Meryl knew for sure that they were being spied upon and followed.
However, later in their room, upon questioning Milly, her tall friend just nodded and changed the subject. Really, where was that girl's mind anyway? It was time to nip this little trend in the bud.
As it was, she was pretty sure that this elusive shadow was trying to horn in on their territory and all their hard-earned work. Obviously it was because she and Milly were working the Stampede case and whoever it was wanted information. Didn't the Sheriff of New Barnsdall say as much? Well, they could hang her out to dry before one small iota of data, verification, testimonies, or clues were learned from her! If they wanted information then they could go find out for themselves!
As for this fine evening she would have bet earlier that she wasn't being tailed when she had been shopping, picking up personal items, or even when she first started searching for her partner. Meryl had kept her on a strict leash after Milly came home so late the first night. At least until this night, when her tall friend asked if she might have a few hours on her own to sample the other delectable delights in town, promising to be back early. Although, for the record, Milly was horrible at keeping an eye on the time. Especially when she could eat at four different establishments that sold ice cream and order the largest size each time, all in one day, completely drowning in the sugar! Who could do that? Milly, that's who.
Meryl wasn't sure when the first inkling of awareness began, letting her know that she was being followed as she walked along looking for her friend. After feeling the tickling rise of hairs on her neck she began paying more attention to her surroundings. First, all that could be heard was the sound of her boot heels before she realized that there were odd sounds here and there meant that she was indeed being tailed by her shadow once again.
One time there was a scuff of a boot, and then another, a darker shadow detaching itself from the black recesses of a narrow alleyway after she had passed by. It wasn't as if Meryl had a great deal of experience with this kind of thing, being rather new to the ways of skullduggery, but for days now her nerves were being stretched to a stress point that was about ready to snap. Meryl knew her temper and if she was going to snap it only made sense to make sure that it was pointed at the one who most deserved it.
Fuming now, as caution transformed into anger, she decided on a course of action.
She heard a soft step and finally, it happened. Higher reasoning left, logic disappeared, and common sense was thrown to the winds. Meryl did an about face and stormed back to the last dark alley mouth she had passed only seconds earlier.
The count leaned against the wall, the shadow of the tall building hiding him from the view of prying eyes. He was several yarz into the alley where the shadows were darkest and was chuckling in amusement. Watching that little one get stiffer and more rigid by the minute was putting him in a good humor once again. He almost didn't mind the fact he missed happy hour by following her. Almost.
Hearing a sound, he opened his eyes and turned his head to the side to find two derringers aimed straight at his face, the barrels an indistinct outline against the dim silhouette of her white clothing. Above that was the sight of a grim countenance, eyes dark with the purpling hues of a sunset glaring at him.
"What the hell..." He breathed out, taken by surprise. From now on he vowed, no more letting himself get distracted if she was able to sneak up on him like this!
"So, it's you again! Well, you're not horning in on my assignment, got it!" Meryl bristled at the man in the black outfit that blended with the shadows, her face tight with annoyance.
Smoothly he pushed away from the wall, and, with slow grace, turned to face the short woman head on. Leisurely he looked her over, seemingly unconcerned about having two guns shoved in his face at point blank range. Noticing the way the cape hung and moved about her he knew she was packing all of her guns tonight. Good thing for her she was armed to the teeth, a pretty thing like this could be accosted by a depraved lunatic in a dark alley with no one else around to come to her rescue. Maybe he should offer his assistance.
Again Meryl was staring up into the most extraordinarily colored eyes she had ever seen in her life. Not green, not blue, but a sort of bluish aqua. For a moment she forgot she was holding a loaded gun on another person as she stared up into a face that was only momentarily startled by her sudden appearance. She noticed he recovered quickly despite being at a disadvantage. In fact, shifting nervously from one foot to the other, she could see his eyes taking on a rather strange gleam in the dark alley as they peered down at her... and sands! Her eyes widened as they took in his height. He was a tall one, wasn't he? He was practically looming over her, with a leer on his face and eyebrow mocking quirked up at her obvious surprise. It quickly came home to her that this was the first time they were not out in public and completely alone together. Oh crap, bad move Meryl... She noted the relaxed stance of his shoulders as he leaned against the brick wall and crossed his arms in front of him.
Right then it occurred to Meryl that, maybe, confronting her shadow wasn't one of her brightest ideas. Was it such a big deal if he wanted to follow them? Really, what was the harm in that? Let him! He wouldn't learn anything from her! Actually, now that the reality of the situation was coming home to her, she cast a quick look off to the side thinking that it was a good time for her to depart.
Returning her eyes back to his, she noted that he still wasn't showing any sign of discomfort and, in fact, a condescending smile was sliding across his face. She tried to think of something to say but clever witticisms, along with sarcasm failed her. Every etiquette book she had ever read failed to mention what to do and say upon those rare occasions when facing one's stalker. Invite them home for tea? Hand them a business card? Sell them an insurance package? Run like hell? She was going to go with that last option.
"Sorry, wrong number," she said and turned to dash off.
Except she couldn't. Meryl only had time for a small 'eep' of surprise before a quick snatching arm, as strong as steel, wrapped around her waist and scooped her up off her feet. With an ease that surprised her, she was gracefully, and lightly swung through the air and he was only using one arm! He dropped her so that she fell the last couple of inches and stumbled back against the wall. With an expelled breath she tried to lift her weapons but he merely reached out and with powerful fingers removed them from her as if she had no more strength in her hand than that of a child.
"I don't believe you will be needing these."
Meryl was stunned until she saw him toss her derringers into the deep recesses of the alley.
"Hey! My father gave those to me!" She started after them only to be blocked by a long sinewy arm.
"Do I look like a complete idiot? It would be foolish of me to let you retrieve them."
Meryl turned to face him, hands on hips in a position he was becoming very familiar with. "Listen buddy, I don't know who you are, but you are messing with the wrong girl." Out came the finger, waving like a defiant flag in front of his chest, he stared down at it, intrigued how it sped up with her rising indignation.
She fixed him with an irate stare, studying his face when it dawned on her that she did recognize him. A finger whipped up to point at his nose as she accused, "I KNEW I had seen you before! You are that man from outside the theatre..." She came to a stop as she studied him in suspicion through narrowed eyes.
"No way," he said slowly, his teeth tightly clenched, clearly remembering that first meeting, "You've got the wrong guy, lady." The count decided from that point on he would have to pick better disguises, maybe unbend a little and even have Elendira help him out with it…
She looked up at his hair. It was a flat brown tonight, which could either be a wig or a bad dye job. He had backed out of the shadow so that the rays of the moons slanted across his hair, showing how unnatural it looked. Really, if she weren't in a bad mood already the sight of it would have made her giggle. Instead, she lowered eyes, snapping with displeasure, to exchange glares with him.
"And in front of the geranium. Yep." She concluded in a rush of triumph before being dampened by the realization that she was still alone in a dark alley with a strange man and there wasn't a soul about. "But you know, I could be mistaken, it's been known to happen... well, not often, mind you, but I am sure it has before, at least once."
Then her eyes widened as she caught an odor drifting her way. Leaning forward she gave a sniff which she immediately regretted. His clothes stank! There was the reek of alcohol coming off of him in waves. "You've been drinking!" She said accusingly.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." He grinned down at her, watching a pert tiny nose rise in the air and it wasn't so she could get a better whiff either.
"Hmmph, well, what you do is none of my business unless it is my business, which it is when you have been following us. Your skulking about has been most annoying. If you want to find out anything about Vash the Stampede..."
He interrupted her, leaning over, his face hovering inches above hers as his eyes suddenly turned bitter cold and hard, "Who says I want to know anything about..."
She interrupted him right back, not even pausing to take a breath, "...You can go down to the local convenience store and pick up any number of lurid and questionable magazines filled with the most ludicrous gossip about the Stampede."
The small excitable female was waving an arm in wide circles behind her in the vague direction of the storefronts. "But I will not have you following us around trying to butt in on our assignment, do you understand me!" She stomped a tiny foot to make her point.
Her eyes had lightened to a sparkling periwinkle with cheeks flushed a delightful shade of pink. Unable to help himself, an unaccustomed smile tilted awkwardly across his face while he stared intently at her, feeling a sense of primal hunger wash over him.
He was just standing there, looking down at her with the strangest expression and Meryl could swear his eyes were so bright that they were practically glowing.
Damn but he wanted her. He made a slight movement with his hand, which she caught and tried to back up which she couldn't since her back was already flush to the brick wall behind her.
"Fun's over now, buster!" She put on a stern, forbidding frown and said firmly, "Well, I am glad we had this little conversation. Okay then... I must be off." She made a move to leave when the other arm shot out, blocking her path. Now she was hemmed in on both sides. Meryl turned back to glare up at him and tucked a hand in for another derringer, except he easily caught it before it could disappear into the folds of her cape. With a soft snort, he wrapped long, thin fingers around hers, encompassing her whole hand in his larger leather-clad one. She tugged on her hand even as she stared up at him. With widening eyes she noticed his face was descending toward hers.
He whispered, "I don't think so." And then did what he had been wanting to do since that very first night in front of the movie theatre. He leaned in and caught her mouth with his. Her lips were silky smooth, although tight with shocked indignation at first, and, he noted, while inhaling deeply, she smelled like honeysuckle. In short, the short girl was delicious. With a measure of irritation he wondered how he could get her back to his hotel room without causing too much commotion because he wanted to take her there, as in right now. He leaned in closer, pressing against her smaller perfect body, pinning her against the wall.
Meryl was startled but went for a derringer with her free hand when he snared that one too, strong, lean fingers wrapped around her tiny wrist. How did he do that, his eyes were closed! And she should know because hers weren't! That dirty sand skunk! This was her very first kiss and he had stolen it! As soon as she got a hand free she was going to pepper his hide! Yes that was... the... idea... With fuzzy awareness, Meryl realized she was having difficulty putting together a coherent thought.
Whatever plans of escape she had been formulating vanished, were replaced by something she wasn't expecting and was unfamiliar with, leaving her with trembling limbs and racing heart. Almost without being aware of her actions she instinctively leaned in and started to kiss him back, pressing closer, sculpting her form against the hard muscles of his body. He tasted like a heady mixture of whisky and spice. It was not a combination that she would normally be drawn to, but at the moment she found it wildly irresistible. His lips were firm, yet communicating insatiable hunger for more, and unexpectedly, warm, sending that tingling warmth from their joined lips throughout her body. His lips held and molded hers to his and she could feel her world shrinking down into this one sensation. Not only that, but her knees were starting to quiver and she wondered if they were going to collapse out from underneath her. He must have felt it because he dropped the grip he had on her hands and slid his arms around her lower back, pulling her against him in a tight protective embrace. It was everything she could do to keep her arms from slipping around his slim waist. With thoughts swimming and cheeks flaming she realized she didn't want this to end. Her heart skipped with an intensity that frightened her even as she opened her mouth underneath his urging, not sure what it was that he wanted or what was happening to her.
For a long moment he held her there, before pulling back until his lips barely grazed hers. Then in a languid lift of his head, he saw the mystified expression in her half-closed, periwinkle-gray eyes. With a grin he stated softly, yet with something indefinable in his tone that made her shiver in response, "Want me to do that again?"
Snapping out of the hazy state she had been in, she lied boldly, "Uhhhh... NO! Of course not! Field agents... uhm... Aren't allowed to let their er... Personal feelings get... Uh... In the way of duty, and er, all that... um stuff."
Smiling skepticism met her eyes as he continued to gaze down at her. She gave him her most ferocious frown which only had the effect of making him chuckle. "Feelings, huh?" He grinned in amusement at the stunned expression crossing her face as she realized what she had said.
"You don't sound very convincing you know." He pointed out, still vastly amused by the tiny scowl she was leveling at him, and reached up to softly caress a velvet cheek with a gloved finger. He leaned in closer, lips hovering over her cheek and asked in a low, husky whisper that sent his breath in soft puffs against her flushing skin, "So short girl, I'm curious, what is it exactly that you are feeling?"
"Heads up, everyone!" Came a shout from the mouth of the alley.
The count spun away from her in such a rapid movement it was like watching him disappear into thin air and then reappear again only a couple of feet away. It was odd, but it seemed to Meryl like he was deliberately standing in such a way as to shield her. She shook her head to clear it. Nonsense, she was only imagining things.
The short girl grinned when she caught sight of the person at the end of the alley. Of course she knew who it was as soon as the voice began speaking. Milly to the rescue!
Her shadow looked back at her over his shoulder with a fierce and possessive expression on his face that made her catch her breath in her throat. Just then Meryl heard the familiar thudding sound of three of the stun gun bullet's being fired one right after the other and ducked. She was no stranger to what Milly could do with her gun. The stranger turned back to face Milly but it was already too late.
The first bullet spread out in the familiar 'X'-shape as it left the barrel, hit him in the chest, knocking him back several paces so that he was off balance. The next hit him lower and Meryl tried to ignore the excessive use of foul language exploding from his lips until the third cross bullet sent him flying back, deeper into the shadows of the alley. What followed was the loud crash of his landing.
Meryl didn't waste any time; she sprinted out to Milly, grabbing her by the elbow and sparing only enough breath to shout, "RUN!"
Milly threw her stun gun over one shoulder and both women took off down the street not bothering to look behind them.
They both ran and didn't stop until they were inside the lobby of their hotel, panting and puffing. When Meryl finally had her enough of her breath back she could say to Milly, from the counter of the front desk she was leaning against, "Thanks, Milly! I owe you one."
"You weren't in the room when I got back," puffed Milly who was standing with her stun gun resting over her shoulder. The clerk was stared at them dubiously. When Milly smiled at him and gave him a friendly wave he hastily dropped his eyes back to his work.
"So I came looking for you," she continued, "I kinda freaked out back there… But you know..." Milly wasn't sure how to phrase this knowing how touchy Meryl could be at times, "It really didn't look like he was hurting you." Milly smiled and hugged the stun gun that was still in her arms. Finally the mystery man, whatever his name was, had decided to show Meryl how he felt! She was elated for her friend, even if Meryl wasn't… She was actually sorry that she hadn't recognized him sooner, if it wasn't for that wig Milly probably wouldn't have shot him. Maybe she'd send him a dozen donuts later.
Meryl growled deep in her throat and stared hard at her partner before answering. "I am not so certain about that," she replied, pushing off from counter. "You didn't see the look in his eyes. I think he was most put out with me." She began to blush as she relived the kiss and the fluttery sensation he had started in her stomach with the first touch of his velvety warm lips covering hers. She was very thankful that Milly had arrived when she had. After all, as the senior partner she was even more aware of the responsibilities that went along with their assignment and she had a duty to uphold the integrity and moral... oh screw it, Meryl! She could chide herself later, she wasn't in the mood right now.
"Master, are you injured?" Came the smooth voice not sounding too worried.
"What does it look like!" The count pushed trashcans off of him so that they rolled to the side as he lifted his eyes to glare up at Elendira. "Where the hell have you been anyway? This could have been avoided…"
She bent over him with an extended hand which he took and used to pull himself upright. The Count of Augusta, humanitarian award winner, richest man on the planet, Memorial Garden fundraiser, and Gunsmoke's foremost philanthropist, brushed garbage off of his coat while scowling at the mouth alley where the girls had disappeared.
"Clever thinking on her part to have backup ready," mused the cool, detached voice of the Crimson Nail.
"I doubt that was planned." He plucked a banana peel off his sleeve and tossed it to the side with a disgusted glance.
"We have a problem though. Both of them recognized me from the sandsteamer." He flicked his toe so that the orange peel clinging to the end of his boot flew off to the side.
The cross dresser shrugged, considering the matter insignificant and unimportant enough to worry about. But unable to stop herself, grinned mischievously and asked, "However did they penetrate that amazing disguise, oh master of illusion?"
Elendira moved in and the count stopped brushing off the coffee grounds clinging to the front of his coat and warily watched her step up close to him. One leather-gloved hand reached up and wiped pieces of eggshell from his shoulder.
"You test the line," he informed her coldly. Elendira merely smiled at him as she stepped back away from him.
"As you say, Master."
There was a pause as he checked to make sure the more noticeable of the trash was gone from his person. He would have to have the whole outfit sent out to the cleaners, it reeked, and not only from the garbage he had landed in.
"Do you want her, Master?"
His head snapped up to see the cross dresser tilting her head at him, curious.
"Why do you ask, as if it was any of your business," he asked, voice colder than ice.
"Your happiness is my business and I could easily procure her for you to enjoy, Master."
"Dammit all, if I want her I will retrieve her myself! I don't need any help!"
"Of course not, it was impudent of me to imply such a thing." Elendira dipped her head in a respectful bow. She was thoroughly enjoying this. If the women kept avoiding him like this for long perhaps he'd give up to a more willing fare. "What are your wishes, Master?"
Through narrowed eyes he studied the Crimson Nail. He didn't trust his lieutenant anywhere near his little... he stopped mid-brush wondering. His prey? His toy in the grand game? His chess piece on strings? Whatever, he would pick the time and place. He certainly didn't need any help from Elendira.
Stepping away from the pile behind him, he passed by Elendira without looking at her, "Come. We are going to leave them to their own devices for a while. I need an update on everything that you know. I'm sure there are plans that need my attention. And besides..."
"Yes, Master," Elendira said, as she fell into step behind him.
"I need your help in finding a better disguise."
Elendira lifted a perfectly manicured eyebrow, and with a smirk replied, "Yes, Master."
Can't This Wait Until Morning?
Stardate: 08-23-0110 0:00
"He's the one who has been following us." Milly informed her as both women climbed the stairs to the second floor as their room was near the head of the stairs. It was quicker to walk up then it was to wait for the elevator to take them there.
"Wait just a darn minute here! You knew?" Meryl did an abrupt halt in the middle of the staircase and turned to look down at her partner behind her. "How come you didn't tell me before this! Milly! In order to make informed decisions I need to know stuff like this!"
Oh-oh. Meryl was getting excitable, red in the face, and starting to wave her arms around regardless of who might be in the hall watching. There was only one thing to do and that was to employ the tactics Milly had learned in dealing with all her little nephews and nieces. Since it seemed to work on Meryl as well, if one played it just right, she used it every now and then to distract her more volatile friend.
"So, did he say why he has been following us?" Milly tipped her head. "He has been since December, you know."
"Well I do now! Thanks for the update! Geez, Milly, a little heads up from now on would be nice!" Meryl gave her partner a critical glance as she started up the stairs again.
Milly smiled sweetly at Meryl's stiff back as she followed her partner up the rest of the stairs. The smaller of the two did not like complications that were outside of what was expected, which is why Milly suspected that Meryl's running admonition that they always be ready for surprises was more for herself than her partner. As laid back as Milly appeared, unexpected goings-on rarely bothered her, as things like that came part and parcel with a large, extended family. Meryl, though, being an only child, stressed out over unforeseen and unanticipated events at every turn. Meryl was a little uptight and needed to relax more. At least that was Milly's unspoken opinion. Maybe she should have given the count and Meryl a little more time before interrupting them.
Despite the last comment Milly knew that her partner's mind was already occupied with the puzzle of wondering why the stranger in black was following them. She would even bet that Meryl formulated several theories already.
"I wouldn't doubt that he knows where we are staying," grumbled Meryl while inserting the key and unlocking the door. "I wonder if we should check into another hotel... But then again, there are only so many hotels in this town and it would be an easy matter to track us down."
Meryl let the door swing open but didn't enter so that Milly, who was moving to go in, bumped into her from behind. She looked down at her smaller friend with questioning eyes before snapping them up to search the dark room with a suddenly alert frown and lowering her gun to aim it into the dark.
Leaning into the room without her feet crossing the threshold, Meryl reached for the light switch and flipped it on. Two sets of suspicious eyes scanned the place for anything out of the ordinary.
Their luggage was still neatly stacked in the corner and the curtains were undulating in the bit of breeze that flowed through the open window. Nothing was out of place or looked as if it had been disturbed.
Meryl gave a snort and Milly couldn't tell if it was one of disappointment or satisfaction. They entered and Milly set her gun in the corner by her bed so that it was within reach in case they were attacked, which she doubted they would be at this point.
The shorter girl inspected the room. Then turning to look at her partner with a frown, she pounded a fist into a palm. "This won't do, Milly. It won't do at all!"
Oh great, Meryl was upset. "What won't do, Meryl?" Milly asked tiredly as she shucked off her duster and hung it in the closet. This could be a long night. If thoughts were spinning like windmills in Meryl's mind it meant that there was a good chance she would be up all night and if that was so, then it meant Milly would have to deal with Meryl's grouchiness the next day. Milly luckily, could sleep through just about anything, so losing sleep wasn't a big issue with her. She just prayed that Meryl wasn't on a tear about something; she really wanted to go to bed and get some sleep. It had been a very long day.
"We cannot give our full attention to tracking down Vash the Stampede if we are continually looking over our shoulders to see who is following us. I won't have it, Milly; we are the ones doing all the work! I won't have someone else hanging onto our coattails! What if they are going to just get him all riled up to the point that he just pops off again! It could be bad, really, really bad. I can see it now, mounds of debris, fire, disaster, destruction, whole cities going up in smoke..."
"MERYL!"
Meryl stopped her panicky tirade to notice that Milly was frowning at her.
"Don't invite a wild toma into the house!" Milly scolded. For a second she held the frown before it melted off and her customary smile replaced it.
"Think of it this way." One finger came up to tap her chin as she rolled her eyes in thought. "It could be a win-win situation."
"What do you mean?"
"It seems to me that he is going follow us around no matter what since he already has from December on..."
Meryl nodded in agreement.
"Then he will continue to follow us, right?" She looked over to see Meryl nod again. "Well, how about we let him follow us and every so often feed him false information? Also, it seems to me that if he is following us, then we know where he is and what he is doing."
Meryl's eyes lit up with pleasure.
"You are a genius, Milly! Brilliant! And then we can find out if he is working for himself or for someone else! I am putting that in the next report!" Meryl enthused and in automatic response, started to head toward her typewriter to immediately write a report when Milly caught her arm.
"No!"
The petite woman turned too astonished to speak. Milly never said 'no' to her.
Milly looked around for a second as if suspecting someone was in the room with them. Meryl also peered around before turning back to face her friend.
"Well?"
Speaking in a hushed tone, Milly explained, looking down as she fiddled with the clasp on one suspender, "Meryl, something odd is going on at the company and I don't think you should tell them that we were being followed and especially don't tell them what we are going to do about it."
Meryl's mouth dropped open. Milly? Her Milly was thinking like a spy for a change? And how long had Milly been thinking these things? However, as Meryl slowly processed the information she had to admit that there was a ring of truth to what Milly was saying. Ever since they had been handed this assignment, something out of the ordinary had been going on. Still; her brows creased with uncertainty, this was their first job and neither girl had previous experience before this to compare it with to be able to know for sure.
Nodding once again, she agreed, "Okay, Milly, we will play this your way because I think you are onto something here. Things have been decidedly odd from day one, although I am not sure I agree with you about it originating from within the company. Although Bernadelli has acted very strangely…"
Meryl lifted her nose and Milly knew she was about to make an announcement. "Mr. Bernadelli would never be involved in any kind of activity that even hinted at anything criminal or illegal. He's just not that kind of man. It has to be someone either higher up, or..." her brow puckered in thought, "someone with access to the same information that we do." Milly had her doubts but wisely decided to hold her tongue about that subject and instead, turned to the matter at hand.
Milly was inclined to agree, didn't she hear Papa say once to Clive that things weren't always what they seemed at the Big Place? "Okay, Meryl, but no typing tonight. We need our sleep so we can be rested for the morning." That was a good argument to trot out and one that she made sure not to overuse.
"Right you are! We will start thinking up misinformation and misdirection as soon as the first sun rises!"
Milly groaned, she couldn't even think of anything at first light except for 'Ten more minutes, please!'