Goliath spoilers! I'm shipping "Malogers" now, because it has just occurred to me and I'm enjoying the thought. FAH if it doesn't work!


Miss Adela Rogers expertly juggled the fresh cup of coffee and banana nut muffin she'd just purchased with an armful of research material, and her ever-present notebook and pencil, scanning the crowded café patio for an empty table to commandeer. When her eyes spotted none, she concluded that the next best thing would be to seat herself with an acquaintance—of which she had many—and keep the table when they left.

Suffice it to say she was not pleased when no prospects fit the criteria, save for one Mr. Eddie Malone and his stupid bullfrog.

Miss Rogers sighed and decided she might as well make the best of the situation. The odds that she and her archenemy would find themselves in the same café in New York at the same time were extraordinarily slim, so surely this had happened for a reason! Without further adieu she slid lithely into the chair across from the other reporter, startling him out of whatever reverie he was caught up on. When he realized who had interrupted his thoughts he quickly hid his notes under the table.

"How did you do it?" Miss Rogers asked, setting down her things.

"Morning to you too, Rogers. Do what?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Weasel all those secrets out of the prince—I'm sorry, the Archduke—of Austria-Este. You can't tell me a slime like you actually managed to earn the young man's trust."

Ignoring the insult and realizing he had the upper hand here, Malone broke into a smile and scratched the underside of his bullfrog's chin. "And you expect me to just tell you my top-secret strategy?"

"I highly doubt it was that complex. So? What bull did you feed the boy?"

"That, Miss Rogers—" Malone leaned back on the back legs of his chair, "is information you will have to pay for."

"Or was it the bell captain's trust you earned?" She was unconsciously scribbling her musings down as they came out. "I knew he was in the loop."

"I'm sorry, the bell captain?"

"The boy Sharp. You cracked him, didn't you, Malone?"

After a moment's pause Malone broke into laughter. "Oh, Sharp! I'll give you that—the kid was in on a lot of secrets."

"So you had some sort of agreement with him?"

"I suppose you could—hey, hold up now, Rogers! I said you had to pay for that intel!"

Miss Rogers paused in her writing, "No, that's quite alright. Go on," and resumed.

Her scribbling was cut off by a hand of questionable cleanliness planting itself on her page. She glanced up to shoot Malone a look as he slid the notebook out of her hands.

"Now, Miss Rogers, I'm not asking much for payment."

She pressed her lips into a thin line. "What do you want?"

"Well, I must say it's refreshing to see a lady of such intrepidity in the biz. And one so easy on the eyes too."

"The point, please."

Malone smiled. "Do this slime the honour of escorting you to dinner, would you?"

Her glower lasted only another moment before she burst into laughter. "Jeez, Malone, you're pretty ballsy yourself!" She chuckled a bit more, then snatched her notebook back while he was distracted. "Fine. You may pick me up at six o' clock. I trust you won't waste my time."

"Of course not." Malone gathered his belongings and stood—poor manners with the lady still seated, but she'd made it clear she had no intention of leaving the table. When he was sure he had everything he began to pick his way through the crowded patio. "I'll see you, Rogers!"

"I mean it!" she called after him.

Malone waved. "Don't worry, you won't be disappointed!"