Chapter 33

"How is she?" Amy asked; the majority of the group were sitting round at tables in Darcy's restuarant, some sipping cups of coffee or tea, others quietly talking between themselves.

"Britt's doing her best to calm her down. She'll get used to the change eventually."

"You're sure there was nothing that could have been done?"

"We couldn't save them," Anni shook her head sadly, "We did our best. I'll go and see how Britt is doing."

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"Stop moaning! Would you rather stink of sewers all your life?"

"I'd rather have my khakis back, minus the stink!"

"Well, we can't get rid of the stink, so these will just have to do!"

"How am I supposed to kick a guy in the head in these heels?"

"Is this an everyday occurrence or one you save for Gary?"

"Not especially, but now that you mention it..."

"You are not to go beating up Gary: do you hear me?"

"Give me one good reason not to!"

"He saved my boyfriend!"

"He ruined my khakis!"

"Mine wins!"

"Humph!"

Anni rolled her eyes and walked into the hair salon to find Cat and Britt, arms crossed, chin to chin, glaring at each other.

"Say wants to see us all in D'Arcy's," Anni cut in hesitantly. Two heads flicked round to look at her.

"Okay," replied Britt.

"We'll be down in a minute," said Cat.

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"I just think you should apologise to Cat to smooth things over," Say said, watching Gary closely, "After all: it was you that attacked her."

"It was her who sneaked up on us!"

"She was just checking out a noise: you could have been anyone!"

"So could she!"

"She was very attached to those clothes."

"And I'm very attached to my..."

"They'll be down in a minute," Anni cut in, suddenly appearing from round the corner.

"Now be nice," Steve cautioned his brother, "And whatever the result, don't laugh!"

The gathered Misfits, Amazons and Counting House crew turned to look at the door. Britt was the first to enter.

"I've done my best," she said, holding up her hands and stepping to one side.

Slightly nervously and more than a touch furiously, Cat stepped into the restaurant. Her trademark green was gone and she was kitted out in loose black slacks, a black, fitted, low-cut top with long black mesh sleeves that hung down in a medieval style and black boots with a two inch heel. There was silence.

"Well?" Cat snapped, glaring at Gary.

"Huh? Wha..." Gary stammered, looking a little glazed over.

"I think he means you look nice," Steve translated.

"Um, yeah," Gary confirmed, "and sorry I jumped you, I mean attacked you... In the sewers... Um."

"Okay!" Say said, with forced cheerfulness, cutting through the odd silence that had once again descended in the room, "Well, we're all here for a reason so let's get on with it!"

"Why are we here?" Cat asked.

"We need to decide what to do about the number of people staying here," Christy explained.

"There are a lot of advantages to staying together," Zane added, "but there are some disadvantages too."

"Like whether or not we can support the extra numbers," Christy finished.

"Personally I've always like the number 12!" Bobbi chirped up, happier now that she had been released from her bonds and was free to sit wherever she wanted. Currently she wanted to sit on Marc's knee.

"Bobbi, there are 19 of us," Amy sighed.

"I know, but I still like the number 12!"

"Number 12 aside," Say cut in, resolutely trying to get the conversation back on track, "can we support 19 people in this building?"

"We have the rooms," Cat shrugged, casting sideways glances at Gary who was still staring at her in a most unnerving way, "but do we have the supplies?"

"We should have enough food in this place to feed a small army or weeks if we can keep the freezers and fridges working, but it won't last forever, whether we eat it or not."

"So what do we do when the food runs out?" Zane asked.

"Right now, I have no idea," Say sighed, "I know where the main suppliers are in this city, but it will mean sending out groups of people to collect the food before anyone else gets it, if it hasn't already gone."

"We can do that: with the map of the sewers, we can get into almost anywhere," Di chipped in.

"Plus we have more supplies stockpiled in my bar that can be brought here," Sarah added.

"And at the Counting House, if there's anything left," Steve nodded.

"I don't think it's a good idea to go back there," said Zane thoughtfully, "Sophia knows the place and she might be watching it."

"Not if we use the sewers, surely?"

"She doesn't have to be watching it from the outside: what if she has guards on the inside, waiting for you to come back?"

"She's not that clever!" Gary muttered.

"Neither are you!" Cat muttered in return.

"Play nice children!" Anni sighed.