^^^^^^^^^^^^5 MONTHS LATER^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Foaly called Holly's house, she'd want a piece of this. "Hey, Holls?"
"Yeah, Foaly? What is it?"
"I know you're off duty but we've got a hot tip on Mulch and I figured you'd want to be the first to know."
"Gimme ten minutes to get dressed and I'll be down at the station." She sat up and immediately started looking for something to wear.
"I knew you'd want to know. Wear your civvies, probably going in undercover. But bring your gun. Whaddaya say, Holly? Do we tell Root?"
"He on duty?" she asked, trying to find her shoes.
"No."
"Then why not? If we're not on the job then we can't be called to account if we've got to take him on a little side trip first."
"I nearly forgot about that, Holly. Are you still going to go through with it and take him to the Mud Boy?"
She picked up her gun. "A fairy keeps her word, Foaly. At least, elves do, and Root and I are elves. I know you aren't an elf, centaur, but you are a fairy. Act like it."
"Right. You given any thought on how to get in contact with the Mud Boy once you catch Diggums?"
She stopped, "No. Hadn't thought of that."
"He lives at that school of his doesn't he?"
"Yeah."
"So leave him a note in his dormitory."
"But."
"In Gnomish."
"Right! Sounds good. And then he can call up the Mud Man and arrange transportation to where we'll meet. I'm walking out the door now. Call Root."
"Can do. I'll give Julius a ring right now."
Holly grinned and hung up, she'd love to see Root's face if Foaly started calling him Julius. She walked out. * * * * * * *
Foaly hung up from talking to Holly and called Root on his home number. "Hello, Commander."
"What is it, horse?"
"Easy, Julius, I've got a hot tip on a certain convict."
"I'm off-duty."
"It's a certain dwarf."
"Diggums? I'll be at the station in 15 minutes."
"Wear your civvies, Commander. I think you and Captain Short are going in undercover."
"Alright."
"Are you going to keep your word to the Mud Boy?"
"I've got to. I made a deal, Foaly, and LEP officers do not break deals."
"Alright then. See you in fifteen minutes, Julius." He nearly giggled, antagonizing Root would always be the best part of his job.
Root arrived just after Holly.
"Alright. Here. Imported Mud Man technology being sold illegally in sector 7 on the outskirts of Haven. Plan is that the two of your send a call to where Mulch has set up shop, got himself a cell phone for the business. You call, disguised voices, saying you want 2 DVD players, some DVDs, and a few pairs of designer sunglasses or a book. You arrange a meeting as soon as possible. Tonight. You head down there. Borrow my car, Mulch doesn't recognize it. He might not want to see you on such short notice so be sure to be willing to give him a good deal for the merchandise."
"Anything else?" growled Root.
"Yeah. Let Holly make the call. I don't trust you not to say you want to strangle him."
Holly thought he had a point there but instead she just said, "My voice will be harder for him to recognize, Commander. You've arrested him more times than I have."
"True. Where's the number?"
Foaly dialed and passed the phone to Holly.
"Hello, who is this?" It was Mulch's voice.
Holly made her voice a little higher than normal. "For now let's just say I'm a customer. I'm interested in buying some of your merchandise. I hear you sell stuff from the surface?"
"That depends on who's asking?"
"My name's Kerri. Me and my friend James are interested."
"What specifically?"
"A DVD player. Some DVDs to play on it. What do you think, James? The Wizard of Oz and maybe the Fellowship of the Ring?" Holly was talking to Root but she made sure her voice was loud enough for Mulch to hear. "Okay, James. Wizard of Oz and Fellowship of the Ring it is, Mister.? What did you say your name was?"
"I didn't say. Anything else?"
"How about one of those Harry Potter books the Mud People seem so crazy about?"
"Which book?" He ran through the list.
"How about the first one? I'll come back to you if I want the next one. How much gold are we talking about here?"
He told her.
"That's a little pricey."
"Well it's a little dangerous on me going back and forward to the surface. Gotta take that into the price."
"I suppose. But how about lowering just a little?"
"No deal."
"I'll take my business elsewhere then."
"Alright. Alright. 10% off. No more."
"Make it 12."
"12!"
"Yeah."
"Fine, twelve."
"Where am I going to meet you?"
He gave a place entirely different from that which Foaly had mentioned, but still on the edge of the Haven.
"That's kinda far."
"You don't want to get caught by the LEP anymore than I do. Are you coming or not?"
"Yeah. I'm coming. Can we make it tonight?"
"I guess so. The things are all in stock."
"What time?"
"9."
"Alright. We'll be there."
"Good."
Holly hung up. "It's all set. 9 tonight." She gave them the meeting place.
"Too risky to send the two of you in wired so I'm just going to use the iris cams. You've got about an hour to get there. Hazel, right, Holly?" He trotted over to little glass vials containing the iris cams.
"That's right," she said.
"Okay," inserted what looked like contact lens into her eye. "You do have nice eyes, Holly."
Root came over. "He's right."
"Thanks."
"I didn't mean it as a complement. I mean of course it was a complement, but how are we going to keep Mulch from recognizing you? Or recognizing me?"
"I've got just the thing," said Foaly. "I've been wanting to try these out." He took what looked like a rubber face off one of the counters. "Put this on, Holly. It just goes on over your face. It's a modified memory latex."
Holly eyed it doubtfully but put it on, it molded to her face.
Foaly brought her a mirror.
"Impressive." It was. It was completely molded to her face, impossible to tell that she was wearing it, but at the same time it was a completely different face, except for the eyes peering out. She looked quite young, apparently someone just out of school or possibly still finishing.
"What about me?" asked Root.
"I've got another one." Foaly trotted back to the counter and brought out a similar mask. "Put this on."
Root did as he was instructed. The mask molded itself to his face and Holly laughed. Root's mask made him look to be nearly the same age as Holly's mask made her look; and for somebody who'd had his LEP training nearly 5 centuries ago that was saying something. Holly was only in her early 80s.
"Let me see that mirror," he growled. He saw. "I look younger than Holly really is! And I don't look like me at all!"
"That's the point, sir," Holly said.
"Speaking of which, Holly, do you have anything to wear that isn't, well, you?" asked Foaly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what you're wearing doesn't suit your face right now."
"I guess not." Holly examined her clothes. She was wearing slacks and a sweater but this face belonged in.other clothes. It was the face of a hip, trendy, young person. Very not Holly. Very not Holly's clothes. "I've got something that I bought as a costume a few years ago. But what are you going to do, Commander?"
"I'll find something," he growled.
Foaly got a sudden light in his eyes. "Make sure it's sleeveless, Commander."
"Why?"
"Because you're getting a tattoo."
"Are you out of your mind, pony?"
"It's not a real tattoo but if your clothes aren't exactly the part a tattoo will help make things more convincing. Holly, are your ears pierced?"
"Don't even think about it, Foaly,"
she made her voice as dangerous as possible. "I've got some clip-on hoops though."
"Okay. Perfect. We've got about two hours before you have to be there. Go find something to wear."
"Wait a second. Help me take the iris cam out first, Foaly."
He put it back in its vial.
"Both of you be sure not to take off your masks. Those are proto- types. I told you it's like the memory latex, so it's one time use only."
"Got it." Holly left and went back home. She had to dig through everything in her closet before she found what she was looking for. She even found a nice wig of long blonde hair. She put it and the outfit on and then began to put on her makeup. She never wore makeup but to fit tonight's part, she put it on. It took some doing but she found the earrings at last and the shoes she needed. They were a little hard to walk in but it was the only thing that would work with this outfit. She stood and eyed herself critically in the mirror. Her own mother wouldn't have recognized her. She left for the Police Plaza.
When she got inside the police plaza it looked nearly deserted, for which she was thankful. Unfortunately it was the "nearly" part that was the problem.
"Hey, beautiful, how are you doing?"
She made sure to alter her voice when she responded, "Private Verbil, I suggest you vacate my line of vision immediately before I sock you."
"How'd you know my name? Have I seen you before?"
"No. It says so on your badge. Don't you have work to do? I'd hate to think my tax dollars went for nothing."
He shuffled off.
She was nearly to the Ops Room when she saw Trouble. It was just her luck that he saw her too.
"Hello. I don't think I've seen you here before."
"No, you haven't."
"Are you new here? Lost maybe?"
"No, no. Just visiting a friend."
"Oh, who?"
"He works in the Ops Rooms." She emphasized the "he" hoping to put him off. It didn't work.
"Oh, well I'll be glad to show you the way." He was standing a little closer to her than she would have liked.
"How very sweet. But I can find it myself."
"No, really it's no trouble. But I am."
"What?"
"My name. Captain Trouble Kelp. Have you heard of me?"
She decided to give him a hard time. "Yes! Weren't you the one leading the Retrieval Squad when that one Mud Man took out the entire squad?"
He blushed. "Yes, that was me. He was seven feet tall though. The only Mud Man to ever take on a troll and win, you know."
"I heard."
They were nearing the Ops Room. "You're awfully pretty. My shift ends in about twenty minutes. I know it's late but do you want to go grab a bite to eat?"
"I'm not hungry."
"We could go for a walk."
"I don't think so."
They were at the door now. There was no one around but her and Trouble. She abandoned caution and used her regular voice. She pressed the intercom, "Foaly, let me in now."
"Can do."
Trouble paled and glanced at Holly head to toe. He gulped. "Holly?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"You.you look."
"Different?"
"You can say that again!"
"Yeah. I look different."
"Oh my gods. I'm sorry." He banged the heel of his hand against his forehead. Holly heard him mutter, "I can't believe I was hitting on Holly!" repeatedly.
"It's okay, Troubs. If you didn't recognize me it means Mulch isn't going to recognize me either."
"Mulch? Nobody knows where he is."
"I do. Going undercover to arrest him tonight."
"You can't go by yourself. You aren't even on-duty tonight."
She saw Root approaching behind Trouble. "Oh, I'm not going alone."
"Your not?"
"No, he's coming with me."
Root tapped Trouble on the shoulder and glared at him.
"I'm sorry, who are you?"
"Captain, get your butt back to work!" he growled.
"Commander?" his face was even paler.
"That's right."
"But your face. Holly's face. Holly's clothes." Trouble seemed to be having difficulty forming sentences.
"Yes. How was it your said I looked?"
"Holly, believe me if I'd known it was you I swear I wouldn't have said anything!"
She shook her head and laughed soundlessly. "Let's go in." They entered the Ops Room. Foaly was fiddling with some wires and didn't see them. "Foaly, did you know LEP is full of pigs?"
"Really?" he didn't turn around.
"I'm here two minutes and two of the male officers start hitting on me."
"Really? Let me see what you're wearing." He finally turned around. He blinked several times. "Holly? Is that you?"
She made her voice high again, "My name's Kerri. Do you want to go to dinner tonight?"
"Holly, y-you did a really good job finding an outfit for this. I'm stunned."
"Gimme a mirror." She took a look at herself in the mirror again. She was wearing a halter-top, a pink mini-skirt, and pink sandals. With the mask on her face and the blonde wig she was completely unrecognizable as Captain Holly Short. Captain Holly Short would never dress like this. She grinned. "Alright wears that iris cam?"
Foaly went and fetched it for her.
Meanwhile, Holly turned to give Root a critical glance. He'd done pretty well. The pants didn't look too old fashioned and the sleeveless shirt went pretty well with it.
Foaly put a hazel iris cam in Holly's eye and then took a felt marker to Root's arm. It looked pretty convincing. He put a mud colored iris cam in Root's eye.
"I'll give you a Neutrino and a buzz baton to share. He might check for weapons and you've got a better chance of hiding them if you don't have too many. If you want you can take one of those finger shooters."
"The one where you brush it with your thumb against you knuckle?" asked Root.
"Yeah. And take a pair of handcuffs. Take a pair for his ankles too."
"All right," said Root.
"Wait, where am I going to put any weapons?" Holly looked down at her clothes. She could exactly hide anything anywhere.
"Root gets the baton and the gun. He can hide them better. You can have the finger dart. You only get one shot."
"Alright," she grumbled. "But I want to hit Mulch with that baton!"
"I think you're ready to go. Trouble, do they look anything like.well, themselves?"
"Commander Root doesn't look like himself at all. And Holly definitely doesn't look like herself in the least bit," Trouble said.
"Is that supposed to be a complement?" asked Holly, a wry grin on her face.
"No, um, yes, uh, no. No, definitely no."
She laughed. "Come on, James, we're going to be late. Give me your keys, Foaly."
He tossed them to her. "Good luck."
"Thanks. Don't need luck." They walked out.
Foaly turned to Trouble, "You've got to admit, she looks good."
"Yeah. I can't believe I've been working with her so long and I never realized it."
"Well, maybe you should invite her to dinner."
"I did. Tonight. She said no."
"Maybe some time when she isn't dressed like that." Foaly shook his head, "Go on. Get back to work and don't breathe a word about this to anybody."
"Got it."
Foaly called Holly's house, she'd want a piece of this. "Hey, Holls?"
"Yeah, Foaly? What is it?"
"I know you're off duty but we've got a hot tip on Mulch and I figured you'd want to be the first to know."
"Gimme ten minutes to get dressed and I'll be down at the station." She sat up and immediately started looking for something to wear.
"I knew you'd want to know. Wear your civvies, probably going in undercover. But bring your gun. Whaddaya say, Holly? Do we tell Root?"
"He on duty?" she asked, trying to find her shoes.
"No."
"Then why not? If we're not on the job then we can't be called to account if we've got to take him on a little side trip first."
"I nearly forgot about that, Holly. Are you still going to go through with it and take him to the Mud Boy?"
She picked up her gun. "A fairy keeps her word, Foaly. At least, elves do, and Root and I are elves. I know you aren't an elf, centaur, but you are a fairy. Act like it."
"Right. You given any thought on how to get in contact with the Mud Boy once you catch Diggums?"
She stopped, "No. Hadn't thought of that."
"He lives at that school of his doesn't he?"
"Yeah."
"So leave him a note in his dormitory."
"But."
"In Gnomish."
"Right! Sounds good. And then he can call up the Mud Man and arrange transportation to where we'll meet. I'm walking out the door now. Call Root."
"Can do. I'll give Julius a ring right now."
Holly grinned and hung up, she'd love to see Root's face if Foaly started calling him Julius. She walked out. * * * * * * *
Foaly hung up from talking to Holly and called Root on his home number. "Hello, Commander."
"What is it, horse?"
"Easy, Julius, I've got a hot tip on a certain convict."
"I'm off-duty."
"It's a certain dwarf."
"Diggums? I'll be at the station in 15 minutes."
"Wear your civvies, Commander. I think you and Captain Short are going in undercover."
"Alright."
"Are you going to keep your word to the Mud Boy?"
"I've got to. I made a deal, Foaly, and LEP officers do not break deals."
"Alright then. See you in fifteen minutes, Julius." He nearly giggled, antagonizing Root would always be the best part of his job.
Root arrived just after Holly.
"Alright. Here. Imported Mud Man technology being sold illegally in sector 7 on the outskirts of Haven. Plan is that the two of your send a call to where Mulch has set up shop, got himself a cell phone for the business. You call, disguised voices, saying you want 2 DVD players, some DVDs, and a few pairs of designer sunglasses or a book. You arrange a meeting as soon as possible. Tonight. You head down there. Borrow my car, Mulch doesn't recognize it. He might not want to see you on such short notice so be sure to be willing to give him a good deal for the merchandise."
"Anything else?" growled Root.
"Yeah. Let Holly make the call. I don't trust you not to say you want to strangle him."
Holly thought he had a point there but instead she just said, "My voice will be harder for him to recognize, Commander. You've arrested him more times than I have."
"True. Where's the number?"
Foaly dialed and passed the phone to Holly.
"Hello, who is this?" It was Mulch's voice.
Holly made her voice a little higher than normal. "For now let's just say I'm a customer. I'm interested in buying some of your merchandise. I hear you sell stuff from the surface?"
"That depends on who's asking?"
"My name's Kerri. Me and my friend James are interested."
"What specifically?"
"A DVD player. Some DVDs to play on it. What do you think, James? The Wizard of Oz and maybe the Fellowship of the Ring?" Holly was talking to Root but she made sure her voice was loud enough for Mulch to hear. "Okay, James. Wizard of Oz and Fellowship of the Ring it is, Mister.? What did you say your name was?"
"I didn't say. Anything else?"
"How about one of those Harry Potter books the Mud People seem so crazy about?"
"Which book?" He ran through the list.
"How about the first one? I'll come back to you if I want the next one. How much gold are we talking about here?"
He told her.
"That's a little pricey."
"Well it's a little dangerous on me going back and forward to the surface. Gotta take that into the price."
"I suppose. But how about lowering just a little?"
"No deal."
"I'll take my business elsewhere then."
"Alright. Alright. 10% off. No more."
"Make it 12."
"12!"
"Yeah."
"Fine, twelve."
"Where am I going to meet you?"
He gave a place entirely different from that which Foaly had mentioned, but still on the edge of the Haven.
"That's kinda far."
"You don't want to get caught by the LEP anymore than I do. Are you coming or not?"
"Yeah. I'm coming. Can we make it tonight?"
"I guess so. The things are all in stock."
"What time?"
"9."
"Alright. We'll be there."
"Good."
Holly hung up. "It's all set. 9 tonight." She gave them the meeting place.
"Too risky to send the two of you in wired so I'm just going to use the iris cams. You've got about an hour to get there. Hazel, right, Holly?" He trotted over to little glass vials containing the iris cams.
"That's right," she said.
"Okay," inserted what looked like contact lens into her eye. "You do have nice eyes, Holly."
Root came over. "He's right."
"Thanks."
"I didn't mean it as a complement. I mean of course it was a complement, but how are we going to keep Mulch from recognizing you? Or recognizing me?"
"I've got just the thing," said Foaly. "I've been wanting to try these out." He took what looked like a rubber face off one of the counters. "Put this on, Holly. It just goes on over your face. It's a modified memory latex."
Holly eyed it doubtfully but put it on, it molded to her face.
Foaly brought her a mirror.
"Impressive." It was. It was completely molded to her face, impossible to tell that she was wearing it, but at the same time it was a completely different face, except for the eyes peering out. She looked quite young, apparently someone just out of school or possibly still finishing.
"What about me?" asked Root.
"I've got another one." Foaly trotted back to the counter and brought out a similar mask. "Put this on."
Root did as he was instructed. The mask molded itself to his face and Holly laughed. Root's mask made him look to be nearly the same age as Holly's mask made her look; and for somebody who'd had his LEP training nearly 5 centuries ago that was saying something. Holly was only in her early 80s.
"Let me see that mirror," he growled. He saw. "I look younger than Holly really is! And I don't look like me at all!"
"That's the point, sir," Holly said.
"Speaking of which, Holly, do you have anything to wear that isn't, well, you?" asked Foaly.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what you're wearing doesn't suit your face right now."
"I guess not." Holly examined her clothes. She was wearing slacks and a sweater but this face belonged in.other clothes. It was the face of a hip, trendy, young person. Very not Holly. Very not Holly's clothes. "I've got something that I bought as a costume a few years ago. But what are you going to do, Commander?"
"I'll find something," he growled.
Foaly got a sudden light in his eyes. "Make sure it's sleeveless, Commander."
"Why?"
"Because you're getting a tattoo."
"Are you out of your mind, pony?"
"It's not a real tattoo but if your clothes aren't exactly the part a tattoo will help make things more convincing. Holly, are your ears pierced?"
"Don't even think about it, Foaly,"
she made her voice as dangerous as possible. "I've got some clip-on hoops though."
"Okay. Perfect. We've got about two hours before you have to be there. Go find something to wear."
"Wait a second. Help me take the iris cam out first, Foaly."
He put it back in its vial.
"Both of you be sure not to take off your masks. Those are proto- types. I told you it's like the memory latex, so it's one time use only."
"Got it." Holly left and went back home. She had to dig through everything in her closet before she found what she was looking for. She even found a nice wig of long blonde hair. She put it and the outfit on and then began to put on her makeup. She never wore makeup but to fit tonight's part, she put it on. It took some doing but she found the earrings at last and the shoes she needed. They were a little hard to walk in but it was the only thing that would work with this outfit. She stood and eyed herself critically in the mirror. Her own mother wouldn't have recognized her. She left for the Police Plaza.
When she got inside the police plaza it looked nearly deserted, for which she was thankful. Unfortunately it was the "nearly" part that was the problem.
"Hey, beautiful, how are you doing?"
She made sure to alter her voice when she responded, "Private Verbil, I suggest you vacate my line of vision immediately before I sock you."
"How'd you know my name? Have I seen you before?"
"No. It says so on your badge. Don't you have work to do? I'd hate to think my tax dollars went for nothing."
He shuffled off.
She was nearly to the Ops Room when she saw Trouble. It was just her luck that he saw her too.
"Hello. I don't think I've seen you here before."
"No, you haven't."
"Are you new here? Lost maybe?"
"No, no. Just visiting a friend."
"Oh, who?"
"He works in the Ops Rooms." She emphasized the "he" hoping to put him off. It didn't work.
"Oh, well I'll be glad to show you the way." He was standing a little closer to her than she would have liked.
"How very sweet. But I can find it myself."
"No, really it's no trouble. But I am."
"What?"
"My name. Captain Trouble Kelp. Have you heard of me?"
She decided to give him a hard time. "Yes! Weren't you the one leading the Retrieval Squad when that one Mud Man took out the entire squad?"
He blushed. "Yes, that was me. He was seven feet tall though. The only Mud Man to ever take on a troll and win, you know."
"I heard."
They were nearing the Ops Room. "You're awfully pretty. My shift ends in about twenty minutes. I know it's late but do you want to go grab a bite to eat?"
"I'm not hungry."
"We could go for a walk."
"I don't think so."
They were at the door now. There was no one around but her and Trouble. She abandoned caution and used her regular voice. She pressed the intercom, "Foaly, let me in now."
"Can do."
Trouble paled and glanced at Holly head to toe. He gulped. "Holly?"
"Yeah, it's me."
"You.you look."
"Different?"
"You can say that again!"
"Yeah. I look different."
"Oh my gods. I'm sorry." He banged the heel of his hand against his forehead. Holly heard him mutter, "I can't believe I was hitting on Holly!" repeatedly.
"It's okay, Troubs. If you didn't recognize me it means Mulch isn't going to recognize me either."
"Mulch? Nobody knows where he is."
"I do. Going undercover to arrest him tonight."
"You can't go by yourself. You aren't even on-duty tonight."
She saw Root approaching behind Trouble. "Oh, I'm not going alone."
"Your not?"
"No, he's coming with me."
Root tapped Trouble on the shoulder and glared at him.
"I'm sorry, who are you?"
"Captain, get your butt back to work!" he growled.
"Commander?" his face was even paler.
"That's right."
"But your face. Holly's face. Holly's clothes." Trouble seemed to be having difficulty forming sentences.
"Yes. How was it your said I looked?"
"Holly, believe me if I'd known it was you I swear I wouldn't have said anything!"
She shook her head and laughed soundlessly. "Let's go in." They entered the Ops Room. Foaly was fiddling with some wires and didn't see them. "Foaly, did you know LEP is full of pigs?"
"Really?" he didn't turn around.
"I'm here two minutes and two of the male officers start hitting on me."
"Really? Let me see what you're wearing." He finally turned around. He blinked several times. "Holly? Is that you?"
She made her voice high again, "My name's Kerri. Do you want to go to dinner tonight?"
"Holly, y-you did a really good job finding an outfit for this. I'm stunned."
"Gimme a mirror." She took a look at herself in the mirror again. She was wearing a halter-top, a pink mini-skirt, and pink sandals. With the mask on her face and the blonde wig she was completely unrecognizable as Captain Holly Short. Captain Holly Short would never dress like this. She grinned. "Alright wears that iris cam?"
Foaly went and fetched it for her.
Meanwhile, Holly turned to give Root a critical glance. He'd done pretty well. The pants didn't look too old fashioned and the sleeveless shirt went pretty well with it.
Foaly put a hazel iris cam in Holly's eye and then took a felt marker to Root's arm. It looked pretty convincing. He put a mud colored iris cam in Root's eye.
"I'll give you a Neutrino and a buzz baton to share. He might check for weapons and you've got a better chance of hiding them if you don't have too many. If you want you can take one of those finger shooters."
"The one where you brush it with your thumb against you knuckle?" asked Root.
"Yeah. And take a pair of handcuffs. Take a pair for his ankles too."
"All right," said Root.
"Wait, where am I going to put any weapons?" Holly looked down at her clothes. She could exactly hide anything anywhere.
"Root gets the baton and the gun. He can hide them better. You can have the finger dart. You only get one shot."
"Alright," she grumbled. "But I want to hit Mulch with that baton!"
"I think you're ready to go. Trouble, do they look anything like.well, themselves?"
"Commander Root doesn't look like himself at all. And Holly definitely doesn't look like herself in the least bit," Trouble said.
"Is that supposed to be a complement?" asked Holly, a wry grin on her face.
"No, um, yes, uh, no. No, definitely no."
She laughed. "Come on, James, we're going to be late. Give me your keys, Foaly."
He tossed them to her. "Good luck."
"Thanks. Don't need luck." They walked out.
Foaly turned to Trouble, "You've got to admit, she looks good."
"Yeah. I can't believe I've been working with her so long and I never realized it."
"Well, maybe you should invite her to dinner."
"I did. Tonight. She said no."
"Maybe some time when she isn't dressed like that." Foaly shook his head, "Go on. Get back to work and don't breathe a word about this to anybody."
"Got it."
