Chapter Four
'Veronica' dragged 'Marguerite' down the stairs and looked at her; blatantly furious with the other woman for interrupting her and Malone's little 'talk', even though she knew she hadn't done it intentionally. "Why did you come back so soon!" she demanded.
She looked at 'Veronica' indignantly. "He just started to walk off!" he temper flared. "It was either follow him or, or…get eaten by a dinosaur!"
"Well what did you say to him?" she wanted to know.
"Nothing!" unbeknownst to them, Roxton walks down the steps towards them, having seen the angry Veronica take Marguerite out of earshot of him and Malone. They were lucky though, had he heard anything it was nothing too incriminating, he coughed to let them know he was there, if they saw him first there would be hell to pay. They both faced him with innocent looks plastered on their faces "Yes John? Is there a problem?"
His expression became solemn. "Challenger's missing."
"Oh that's awful" 'Veronica' feigned worry.
He looked at her strangely. "Well obviously, veronica" it was the first time he had seen her acting out of the ordinary.
Seeing his look 'Veronica' interrupted before he could speak again. "We should…go look for him," she decided.
"Of course" he turned to walk back up the stairs. "We leave in five minutes so get your things together," Roxton instructed.
As he wandered back up the stairs 'Marguerite' followed him, tugging at his shirtsleeve and forcing him to stop and face her. "We're in a hurry, Marguerite."
"I know" she hurriedly replied. She didn't want him to think she was just disregarding Challenger's disappearance "later. I mean we can talk later, after we've found George." He nodded and continued on, he needed to talk to Malone about what was going on. 'Marguerite' pouts and looked behind her, to where 'Veronica was standing. "I can't understand why they find this man so useful anyway, besides his contraptions of course, he's certifiably crazy."
"He means a lot to them" Sarah had to admit she was fond of him, or that might've been Veronica mixing with her.
"He's like a father, or loopy grandfather" Jessica chuckled. They heard Malone calling for them and they stopped their conversation and eventually joined the two men in the elevator. 'Veronica' looked across at Malone, smiling.
Roxton knelt down on the outside of the electric fence and inspected the ground; he looked up at Veronica to see what she thought. "Two sets of prints headed west, one set is Challenger's but the other I'm not too sure" she ignores him and steals a glance in Malone's direction "Veronica?"
'Marguerite' nudged her to get her attention and the blonde snapped out of her reverie. "Did you say something?"
"I'm glad you two have decided to forward your relationship but right now we have more important things to discuss" he berated.
She had the sense to look embarrassed and knelt down to inspect the prints. "His new companion is a woman" she looked to the west and then grabbed Malone by the hand, leading the way.
'Marguerite' leant in to Roxton. "Well they have the right idea, perhaps we should take some tips from them."
"Are you feeling alright?" his concern showed through quite plainly now.
She looked reassuringly at him. "Perfectly, my Lord" she took him by the hand and pulled him forward to catch up to the other couple. "I can't believe we've never acted on this before" Jessica certainly didn't understand Marguerite's apprehension.
"Neither can I. But if I remember rightly it was always you that backed away first --."
"Or we'd get interrupted" she added. "But now the others know our situation we won't get interrupted ever again" he stopped her from walking and upped her face in his hands and looking deeply into her eyes, he frowned. "Problem?"
"I just can't believe my dreams are about to be realised" and he couldn't believe this was his Marguerite.
Her eyes lit up. "You dream about me?"
"Every second of every night after I've close my eyes" he stepped back abruptly then "I would love to continue this conversation but right now we have to find Challenger."
"As soon as you want me, you know where to find me" he smiled widely and after gathering his rifle and slipping his free arm around 'Marguerite's waist, they hurried forward after the others.
*
Malone leant in towards Veronica and gently kissed her before stopping. "Maybe we shouldn't…"
"Give me one good reason why we shouldn't" she dared. She had a point no wait. Challenger he thought. 'Veronica' looped her arms around his neck "I've loved you since the first moment I laid eyes on you" so far so good.
He sighed in relief. "I've been waiting so long to hear you say that" yeah, something is definitely wrong with this picture.
"And now that I've said it?" she pressed.
"I'm not gonna let you slip away again, Veronica"
She looked into his light blue eyes, searching for any sign that he was lying but found none. "I'll never leave you Ned, never" not too far away from where the love birds stand someone watches them with jealousy written all over her face, and revenge showing in her eyes.
