Cole came into the manor just as Phoebe was coming down the stairs.
"Hey, sweetie," said Phoebe, kissing him lightly. "What are you doing home in the middle of the afternoon?"
"Just thought I would take a break and come see my best girl," said Cole smiling. "Sorry I couldn't make dinner last night. I had a very important deposition I had to take."
"That's okay," said Phoebe. "Everyone understands you're busy."
"How's Michael?" Coles asked.
"He's fine," Phoebe said. "He asked about you."
"He did?" Cole questioned. "What did he want to know?"
"He was just wondering how you were doing," Phoebe said. "He understands it's been hard for you without your powers."
"I see," said Cole. "Well, maybe next time he comes by he and I can visit."
"He'd probably like that," said Phoebe. "So, how goes the probate?"
"A few minor glitches," said Cole. "But then, the bigger the estate the more problems there usually are. This is a very big estate so there's bound to be several problems crop up."
"I know you can handle it," said Phoebe. "You're a very good lawyer."
"So I keep saying," said Cole, joking.
"Oh, Cole, I didn't hear anyone come in," said Paige coming in from the kitchen.
"I just got here," said Cole. "Had a lull in my work and decided to take a break."
"Okay," said Paige coldly.
"Paige," Phoebe chided her sister.
"No, it's okay," said Cole. "Look, Paige, I know you think something's going on that I'm not telling you. But there isn't, really. I don't know why you're so suspicious but I can assure you the only thing going on is my work."
"If you say so," said Paige. "Well, I need to be getting back to work. Phoebe, tell Piper I should be home on time."
"I will," said Phoebe.
"Don't mind her," said Cole. "She doesn't know me as well as you do. She'll come around eventually."
"I know," said Phoebe. "I just wish she'd say why she's so suspicious."
"Don't worry about it," said Cole. "What about other visitors? Any unwanted guests lately?"
"Nope, no demons for several days," said Phoebe. "Why? You think any are planning to attack?"
"You never can tell," said Cole. "With the Source vanquished there's going to be a power struggle in the underworld. Some of those demons might think that taking out your guys is a good way to guarantee their ascension as the new Source."
"Michael said the same thing," Phoebe said. "You really think any demon would come after just after we've vanquished the Source?"
"Most demons are basically bullies," said Cole. "And like most bullies, most of them think they're stronger than they really are. There were more than a few demons who wanted to take him out but he was too powerful."
"And we took him out," said Phoebe. "Doesn't that show that we're more powerful than he was?"
"Not all demons will look at it that way," said Cole. "You're only humans. Some may think you just got lucky. They may think they'll have better luck than the Source did. Just be careful, that's all I'm saying."
"We will be," said Phoebe.
"Well," said Cole looking at his watch, "I should be getting back to work. As they say, the paperwork never ends."
"What about dinner?" Phoebe asked. "Will you be home for dinner?"
"Probably not," Cole said. "I need to check on a couple of things. I'll be home as soon as I can."
"Okay," Phoebe said. "Just try not to be too late."
Keltock was pacing the chamber. He was visibly upset and worried. Tennack and Wolf just stared at him.
"Keltock, will you relax," said Wolf.
"How can I relax?" Keltock asked. "The Source is back. He was right here. And you told him everything."
"I only told him what we had planned," said Wolf. "But I didn't tell him everything. I didn't tell him about our new plans."
"New plans?" Tennack questioned. "What new plans? Wolf, what are you babbling about? He knows all about our plans to weaken the Charmed Ones by going after their closest friends. And you heard what he said. If we do anything that places any of the witch's friends in danger we'll have to deal with him. I, for one, don't relish having the Source coming after me."
"That's not going to be a problem," said Wolf, smiling. "Very soon he's going to be much too busy to worry about us."
"Busy?" Keltock asked. "Busy doing what?"
"Defending himself," said Wolf.
"Against whom?" Tennack asked.
"The very people he's trying to protect," said Wolf. "We're not going after the Charmed Ones any more. First, we have to take care of the Source."
"How?" Keltock asked. "None of us were powerful enough to confront him. Just how in the underworld do you suggest we do that?"
"By exposing him to those closest to him," said Wolf. "It's a foregone conclusion that the witches won't believe us if we try to tell them the Source has come back in Turner. But if we expose him to the witches they'll have no choice but vanquish him again."
"You think it will work?" Tennack asked.
"It can't fail," Wolf said, smiling again. "Once we've exposed him to the Charmed Ones they'll vanquish him. The middle sister will be very distraught at having to vanquish her lover. And her sisters will be there to comfort her. While they're distracted, we move in and kill them all."
"And if the Source should prove stronger than the witches?" Keltock asked. "What then?"
"If by some miracle he should be able to stand against them," said Wolf, "then we'll be on hand to finish him off after the witches have weakened him. Either way they will do most of our work for us. All we have to do is wait until it's over and clean up the mess."
"Brilliant," said Tennack. "Absolutely brilliant. We pit everyone against each other. And we reap the rewards for ourselves."
"Now," said Wolf, "all we have to do is come up with the perfect time to expose Turner. The time when it will do the most damage."