In her old age, Mrs. Snarly was certain nothing could surprise her anymore, until the day her boss brough his niece to Khan Tower. Or like today, when they both stepped out of the elevator, arguing. Not too long ago, the child didn't utter a word.

"I don't need an escort for everything," Eliza protested. "Didn't you say I should rely on myself?"

"I didn't mean this soon," Khan replied, carrying a small stack of papers.

"Come on. What's the worst that could happen?"

Khan narrowed his eyes. Once again, the message was in his eyes.

"Oh," Eliza nodded. "Right. Pirates. Look, the bus is less conspicuous anyway." She clasped her hands in a pleading manner. "Just this once, please!"

There were few things that could sway Shere Khan. Much as he hated to admit it, she made a point about the bus. And he did want her to learn independence, though now seemed to soon. He sighed. "First sign of problems, you call. Got it?"

"Got it. I'll see you later. Bye, Mrs. Snarly." She waved to the receptionist on her way out.

"Later, hon." Mrs. Snarly waved back. Once the girl was out, she grinned at her boss. "If you think it's tough now, wait till she's a teenager."

Khan's hands clenched, crumpling the papers. Despite his stoic expression, Mrs. Snarly could practically hear him mentally cursing.

On her way out, Eliza passed a familiar panther wearing the standard blue uniform of her uncle's air force.

"We're ya headed, kiddo?" he asked, ruffling her hair.

"Hey, Bagheera," Eliza smiled.

Ever since that air pirate rescue, most of the pilots had gotten protective of her. Thankfully, not as much as her uncle. Bagheera was easier to talk to since he was looser than the others.

"I'm headed to my first job," she said.

Bagheera's brows lifted. "Mr. Khan hired you?"

"No," Eliza laughed. "I'm babysitting."

"Oh," Bagheera nodded, then shrugged. "Well, can't say that's any easier."

"You too? Why does everyone think it's hard?"

"You're an only child, you wouldn't understand. When my little brother Mowgli was your age, you could count on him being where there was trouble."

"I don't get in trouble." At the questioning look Bagheera was giving her, she added, "I don't get in trouble much. Trouble finds me." She could hardly call those air pirates her fault.

"Yeah, well, don't follow it." Bagheera ruffled her hair once more before striding toward the tower's entrance.

"I could use a little trouble right now," Eliza muttered. Not that she wanted another pirate encounter, but things had been dull since that adventure.

Rebecca had told Eliza she needed a babysitter for a date night. That was good enough reason to take the job.

"Took them long enough," Eliza chuckled, ringing the bell to the Cunningham residence. The familiar smile from the woman greeted her as the door opened.

"Eliza, come in."

"Hi, Miss Cunningham." Eliza followed Rebecca into the apartment just as a tiny ball of energy slammed into her. "Oof! Hey Molly. Hey, Bal…oo?" When she looked up from Molly, the man greeting her wasn't the plump bear she adored, but a slim, gray jaguar with a mustache.

"Ah, you must be the babysitter," he said.

"Um, hi," said Eliza. Molly's hold tightened and her face buried into Eliza's chest.

"Eliza," said Rebecca. "This is Mr. Covington. My date."

"Your what?" Eliza jerked her head toward her friend. "But I thought-" she caught her tongue in a nick of time.

"Thought what?" asked Rebecca.

"Nothing." She offered her hand to Covington. "Nice to meet you, sir."

Covington accepted the handshake with a theatric bow. "What a charming young lady."

Eliza couldn't place it, but there was something…off about his smile. Like it was plastered on. It was a big contrast from her uncle, who rarely smiled, yet somehow, she knew when he was being genuine. Was this the sixth sense he was always talking about? The one that told him whether someone was trustworthy?

Then again, it was probably her imagination.

"We'll be back by 6, Eliza," said Rebecca.

"Okay."

"I left you some snacks in the fridge, but don't give her any sweets after 5. I don't want her up all night."

"Got it."

Rebecca carried on a list of rules, which was pointless since she was reading off a list. Eliza hardly listened anyway. She was watching Covington out of the corner of her eye. He looked impatient, but was it to spend time with someone he loved, or something else? Something struck her as off about him. Something familiar too. Molly hadn't stopped clinging to Eliza until the couple left. Neither girl spoke, as Eliza processed what she witnessed.

"He seems," Eliza stumbled to find the right word.

"Creepy!" Molly finished.

"Yeah, that works. What does Baloo think?"

Molly shrugged. "I don't think he likes ole creepy either."

"Can't imagine why." Eliza's skin crawled. She hadn't felt this sensation since…since facing Don Karnage. At least he didn't act like he was hiding anything.

"I don't think he even likes my mommy," said Molly. "He just wants Kara."

"Who's Kara?" A girlfriend? She wouldn't be surprised if he was keeping that sort of secret.

"I'll show you." Before Eliza could raise further questions, the younger girl was dragging her by the arm to her pastel-colored bedroom. Molly let go of Eliza's hand to take something off of the bed.

"A doll?" Eliza couldn't hide her disbelief. Or her amusement. "You think a grown man wants your doll?"

"He keeps trying to get her." Molly clung to the doll as if it was the most precious thing in her life. "But I found her, and Baloo said I can have her."

"Uh huh." This was far-fetched even for Molly's imagination. Then again, Kara was an unusual doll. Most dolls would have more color and realistic hair. This one was carved out of wood, capturing the image of an Egyptian woman. Something she would find in history book rather than a toy store. In fact…

"Can I see Kara a moment?"

Molly was more willing to oblige with her friend than with a strange man. Eliza turned the doll over to examine every inch. The details were impressive, and they reminded her of a picture in her schoolbook. What were they called again? Ushi…something. She couldn't remember the name, but she did remember they were little statues Egyptians buried with their dead. But how would something like that end up in a child's doll collection?

"Where did you get this?" asked Eliza.

"I found her on the Sea Duck."

"Did Baloo find her?"

"I don't know. His plane is full of garbage." Molly picked up a leather shoulder bag. "I found Kara in this."

The bag was in good condition and it looked like genuine leather. Definitely not something anyone would just throw away. Not unless they were hiding something. Still, she wasn't ready to jump to conclusions. There was only one person she could ask. An expert on recognizing value.

"Hey, Molly, would you mind if I borrow Kara for a little while?"

Molly beamed. "You mean you'll protect her from ole creepy?"

"Exactly," Eliza grinned.

"And you'll bring her back?"

"Um." If her hunch was right, she couldn't leave something valuable to be played with. "Sure." She would just have to buy Molly a new doll.

They spent the rest of the night playing Danger Woman. This time with Eliza playing Covington and trying to kidnap Danger Woman's loyal sidekick, Kara. To make the act convincing, she imitated Don Karnage's hammy act but with Covington's fake gentlemanly speech. After tackling the Covington impersonator, Molly seemed in better spirits. At least one of them was.

"Can we please take a break?" Eliza panted.

"But I have to take you to jail."

"Okay." Eliza collapsed onto the couch. "I'm in jail."

"Not anymore. You escaped!"

Eliza massaged her temple. Didn't six-year olds ever get tired? Uncle Shere's gonna rub this in my face.

The sound of a key into a lock interrupted their game. They quickly tucked the doll into Eliza's backpack and jumped back into the act.

"I'll get you, Danger Woman!" Eliza shook a fist. "If it's the last thing I ever do!"

"Not today!" Molly leaped off the arm of the couch. Eliza didn't put up a fight when Molly tackled her to the floor.

"Looks like you two had fun," Rebecca laughed.

"Mommy!" The child bound off her opponent and into her mother's arms, giving Eliza a chance to breathe in relief. Now she knew how Kit felt.

"Thank you, Eliza," said Rebecca. "I hope Molly wasn't too much trouble."

"Not at all." She wasn't about to complain to her employer. Her uncle's own employees had warned her about such a feat.

As Rebecca counted Eliza's payment out of her purse, Eliza eyed Covington. In turn, he eyed Molly, searching. No wonder Molly was afraid of this guy.

Eliza smiled, keeping an eye Covington. "How was your date?"

"Wonderful!" said Rebecca, handing Eliza the bills. "Covington took me to one of those most quaint restaurants downtown."

Covington jumped at hearing his name. "Oh, yes. A fine establishment if I've ever seen one." Just as before, his complement sounded staged. Eliza still couldn't place what it was about his eyes that bothered her, but it was there.

"I better get going." She tried to hide how much she wanted to run. "I promised my uncle I'd be home by 7."

"Do you need a ride?" asked Rebecca. "Covington can watch Molly while I drive you." She turned to Covington. "If you don't mind."

Covington's eyes lit up. "Of course not, my dear."

Eliza's heart raced. She could see the horror in Molly's eyes as well. "That's okay." Her response came out quicker than she meant. "I can take the bus."

"Are you sure?" asked Rebecca.

"Absolutely." Eliza didn't miss Covington's fists clenching. She resisted the urge to laugh. And a point for our side.

Not gonna lie, I've always loved the villains, but Covington was the one I found unnerving as a kid. I'm editing the next few chapters so hopefully I'll have them up soon.