Quid Pro Quo

Kara entered her dressing room, with bouquet of tulips in tow and two fair-skinned fellows beside her. She snapped her fingers at them, pointed at the one on her right, a well-groomed blonde with an open collar.

"Throat's parched. Get me my drink."

"What kind, Mistress Kara?"

"You know what kind?" Kara planted herself in her plush chair, her legs propped up on the vanity counter. She snapped twice at her other assistant, a thin guy with tousled dark locks and fuzzy chin stubble. "Put these somewhere." She handed him the bouquet. There was a knock at the door.

An adoring fan, she pondered. She instructed someone to answer it. The tousled dude complied. Brain appeared, dressed in sharp evening attire. He asked to see Kara. She recognized the voice and agreed to let him in.

"Didn't expect you appreciated fine drama?"

"Reality's my bag. There's rawness in that than in the staged kind?"

"So, your master let you off your leash tonight?"

Brain chuckled. "What makes you think that?"

Kara's blonde assistant arrived with her drink. She took a sip.

"Brendan depends on you to sniff out stuff and point out clues. You're a Watson."

"You got me figured."

Kara signaled her assistants to leave the room. They did.

"Not exactly."

"How's that?"

She stood up from her seat and fiddled around with her robe's knotted belt. "You're not like him. He's changed since breaking with Emily. He's torn up. Now, I'm no shrink, but I'd say he's a loose cannon ready to implode. If I were you, I stay outta danger."

"Brendan's not dangerous."

"What makes you think otherwise, honey." She approached him. "Do you know what's ticking in his melon? He's not stable."

"Why worry about me? You barely know me."

"That's where you're wrong, sugar. I know Brendan and through him, I know you. If not personally, then in brief passing of chatter." Kara looked at him. She rubbed his tie, loosening the knot around his neck and unfastened the top button of his collar. "Never seen you like this before. Barely recognized you."

"It's for a special occasion."

She took off his glasses and gazed at his blue eyes. "I'm not daft. You want something."

"Don't you have time to breathe once in a while?"

"In life, honey, breathing's not the only option. What you want?"

"I want some detail."

"Back to basics."

"What ya know 'bout Em's dealing with Pin?"

"I ain't close to neither of them."

"That's not what I was asking."

"Em sees him to get her fix fixed. She's hooked on the stuff."

"The brick?"

"You didn't hear this from me, okay. Em pays him in curing her crave each time she itches."

"Pays him financially?"

"Pays in favors, to be discreet."

"Didn't expect you to be the discreet type."

"If you're weren't in interrogater mode tonight, I figured I could loosen you up."

"I'm not in the mood tonight."

"When are you in the mood?"

"That's for me to know."

"Has anyone told you how cute you are?"

"Are you flattering me?"

"I'm just saying, that's all." Kara glanced back at him. His face flushed with a reddish tint. "Stop the press! Are you beaming red?"

"I got what I came here for. Thanks for the info, Kara."

"Come back anytime, sugar. I'm always open to new things."