"We're here." Red disentangled herself and rose, while the train grated to a stop.
"Wheh's heah?" Blink propped himself up on an arm, looking at Red.
She didn't answer. Instead, she pulled him up and didn't let go of his hand as she headed toward the car door. Blink pulled it open.
"You're welcome," he said to her unresponsive face.
"Whatever."
They jumped out of the car and headed towards town. Red led him through the maze of streets. Blink kept looking around, used to city life, but only New York's. This was entirely new to him.
They ended up in front of a ramshackle building near the heart of the city. Blink looked up above the weathered door.
"The Shieldin' Eye. Who t'ought a dat stupid name?"
Red pushed him through the door. "Your father. Hey, Miss Lorraine," she said to the secretary behind a desk.
"Ah! You're finally back, Red. Got him?"
"Yup. Here he is." Red pushed him forward for the girl's inspection. Blink did a double take. This was Dominique!
"Heya, Blink. I'm Lorraine. You might remember me as Nikki. Red, Kelly wants to see you as soon as you get in."
Red grinned. "I'm on my way. Do you have some rope or something? I'm afraid he might try to escape," she said, jerking her head toward Blink.
Lorraine, aka Nikki, laughed and reached under the desk. "You're in luck. Extra piece right here."
"Thanks." Red tied the knot around his right wrist. "I'll be out in a minute."
"Nope. Not until you're dressed." Lorraine triumphantly grinned and held up a tan skirt and blouse outfit. Red groaned.
"Aw, c'mon. He's waitin'!"
"Bad grammar, woman. You know he likes clean and properly attired agents in his office."
Red sighed and looked to Blink, who had been watching the exchange with great interest. "Care for a bath?"
- - - - - - - -
"You finally came through, Torri."
Red finally stood in a darkened office, a fan spinning lazily overhead. Her hands were clasped behind her back and her feet were shoulder length apart. The almost floor-length skirt stretched between her legs and the blouse slightly accentuated her non-existent chest.
"Yes, sir!"
The man behind the desk leaned forward. "And what is your report, Red?"
"Situation as normal as can be expected, sir. He's sitting in the anteroom, tied to the chair. He was apprehended calmly."
"Sleeping? I shoulda known better than to send my agent who stabs people while they're sleeping."
Red smiled. "Yes, while sleeping. The Delancys were of some help, and know the inner workings of NYC intimately."
"And of yourself?" The man sat back, and a beam of sunlight caught his golden-blond hair, albeit thinning. His lean body was hardened by years in the military, and he rolled a cigar between his thumb and forefinger. A mischievous smile overtook his face.
"Wh…what of myself, sir?"
"Do you enjoy my boy's company?"
"I…I suppose so, sir. We spent many hours selling papers together. Have you seen your son yet?" Extra emphasis was put on 'your son'.
He leaned forward onto his elbows again. "Sit down, Red. Never question your superior." Red took a seat and nodded her head at the reprimand. "Now, let me ask you something."
Red nodded her head again. "Alright."
"Is this boy – my son – a decent, upstanding, handsome boy who will work hard and diligently?"
"He's never had to steal unless as a boy, sir, if that's what you mean. He has a clean record and sells at least seventy-five papes a day. He'd be a good agent – hides his feelings remarkably well. I will warn you, sir, be careful when you talk to him." She paused, biting her lip. "Being abandoned as a child is never a pretty thing to go through."
"I know, I know. I was planning on that." He waved his hand as if to dismiss the thought. "Now what about the handsome part?"
"Uhm…I guess…in my…uh…professional opinion…no more than any other man…yet…underneath lies…a heart of gold that any…decent woman might…uh…fall for," she stammered.
"Do you love him?"
Red squirmed and blushed. "Sir, I don't believe that question is quite fair."
"Do you love him?"
"Uhm…what do you mean by love?"
"Could you spend the rest of your life with him if need be with comfort in a relationship that is possible to build on, and be faithful to him?"
"Yes…yes, I suppose I could do that. He is my best friend, after all."
The man slapped his hands on the desk. "Alright then. That's all I needed to know. Go out. Show him in. And smile, my dear. You look better smiling than you do frowning."
Red unenthusiastically grinned and opened the creaking door into the anteroom. She smiled at Blink.
"How you feelin'?"
Blink shifted uncomfortably. "I been starin' at that sign on his door dat says Kelly Shields an' wonderin' if it's really my faddah who's in dere." His accent deepened as his actions grew more agitated. "I mean, if he really was my faddah, wouldn't he a tried ta find me 'fore now? Didn't he care 'fore now?"
Red kneeled by his feet. Her hands untied the knots connecting his wrist and the chair while she stared at his face. "Blink listen to me. Trust me when I say he's always loved you. I've worked with him for years, and hardly a week went by when he contemplated starting to search for you. But he was always afraid of what you'd do."
She threw the bonds to the side and stood, bringing Blink with her. "Trust me, Blink. I know I don't deserve it, but for the sake of your father trust me! He loves you. He started this business after he was kicked out of the Army for injuries. And he started it with intention of one day finding you. Of course, to help others as well, but mostly for your sake. He's a good-lookin' man with fine character. He picked me up off the street when I was orphaned and alone, and he's like a father to me."
She took a deep breath. "Just listen to him. He might treat you like a soldier for a while, but he means well." She hesitantly went up on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. "He hates yelling, loves horse racing, and has a heart as big as Hudson Bay. Trust him."
"I ain't so shoah 'bout da trust t'ing, but I'll listen to 'im." He resolutely moved toward the flaking door. With his hand on the doorknob, he turned to Red.
"I…guess I'll see ya lata."
Red smiled as Blink submerged into the office. You'll be seeing me later, and for the rest of your life if Kelly Shields has anything to say about it.