Eliot was just about to board a flight from Dallas/Ft Worth back to Boston when his phone rang. He didn't recognize the number. The display said MMoA.
"Yeah?"
"Eliot?"
"Hi." Parker nudged him to move forward in line, instead he stepped out of line completely. She shot him a puzzled look, but he waved her on.
"Hi, where are you? Am I waking you up?"
"Nah, just about to fly out, but I've got a few minutes. What are you up to?"
"I'm authenticating a work of art."
"Yeah?"
"Yes, it's a Hellenistic battle warrior, and it's a fake, so I thought of you."
He chuckled and purposefully misunderstood. "You think I'm a fake warrior?"
She laughed. "Ha. No, I know you are the real McCoy."
"So what tipped you that it's fake?"
"It started with some techniques issues, and then some things under infrared, but you know. Just the job. What about you?"
"Me? You want to know what I'm doing?"
"Uh, no, forget I asked. I was going to ask where you were, but I guess I don't want to know that either."
Eliot chuckled. "Okay, can't talk about religion, politics, or work. What does that leave us?"
"Sex, drugs and rock and roll?"
He laughed. It just burst past his lips. He scowled at the one person looking at him, but it was halfhearted.
"How about food? What time zone are you in?" Eliot leaned with his back against the window. They were boarding the cheap seats now, he'd have to go soon.
"Eastern standard time. New York City."
"Okay, go to Martinique's on 108th St. Take a friend, if you have one in the city. Tell them Sebastian sent you. You won't order. They'll just bring you some great food. Let me know how it is."
"So I guess we aren't in the same time zone."
"Nah," he drawled, "but I wish I was."
"The food's that good, huh?"
He laughed and she laughed with him. "That's my boarding call. Gotta go. Call again if you want."
"I will."
LEVERAGE
August 2011