The receptionist who greeted Illya handed over his section two badge without pausing to really examine the brooding agent. The eerie feeling that had overcome him earlier was not diminishing as he had hoped. He tried to relive the moments that surrounded his meeting with Duvall. Whatever it was coiled in his memory wasn't ready to fully reveal itself; somehow he had seen an individual from headquarters in the low lights of the restaurant. Perhaps the person in question wouldn't have recognized the Thrush official. If that were the case, then the incident might pass without repurcussions...for now. Napoleon might be able to conjur up an image. What if he had been seen as well. That would be a virtual nail in his coffin to have been the subject of observation by the CEA of UNCLE Northwest. He might as well just turn in his badge and leave now. How had this become so complicated in so short a time?
As he turned to head for his office, he noticed a woman from the lab with whom he had worked recently. She was a serious employee, not given to idle conversation. They had gotten along quite well, both of them intent on their own projects and not in need of frivolous asides to their primary purposes. Now, as they approached one another, he noticed a slight hesitation in her eyes as she glanced towards him. Did he imagine that, or was word already going around about him?
"Hello Marianne', he greeted her and waited for a reply or reaction.
"How are you doing down in eight?" He slowed in order to facilitate conversation. He was testing her...he needed to know.
"Mr. Kuryakin, hello. I had hoped to run into you; I think I might need your opinion on something that I've encountered". She wasn't affected; he was glad for that. He wasn't ready yet for the onslaught.
"I'll be down there as time allows. I have some reports to finish up here, but I'll look for you". She returned a smile and passed on to her destination. That had taken all of about 30 seconds, but it was a relief to the blond, knowing he still had time. Paranoia. It wouldn't just be other people affected by it, he now reasoned.
As he turned into his own office, there was a note waiting on his desk. If this was from their imposter, it was very brazen to just leave it on his desk in plain view. Perhaps Thrush was that confident of him, or intent on getting him to come over to their side. The quickest way to gain Kuryakin would be to make it impossible to stay at UNCLE. As he slid open the envelope it was clear that this was indeed a message from the mole inside of headquarters. The writer was suggesting a meeting between the two of them. He was considered a done deal, it seemed. 'Meet me at midnight at the Purple Unicorn. That establishment certainly got a lot of action; okay, they would meet. This seemed too soon...too easy. He didn't really have a choice though. He would let Waverly know about the meeting, and he would go.