"Do you want to get out of here for a while?", Alister asked. They were still in the conference room. "You read my mind", Deirdra replied. Then, remembering she still wore the starched white blouse and charcoal skirt suit that comprised the pilot's uniform, she asked bashfully "Mind if I change first?" Alister grudgingly permitted her 15 minutes to get ready and they agreed to meet outside the elevators nearest the conference room. Deirdra hurried to her room, doffed the stiff and soiled clothing, and selected something more casual: jeans and a tee, topped by an orange thermal hoodie. She then brushed her hair and pulled on a pair of boots. Looking at her watch as she locked the door shortly thereafter, she was pleased to see that she had not exceeded the time limit. She made her way down the corridor without interruption, but something made her pause outside Dartz's office. She could hear voices from within. Dartz and Raphael no doubt. Though not nosy by nature, Deirdra decided to eavesdrop this once. Soundlessly, she stepped over to the door and pressed her ear against it. Raphael's gruff voice was instantly recognisable.

"Master Dartz, I've just received word from the retrieval team. Everything is going according to plan."

"Not everything, Raphael."

"What do you mean?"

"It seems there is a fly in the ointment."

"I don't understand."

"Someone saw our men pick up Flanaghan."

"That's impossible."

"Really? Then tell me why a girl called-" Dartz paused and Deirdra heard him shuffling papers as though he were looking for something."-a girl called Alynna Mason made a statement to the police in Eyrecourt concerning the abduction of one Liam Rhys Flanaghan."

"It's a mistake. It has to be. I gave them explicit orders to-"

"Not explicit ENOUGH apparently."

"With all due respect, Sir, I don't see what difference it makes. The men's faces were covered, the van unmarked. Even if the girl saw something, there's no way she could implicate us."

"Probably not, but I don't like loose ends."

"What would you like me to do?"

"Find her and persuade her to keep her mouth shut, by whatever means necessary. Use your own discretion."

"Anything else, Sir?"

"No, Raphael. You may be excused. I am in need of some 'me time', as you young people would say."

Deirdra heard Raphael start towards the door. Quickly and quietly she made her escape. Rounding the corner she met Alister. It took her a moment to realise she was breathless and quivering. The biker raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

20 minutes later they were inside a hamburger joint a few blocks from the railroad tracks. It was a hole-in-the-wall type of place, but Alister said the eats were good. Deirdra sat and gazed out the window, stirring her chocolate shake with the straw. Her food lay untouched. "What is Dartz's interest in Liam Flanaghan?", she asked suddenly, turning to Alister, who shrugged as he squirted ketchup on his burger. "Who knows?", he replied. His tone was dismissive, but Deirdra was disinclined to drop the subject."I mean, it makes sense he would go after Yugi and Kaiba", she continued, "They're the best. But Flanaghan? He was virtually unknown 2 years ago". "Master Dartz has his reasons. It's not our place to question his judgement", Alister remarked. Deirdra sighed. She had hoped recent events would alter his opinion of their boss, but that didn't seem to be the case. While he no longer held a grudge against her or her cousins (who had miraculously survived the plane crash), he still whole-heartedly supported Dartz's cause. How could he be so blind to the fact the man was using him? Deirdra just couldn't understand. She pushed her plate aside and rested her head in her hands. Alister was quick to pick up on her distress. Taking one of her hands in his own, he asked "Okay, what is it? Something's obviously bothering you." Deirdra raised her eyes to meet his. She was certain of the sincerity of his concern, yet still she hesitated. Could she trust him? The consequences could be dire were Dartz to discover she had been sticking her nose where he deemed it didn't belong. However, secrets and miscommunication had torn her and Alister apart before. If they were going to make this relationship work the second time around, she knew she was going to have to be straight with him. "I overheard Dartz and Raphael talking earlier", she began.

"And?"

"It was rather disturbing."

"In what way?"

"They've kidnapped Liam Flanaghan."

"Big deal."

"That's not all. Someone saw it happen and I think they mean to hurt her."

Alister scoffed and drained his glass of Coke.

"Violence isn't Dartz's bag."

"Are you sure about that? He told Raphael to keep her quiet by 'whatever means necessary'. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that means."

"Raph will shake her up a bit, that's all. You worry to much."

"I hope you're right...but I've got a bad feeling about this."

The waitress, a middle-aged woman with yellow teeth and a disshelveled updo, came them and placed the bill on the table. She cast a dissaproving look at Alister's strange attire before sauntering off, her polyester skirt swishing. A smile played across Alister's lips. "She should come with a label", he said. "Warning: may cause flashbacks to the '70s." Deirdra let out a long laugh.