This chap is directly after Bo saves Ben in the train station, as well as after Allison arriving to visit Bo.
"You read her? Milton, you know you're not supposed to do that!"
Channing's dark eyes managed to flash with barely restrained emotion as she sat face to face with Milton in the large loft space, easily darkening in the night, too high above the street lights to be more than marginally lit by them.
"It's easy," he whispered, "with her. It's easier." They spoke softly, the murderer (as Channing still thought of him), and now two young girls were fast asleep; Tate sleeping at the far end of the room, and the young girl with Bo.
"I don't think she'd want you reading her."
Milton chuckled, his face cracking a slow smile. "She didn't take kindly to it once she realized that I was doing so-"
"Milton she can hurt you!" Channing's voice rang out as she rose from her seated position in a heat of worry. Once up, she realized her mistake, and closed her mouth as she sat back down, feeling slightly sheepish.
"I know that!" He hissed. "Don't you think I know that? She's proven not just her strength but that she does have the power to kill any one of us- she showed that the moment she saw me. Think, Miss Channing, just think what a man like Skouras could do with someone that powerful."
Channing gave a wry grin. "If she's as strong as that, I don't think she'd even need to worry about Skouras."
Winter's expression changed from worried to contemplative. He stoked his chin with his thumb and forefinger and nodded slowly. "You may be right."
Channing waited until she couldn't bear not knowing any longer and her curiosity got the best of her.
"Well, as long as you already saw it you might as well tell me. what did you see?"
"Being here with Bo must be some sort of memory trigger," his voice was low as if talking to himself. "I saw things easily. I saw Bo, and Tate. And then I saw myself ten years younger and Skouras as well."
"Skouras?" Channing wrinkled her nose.
"Yes," he looked into Channing's eyes feeling her fear. "This was a child under Roman Skouras' care one way or another."
Milton looked up and over at the bed Bo was now sharing with Allison. Allison had one arm flung around Bo's sleeping form. She'd been helpful, he had to admit, when they'd returned with a traumatized Bo, after she'd been forced to protect the writer, Ben. Thankfully, both he and his wife were long gone. Now all Winter had to worry about, once again was Bo, and now possibly this other child.
"Do you think it's true what Bo said? That they knew each other before?"
He nodded. "I believe so, Miss Channing."
"But how? You said she was never a part of the Orchestra program."
PAGE BREAK BECAUSE FF WON"T LET YOU MAKE OR USE ONE...
"Gentlemen, this little girl is a shining example of what the combination of genetics and my personal work can accomplish."
Roman Skouras was so full of self confidence and pride that it made the people in the room want to hit him.
He was standing in a secluded office in the Pentagon, facing a circular table of the country's finest military minds, all clad in their traditional attire, chests sparkling with medals, for the most part. Directly in front of Skouras, stood his favorite subject.
"A little girl?" A white haired general scoffed. "Mister Skouras, it is not that difficult to produce a child. Just ask anyone."
Skouras chuckled as if he was amused, but he glared slightly and ruffled at the intentional deletion of his title.
"This is no ordinary child."
All the officers eyes met across the circular table and said their disbelief loud and clear.
"Well," a middle aged naval admiral with a dry voice and even drier looking face began, "what can this kid of yours do, Skouras?"
It was a challenge.
When she realized all eyes were on her, Alice looked up at Roman.
Roman Skouras looked across the table at Admiral Ross, who always coordinated these briefings, then back down at Alice.
"Alice, do you see the glass globe on the table by Admiral Ross?" He looked in the direction he wanted her to look.
She nodded.
"Admiral, if you would, please throw the globe over to me."
A brown- clad man gave a sneering laugh. "This is his replacemant for the pregnant girl?"
Skouras bristled inwardly, filled with guilt and anger. Nina had died less than a month ago. His emotions were still raw and volitile.
While Skouras seethed, Ross stood and finally tossed the paper weight in an under hand arc across the expansive table.
Skouras made no move to intercept the object.
"Alice," Roman whispered. "Catch it!"
The crystal globe froze in mid air for a few seconds before slowly being lowered. Alice took the sphere in her hands.
Admiral Ross gave a half-smile.
"That's all well and good Mister Skouras, but I don't hope you expect us all the accept a cheap parlor trick to replace the task we've asked for."
"Not at all, Admiral," his confidence only increased with the man's doubt. "And, I assure you, it's no cheap trick."
He looked back down at Alice. "Alice, give Admiral Ross his globe back."
"Him want his toy?"
Muffled laughter sounded from the circle as Skouras answered in the affirmative.
Alice gave a shrug, then toddled across the table towards the man who'd thrown the round object in her hands. Skouras smiled as she approached the center of the table- as indeed there was no center, the circular table had a large section missing in the middle.
Several of the men cried out and jumped to their feet, arms futilely outstretched to save the toddler as Alice walked to the end of the table top and stepped towards the edge. It would be at least a four foot drop if she fell. Yet, she toddled the rest of the way on top of the air just as if it were solid. Then her Mary Jane shoes clicked in a stacatto sound as she crossed over to the other side of the table and handed the globe to the shocked Admiral towering over her.
"I'll be God-damned," he stared at her wide eyed.
"Hewe you toy", she answered holding it, waiting for him to take it back. Slowly, still staring wide-eyed at the tiny blonde child as if she'd bite him, he took the paperweight from her outstretched hands.
"How the hell'd she do that?"
Skouras smiled like a cheshire cat. "That's nothing."