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The three men sat in the high office chatting in Japanese.  The deal was seconds from being closed.

"Mr. Darklighter.  There is a woman here to see you."

"I take it from your statement that she doesn't have an appointment?"

"She has a badge."

"I see."  Logan turned back towards the two Japanese men.  "Gentleman, I have an emergency that I must attend to.  Perhaps we can continue this tonight, over dinner?"  Some would say his Japanese was flawless.  Neither of these gentleman would be among that group.

"Mr. Darklighter, we must return to Japan.  Perhaps another time then." the younger of the two men said.  They both rose, and Logan did as well.

"Very well.  Mrs. Armhurst will show you out."  And he let his secretary show the two men out the private entrance while he walked into the waiting area.  She always looked so formal when he saw her.  Pantsuit, nice shoes.  Nothing like the girl dressed in lovingly handmade skirts and sweaters that he knew in High School.  "Sylvia."

"Logan."

"Lunch."

"Sure."

The pair started from the office and Mrs. Armhurst came in.  "You have appointments."

"Cancel them.  I'm having lunch with a friend."

"You have a friend?"

"Just the one, which is why you can cancel the rest of my afternoon.".  Logan held the door her Sylvia and then led her to the elevator.

"She's witty.  I'm guessing she's a keeper?"

Logan nods.  "She's smart enough to know when to sass me and has excellent attention to detail."

"My badge certainly didn't ruffle her feathers."

Logan smiles, "I'll make sure to give her a bigger bonus this year."

The pair walk out of  the building and into the mild spring air.  She's following his lead, this is his turf.  She's rewarded a few minutes later by a small cafe with a view of the lake.  Still not warm enough for the beaches to be crawling with under dressed middle-aged men but nice enough to eat outside.  He orders them tea, and they look over the menu.

"Somethings are missing."  she says as she sets the menu down and places three photographs on the table.  Then she picks the menu back up.  He glances at the photos.  All three are familiar objects.

"Coincidence."  he says, "They have excellent salmon here."

"No.  Not a big fan of salmon."

He slides one of the photos back towards her, "Neither am I.  Perhaps the chicken?"

Sylvia moves a second photo from the three next to the one he moved.  "Same time.  I eat a lot of chicken.  How are their steaks?"

Logan's eyes rest on the two photos.  "I'm buying, they're excellent."

Sylvia sets her menu down.  "I take it you hadn't planned on spending so much?"

"No.  I always get what I pay for.  Apparently sometimes though, people are just greedy."

"I'd like dessert."  she says.  Her fatigue showing at the corners of her eyes.

"I canceled my afternoon."

"I heard a rumor that you have a friend in town."

*****

He sat in the chair watching her sleep.  The gentle curve of her shoulder, her hip, her calf that poked out from under the sheet.  He picked up his phone, and opened it.  Setting the volume to mute he sent the message.

The crew took two items from the last location.  He didn't have long to wait.

What?  Are you sure?

Strike 1.  It's brought the NSA into the picture, and that could upset my plans.  Find the other item, and have the backup crew return it.

Break in to return something?  Security will be tighter now than before.

Strike 2.  When you find out who is responsible for going off the playbook fire them.  Then in three months, make sure they are arrested, tried and convicted of child molestation.  When I hear they have died in prison I'll wipe the slate clean regarding this mistake.  You're on probation until then.

You're taking this better than I would have expected.

I have a friend in town.

I disbelieve.  I'm in Denver.

We're not friends.  Ensure you don't earn another strike before this is resolved.

Understood.

Logan clears the conversation and sets the phone down.  He eases from the chair and slips into the bed with her, molding himself into her curves and settling in to sleep.

One of them will be gone in the morning.  But for right now they are the only two people in the world.  And for the two of them, that's enough.