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Mission Accepted: A Call
to Quatre
Relative disclaimers apply.
Quatre Raberba Winner accepted the phone call in the fifteenth floor executive offices in one of his family's skyscrapers.
He looked away from his laptop computer, leaned back in his custom-made executive leather chair, grinned, and swung in a half-circle.
"Miss Relena! What a wonderful surprise! What can I do for you?"
But he already suspected the reason for her call. He too had discovered that some of the money that their respective families had given to Booth's was being used for possibly illegal purposes.
Matter of fact, he had been waiting for her to call him. Every time he had tried to call her, family business had intervened, time and again reminding him that he had chosen to relieve his sisters of some of their duties.
"Hello, Quatre. How are you?"
Relena sounded distracted.
Quatre frowned.
"I'm all right. But why aren't you giving me my favorite smile?"
She chuckled.
"You always cheer me up. Maybe I should have named the bear after you."
Quatre blushed.
"That would be too much of an honor."
And besides, Heero would have a fit.
She giggled, then got serious.
"You know why I'm calling. Have you found out anything?"
He shook his head.
I was right. And we both have to careful of what we say. One never knows when one's conversation is being recorded somewhere.
"Not much."
I can only get so far. Their systems are coded on every level and the codes change at random.
"Me too," Relena sighed."This isn't good. But then again, neither are my investigative skills. I should have 'upgraded' them when I had the opportunity."
Quatre chuckled.
The guys would love to hear that. Yeah right!
As though she had heard this thought, she asked:
"Heard from them lately?"
He shook his head again.
"No..."
Not lately...
His voice trailed off as his computer screen announced that he had just received an email, did he wish to read it right now, wait until later, or delete it?
"Quatre?"
Relena sounded concerned.
He shook his head while his free forefinger shot out and chose the "now" option.
"Sorry. Something's just come up. Wait a sec..."
"No, no. I don't want to keep you from your work."
"Nonsense. Call or visit me anytime."
"Same here. Listen...let me know if you find anything."
He nodded.
"And you do the same. Uhm...would you like to..."
His eyes widened as he began to read the email, which consisted of coded text.
This is an easy code.
"Quatre, I would love to accompany you but..."
Hel-loh. Duo's come out of hiding.
"...another time, I promise."
"Miss Relena, I really am sorry about this interruption."
Why are you so serious, Duo? Heero must be with you.
"I understand. Believe me."
"We'll talk again soon," he promised.
"Yes," she promised. Well...until again, Quatre."
Meet you guys where? I don't know that address.
"Take care, Miss Relena."
As he hung up his eyes narrowed.
What do I know about Booth's? Not much. I thought that the blue was just some kind of respectful admiration. Now I have to know what you guys know. We'll just have to deal with whatever comes out of this Pandora's box.
He exhaled and began to type a response.
"I...never thought the blue...was a big deal until now. I'm wondering now. But if you ask me...she shouldn't be involved. And...code...and....send."
He leaned back and exhaled again.
"I have to find out what I can in the meantime. We really are opening a Pandora's box, aren't we, guys...?"
His voice trailed off again as he noticed that he'd gotten a response to his email.
A forefinger selected the 'now' option.
"They're still wherever they are. Hey...this isn't coded."
His eyes narrowed a little as he read the email; then they widened.
"Invite her?"
The Pandora's box had just acquired his favorite smile.