CHAPTER 04

“Don't even,” was all Barbara had to say as she walked past Calvin, headed for Operations. She did throw him a bone though, “Harvey is going to come in and help you out some.”

That actually got Calvin to look up from the game on his computer screen and he whined, almost like a child, “Harvey? I'm sure he can get a good nap while he's at it. Meanwhile, what are we supposed to do if we get a genuine call for help? I can't exactly mount an SAR with four people. Particularly when one of them refuses to do it and another isn't qualified.”

Leslie looked away from the coffee machine, “excuse me?”

Calvin did not back down when he responded to Leslie, “yes I know you were on our last SAR mission but, it doesn't count if you're the one being rescued.” Cal looked back to his boss, who was already dressed in her flight suit, ready to leave, “Barbara, we're getting a little too busy around here. I can't even remember the last time that happened, mainly because, I don't think it ever has. At least leave us Jake.”

That rankled Barbara's feathers as she climbed the stairs, “that's not my call Calvin.”

Leslie stopped next to Calvin and was a bit miffed, “ok, I know I'm, like, the new girl around here but, who runs this place again? That might be useful to know, sometimes.”

Cal kept his voice down when he mumbled, “starting to wonder that myself.”

At the top of the stairs, Barbara found Norm glumly sitting on the main counter and reading the book in sheets from the city. He peeked at Barbara, who was heading for the weather print outs, and then he noted, “you know Calvin is right.”

Barbara barely paid the man any attention as she began the scanning the latest forecasts in the bin, “about which part Norm? God, have you noticed the weather has been really weird lately?”

Norm shrugged, “it's ether raining or sunshine. Looks about normal to me.” It was about all he had to say on that before he got back to his point, “we got some more money now Barbara. We are going to need some more help. We get any more days like this and we're going to be stretched way to thin.”

Now she turned to face him and she was fully committed to the conversation, “and you see Norm, there's a problem with that. I can't just hire anybody and you know that. We can't afford to send anybody to any kind of training and the number of qualified people is not very long.” Then she snickered and said, “or do you want me to call Cannon Trucks and offer him is old position?”

“I'd quit if you brought that slime bag back, “ Norm replied before continuing, “the new girl is working out.”

Barbara looked towards the stairs and made sure nobody was on them before she quietly said, “that remains to be seen.”

That led to Norm holding up the paper in his hand, “she's right about this?”

“Oh brother,” Barbara snorted, “that's not what I mean and you know it. As for that, it can wait.”

Norm set the paper aside and after rubbing his nose he made the off handed comment of, “and I'm sure that guy that owns the jewelry shop might not feel that way. Barbara, are we a real law enforcement agency or not? You going to have to make your mind up about that, right now. You know, the city might not do much about shit when they get there but, at least they do show up. If people are going to take us seriously then we have to do, at least, that much. When was the last time you remember somebody, we don't know, calling us about something like this?”

That frustrated Barbara and mostly because, “I don't remember.”

“Well,” Norm stood up, “it's happened now. We ether going to have to fish or cut bait and, I'm getting the feeling that play time is over.”

That made Barbara almost go cross eyed, “what the hell does that mean, Norm?”

Norm gave up, “what are you still doing here? The faster you get that girl to court, the faster you all get your asses back here. You waiting on the weather or something?”

“No,” Barbara began walking towards the stairs, “blame it on Idhirti. I have a meeting this morning and I can't put this one off, I think.” Norm decided to not even ask about that and, besides, Barbara stopped at the stairs and was about to say something else. Her meeting made her think and, suddenly, she was looking at it in a new light. When was the last time she had a meeting, like this, and it could not be put off? It made her say to Norm. “Ok Norm. It's your call while I'm gone. Go handle the complaint. I'm sure you're more than capable.”

“Gee thanks,” was what she heard as she descended the stairs, still in deep thought.

Leslie tried to jump Barbara at the very bottom of the stairs but, Barbara cut the girl off and just said, “the answer is, go talk to Norm. He's in charge now.” Did the girl really put her coffee cup down, bounce up and down like a child, with a huge grin, and then run off up the stairs while making yipping noises? Barbara was kind of glad she was going to be gone for a few days. Then she started to wonder if, just maybe, Barton had been right about that vacation thing. One look at Calvin's face told her that, just maybe, he was. Calvin had a worried expression and he nodded to over by the screen door where they had two guests standing.

When Barbara looked at the object of Calvin's nod she saw her old friend and coworker, Idhirti Keitel, standing there with a guy in a suit that she had never seen before. The suit guy actually had a brief case? This looked almost too official for any place that Barbara had to offer. If she was not in a hurry to get out of here today, she would have met the guy over at the palace.

Still, it was too late to worry about that. What she did worry about was what she had on and, more important, how she had it on. It would be cold by the time she reached Valley but, it was way too hot here to just go running around in a flight suit. That was why Barbara had it half way pulled down and the sleeves were tied off around her waste. Her hair was pinned up and that was as close as she had come to fixing it up this morning. To put it plainly, it was a mess. Barbara was also pretty sure her t-shirt was dirty too. It would probably be soaked with sweat by the time she reached Valley Point, so why bother with one right off the hanger? Then Barbara realized that he bra was probably outlined on it and, all she could do about it was gulp.

The guy acted nice enough, even chipper. He pointed out the screen door and told her, “nice place you got here. I really love the view.”

Idhirti saw Barbara squirming and rolled her eyes before introducing the man, “this is Agent Nathan Evans of Interpol. Nathan, this is Chief Agent Barbara Reilly of the Colonial Rangers. Now, I think we have some important business to discuss, could we... you know?”

Barbara gulped and squirmed some more, “I was... you know, about to leave. My room is kind of...”

Idhirti smiled and tried to remain polite, “she means her office. I tell you what, why don't we...”

Again, Evans pointed to the door and said, “you know, I'd like to check out the beach, I mean, if you don't mind.”

Idhirti rolled her eyes again, “in those shoes?”

Evans noted to her, “they're special made. They actually detach from my feet.”

When the screen door slammed shut, Calvin noted that Leslie was peeking out from the stairway, trying to see out the door and watch them. He tried to ignore the girl and decided to ask Idhirti, “Interpol? Here? What's he want?”

Leslie was the one who answered, “Oh Calvin Brandt, you are just so cute when you are so blind.”

“Leslie!” Calvin snapped, “go back up stairs!”

The short haired blond did not vanish from the stairway corner and, instead, Leslie had to say it, “don't think I've ever seen Barbra drool. Is that normal cause I thought only Shannon's dog did that.”

This time, Calvin grabbed a dirty rag from his desk and threw it at her before getting back to Idhirti, who simply said, “he's following some kind of case. I really haven't had the time to ask. I'm only doing this is as a favor, of a favor, of a favor, if you get my drift.”

“Not really but,” Calvin peeked out the screen door from his desk chair. The guy really was taking his shoes and socks off. Barbara had pulled up her flight suit? That could not be good! That's why Calvin finished his statement with, “but Barbara just might.”

As they strolled down the little path that wound it's way past the dunes, and onto the beach proper, Barbara reviewed the information she had been given and, noted how this guy was scrunching his toes in the sand. He seemed to be enjoying himself, no matter how out of place he looked walking down the beach in a suit. Still, it kind of made her feel a little less out of place and, Barbara was of the impression, that was his idea all along. Barbara still kept to business, “did you talk to the police about this?”

Nathan was trying to keep his balance and the sand was somewhat uncooperative, “Chief Haliburton Summers.”

The tone he used, an almost sarcastic one, told Barbara something important, “I see, so you met our esteemed chief of police.” It made her think, “of course, all that leads to me to wonder, who dropped my name? I really don't think it was him.”

“Oh he dropped it all right,” replied Nathan as he stopped and looked out at the breakers, “and then he proceeded to step on it, squish it, and almost looked like he was dancing a jig on top of it.” Barbara actually laughed and then Nathan picked up with, “no, the guy that suggested I should talk to you was IFOR.”

She did not laugh at that. Barbara was not exactly sure how to take it either. She was definitely one of the 'S' words, surprised, shocked, or scared. She was not sure which, “a German?”

“Yeah,” Nathan blew it off, “it was some damn name that started with an H. You know, I worked in the Netherlands for three years and I still can't keep their names straight.”

“Not surprising,” Barbara wondered which of the two goon squad leaders it was, “you being an American an all.”

“Oh I'm not an American,” Nathan told her very quickly. Now Barbara was confused, “I'm Canadian actually, Alberta specifically.”

Now she developed a pleasant smile and Barbara nodded in appreciation as she said, “you know my father's family was from Canada. My mother was a Texan. I sometimes think that has a lot to do with my turbulent childhood.”

Now it was the Interpol guy's turn to chuckle, “yeah, I have noticed all that means a whole lot of something else out here in the colonies. Course, you guys might not know it but, you're a hell of a lot better off than most of the people on Beta Canaan. That was my stop before I came here. Course it's not really their fault. Kind of hard to keep a roof over your head when you had Americans and Germans blowing it off for six years running.”

“I guess I can sympathize,” Barbara replied.

Before she continued, Nathan injected, “but you have a hard time believing how good you guys got it here.” Again Barbara tried to speak and, again, Nathan cut her off, “grass is always greener, Agent Reilly.” Nathan saw the funny expression and tried to back pedal, a little, “not that I blame you. I mean, for lack of a better term, you guys don't get out much, do you? I've gotten that attitude from..” Nathan paused for a second and then, “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be the jerk from Earth. Kind of must have put my foot in my mouth there.”

“It's all right, Agent Evans,” Barbara replied sincerely enough. “I think I've done that on occasion, myself.” She developed a warm smile and then said, “so, this case you wanted to talk about?”

There was one thing that Barbara could definitely say about this 'aw shucks', humble pie, routine that Evans had. It worked. He kind of stumbled with words before he went on with, “yeah probably a good idea. Ok, we call him Two S.”

Now Barbara was thoroughly confused, “you'll have to pardon me Agent Evans, I really don't get out that much. Two S?”

Nathan was embarrassed and let it show slightly as he shrugged, “yeah, it sounded better than Sammy Sue.”