Aug. 14 - Sat. noon
Julia unloaded on me this morning. She cornered me in the mezzanine's reading nook and wanted advice on how to get Nick to open up to her. I get the definite sensation that she likes the guy. She always was a sucker for a sob story or lost puppy-dog eyes, especially when they come with a cute smile and an equally cute behind.
I like Nick too - at times. He does have a sweet smile and I sense a kindness there somewhere, but he's as hard to read as our precept. I didn't encourage her, but told her he'd talk when he was ready. It's really none of our business what his problems are - unless they affect this House, which I fear they already are.
I still don't like what I feel when he's around Derek. Could those likeable qualities cover an agent from the Darkside? My heart says, "No," but my common sense says, "Why not?" Derek's narrowly escaped clever traps before. Wouldn't this be one of the cleverest possible ploys? I wish him well, but I'd like to see Mr. Nicholas Boyle on his way back to LA or wherever - so long as it's a long way from here.
Speaking of our precept. Miracle of miracles, Derek got back from his "drive" with himself and the car in one piece. Now he's loaded tons of work on us all and has taken off again. Whatever set him off must have been something else. He only takes the Jag out for a spin when in a mood - what Grandma Rose calls an "amen, hallelujah, hellfire and damnation" mood. Now he's got Nick doing a complete service job on it - tearing it down, top to bottom. Trusting soul. I hope Nick knows what he's doing. We're really in trouble if he's a Darksider. Hope Derek checks his breaks before he drives it again. It's a gorgeous little car - the kind girls dream their prince will drive up in, but the one time he let me drive it all I sensed was sadness and heartbreak. Mostly it just stays tucked under its cover in a corner of the garage.
He was already gone when we got up this morning. He left the conference table piled high - notes for all of us and stacks of old files to sift through. Wherever he went this time, he's taken the chopper. He's in his "lone wolf" mode, which makes me really nervous - it's usually pure trouble. Like that hungry wolf, he's on the scent of a case, but he's not telling us anything. Somehow, there's a thread running through these files that pertains to his quarry. If only I could find it. But then it could be a "smoke screen". Philip votes for that. He says the key is in the files, but that there are probably at least 4 or 5 red herrings that he's got us looking for too. He says Derek can't help himself.
I hope he remembers that he's supposed to attend the UC Regents' Fund Raiser tonight. It's a biggie that he shouldn't miss. He usually presents a rather hefty check from the Luna Foundation to get the ball rolling. It keeps the natives happy and the wheels greased.
NEXT
CONTENTS PTL FANFIC
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