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by Mark McFadden, november 12th 2000
I had apparently lost track of the time during the folding, I had been thinking my own thoughts as Lee coached some of the others through the repetitive task. I won't apologize for not participating until the end, I did my share and proved to all concerned that I can indeed fold a paper crane if such a need should arise in future - but I didn't see the utility in belaboring the point. Let Thomas take up some slack for once. I don't remember any vote to appoint a full-time bodyguard.
In Doc's office, the Sunset Lightshow was well underway from the western windows, already past the Persian carpet and almost to the Wall itself. The crystals hanging from the dreamcatchers in the windows threw moving points of light throughout the office.
Ms. Verde had been examining the Wall and was pretending to be so absorbed in it that she was unaware of our entrance. However, Lee had been looking in the right direction as the door opened and I noticed an almost negated turn of the head as the door swung open. In case Lee hadn't noticed I informed him that the encounter had begun with a deception and that I was paying very careful attention and was ready to take control when needed. I also asked if he would be so kind as to look at the Wall for a moment so I could memorize today's configuration for one of my ongoing projects.
Instead, with Lee at the helm I learned that Ms. Verde is rather tall for a woman and wears rather expensive looking boots to downplay the effect. Almost flat and rather large, perhaps custom, certainly handmade. Calves and thighs athletic but not track or basketball muscled. Smooth and pantherish, I would surmise dance or fencing from the stance but wouldn't rule out martial arts. Some cross training with weights. The boots provided a slimming effect to the calves and went with the mini skirt. Bold fashion sense, almost Sixties retro, I suppose Diana would know the designer and details.
Of course I had to make most of these observations from memory as Lee spent most of the pre-conversation evaluation time reaffirming the fact that her buttocks were constructed much like an apricot. Unusually slim hips I announced and was seconded by Diana, who stressed the unusual a bit tartly. Jealous perhaps. Ms. Verde's outfit included a short Hussar's jacket, heavy with braid and worn on the right arm with the left hanging like a short cape, which confirmed that it was a high fashion ensemble.
She was posed dramatically, legs straight, back arched, balance slightly forward, feet poised at parade rest distance. Her left hand was clenched in a fist and cocked on her hip, her right was raised to her face with her index finger to her mouth as if shushing the collection of objects on the Wall, rather artfully conveying profound interest and appreciation. I once again requested Lee to give the Wall a quick look but instead we inventoried Ms. Verde's features. High and wide cheekbones hinted of Native American ancestry. Eyes indeterminate in an age of contacts but for the moment appearing as bright bottle green complemented by black hair and brows, one arched, possibly with amusement. The full lips were smiling and the right cheek dimpled. Either fine-pored skin or excellent make-up or both.
She pivoted to indicate seeing us, the other eyebrow bouncing up to register surprise, inhaling. Diana announced an age estimate of early thirties and her bust was enhanced by something undoubtedly more intimate than Victoria's Secret. The turn, incidentally, was executed with exquisite balance, carried off like a runway model move unless you know what to look for in the foot placement. I revised my opinion on martial arts in Ms. Verde's repertoire. She was wearing a high-necked tunic that somehow bridged the thematic gap between jacket and miniskirt. Thomas hadn't volunteered the location of her gun so I provisionally assigned it to a rig hung under the jacket.
Doc introduced us to "the Ms. Verde du jour" as he called her. My attention snapped back to Ms. Verde when she extended her hand to shake. There was something hesitant about the gesture, as if it began as something else. Curious. The abortive gesture and the accent. Why the pretense? I told Lee that I needed to have the head for a while, I needed to look closely but I didn't know what to tell him to look for. The request was denied but as we were looking at Ms. Verde I didn't press my case.
"Doctor, is that a Senegalese funeral mask?" she asked in an educated English contralto. No, not English, an American with an acquired English accent. At least her question got Lee to look at the Wall and I memorized the composition. The lead soldiers had been moved next to the Popeye figurine, I had seen that before over the years. The madonna had been taken down and replaced, as had the bodkin and the Dia de los Muertos doll. I had seen that before as well. Cherchez le femme, Doc? Not Ms. Verde I was sure; he was visibly hostile to her.
"Don't know. I bought it at Pier 1" he replied curtly (he had not) and went to adjust the lead soldiers. Somewhat possessively I thought. By then Lee was looking back at Ms. Verde and telling her about how he and Doc would perform yoga late in the day and watch the light from the collection of desert glass and pyrite and crystal bottles of colored water creep across the rug and up the Wall. While Lee and the others relax and speak to Doc at those times I have been analyzing the Wall's contents and configuration to determine the direction of his thoughts. Forewarned is fore armed. He thinks he is randomly redistributing the collection, but he has got into the habit of unconsciously fiddling with objects on the shelves when thinking.
"I'm sorry about the Ms. Verde cover, I was told it was generic for the area but it seems to have caused some confusion. I believe the Doctor was expecting someone else and feels I am here under false pretenses. I would like to assure you both that we are very cognizant of your special circumstances Mr. Burroughs'."
"Doc will do, and you've read files 'Ms. Verde'," Doc snapped, "the reality is years of painful improvisation and hard work. You have no idea of what he has been through, and now you show up dressed for Halloween and want to take him, them, back into that mess."
She regarded him seriously for a moment, as if making a decision. I asked
Lee for the conn as everyone tensed for an explosion and Lee cooperated for
once. I quickly confirmed some surmises about Ms. Verde's ensemble, noting
the high neck and the way the jacket broke up the line from waist to shoulder
and concealed the width of those shoulders. I reexamined her feet and knees.
Check.
"I have a more intimate insight than you might imagine... Doc. Agent Burroughs
protected himself from what he had read by shattering. I flipped. I used
to be a mathematician and now I need a calculator to balance my checkbook
and can't parallel park. Harvey required surgery and I might, too. Improvise,
adapt, overcome. What is the current phrase? We aren't dis-abled, we're
differently abled.
"Why don't we start over? My name these days is Roberta
Peel but my friends call me Bobbi. I hope to count you among those friends
someday. I've already mentioned Harvey, the third member of our new cell.
He has perhaps more familiarity of Agent Burroughs' circumstances than I
do. You'll be meeting him soon.
"We aren't expecting Mr. Burroughs to
don an agency windbreaker and smash down doors. That sort of thing should
be over before we arrive on the scene. We are to serve in a consulting capacity
as a sort of forensics team. Our ... adaptations to previous exposure make
us uniquely suited to dealing with... artifacts. We cover as representatives
of a civilian team of consultants to law enforcement; consulting with psychics
and remote viewers and crime scene dowsers. Harvey calls us the Library Police."
I decided that pause would be an opportune time to steer the conversation. Ms. Peel wasn't the only one with a flair for the dramatic.
"If we are to start over, let's do it completely." I suggested that Edgar proffer a handshake and was pleased to feel him respond without confirming with Lee. I think everyone was a little shocked at my speaking to Ms. Peel. A foolish consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, as Doc has pointed out to me often, but inattention is another one. I had been paying attention.
"My name is Mycroft I look forward to working with you Ms. Peel. Ah, I see that Doc has discussed me in the files, you look almost as surprised to have me address you as Doc is. I understand all of you believe that I am incapable of conversing with a woman. Ridiculous, I simply choose not to for the most part. But be that as it may there really isn't a conflict in this case. I see that Doc understands now, but I was wondering if you could explain to the rest of us why you are pretending to be a woman."
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