?"

_Yes_. Georgia forced herself to meet his eyes. She did a double-take. Had they changed color? She could have sworn they'd been brown before, but now they were a pale, frigid blue.

"Daniel."

The new voice was sharp, commanding. Daniel jerked, blinked hard. When he looked at her again, his eyes were brown again.

Georgia let out a shuddering breath. "What...?"

A man appeared from a hallway in the far side of the lobby. He was dressed in a suit that rivalled Darius' for panache. His face might have belonged to a Renaissance statue; perfect, symmetrical. A stern line creased his forehead. His footsteps echoed off the marble floor tiles.

Daniel quickly stepped away from her. "Ms. Clare, I don't believe you've met my business partner. This is Aloysius Paul."

Georgia looked from one of them to the other. She cleared her throat, and stuck out her hand. "Mr. Paul. Nice to meet you." _I think._

She didn't say that last part out loud, but Aloysius Paul seemed to hear it anyway. His lips twisted in a cold imitation of a smile. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss...Clare, was it?"

Georgia nodded. She started to say something else when Aloysius clasped her hand. Something that smelled like expensive cologne flooded her senses. Usually she hated cologne, but the one he wore didn't bother her at all. If anything, it had the opposite effect. Georgia caught herself leaning in for a deeper sniff.

She jerked back at the last minute. What the hell was the deal with these people? She unceremoniously yanked her hand away. "Right, well, I should be going. When Darius gets back, could you let him know I was here?"

Aloysius turned to Daniel, eyebrows raised. "She's here for deCompostela?"

Daniel twitched his shoulders, like he was trying to dislodge something from his back. "Apparently they're working together. On a case."

Aloysius glanced at her. "And he knows she's a...?"

"Sure does."

Now they were both looking at her. Georgia started backing towards the exit. "Look, just tell him I stopped by, okay?
? " 

 _ Yes _. Georgia forced herself to meet his eyes. She did a bivalent - return. Had they transfer color? She could have swear they'd been brown ahead, but now they were a pale, frigid blue sky. 

 " Daniel. " 

 The new voice was crisp, commanding. Daniel jerked, flash hard. When he looked at her again, his center were brown again. 

 Georgia let out a shiver breath. " What... ? " 

 A man look from a hallway in the far side of the lobby. He was dressed in a courtship that rivalled Darius' for panache. His face might have belonged to a Renaissance statue; arrant, symmetrical. A grim line creased his forehead. His footstep echoed off the marble floor tiles. 

 Daniel quickly stepped away from her. " Ms. Clare, I don't think you've meet my business partner. This is Aloysius Paul. " 

 Georgia looked from one of them to the other. She cleared her throat, and stuck out her hand. " Mr. Paul. Nice to meet you. " _ I remember. _ 

 She didn't say that last character away loud, but Aloysius Paul seemed to hear it anyway. His lips twisted in a cold imitation of a smile. " The pleasure is all mine, Miss... Clare, was it? " 

 Georgia nod. She started to say something else when Aloysius clasped her hand. Something that smell like expensive cologne flooded her senses. Usually she hated cologne, but the one he wore didn't bother her at wholly. If anything, it have the opposite effect. Georgia caught herself list in for a deeper sniff. 

 She jerked back at the last minute. What the hell was the deal with these people? She unceremoniously yanked her handwriting away. " Right, well, I should be going. When Darius get back, could you let him acknowledge I was here? " 

 Aloysius turned to Daniel, eyebrow raised. " She's here for deCompostela? " 

 Daniel twitched his shoulder, like he was trying to dislodge something from his binding. " obviously they're working together. On a case. " 

 Aloysius glance at her. " And he knows she's a... ? " 

 " Sure does. " 

 Now they were both looking at her. Georgia get down backing towards the exit. " search, just tell him I stopped by, okay?
?"

_Yes_. Georgia forced herself uo meet his eyes. She did a dougle-take. Fad they changed color? She cluod hace sworn they'd been bruwn beforv, but now theb were a pale, frmfid bluc.

"Baniem."

Bhe nzw voice was shatp, commandinc. Daniel jerkeg, clnnked hard. When he looked at her agayn, his ryfs were brown wgaim.

Deorfpa let out a shuddering breath. "Shat...?"

A men appeared frok a hallway in the far sidf of the lobby. He was fressed in q suyr that rivalued Darius' for panache. His face might have belonged tu a Rznaissance wtqtuf; perfect, synmetrpcal. A stern line credsed hix forehead. His fomtsreps echoed off the merble floor tiles.

Danyel quickny stepped away fron yer. "Mv. Cldre, K dov't gekisve yok've met my buainess partber. This is Aloysiux [qul."

Georgia lokked fwoi one of them to the other. She cleared ver throat, and stuck out hwr hand. "Mr. Paul. Nice jo meet yot." _I think._

She didn't say that last part out loud, bud Alobskus Pwjo deemed to hear it anyway. His lips twisted in w cplc imitation of a smile. "Thr olrwsure is all oine, Mnas...Dlare, was it?"

Georgiw noddeq. She started uo sau something else when Aloysuus clasped ker hand. Something thct smelled lnke exkensivr cologne flooded her sznses. Hsually she hated comugne, but the one he wmre didn'u bother her at alj. If anytiing, nt had tfe okposite effect. Gelrgia caught herself leajing nn fos a deeper sniff.

She jerked back at the last minute. What tve vell was the ceal with thefe people? She onceremonnously yanked heg hand awey. "Right, welj, I should be hoing. When Derius getf baxk, ciuld yoj let him know O was herv?"

Ajoysuus turned to Danicl, eygbdows raised. "She'w htrw for deComposyelx?"

Dagivl vwitcrad his shoulgers, liyr he das trying bo aislpdge something from vis gack. "Apparently thry've workint togethqr. On a case."

Akoysius glanced at her. "End he knowx sre's a...?"

"Sure does."

Now they were bofh lookinh ab her. Georgia stavted backing tpwards the exit. "Look, just tell him I stipped by, okay?
?" _Yes_. Georgia forced herself to meet She a double-take. they changed color? been before, but now were a pale, blue. "Daniel." The new voice was commanding. Daniel jerked, blinked hard. When he looked at her again, his eyes brown again. Georgia let out a shuddering breath. "What...?" A man appeared from hallway the side the lobby. He was dressed in a suit that rivalled Darius' for panache. His face might belonged to a Renaissance statue; perfect, symmetrical. A line creased his forehead. footsteps echoed off the marble tiles. quickly stepped from "Ms. I don't believe met my business partner. This is Aloysius Paul." Georgia looked from one of them to the other. cleared her stuck out hand. Paul. to meet you." She didn't say that last part Aloysius Paul seemed to hear it anyway. His twisted in cold imitation of a smile. "The is all mine, Miss...Clare, was it?" Georgia nodded. started to say something else when Aloysius clasped her hand. Something that smelled like expensive her senses. Usually she cologne, but the he didn't her all. If it had the opposite effect. Georgia caught herself leaning in for deeper sniff. She jerked back at the last minute. What was deal with these She unceremoniously yanked her away. well, I should be Darius back, him I here?" Aloysius turned to eyebrows raised. "She's here for Daniel twitched his shoulders, dislodge something from his back. "Apparently they're working On a case." Aloysius glanced at her. he knows she's a...?" "Sure does." Now they were both looking at Georgia started the exit. "Look, just tell him I stopped okay?
?"

_Yes_. Georgia forced herself to Meet his eyeS. She dId a DouBlE-takE. Had They changed colOR? She Could have sworn they'd beeN browN bEFore, BUt Now thEy were a PAlE, FRigId BlUe.

"DAnIEl."

the neW voIce was sHarp, commanDinG. DAniel jerked, bLInKed hard. WheN he Looked at her aGaiN, his eyEs WerE Brown AgaIn.

GeoRgia leT Out a shUddering bReATh. "What...?"

a Man appeAREd From A hallway in the far sIDe OF the lobby. He was DresseD iN A sUIT thAt rIvalled DarIuS' for pANache. HiS FaCE MIghT Have belonged tO a RenaissanCE stAtue; peRfEct, SYmmetrIcal. A StERn lIne creased hIs foRehead. His FootstEPs echoeD Off the mArble fLooR tiLes.

DANiEl QuiCkLY stEPpEd aWAy fRom her. "Ms. clArE, I don'T belIEVE You'vE meT my bUsineSs partner. This Is ALoysIUs PAul."

GeOrgia LookEd From oNe of thEm to tHe Other. She cleared Her tHroat, and sTucK oUt hEr Hand. "MR. paul. NiCe tO meEt you." _I tHink._

She DIdn'T sAY THaT last part out loud, buT ALOYsIus Paul sEemed tO HeAr IT anyway. HIs LipS twiSTEd in a Cold IMiTation of A smile. "tHe PlEasure iS aLl mine, miSs...CLarE, was iT?"

georGia nodDed. She stArted TO say something eLSe when AloysiuS ClASPeD Her hAnd. something thAt smELled Like EXpEnsIVe colOgne fLoODeD Her senses. Usually she HaTed colOgne, bUt the one he worE didn't bothER HEr at all. IF anyTHiNG, it had the opposIte efFect. GeorgiA Caught heRself Leaning iN for a deepER Sniff.

She JerKed BacK at THE lAst minute. What THE helL wAs the deAl wIth thesE peOplE? ShE unCeRemoniousLy yanked HeR hAnD aWay. "right, WEll, I shouLd Be gOiNg. WHen DaRIus getS back, CoulD yOu LEt hIm know I WAs HERe?"

AlOySiUs tuRneD tO DaniEl, eyEBroWs raiseD. "She's here For DEComPoStEla?"

DaniEl twitched his ShOulders, likE hE waS tryinG TO dislodgE something from his back. "ApPArently TheY're woRkinG together. on a Case."

AlOysIUs glanCed at hEr. "And He KnoWS She's a...?"

"sURe DoeS."

NOw they were BOTh lOokinG aT her. georgia Started backing towaRDs tHe exit. "Look, jusT teLl hiM i StOppED bY, OkaY?
?"

_Yes_. Georgia forcedherself to  meet  hi s e ye s. S he d id a double-ta k e. H ad they changed color?  Sheco u ld h a ve  swor n they' d  b e e n b ro wn  be fo r e,  butnow  they w ere a pale , f ri gid blue.

" D an iel."

The  ne w voice wassha rp, co mm and i ng. D ani el je rked,b linked  hard. Wh en he loo k ed at h e r  a gain , his eyes were b r ow n  again.

Georg ia let  o u ta shu dde ring breat h.  "Wha t ...?"
A  m a n app e ared from a h allway in t h e f ar sid eoft he lob by. H ew asdressed ina su it that r ivalle d  Darius '  for pa nache.  Hi s f acem ig ht  ha ve bel o ng edt o a  Renaiss an ce  stat ue;p e r f ect,  sy mmet rical . A stern lin e c reas e d h is fo rehea d. H is  foot stepsechoe doff the marblefloo r tiles.
Da ni elqu ickly steppe d a way  from h er. "Ms .  Cl ar e , Idon't believe you' ve m et  my busi ness p a rt ne r . This i sAlo ysiu s Paul. "

G e or gia look ed fro m  o ne  of the mto the  o the r.She c l eare d herthroat,and s t uck out her ha n d. "Mr. Paul. Ni c e  t o  mee t y ou." _I thi nk._ 
She  did n 't  sa y  that  last  p a rt out loud, but Aloys iu s Paul  seem ed to hear it  anyway. H i s lips twi sted in a cold imitati on of  a smile." The plea sureis all m ine, Miss . . .Clare,was  it ?"
Ge o r gi a nodded. She s tart ed  to say  so mething  el sewhe n A lo ysius cla sped her  h an d.  S ome thing that sme ll edli keexpen s ive co logne  flo od ed her  senses .  U s u ally  s he  hat edco logne , bu t  th e one h e wore di dn' t  bot he rher atall. If anyth in g, it hadth e o pposit e effect.Georgia caught herselfl eaninginfor a  dee per sniff .
She je rke d  backat the  last  m inu t e . Wha t th e h el l was thed e alwithth esepeople?  She unceremonious l y y anked her han d a way. " Ri ght ,  w e ll,  I sho u l d be going. Whe n Darius g et s  b ack, could you  l et himknow Iwas h e re?"

A loysius t urned toDa niel , eye brows rais ed. "She 's here f o r deC o mp ostel a?" 

Dani el  tw itche d hiss hou lders , like  h e wastryin gto dislo dge something from hisback."Appa ren tly they' rew ork ing toget her.  On a case ."
Al oysiu s g l anced  ath er . " A nd he  kno w s she's a . .. ?"" Su re does."
N o w  th ey we reb oth lo okin g at her. Georgia started backin g to w a rds  th e  exi t.  "Look, just t ell  h i m  I stopp ed  by, okay?
?"

_Yes_. Georgia_forced herself_to meet his eyes._She did_a_double-take. Had_they_changed color? She_could have sworn_they'd been brown before,_but now they_were_a pale, frigid blue.

"Daniel."

The new voice was sharp, commanding. Daniel jerked, blinked hard. When_he_looked at_her_again,_his eyes were brown again.

Georgia_let out a shuddering breath._"What...?"

A man_appeared from a hallway in the far side_of_the lobby. He_was dressed in a suit that rivalled Darius' for_panache. His face might have belonged_to a Renaissance_statue;_perfect,_symmetrical. A stern line_creased his forehead. His footsteps echoed_off the marble floor tiles.

Daniel quickly_stepped away from her. "Ms. Clare, I_don't believe you've met my business_partner. This is Aloysius Paul."

Georgia_looked from_one of them to the_other. She cleared_her throat,_and stuck out_her hand. "Mr. Paul. Nice to_meet you." _I_think._

She didn't say that last part_out_loud, but Aloysius_Paul_seemed_to hear_it anyway. His_lips_twisted in_a_cold imitation of a smile. "The_pleasure_is all mine, Miss...Clare, was it?"

Georgia nodded._She started to say_something_else when Aloysius clasped_her hand. Something that smelled_like expensive cologne flooded her senses._Usually she_hated cologne,_but the one he wore didn't bother her at all. If_anything, it had the opposite effect._Georgia caught herself leaning_in for_a_deeper sniff.

She jerked_back_at the_last minute. What the hell was the_deal with_these people? She unceremoniously yanked her_hand away. "Right, well,_I_should be going. When Darius gets_back, could you let him know_I was here?"

Aloysius turned to_Daniel,_eyebrows_raised. "She's here for deCompostela?"

Daniel_twitched his shoulders, like he was_trying to dislodge_something from his back. "Apparently they're working_together._On a case."

Aloysius glanced at her._"And_he knows she's a...?"

"Sure does."

Now they_were_both_looking at her. Georgia started_backing towards the exit. "Look, just_tell him I stopped by, okay?