Page 174 of Solanum

"I will." She smiled and waved a finger at me.

Sali and Maggie stopped acting like dopes, and Maggie pulled Nora into a hug when Sali broke away from them. She snatched up the computer before Nora turned on her side. She let me see her and Maggie share a soft exchange of words before they pulled the blanket over them. I watched until Sali carried me out of the room.

"Where am I going?" I asked when I heard her shut the door.

"Sec. Olivia's asleep," she whispered, then toted me downstairs. "Okay."

"What else is going on?"

"She's been pretty good, don't worry. But she has been very upset about the doctor appointment."

"I saw that. Did Wilkinson call her?"

Sali nodded. "This morning. Doctor Lewis is good…"

"I know. She helped you a lot."

"Yeah…" She dropped down in a chair and propped me on the table. "Nora's tentative around men. Even Ben and Gene."

"I noticed a little bit. She's quieter."

Sali nodded, thumbing her chin while propping her elbow on her knee. "Work will be hard for her."

"It will be. I know she's coming back just to be closer to me and I know it will probably be uncomfortable for her, but she has to find that out on her own otherwise it'll eat at her."

"Is she the type that let's things eat at her?"

"Very much. When it comes to work and Maya, yes."

"She talks to Maya twice a day every day."

"Yes. Maya's on the beat now. Nora worries."

"I would, too. I'll get some of the good ones to look out for her. Might help," she said.

"It could. Yeah. What else do you need to ask me? You're doing that weird thinking face."

"I keep getting these missing person requests all because of those articles about Ben and I finding a missing FBI agent…"

"And?" I cocked a brow at her.

"There's one I want to look at."

"I knew it. What does Maggie think?"

"She hasn't said anything yet. She will. Can I send you some shit to look at?" Sali pulled a bunch of crumpled papers from her pocket.

"Yup. Anything you think is FBI-worthy. Send it my way."

"Cool. Will do."

"Look after my girl, yeah?"

"You know it." She saluted me. "See you tomorrow."

"Bye."

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