Tuscany Trip

"He knew too much," Khaat said, putting the medallion into Brian's hand. Brian grew wide eyed for a moment and his face paled. He knew exactly the man it had belonged to, and that man would not have given up until every drop of blood drained out of him. He had died a horrible death, Brian already knew.

"What did he tell you?" Brian's eyes were now dark and serious, all business, holding back a fierce rage within. "Tell me everything."

"He just said the owner wouldn't be needing it anymore," Khaat said. "Who is he, Brian?"

"If it was who I think it was, I know him well. He clearly was wearing a disguise. If I ever had an enemy on this earth, he would be it," Brian replied. "I am going to get rid of him someday. Our cat and mouse game has gone on long enough."

"You are NOT going on some suicide mission!" Khaat exploded. "I will not lose you too! " Brian stood up, getting ahold of himself in a fraction of a second. He gripped her shoulders, although using a lighter touch on her injured one.

"I am not Remus," he said softly. "I'm not leaving. I'm sorry. Really"

"I need some air," she said, feeling a need to be alone for a few minutes, overwhelmed and frightened. She wasn't usually rattled, but this was different. She excused herself from them and wrapped her sarong around herself and walked towards the village.

Khaat slipped into the village and called for her father urgently. Twice. Well, she knew the distance would take it a bit. He soon appeared to her holding a portkey in his hand. Just an ordinary skeleton key. His face was serious. He already knew, she could tell.

"Daddy..." she began.

"Khaat, I'm already on it. There's nothing you can do. Say nothing to Brian right now. It will all be alright. Stay here and try to leave it in my hands. I have far more resources than you do, and right now, you would both just compromise things. Stay out of it--all of you!" He looked at her fiercely serious now. "Do you understand me? Do nothing!!"

She frowned. He obviously knew far more than he was saying. She was about to speak, but when he opened her mouth, he interrupted.

"Do nothing!! Or you will risk more lives than you know." He disappeared into thin air. She frowned. What the heck had he meant by that?

"If they're fighting, its over gelato flavors," Khaat managed a smile, trying to put her father's fierce warning out of her ears. He rarely ever used such precautions unless the situation was intensely serious. But then again, a man was dead. How much more serious did it need to be?

She walked back to the beach with Ronata. Brian was fingering the medallion in his hand. Why hadn't his man used it? It would have brought the entire organization, including Steven and Jack and himself and Robert. That just did not make sense to Brian. Unless--maybe he had not had a chance to use it. She went to Brian and laid her hand on his shoulder supportively.

"I can't let this go, Khaat," he said, looking up at her.

She sighed deeply and knelt back on the towel on the sand, "Brian, I wasn't supposed to say anything, but I saw Daddy just now. He wants you to do nothing. He wants you just where you are. He's already on this. He says its important that we continue just as we are. I don't know what he's up to, but..."

"Trust me," Brian said, now a bit more hopeful, "We don't want to know. When your father is stirred up, he's not to be trifled with. Alright then. We don't move. We continue on our holiday on schedule unless or until we hear differently. Is that good with you all?" Khaat nodded slowly.

"Sounds like an excellent plan,' Brian said, standing up and putting on a shirt and some flipflops. "Ladies, if you would give me just one moment with Steven, I would be very grateful. Steven--a word please." Khaat rose and folded up the beach towels and tucked them into her bag. She picked up the sunscreen and the other items they'd brought that they had not sent back to the ship.

Brian led Steven away a few steps and opened his hand to show the medallion. "That's what he gave to Khaat. You remember the young fighter you bunked with in Paris? It was his. He's' gone--somehow. Robert came and warned Khaat that we stay on the schedule and let him deal with it. I don't know what's going on, but you and I need to keep our eyes open. I don't know if there will be more trouble or not. But there will be less if we're prepared for it."

"She's okay. Apparently Robert was deliberately pretty cryptic with her, and she didn't like that. I don't know if she told me everything or not, but either way, it doesn't sound like she knows much. Someday I'm going to get this idiot, Steven. Anybody who believes children can be bought and sold like books does not deserve to breathe. He killed one of my men. I have no choice. I don't know what Robert is up to, but I don't have a choice. I'll leave it to Robert for right now, but this guy is mine. Oh, come on. We'd better catch up to the ladies before they get too far ahead of us. Khaat's liable to spend all her savings and mine if I'm not careful." He managed a smile. He glanced towards her and saw her heading with Ronata towards the village again.

"Come on, Slow Pokes," she called to them.