Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. I’m just playing. No money being made. The situations come from my own twisted mind as do my original characters.

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AN:

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Quest - Chapter Twenty One

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“A dress... I kid you not,” Emma Reynolds said with a giggle.

“Emma...” Casey Jenkins began, “I've met your Dad... I can't see him in a dress.”

Across the table, Israel Schneider tried not to laugh. Concentrating on keeping an eye on the other restaurant patrons While the two young women he was escorting could eat in safety.

“Momma said it was for a job they were doing on Triumph.”

Casey chuckled, “The good old days...”

“Less than thirty years,” Israel commented as his eyes roamed the room once more.

“Before I was born, for sure,” Emma replied.

As Israel scanned the room, two men eyed the short security officer. Whenever his eyes came their way, the two men were looking somewhere else. Usually at their plates. Being a Friday night, Alisha's was quite busy.

“You girls about done?” Israel asked.

“We gotta have desert,” Casey said quickly.

“Oh yes,” Emma replied, “ I get so tired of the food at school.”

Israel nodded and scanned the room again. The two men watching him averted their eyes and went unnoticed.

Unnoticed by Israel. But not by the restaurant manager. Being a former student at the hell hole called the Academy for six years taught Audra Baer one thing. She could spot a threat from across the room.

Concentrating slightly, she communicated her suspicions mentally to her twin brother, Andy, who was also the restaurant's executive chef. Having taken over in that capacity from Zoë 's sister, Alisha several years before. Like his sister, Audra. Andy had also been a captive of the Academy program.

Smiling, Audra crossed the dining room to check on several of the evenings guests. Stopping at a few other tables for a quick chat before making her way to Emma Reynolds table.

“Hey, Audra,” Emma smiled.

“Hello, Emma,” the assassin turned restaurateur rep