#fenixtj

"Yes, Jessica?" He sorts through the papers

A moment of silence. "Nevermind. Excuse me." and she leaves the room, taking the map with her.

"JEssica, you have a problem" He calls out after

"I know." she mutters, walking on.

She seeks her rooms.

"I mean.. you.." He follows "Jessica. You have a spy"

She stops, shoulders slumping, then straightens and turns "What?"

"One of your mails... I recognize a name in it. The man's dead. And has been. If someone is using his name, they're esconced themselves under a false identity"

She comes back. "Which one?"

"This Eshu here... he's dead" The Eshu being used as a resource for reports is Mercer.

She takes the page, reads it, digs her thumb and forefingers into her eyes for a moment, rubbing.

"You wouldn' tknow, most wouldn't. His death wasn't .. well, advertised."

"Fuck."

"Better you knnow than not know mm?"

"Yes." irritated but probably not at him. She thinks about what 'Mercer' might be looking to find out, based on the report(s).

He's apparently seen suspicious activity at odd points of the city. His descriptions of trouble .. well, they seem familiar

He's describing, without flat out saying, Nunnehi causing trouble.

And that sounds a lot like a good way to make the peace crumble

She grinds her teeth.

"Thank you, Duff." not -quite- a growl....

"You know what he's doing? I can tell by the way your teeth are grinding"

"Looks like he's setting up to blame the Nunnehi for trouble."

"I think I should find this 'Mercer 2.0'" he looks ready to go out and do just that

"I want him alive. I want him to answer questions."

"He'll be able to answer questions, Ocean eyes. "A promise of a sort

"Thank you." She stands with the letter in one hand and the map in the other.

He kisses her, as her hands are occupied, then pulls back "Sorry I.. misunderstood the rumor mill"

She nods her understanding but is clearly disappointed.

"Jessica.. I.." A sigh "How did I let you down?"

"Let's focus on what needs to happen right now, Duff." she shakes her head "I'll send someone after Mercer. Thank you for bringing it to my attention though. I missed it completely." She walks towards the halls.

"There was no way for you to know" He reminds And he heads off. Yes. He might rip the arms and legs off this Mercer fake, but the man will be able ot answer questions

Jess goes to put together a team for the same purpose.

(End Scene)