"From my brother's friends. Besides, I was too busy thinking about that new partner of yours."

"Ya know ya don't have to do dat."

Sally's innocent smile suddenly turned quite wicked. She flopped her head toward her right shoulder, assuming a terribly brainless expression. "Like, ohmygod, we're gonna be partners?" For how intelligent and professional she was, she did a startlingly good 'Valley-Girl' impression. "Oh Agent Steelbeak! We'll be bestest best-friends!" She adjusted her blouse and batted her eyelashes at him. "I hope this isn't too revealing for a F.O.W.L. Agent --" Her words trailed off when she noticed Steelbeak wasn't watching her anymore, his eyes fixed in a rather uneasy stare at the door.

Slowly, the squirrel turned around and she gasped in recognition. The woman standing in the doorway was one Sally had seen frequently enough. She'd been unpleasant -- not that most women were all that pleasant around F.O.W.L. headquarters -- and Sally didn't think very much of her. But it wasn't until Agent Gabriel was standing in the doorway that Sally put two and two together. She was the new partner Steelbeak had bemoaned.

Sally readjusted her clothes under Gabriel's sneer. "'K, so, like, um, see ya later, 'k?" She chirped to Steelbeak quickly. "Gotta get back to my desk!"

Gabriel waited until Sally pranced out of the breakroom before walking in, herself. "That girl is going to be nothing but trouble for us," she scowled at Steelbeak.

"Who, Sally?" Steelbeak asked in disbelief.

"No." Gabriel paused to fuss with her hair. "An air head like Sally is harmless. I'm talking about that little blonde Creampuff. Now c'mon."

Steelbeak smirked, following Gabriel out of the break room. He vowed silently to visit Sally at the front desk soon to finish their conversation.



go back | return to table of contents | continue