WALKING DISASTERS | Jack Thompson

48.

"YOU DO REALISE that she's going to try and escape the first chance she gets," Sera said, as they pulled up outside the building holding Dottie.

"Yes, which is why I'm going to tell her to go right when she gets out of the building, and you and Daniel will be waiting in the alleyway to the left," Peggy replied.

"Okay, smart," Sera said.

An hour later, Daniel and Sera stood in the alleyway, Daniel holding a net gun in his hands. When Peggy joined them, they were waiting maybe five minutes before Dottie rounded the corner, coming to a halt when she saw them waiting for her. Pulling the trigger on the gun, Daniel captured Dottie in a net, which didn't do much.

"You thought this would stop me?" she asked.

"No, but I thought this might," Daniel replied, pressing the button on the side of the device and electrocuting Dottie.

She fell to the ground and Sera stepped forwards, pushing the button to shock Dottie again. After she had done so, Peggy did the same thing, and Daniel looked at them both in amusement. "You happy?"

"Very," they responded.

They loaded Dottie into their car and took her back to Howard's house. While Peggy took Dottie off to brief her on what needed to be done, Sera went to her room and changed. She would be going to the party as a guest in case anything happened and they needed a distraction.

She changed into a ballgown that was a midnight blue colour, and as she was finishing the touches on her hair, she heard a knock at the door. "Yes?"

Daniel walked in. "Uh, Peggy told me to come tell you that... Wow."

Sera smiled as she turned to Daniel. "Do I look alright?"

"Yes, you look amazing," Daniel said, blinking a few times. "Thompson's a lucky man."

Sera laughed. "Yes, I suppose he is. You don't think the dress is a bit much?"

"No, it looks good on you," Daniel replied. "When did you get it?"

"Let's just say it was an early birthday present from Howard," Sera answered, winking at Daniel as she fitted the last pin in her hair. "So, my job this evening is to be the distraction."

"Pretty much," Daniel replied. "How's the leg?"

Sera pulled a face. "Painful, but I should be okay."

"You gonna be able to dance?" Daniel asked.

Sera rolled her eyes. "I don't dance, Daniel."

"Oh, well, you might want to learn," he replied. "People in Los Angeles are big on dancing."

"Well, it's a good thing I'm not from Los Angeles."

-

"This place is disgusting," Sera muttered as she entered the ballroom.

"Testing. Jarvis, Sera, do you read me?" asked Peggy through her earpiece.

"Loud and clear, Miss Carter," Jarvis replied. "And though it pains me to say it, Miss Underwood is a phenomenal dancer."

"The decadence in this place is truly repulsive," Dottie said.

"We're reading you too, Underwood," Daniel said.

"Have you seen Whitney Frost yet?" Peggy asked.

Sera eyed Whitney across the room. "Yeah, eyes on. She's campaigning with her husband."

"Well, looks who's here," Dottie suddenly said. "It's the blond one."

Sera choked on her drink when she saw Jack walk into the ballroom for more than one reason. Reason one was that he looked damn fine in the suit he was wearing and Sera was wildly attracted to him in that moment, but the second reason was that she wasn't expecting to see him there.