WALKING DISASTERS | Jack Thompson

49.

"YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK GOOD IN THAT SUIT," Sera told Jack quietly.

He raised his eyebrows. "You think so?"

"Yes," she replied. "Really good."

"Are you sure this isn't just a plot to distract me?" Jack asked.

"Is it working?" Sera replied.

"Maybe," he replied quietly.

Sera grinned. "Then yes."

"I have broken away from Chief Thompson while Sera distracts him, but he is overtly suspicious of my presence and on high alert for you, Miss Carter," Jarvis said.

"I heard the entire conversation. Well played, Mr Jarvis."

"Underwood dumped her radio, do you have eyes on her?" Daniel asked.

"I am, uh, presently engaged in a frenzied search for her while speaking into my glasses like a madman."

"Sera?" Jack said. "You okay? I lost you there for a minute."

"No you didn't," she replied, blinking a few times. "I'm here."

She could hear her friends talking through her earpiece, but in that moment all she was focussed on was Jack. If this was the part she had to play, distracting him from her friends and their plot, then she wasn't going to complain. For a moment, she tried to pretend that they were just two normal people supporting a normal man in his normal campaign.

It wasn't until Peggy let out a loud, "What?!" that Sera zoned back in to the conversation. She heard Daniel inform Peggy of his engagement being off, and the reason for it being that Violet believed that he was still in love with Peggy, followed by a heartfelt apology from Peggy before there was nothing but static.

Sera gasped and stepped away from Jack, who looked surprised. "What's wrong?"

"I, uh... I have to use the bathroom," she replied.

Rushing for the exit, Sera emerged onto the street and saw the van waiting on the side of the road. "What on earth happened? Oh, who's the dead gentleman?"

"The same guy that caved in the roof and knocked out the communications," Daniel replied.

"Oh, lovely," Sera said.

Jarvis joined them a few moments later, carrying the Zero Matter sample from Whitney, but there was no sign of Dottie. It puzzled Sera as to why Dottie would disappear but leave the Zero Matter sample behind, and Daniel suggested they go back to Howard's to make repairs.

When the guests started spilling out of the front entrance, the four of them reluctantly agreed to retreat and recover from the evening. Sera spared one last glance at the building, wishing for one second that she was still inside with Jack.

-

"This is all a bit much, Hugh," Vernon said. "Forgive me if I take a moment to process it."

"Trust me, you're getting this news the easy way," Hugh replied.

"Whitney Frost?" he asked. "And there's no room for pushback?"

"She's calling the shots now," Hugh said. "You get that package to her tonight."

Vernon approached Jack, who was responsible for apprehending Dottie. "Nice work, son."

"Thank you, Vernon," Jack replied.

"Yeah, really a great job of cleaning up the mess you made," he said.

"What's that supposed to mean?"