Dangerous Deception

Ch. 22: Playing Along

       "This is really good," Ruby's muffled voice stated, her mouth stuffed with pancakes.

       "Enjoy it why you still can," Ava spoke, "that might just be your last meal." Ruby rolled her eyes.

       "I'm starving," I said, attempting to distract them from snapping at each other as I sat down, "and it's been a while since I had a decent meal." They both turned to look at Ruby.

Great.

       "What? At least I gave her something," she said.

       "Why is she even here? At the table? Shouldn't she be locked up somewhere in a basement?" Ava asked Cole.

       "She said she was hungry, and considering we've been up all night I just thought..." He trailed off. I sighed.

       "She got into your head didn't she?" I declared. She chuckled.

       "Pretty easy I'd say," she said, "he's a big softie behind all those muscles." Then she fake pouted, "he can't ignore a damsel in distress,"

       "Alright time's up," Ava said. She stood up and pulled Ruby up from the table. "Where's the basement?"

       "Down the corner by the left," Cole said without even glancing up. I chuckled. This whole thing seems rather amusing.

       "Awwn, now that's just rude. I haven't even finished my breakfast yet," Ruby pouted.

       "Well you can do that in the basement," Ava said and dragged her through her cuffs, holding a plate of her unfinished pancakes.

       "Hey I've been meaning to ask," I said to Cole after some time, "how did you find us at the warehouse?"

       "Oh, I used a radio satellite to trace your last location before the signal went off, then since we were dealing with the Mafia I figured they would need a secluded area to run their business. So I searched for old abandoned houses on that area and voila, the perfect house showed," he told.

       "Hmm," I nodded, "still a computer nerd I see," I said. He laughed. He and Amanda would really get along. You know, talking in zeros and ones.

       "What did I miss?" Ava asked as she walked back to the breakfast table and sat down.

       "The fact that Kayla bites her fork when she eats pasta," Cole replied. I hung my mouth open.

       "I don't!" I yelled. He chuckled.

       "Yeah you do," he said then bit his pancake, "Cassie told me."

       "Well she lied!" I countered.

       "Actually..." Ava rubbed her neck, "you do."

       I felt betrayed, and confused, "Wh–how? When?" I questioned.

        "I gave you pasta on our second day of the mission, remember?" She reminded.

Right.

        "Wanna hear some other things Cassie told me about her?" Cole asked Ava.

        "No no wait..."

        "I'm all ears," Ava said and held her chin, resting her elbows on the table and smiling.

        The door opened and Mark walked in. Thank God. "Hey guys, we have a problem."

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        "So let me get this straight," I said, "we have a new team leader, who just put you in charge of bringing me in. And the first thing you did was to come straight here?!" I asked.