Olivia goes West

Chapter 23

Nellie and Basil sat beside one another on the sofa having some morning tea, Basil wearing his robe while Nellie was still in her night gown, her hair undone and down to her shoulders. It was still dark outside, they were taking some time to relax before going to fetch Tiger in the next room so they could go on their expedition. The two of them were looking over their old letters, reminiscing on the years past, going into more detail on their reports to one another.

"And such a simple device was enough to make all of New York think there was a 'night monster' after them?" Basil asked with amusement.

"Hey, they fell for Warren, and Waul later on," Nellie said, sipping the warm tea and leaning against Basil with her legs curled back as he read, "But need I remind you plenty of Londoners were fooled by Ratigan's robot queen at first. We aren't the only gullible ones."

"Yes, but that was actually an impressive piece of craftsmanship, this 'night monster' was little more than a buzz saw and green light bulb with spooky cat faces spinning around it, built in a sewer by a rat-like French poodle."

"I have to admit it did look quite scary at first sight," Nellie replied defensively, "And were it not for Tony showing up in the nick of time to crush it with a chandelier it might have made mincemeat out of Fievel and I. You'd really have to see it for yourself."

"Remind me to thank Tony for that when I see him."

The front door opened.

"We have some mail," Vartan said, holding an envelope, "I cannot read English well, but it has our names."

"Oh boy," Nellie sighed, holding her hand out, "Bring it here."

Vartan brought Nellie the envelope, and she opened it as Basil watched with interest. Once she saw who it was from, she turned away from Basil slightly, to read it herself. Basil thought about peeking over her shoulder, but decided against it.

"Well," she said after some silence, "Looks like you and I are fired, Vartan. It's from Reed."

"Fired?" Basil asked, "Oh my."

Nellie went quiet again as she read more, wearing a visibly distressed expression. She sighed and folded the paper up again, putting it back in the envelope. Vartan tilted his head curiously.

"Vhat did it say?" Vartan asked.

"Oh, it's not that different from the last letter," she mumbled.

"And what did the last letter say?" Basil asked.

"They both contained rants about how I'll never work in the newspaper business again, how I'll be nothing without him, how no one else would ever give me the same chances he did because I'm a woman. Only this time, well...he got a bit more personal. He never took being turned down in favor of you well, Basil."

"I suppose I can understand that," Basil said, "If you don't want me to read what he said I won't, but I'm here if you need to talk about anything."

"I guess it's silly to let it get to me," Nellie said with a chuckle that masked her distress.

Basil put a hand on her shoulder, "No it isn't. I do realize he meant something to you, at least at one time, and perhaps if we hadn't met things might have gone differently. I'm not the jealous type mind you, but there's no use hiding things from me."

Nellie looked down again, "He did mean more to me once, true, and well, I wish it could have ended better between the two of us. However it's not so much his breaking his friendship with me that bugs me, that I can deal with because it's you I really love, Basil. I have no regrets choosing you over him. I just...I worry that he's right, about my career."