Starting Over - Loki (COMPLETE)

17) Obadiah Stane

"I have the information you wanted."

True to his word, Rhodey had all the details about Natalie Rushman the next day. However, the time difference meant that the colonel did, in fact, call Loki in the middle of the night.

"Thanks," he replied, swiping a hand across his eyes in an attempt to remove any sleep.

"Did I wake you up?"

"Of course not," Loki snapped sarcastically. "Most days I'm woken by the lap of the waves at half three in the morning."

"Sorry..."

Rhodes sounded slightly sheepish and Loki felt bad for having snapped.

"It's fine. Where are you at anyway? Hawaii?"

"Yeah, sorry, although that's classified information so don't leak that. I had to work late and then forgot about the time zone nuisance."

"No worries. Tell me about Rushman," Loki ordered.

"Well, Alden, you were right. Natalie Rushman does not exist, not really. The alias was created a month ago, making up birth records, academic records..."

"And a stunning resume," Loki interrupted, annoyed. "You know what, Rhodey, I thought she had the backing of the government or someone with the actual tech skills to pull this off."

"Not all criminals are good criminals."

It sounded like the other man was shrugging.

"I actually think this is a trap."

"Really, Alden?"

Rhodey sounded exasperated.

"You haven't met this woman, Rhodey. She's smart and yet she gave herself away without really trying. Some organisation wants our eye on them."

"You're too clever for your own good, you know that?"

"I wish people wouldn't give me all the credit. Blame my parents. Thanks, Rhodey."

"You're welcome?"

And he hung up.

Reluctant to cave in to sleep now that he was wide awake and annoyed, Loki decided instead to get a head start on the day's work. Tony had his expo that evening and there was a great deal of administrative work to get through before the event could be pulled off without a hitch. He could take a nap later. And so, seven hours later, remarkably early for the billionaire, Tony walked into the kitchen, yawning.

"You look like death," he commented, making a beeline for the coffee machine.

"And feel like it," Loki groaned.

"When did you wake up? Don't tell me you went for a run," Tony said, horrified.

"No," Loki laughed, although morning runs had kind of become his thing. "I woke up at half three and couldn't get back to sleep."

Tony pulled a face. Loki figured it was better not to tell Tony of his suspicions and subsequent conclusions.

"Well don't let me keep you from..." He squinted at Loki's screen, "Expo stuff."