Kim Kido was literally brimming with excitement.  She had made a remarkable discovery.  It had been a week since she and Trisha decided to do genealogical research on their respective backgrounds.  Kim, as it turned out was the only daughter of Japanese immigrants in San Francisco.  It turned out that her real name was actually Kimiko Kido.

    Approaching her family now could very well be asking too much of them.  Not only would her parents discover their long lost daughter, presumed dead, was alive and well, but also dramatically changed.  Kim didn't think they were ready for such discoveries just yet.  She had planned a discreet letter writing campaign that would help get them acquainted before further steps could be taken.

    Yet, this wasn't what had gotten Kim excited.  It was what she had discovered about Trisha that had her practically bouncing off the walls.   Trisha's parents, as it turned out had had a son before Trisha was born.  The son was staying with grandparents in the South at the time of the fatal fire that robbed Trisha of both her parents and a normal life.  Now, that son was living just outside Washington, D.C.  Trisha, it seemed had a big brother.  Kim couldn't wait to bring Trisha the news.

* * *

    Trevor Fate leafed through the dossier that his superior had handed him.

    "What's all this about?" asked Trevor.   "Who's this Kismet character?"

    "That's what we want you to find out," came the response.  "As a special agent of the NSA, you are the most qualified to handle this assignment."

    Trevor grimaced.  "Why don't you send out one of those STAT freaks out to catch this Kismet?"

    A heavy sigh.  "Because the objective is to gather information, not to capture her.  We want to know who she is, where she came from and who she's working for."

    "You think she's a threat to national security?"

    "Let's just say that Uncle Sam doesn't like unknown entities.  She claims to fight for those who need help.  We want to know her real objective.  Your plane to Monument City leaves tomorrow morning."

    Trevor stood up and tucked the dossier under his arm.   "Very well.  Since you seem to think this is of some importance, but I want the freedom to pursue things in my way."

    "Granted."

    Trevor turned and walked out of the office.  Great, he thought to himself, just great.  There goes my weekend plans with Simone.   He opened the dossier once more.  The photos they had of Kismet were blurred as if she were moving at high speed.  Most likely the photographer was an idiot, thought Trevor.  Trevor noticed a shadow had crossed his view of the documents.

    "What do you want, Carlyle," growled Trevor.  He didn't like Honey Carlyle in the least.  Not because she was a member of STAT, though that did go against her, but because she always flirted with him only so that she could show him up later on and make him look the fool.

    "Why, Trevor." reacted Carlyle innocently.   "One would get the idea that you didn't like me."

    "I see years of government training wasn't wasted on you after all," riposted Trevor.

    Honey faked a pout.  "You shouldn't be so mean, or I won't come with you to Monument City."

    Trevor's head snapped up in dismay.  "What?   What are you talking about?"

    In response, Honey produced cut orders along with two airline tickets.  Apparently, they were meant to work together.  A fact that was withheld from him.  No doubt due to his feelings about the STAT team in general, and Honey Carlyle in particular.

    "Gee, I'm all a-twitter," groused Trevor.   "Won't Satomi be jealous with you taking on another partner?"

    Honey didn't like the innuendo laced within Trevor's last statement, and her face showed it.  She snatched her orders and her ticket from Trevor's hands.   "Just be ready to leave tomorrow morning."  Honey turned around and walked off in a huff.  Trevor was stunned.  He won.  He actually won.   Maybe it was going to be a pleasant trip after all.

* * *

    Kevin Brown sat quietly at the small dinette table in Trisha Fate's apartment.  The anticipation was killing him.  Trish had never offered to cook him dinner before, but apparently something had come along to get her interested in cooking again.  According to her, she was a short order cook at some truck stop diner when she was a teen and had gotten out of cooking altogether since then.   Her current income as a computer programmer allowed her to either eat out or bring home pre-made meals whenever she pleased.  Kevin, however, suspected that Trisha had kept up with her skills from time to time.  You never really walk away from something you did for such a long time.

    As Kevin pondered his love's mysterious past, a knock came at the door.  Since, Trisha was busy in the kitchen, Kevin decided to answer the door for her.  Kevin unlatched the chain and pulled back the bolt; then, he opened the door wide.  There standing before him, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, was Kim Kido, Trisha's closest friend and confidante.  Her barely contained exuberance was infectious, and Kevin found himself smiling in spite of himself.

    "Miss Kido, I presume.  Please, do come in," said Kevin sketching a reverent bow.

    "Sorry, Lieutenant, I didn't know Trish had company," replied Kim.  "I guess I should have called first."

    "Nonsense," harumphed Kevin.  "I'm sure she wouldn't mind you showing up."

    "Maybe," said Kim a bit hesitantly.  Her earlier excitement was beginning to wear off.  "But, I'm sure she's planned something special for your birthday."

    Kevin nearly tripped over his own feet in shock at Kim's last comment.  Birthday?

    "Are you okay, Lieutenant?" asked Kim with much concern.  "You look a little green about the gills."

    "Would you believe," said Kevin a trifle hoarsely, "that I forgot my own birthday?"

    Kim blinked in astonishment for a few moments.   Then, much to Kevin's dismay, she broke into fits of laughter.

    "Well, I'm glad you're amused," said Kevin in mock exasperation.  He had to admit, even to himself, that it was actually pretty funny.

    "I'm sorry, Lieutenant," managed Kim through giggles.

    It was then that Kevin noticed that Kim's arms were laden with a very thick folder.  "Burning the midnight oil, Miss Kido?"

    Kim looked down at the bundle of papers in her arms.   Her previous ebullience returned.  "I've made an amazing discovery," she enthused.  "Actually, it's good that you are here.  I think you will be as much interested in my bit of news as Trisha will."  Kim proceeded to seat herself at the table, and Kevin assisted her before returning to his own chair.  It was at that moment that Trisha appeared at the entranceway to the kitchen carrying two plates.  She smiled and nodded a greeting to Kim, then set a plate before each of them.

    Kim began to protest being served, but Trisha forestalled any arguments and returned to the kitchen.  It wasn't long before she returned again with her own plate and a bottle of port.  The meal, it turned out, was an old Creole dish: Shrimp and Crawfish Jambalaya.  A tossed salad and and a basket of French bread were already resting at the center of the table.  Kevin offered grace over the meal and the three immediately tucked into their food.

    Kevin was surprised and elated at such rich fare.   Even the port was a nice balance to the meal despite his natural inclination as a teetotaler.  Kevin knew now that they were celebrating his birthday.  He smiled as he thought back to Kim's reaction regarding his forgetting the event.  It really was funny.  What kind of an idiot forgets his own birthday?

    It wasn't long before the trio had finished their meals.  Kevin stood to clear the table, but Trisha intercepted him and forced him back into seat.  She crooked a finger at him in warning.  "Remember," said Kim with a wink, "you're the guest of honor, birthday boy."  Trisha and Kim cleared the dishes from the table and returned with a very intimate sized cake sporting a single lit candle.

    "Heavens, you didn't have to go through all this," Kevin protested gently.

    "And he wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't," chuckled Kim.  Kevin winced inwardly.  It was a hope beyond hope that Kim wouldn't say anything about his blunder.  Trisha had turned to Kim with a quizzical expression playing across her features.  Kim leaned close and whispered into Trisha's ear.  She didn't really have to.  Kim could telepathically speak to Trisha, but the two had long ago determined that it was rude to do so in front of polite company.   Trisha's head snapped back toward Kevin.  Her eyes were wide with surprise.   Then with a jaunty smirk, Trisha performed an about face and began returning to the kitchen with the cake.

    Kevin nearly leaped out of his seat.  "Oh, no you don't!  It's too late to turn back now," he cried reaching for the cake.   Kim was nearly to her knees, laughing hysterically, while Trisha's face was split by a toothy grin.  Kevin found himself laughing as well.  A tinge of regret hit him, as it oftentimes does when dealing with Trisha in these intimate moments.  Kevin knew that had she vocal cords for speaking, she too would be laughing alongside Kim and himself.  He pushed the thought aside as foolishness.  Trisha accepts who she truly is, and so should he.

    Trisha finally set the cake on the table.  Kevin made a wish, as was customary, and blew out the candle.  Trisha produced a cake knife and three small saucers and began slicing and serving the cake.  Kevin had to admit that this was the most pleasant birthday he had experienced in quite a long time.  Having eaten their fill of cake, it was now time to find out what was so exciting that Kim had discovered.

    "I don't know if you know this, Lieutenant," started Kim, "but about a week ago, Trish and I decided that it would be a good idea to track down our past.  You know, find out where we come from."  Kevin nodded for Kim to continue.  "As it turns out, Trisha's family tree is actually easy to track down, because the circumstances of her childhood were well recorded."   Kevin had before read about the hotel fire that had killed Trisha's parents.   "Well, it turns out that Trisha wasn't the only orphan left behind by the fire."

    Trisha turned to Kim with a look that was part surprise and part question mark.  Kim smiled at her friend and proceeded to pull out sheets of paper from the large folder.  "There's no doubt about it.  Your mom and dad had a child a few years before you."  Kim handed the papers to Trisha.   "It seems you've got an older brother out there somewhere."

    Trisha read through the documents Kim had handed her with eyes wide in wonder.  One of the papers was a birth certificate for one Trevor Fate, born approximately five years before Trisha was born.  I have a big brother? thought Trisha to herself.  Then why don't I remember him?

    Kim seemed to sense her question and proceeded to put the pieces of Trisha's past together.  "This is what I've come up with," she began.  "Your brother was apparently sent to live with your grandparents when you were still a baby.  Apparently, they had enrolled him in a school for gifted children.  You, being so much younger, stayed with your folks.  No doubt they hoped you would become as much a wunderkind as your brother and enroll you in the same school."

    Trisha nodded at what was said so far.  It certainly explained some things.  On the other hand, when her parents died, why wasn't she sent to join her brother at her grandparents' home?

    Kim had anticipated this question as well.   "The reason why you weren't placed in your grandparents' care was because no one did any checking for next of kin.  Your parents were apparently celebrating their anniversary and wanted some time together.  I surmised this because the hotel fire occurred on the same day of the year as their wedding anniversary."

    That makes perfect sense, thought Trisha.

    "You were placed in care of a friend for one evening," continued Kim.  "After the incident, that 'so called' friend simply turned you over to the state.  No one did any kind of background check on you.   The system was pretty corrupt back then."  Kim frowned a bit.   "I think later someone went back and tried to cover up Trevor's past.  A lot of what I found I stumbled upon accidentally."

    "Cover up," mused Kevin.  "That sounds vaguely Federal in nature, if you ask me."

    Kim nodded.  "I tend to agree."   She turned back to Trisha.  "I think your brother works for the government.  Probably in some high level stuff.  There was some sophisticated encryption on a couple of things."  Kim smirked, "Nothing I couldn't handle, of course.  Still, he should be approachable enough for you to meet him."

    Trisha didn't know what to think.  She had a big brother who was apparently doing well for himself.  Not only that, according to the papers Kim had industriously collected, she had grandparents, too.  They were alive and well living in New Orleans.  Trisha gave Kim a big hug.  She was no longer an unknown entity.  She had roots; a history she could trace.

    Thanks, Kim, thought Trisha as she broadcast to her friend.  But now it's time for you to make a polite exit.

    Kim cleared her throat.  "Well, I must be going," she said with a knowing smile.  "I've got to prepare for a new case tomorrow."

    "Thanks for stopping by," said Kevin.   He stood and walked Kim to the front door.  After saying final good-byes, Kim left.  As Kevin shut the door, he turned back to Trisha.  "Well, isn't that something," said Kevin smiling.  "I'd certainly love too meet the family that produced such a wonderful lady."

    Trisha simpered at the compliment.  Kevin glanced at his watch.  "I guess I should be going, too.  It's getting late.   Thanks for dinner."

    Trisha held out a staying hand.  "Not yet," she signed.  "You have to unwrap your present."

    "You got me a present, too?" asked Kevin bewildered as Trisha pulled him by the hand down the hall toward her room.  As they approached the bedroom door, Kevin could make out a faint scent of lavender and strawberries.  When Trisha opened the door, Kevin noticed several candles were lit about the room.  Strewn about on the bed were rose petals.  Trisha sat Kevin down on a corner of the bed and asked him to wait a moment.  She then stepped out of the room.  Kevin took the opportunity to take a look around the room.  This was terra incognita.  He had never been in Trisha's room before.  It was rather plain looking, much to his surprise.  But then, Trisha had always admired efficiency.  On the wall above the bed was a picture frame.  In the frame was a faded paper flower.

    Kevin's attention was drawn by the sound of the door knob turning.  When it opened, his jaw dropped.  There standing before him was Trisha wearing a pink, satin teddy, tastefully trimmed with lace.  She also wore a garter belt which held up the first pair of stockings Kevin had ever seen Trisha wear.   Kevin's mouth was still hanging open, so Trisha sauntered up to him, reached out and pushed his jaw shut.

    Kevin blinked a few times as if waking up from a deep slumber.  "S-so, where's my present," he asked, still in shock.

    "I'm it," responded Trisha in sign language.   "So, start unwrapping, birthday boy."

    Trisha pushed Kevin back onto the bed.

* * *

    It was a bright sunny morning, when Trevor entered Dulles Airport with Honey Carlyle.  This sunshine did nothing to improve Trevor's disposition.  Despite her previous admonition, it was actually Honey who showed up late that morning at the office.  As it stood, they had just enough time to check in their luggage and get to the gate.  Trevor said nothing during the cab ride out to the airport.  Fortunately, Honey was also in no mood to talk.  Trevor didn't know why, but then he didn't much care either.

    Checking in at the ticket counter turned out to run much quicker than expected.  In no time, the two agents were on board their flight to Monument City, New York.  Trevor took his seat and stowed his laptop computer case beneath the seat in front of him.  Carlyle had no carry on luggage to speak of.   Just then Trevor's cell phone rang.  Trevor quickly pulled it out of its belt clip and flipped up the cover.  The Caller ID was listed as private.  Trevor figured the call must be from the office.  Pressing the talk button, Trevor responded to the call.

    "Fate here."

    "Trevor, this is Julius down in surveillance."

    "Hey, Jules, what's up?"

    "Well, apparently someone's been digging through your personal information files," said Julius.

    Trevor's eyebrows went up.  "Really?   Any idea who it was?"

    "Not a clue.  They even got into some high level files.  Whoever it was was a real pro.  They cracked the government's best encryption codes.  But here's the kicker.  They weren't after any sensitive ops info related to you.  They were after your personal background info.   Particularly about your childhood."

    "Who would want to know about me when I was a kid?" asked Trevor puzzled.

    "You got me," responded Julius.   "Whoever it was got what they were looking for."

    "Any chance of tracing the hack?" asked Trevor.

    "We tried," sighed Julius.  "They didn't leave a trail.  The only way we knew the info was accessed from the outside was because they used a nonstandard user ID."

    Trevor was silent for a moment.  His assignment to find out about Kismet and this hacking incident may not be a coincidence.  "Keep trying to find something, Jules, and keep me posted."

    "Will do, Trev."

    Trevor closed the cover on his cell phone and returned it to its belt clip.

    "Trouble on the home front?" asked Carlyle.

    Trevor studied her face for a moment, but saw that she was being sincere.  "Someone hacked into the database mainframe.  Julius said it was a real tech jockey.  Apparently, they were after info about me?"

    "You?" asked Honey puzzled.  "Who'd be interested in information about you?"

    "You make it sound like no one should be interested in me," said Trevor defensively.  It was a stupid thing to say, but he was in that kind of mood.

    "I didn't mean it like that," said Carlyle.   "I meant that you haven't been in any of the high level operations to warrant such an attack."

    "They weren't after ops info," said Trevor.   "They were after personal info."

    Carlyle's face went blank.  "Somebody got a vendetta against you?"

    "Not that I'm aware.  Anyway, Julius will figure it out, I'm sure."

    Carlyle nodded.

* * *

    Kevin Brown awoke when the sunlight hit his face through the bedroom window.  Judging from the shadows in the room, it had to be around nine o'clock in the morning.  Kevin found himself lying on his back and staring at the ceiling.  Trisha's arm was draped across his chest as she slumbered.  Kevin himself was exhausted.  He should have expected that, but then, he hadn't expected any of last night at all.  Kevin figured that Trisha had finally come to a decision regarding the consummation of their relationship.

    Kevin learned a few things about making love to Trisha the previous night.  The first thing he learned was that it was her first time.   Kevin didn't know why that surprised him.  He supposed that a woman like Trisha should have had some kind of relationship earlier in her life, but then her unusual childhood made it difficult for her to trust people intimately.  In that regard, Kevin felt extremely blessed.  The second thing Kevin learned, or more precisely was reminded, was that Trisha was a genetically engineered superhuman whose stamina seems limitless.  Naturally, this explained why Kevin was currently immobile and slightly sore.

    Trisha's performance was astounding, if not excessive; not that Kevin didn't enjoy himself.  He did, however, feel overwhelmed at times.   It was as if she had been starved of another's intimate touch all her life and last night she released all of those pent feelings and frustrations.  Still, Kevin didn't want to discourage Trisha in any way.  On the other hand, if this was going to be a regular event between the two of them, Kevin was going to have to start taking vitamins and increasing his workout schedule.  Otherwise, he was going to end up missing a lot of days at work.  Perhaps when they were more comfortable with one another, Kevin could bring up the subject of restraint.

    Kevin decided that he should make an attempt at sitting upright.  He slowly and carefully eased himself from under Trisha's arm and turned his body so that his legs draped over the edge of the bed.  Upon sitting up, Kevin realized just how worn out he truly was.  That simple act of sitting caused him to breathe heavily.  This was going to be tricky.  Kevin had entertained the idea of preparing breakfast for the two of them, but he seriously doubted that he could even pour a bowl of cold cereal in his current condition.

    The rustle of skin against linen informed Kevin that his lover was awake.  The touch of a warm hand was felt against his back and traveled up to his shoulder.  Two hands appeared in his field of vision.  They signed, "Good morning," followed by, "Sorry."

    "Sorry?" asked Kevin concerned.   "For what?"

    "I got a little carried away," signed Trisha.

    Kevin couldn't help but smile to himself.   "Perhaps a little," said Kevin.  "I just hope I'll be in shape to go to work tomorrow."

    Trisha eased over to the same side of the bed Kevin was sitting on.  "I'll go fix us something to eat."

    Kevin was in no position to protest.  "You go ahead.  I'll catch up."

    Trisha smiled.  She stood up and approached the closet.  Kevin studied Trisha's naked body as she walked away from him.  Kevin had never really appreciated how toned Trisha's muscles were.  Each muscle group was well defined.  Trisha pulled out two terry cloth robes from the closet.  She turned and held them up for inspection.  One robe was lavender, the other was pink.   Trisha cocked her head to one side inquiringly.

    "Well," said Kevin with a smirk, "if those are my choices, I'd have to say that pink was never really my color."

    Trisha tossed the lavender robe so that it landed on Kevin's head covering his face.  When Kevin removed the robe, he caught a glimpse of pink cloth flapping around the door frame and disappearing.  Kevin collapsed back onto the bed.

    Yep, he thought, Gotta visit the precinct gym a little more often.

    Kevin decided to give himself another ten minutes of recuperation before pulling himself to his feet.  Luckily for him, it was not a long walk to the dining table.  Already, Kevin could hear the distinct sound and smell of fresh country sausage cooking.  Kevin sat and made himself comfortable at the table.   Moments later, Trisha entered the room and began to set the table for two.

    "Anything I can do?" asked Kevin, mostly out of courtesy, while attempting to rise.  Trisha laid a staying hand on his shoulder for which he was most grateful.  He doubted he could even pour orange juice.   Almost immediately, Trisha returned with two juice glasses and a carton of orange juice.  She smiled and poured into both glasses.  Soon, she was off into the kitchenette again.  Kevin took a sip of his orange juice and relished the cool refreshment.

    Once again, Trisha returned with two plates laden with sausage, eggs and toast lightly buttered and set them on the table.  Then, she proceeded to seat herself.

    "My goodness," remarked Kevin.  "I thought my birthday was yesterday."

    Trisha rolled up a cloth napkin and playfully bopped him on the top of his head.

    "Uncle, uncle!" Kevin chuckled.   "But seriously, I want to thank you for making this a most memorable birthday."

    Trisha smiled and nodded.

* * *

    The flight had lasted only forty-five minutes as flying conditions were quite favorable.  After collecting their luggage, Trevor and Honey picked up a rental car and headed for the hotel.  Honey insisted on driving, and Trevor let it go since he didn't really care one way or the other.  As they were cruising up the access road, Trevor's phone rang.  Trevor plugged the phone into the car's stereo speaker and activated it.

    "What's up Julius?"

    "The hacker struck again.  This time I was able to get an origin for the signal."

    "Where?" asked Trevor leaning forward a bit.

    "Monument City."

    Trevor and Honey glanced at one another.   "Can you be a little more specific?" asked Trevor.

    "Not really," said Julius.  "As I told you before, this person's a real pro.  I really got lucky this time."

    "Good work, Julius," said Trevor.   "Keep me posted."

    "Will do, Trev."

    Trevor disconnected the phone and sat back in his seat.

    "You think this Kismet knows we're trying to track her down?" asked Carlyle.

    "How could she?" asked Trevor.   "That would have to mean that she has a mole in our organization.  I don't think she's that sophisticated.  And why investigate me and not you?  No, I think this is just a coincidence, but it means I'm going to have to keep my eyes open."

    Honey just nodded and said nothing further.  Just then Trevor's phone rang again.  Trevor activated the speaker phone once more.

    "Trev, Julius again.  You're not going to like this."

    "Just spill it, Jules."

    "Well, whoever this is, they now know that you're in Monument City.  Apparently, they tracked down your flight info and purchasing records.  I can't figure out how they keep getting by our security.  We've tried everything, even some new experimental stuff.  If they can crack that, it means that they are encryption prodigies, man.  It really boggles the mind.  This guy practically accomplishes the impossible."

    "Are we looking at some new type of cyber-terrorist?" asked Trevor.

    "You'd think so with all the talent this person has, but the only thing that's been taken is personal info about you.  We even tried to bait him with some recently declassified stuff.  Real high level.  He just ignored it.  It just doesn't add up."

    "So, someone has a real keen interest in me and my past, and now, based on what you've told me, they apparently want to meet me in the flesh."

    "You think?" asked Julius.

    "Why take information about my whereabouts if you don't intend to actually locate me?" said Trevor.  "I think this would be a good time to work out a plan of action.  I'll talk to you later, Jules.  Thanks for the heads up."

    "Be careful out there, man."

    "So what now?" asked Honey.  "We can't go to the hotel.  If they got our flight information, they most certainly got our accommodation info."

    Trevor smiled.  "I'm counting on it.  I want our mystery hacker to see us arrive.  Then we work from there."

* * *

    R'y'sha stormed into the room and quickly flipped a switch.

    "Hey, what's the big idea, Kim?  You want to get caught snooping around Federal databases?  I told you, you have to turn on this modified firewall device."

    Kim Kido sat up in surprise.  She could have sworn that she turned the firewall on.  "Oh jeez," she cried out in dismay.   "Have I been discovered?"

    R'y'sha walked over to the terminal where Kim was sitting.  She reached around Kim and tapped out a few keystrokes.

    "Fortunately, I got here just in time.  They now know that you're hacking from Monument City, though."

    Kim's head drooped.  "I'm sorry, Star Child.   I should have been paying closer attention to what I was doing."

    R'y'sha smirked, "So, what's so God awful important that a defense attorney has to break the law?"

    Kim cleared her throat nervously.  "Well, if you must know..." began Kim.

    "I must!  I must!" responded R'y'sha gleefully.

    Kim raised an eyebrow.

    "Sorry," giggled R'y'sha.  "That's a line I heard from a Mel Brooks movie."

    "You watch too much cable," said Kim.

    "Satellite, dear," said R'y'sha with faux snobbery.  "There is a difference.  So, why are you snooping through Uncle Sam's mainframes?"

    Kim proffered a folder to R'y'sha who took it and began to skim the contents.

    R'y'sha's eye went wide.  "Trisha has a brother?  Stellar!"

    "Indeed," said Kim.  "The problem is that he works for the NSA under heavy security.  I was trying to work out a way to arrange a meeting.  I found out that he's here in Monument City.  Right this minute."

    "Sweet!" responded R'y'sha.  "So, what's the problem?"

    "No doubt he knows that I've been fishing for information on him," sighed Kim.  "He won't trust anyone who'll just walk right up to him and say, 'Hi!  I'm a friend of your sister!'"

    R'y'sha leaned her head against her knuckles while her index finger tapped on her cheek in thought.  Suddenly, she snapped her fingers.

    "I've got it!" she exclaimed.   "What you need is a 'go between.'"  She added with a sly wink, "and I happen to have an available candidate."

    Kim shook her head.  "I don't want you involved if there's trouble.  What if they find out you're an extra-terrestrial?"

    "Pish-posh!" said R'y'sha.  "They won't find out.  No one ever has before.  I'll just discreetly slip him a note and disappear mysteriously."

    Kim bit her lower lip.  "Well, I suppose that would be alright."

    R'y'sha grinned.  "Trust me."

Part 2