Back at the office

                                    

                                          
Simon

                          
Simon stood in his boss's office doorway, one hand on the doorknob, the other holding onto the frame.
                          
"Your buddy came through. It's all sorted."
                          
Coombs looked up from his desk.
                          
"I've just got off the phone with the precinct cop," Simon continued. "He's agreed to drop everything and leave it all to us. No fuss. Whoever you called, they must have got in a word beforehand. Thanks."
                          
Coombs nodded absently, implying this was all routine to him. The ghost of his former self still occupied his face. He didn't need to speak, Simon could read his questions through a mix of instinct and experience.
                          
"You see the significance of this? The other side have shown themselves. If nothing else, we at least now know they exist."
                          
"Was that in doubt? It was your idea to open this case." Coombs finally managed to verbalize.
                          
"It could have been amateurs playing games. That was always a possibility. Not anymore."
                          
Combs frowned. "And Jenny? Is she back yet?"
                          
"She's fine. She's going to the hospital now, I think. One of her friends got hurt in all the fun." He dismissed this with a smile. "Nothing serious, as far as I know. I'll debrief her when she gets in. Now that we have a lead, we can start planning our next move."
                          
"But she's not in any danger?"
                          
"No need to worry. I'll be keeping an eye on her."
                          
"You told me she would be safe. She's an analyst, remember. Not a field operative."
                          
Simon frowned. "Jenny's a smart girl, we all know that. But you know how it is with smart people. Sometimes they get an idea in their heads and it makes them do something stupid. At least doing this on our behalf means she's got some cover if it all goes wrong."
                          
In reply Coombs merely stared back at him, showing no evidence of comprehension. Discomforted though he was by this scrutiny, Simon resisted the impulse to justify himself further. "If that's all, I better get going."
                          
Coombs grunted. The door closed and he was alone once more.