Violet reached quickly into the hat, pulling out a name, and stating (somewhat shakily) Cooper. She dropped the name back in, straightening up and try...ing to maintain a poker face. I dare you… to drop the towel. You-… Youre practically showing it off already. Cooper grinned. You okay there Violet? Im fine. she snapped. Really? Cuz your voice sounds a little shaky. Everyone chuckled. Stop stalling, asshat. Show us the goods or… back out. Along with her words came a faint and persistent buzzing. I hear the front door open, then, “Hello. Maddie.” Mila. She’s tentative with her English.“Hello, Mila. How are you?” Maddie replies.“Good. Thank. You.”“Haley’s back there, Mila,” Maddie says.I hear footsteps and she appears at the door.A couple of shopping trips have stepped her apparel up to the standards for our bunch. She’s in jeans and a colorful blouse, athletic shoes on her feet, her hair held back from her face by a couple of barrettes.“Hi, Mila.”“Hello, Haley. What. Are. You.. What more I mean.” Or ... perhaps they could stop it being a complete disaster? “But where is the laptop, do you have any idea?”“I think it’s in the main hut, in the office. They showed it to me. They hoped I would have the password. They can’t give it to their hacking experts because of what might be in it, so now they’re waiting.”“Waiting to capture Claude.”“Yes.”“And they’ll torture you, to make him tell, cos he loves you.”“I’m sorry,” her mum came and stood in front of her, taking her. But this time, instead of a whole gang of us going, there was just Brian and me.I didn't take any notice as by now it had become a habit to go and have a quiet drink and a chat. I didn't notice that now we were talking about each other and our lives. I didn't register that the little compliments he had started throwing my way, were making me feel good. Like telling me how nice I looked and how well I was picking up Spanish. But it was all having a subtle effect on me.If I had taken notice of.