They’re opening offices in Dallas and San Francisco. They’re staffing them with sales and support people.”“That’s not really an unexpected d...evelopment, is it?” I asked.“You have to ask yourself where the revenue is coming from, or, lacking revenue, who’s backing them and why?” Mario said.“We had investors at the start,” I said.“Enough to do what they’re doing now?” Cindi asked. “Their customer base is smaller than ours, and they don’t have medical or consulting business.”“Sure, but they’ve run. There's nothing for me here."Major Logan flinched slightly at that statement — he was a soldier not a diplomat — and led Pat into the Palace.Morg stretched and walked around the flivver to loosen up and then settled back into the flivver and began working on a 'broidery pattern he had been running around in his brain since he had seen the codes in the Chencon bolts. Every so often he got out of the flivver to stretch. He had the forethought to pack rations and the makings so he was able to. After a moment Rick said, "I will give you plenty of opportunities with Bob... I expect you to not waste them."I responded automatically, "Are you sure?"He kissed my lips softly and said, "Very sure."The next day, the day Bob was arriving, when I got back to my office from a long meeting I had a voice mail from Rick. I heard his cheerful voice say,"I have to go to Chicago on an emergency. I will be home tomorrow afternoon. I'm sure you wont mind picking Bob up at the airport... wear the red. She kicked them away and acted as if nothing had happened. “Hello sir,” she said, picking up the bowl and going to pour the contents away down the drain in the corner of the yard. She came back inside to find he’d gone and she was again alone with Mel. “Bad timing,” Mel said with a giggle. She boiled the kettle again and poured them both a tea. Without realising it they both drank more and more as the evening drew on until finally their walkie talkies burst into life. “We are now closed, good.