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 Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:24 pm
"We're meeting him tonight?" Maia asked, looking to Toby. "Where would you like to meet, Dari?" She asked. A hotel, maybe? If he couldn't leave the fort area, that was a definite clue that it was the ghost.
Had he called Cody? ...should she tell him to? But if this wasn't him, it would break the guy's heart again.
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:31 pm
"The hotel we stayed in when we came here? I'm sure I can sit out in the lobby for a while. If I'm not there, there's a 24-hour Walmart six miles from here," Dari said.
Toby nodded, as if the person on the other line could see him. His heart was pounding and he took the phone off of speaker to talk to the man properly as he started to gather his keys, his jacket.
"Alright. I'll make the call and we'll be there soon."
"See you then."
Dari hung up, smiled more broadly, and handed the phone back to the clerk. "I'd make another donation, but I'm afraid that I'm all out of cash... Thank you for this."
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 9:55 pm
The clerk took her phone back and studied Dari. "I get off in a half an hour, stay here till then," she invited. The guy didn't have any money, and no one should have to walk six miles to wait for family. "I'll get you some dinner and give you a ride so you can meet them, alright?" She smiled at him. He'd done her a great favor, after all. He'd helped get rid of that horrid ghost.
"You could probably use a shower, too," she added, tsking.
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:00 pm
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that," Dari said. He didn't want to be a bother. Really he just wanted to see his family again. Food wasn't a concern and neither was his physical appearance, although apparently he was somewhat disheveled to be offered a shower. He'd tried to suck all of that dirt in. Maybe it was his clothes? He couldn't say for sure.
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:05 pm
"I owe you a favor," the clerk insisted. "Your group got rid of that awful ghost, and I never got the chance to thank you. Please, let me do this for you? You shouldn't have to walk all that way! And you look like you could use something warm to eat."
This guy wasn't used to being broke, she was sure. "Just help someone else when they need it, yeah?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:10 pm
"Well, that's our job," Dari said with a grin. Oh, but she had no idea. 'If you insist. I really don't want to impose. I could get there in plenty of time."
It'd take no more than two hours for him to walk six miles, and it'd take the agents a few to get here so the calls could go in and out, plans made, paperwork signed, and the group flown out incognito. Even if he was halfway between the hotel and the shop by the time they got here they'd find them. The Bureau was rather good at what it did.
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:19 pm
"You're not imposing," the clerk assured him quickly. "Look. You've been kept away from your family for a month. Making yourself walk when the ghost probably hasn't fed you properly... And besides." She looked around. "I'm not about to let you go off by yourself again. The ghost might grab you. Then what would your family do?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:21 pm
Dari laughed. Fed by a ghost? Did she think he'd been kidnapped?! Oh well. It was easier than explaining the truth! They'd filled that crater in pretty well and removed every suspicious substance or bit of debris. He held a finger to his lips then. It was best to not talk about the ghost around customers, for the fort's sake.
"But he is gone. Believe me," he said softly, then gestured to the side, "I'll leave you to your work. I think I'll go have a look around."
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:47 am
The woman nodded at the shhhinh motion. It wouldn't do for everyone here to know there'd been a ghost. They would undoubtedly spread rumors! "Alright," she said. "Be back here in twenty minutes, though?
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:29 pm
"If you're still sure," Dari said with a nod. With that he headed off into the fort to explore, perhaps to chat with some people. He hadn't had any social interaction in quite a long time now. He simply hadn't been able.
In twenty two minutes, though, he did return to the front desk. Half of him expected the woman to be gone already.
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:44 pm
The woman was waiting for him. "Hey, you ready?" She asked. She was all packed up and holding her keys. "Let's go get something to eat," she said. "What do you feel like most?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:49 pm
Dari smiled and approached her. Well then. Apparently she hadn't changed her mind. This might, though.
"Thank you so much for your kindness, but I do feel obligated to say, ah...I don't want to presume the nature of said kindness, but I do have a fiancee." His ring was filthy, but intact.
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:12 pm
The woman blinked at him. Did he really think that'd change her mind? "Silly," she shook her head at him. "That makes it even more important that I help you. I bet she's worried sick! You've been kept captive for so long..." she left her desk. "Cmon. Let's go eat. Then we can see about getting you home to that fiancée of yours!"
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:15 pm
Dari knew that sexuality changed some minds as well, so he just smiled and nodded.
"Alright. Thank you again. As for food, where ever you like. I don't have my wallet so I'm afraid I can't pay my share." When he got home, though, he would be sending some money this woman's way.
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Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:24 pm
The clerk took Dari home first; she lived in a two bedroom apartment, but the only other inhabitant was a brown tabby kitten. "The bathroom's right there," she pointed towards it. "You get cleaned up and then we'll go get something to eat, alright?"
Poor guy. She couldn't imagine being separated from people she loved for a month.
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