"Only on Saturdays," Tanith told her - completely seriously, which made Janet raise an eyebrow. "On Sundays, I'm a big sister. Government agent's only my day job, and they really had to work hard just to get me to do that. I sometimes double as a bodyguard, though." Something in her pocket beeped, and Tanith grimaced. "That would be the big sister part. I'm sorry, I forgot to warn you. She's not the sketch artist, she's... someone I'm mentoring, technically. Government-agent-in-training. Would you mind if she came with?"
It was the sort of question that should have brooked no argument, but Janet wasn't that type of woman. And neither, apparently, was Tanith Low. Tanith didn't dismiss the question as having an obvious answer - she actually waited patiently for Janet to respond. That was enough of a surprise for Janet's prepared response to soften its edges a little bit. "I'd like to limit the number of strangers barging their way in here."
"Oh, she's only fifteen." Tanith paused, and smiled apologetically. "We start them young."
Janet ran a hand through her hair and heaved a sigh. She'd already decided she didn't want to know. Just one more thing to add to the growing list. "As long as she doesn't start any trouble," Janet relented. "And that goes for all of you, the... sketch artist included."
"You'll get no trouble from us, ma'am."
"Why are you wearing leather?"
"Because I cut a striking figure in it, ma'am."
Janet had to agree there. "I also want to make it clear that you - none of you - are allowed any further into the building than this. You can use my office just there for some privacy, but Kelly's going to sit in and make sure no... domineering is occurring."
A corner of Tanith's mouth twitched up. "Aw. There go all my Saturday plans."
"Believe it or not, I am grateful for what happened yesterday. I do understand how it could have been much worse. But that does not give Gabby's boyfriend the right to come in here whenever he wants, or to treat this place like a crime scene. And it definitely doesn't give him any right to Saffron. If Saffron doesn't want to see you, I'm escorting you out immediately. Clear?"
"Crystal."
Janet nodded towards Kelly. "Will you go ask Saffron to come downstairs, please?"
no subject
It was the sort of question that should have brooked no argument, but Janet wasn't that type of woman. And neither, apparently, was Tanith Low. Tanith didn't dismiss the question as having an obvious answer - she actually waited patiently for Janet to respond. That was enough of a surprise for Janet's prepared response to soften its edges a little bit. "I'd like to limit the number of strangers barging their way in here."
"Oh, she's only fifteen." Tanith paused, and smiled apologetically. "We start them young."
Janet ran a hand through her hair and heaved a sigh. She'd already decided she didn't want to know. Just one more thing to add to the growing list. "As long as she doesn't start any trouble," Janet relented. "And that goes for all of you, the... sketch artist included."
"You'll get no trouble from us, ma'am."
"Why are you wearing leather?"
"Because I cut a striking figure in it, ma'am."
Janet had to agree there. "I also want to make it clear that you - none of you - are allowed any further into the building than this. You can use my office just there for some privacy, but Kelly's going to sit in and make sure no... domineering is occurring."
A corner of Tanith's mouth twitched up. "Aw. There go all my Saturday plans."
"Believe it or not, I am grateful for what happened yesterday. I do understand how it could have been much worse. But that does not give Gabby's boyfriend the right to come in here whenever he wants, or to treat this place like a crime scene. And it definitely doesn't give him any right to Saffron. If Saffron doesn't want to see you, I'm escorting you out immediately. Clear?"
"Crystal."
Janet nodded towards Kelly. "Will you go ask Saffron to come downstairs, please?"