The same day, 5 AM
Hawkins and Cecilia left Olivia's new house shortly before the morning had hit. They found they could work better if their shift began at some 2 AM and ended at some 6 PM or so, though they were regularly burning the midnight oil.
"Not a bad new house either. Did you see the size of that pool?" - Asked Cecilia.
"True." - Said Hawkins - I hope Jeff gets a... clean slate. On a side note, Cecilia, there is someone we have not yet asked about Geoffrey's sudden disappearance."
"Who?" - Asked Cecilia.
"Lucas. Before you ask, I do not think she did anything to him or even that she forced his change... Not directly at least."
"She'll be fast asleep now, Inkface." - Said Cecilia.
"True. We can wait."
The same day, 10 AM
After Lucas finished talking to Hermes, her cell phone rang.
"Yello! Oh, hey, Inkface! Okay, okay, sorry, Cecilia, only you can call him Inkface. Nate it is. Sure. You're not driving, are you? Okay, prepare for the Rapture! Only, y'know, with your clothes on."
The two agents fell through the rifts Lucas opened beneath them, both landing elegantly on their feet.
"I do not mind if you call me Inkface, Lucas." - Said Hawkins.
"Yeah, Inkface, but I do." - Said Cecilia.
Lucas chuckled.
"Okay. What is it you need?"
"Are you aware, Lucas, that Aurelius got hit by sunlight?" - Asked Hawkins.
"Yep! Didn't do it. Well... Sorta. Didn't ask for it to be done, at least." - Said Lucas.
"I did not think you had done it, Lucas. What I would like to know is if you know what happened to him." - Said Hawkins.
"I do." - Said Lucas - "Sadly, however, I can't help you there."
"Why not?" - Asked Hawkins.
"Because you guys know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Olivia didn't do it and that Jeff didn't do it. And that the mermaid didn't do it. And, in fact, that it was purely an accident. One helped along by horrible, horrible, oh-my-fucking-GOD-how-horrible luck, but an accident." - Said Lucas.
"Yes, we're aware. Hermes managed to make an accident look like an accident." - Said Hawkins, dryly - "However, since we know you didn't do it and you know we would not even be willing, let alone able to capture Hermes for causing a fortuitous event, I have to wonder why you are unwilling to help us."
"Because it being chalked up to a sudden Sun-provoked disappearance will result, in a few days, in his assets, and he does have some left, such as that nice house of which he was the master, as well as some other things, being provisionally transferred to Jeff's guardian, Olivia. I hope you don't take it personally, but my goal here is to help Olivia and Jeff. I can assure you he's fine, I can tell you he's not with me or in my power, and I can inform you that he is free, at least within a fairly wide area. I hope you forgive me. If you call in my debt towards you, though, I can tell you..." - Said Lucas.
"Debt?" - Asked Hawkins.
"You helped me with the Moon plot idea, remember?" - Said Lucas.
"I am not offended, Lucas. I understand your position. And you saved the world a few times over. That pretty much covers whatever debt you ever had towards me, even if I were the kind of person to think of things in these terms." - Said Hawkins.
"Okay, you save the world a few measly times and people begin acting like they're indebted to you..." - Said Lucas in a nonplussed tone.
"Go figure." - Said Cecilia, sarcastically.
"Regardless, do I have your word that he is fine? If we cannot find him, his being fine is immaterial to ensuring that Jeff and Olivia receive his assets provisionally." - Said Hawkins.
"Yep. Fine and dandy." - Said Lucas - "Anyways. I already had breakfast, but, since you're here, folks, wanna eat anything? I can make those taste files for you, too, Cecilia."
"By all means." - Said Hawkins.
"Splendid!" - Said Lucas - "Before you guys eat, though... Why are you so convinced I didn't do it directly?"
"Not your style." - Said Hawkins, simply - "Had you wanted to expose him, you would have done it in a way that was any combination of humiliating, obvious, funny and cautionary."
"Ooo!" - Said Lucas, smirking - "Anyways! What will you guys be having? And don't act all humble. I can make food here that's not only out of season, but out of reality! If I can imagine it, it goes! Think 'Arabic hospitality with someone that's omnipotent'!"
Hawkins and Cecilia "placed their orders", as it were, and, as Lucas willed them into existence - them and some other "things" that weren't even real - Cecilia smirked to Hawkins.
"Doesn't feel like taking credit for saving the world, but loves to gloat about being a good host..." - Said Cecilia, smirking.
"I'm complicated." - Said Lucas, smiling - "Now, more ent-draught?"
