Page 65 of The Mouse and the Maestro

“You’re not going to have to shoot anyone. That’s what Maggie and I are for,” Ethan assured him.

“Maggie?” Jane said, jumping slightly in surprise at the mention of the librarian’s name.

“Maggie’s going to be on the roof across the street with a sniper rifle,” Ridge said then, noting Jane’s reaction, turned to Blue. “You did tell her about Maggie, didn’t you?”

“A few things,” Blue said.

“Maggie and the gun are one,” Babs interjected.

“They have a better relationship than she and Ridge do,” Ellen added.

“That is not true. Is it?” Ridge asked Maggie.

“Of course not,” Maggie assured him. “Although the gun doesn’t snore.”

“So the librarian is your sharpshooter,” Jane clarified.

“You should see what the janitor can do,” Blue said, and Jane wasn’t sure if he was joking.

“She’s never killed anyone, if it makes you feel better,” Ethan said, flicking Maggie’s hair.

“Why are you so obsessed with that?” Maggie asked, punching him in the bicep.

“It’s a brother’s prerogative,” he assured her.

“Well, brother, if your aim was as good as mine, you wouldn’t have to take the kill shot, either,” Maggie said.

“Ouch, my eyes and my ears hurt after witnessing that burn,” Ellen said, covering her eyes with her hands.

“I’m telling Amelia you said hurtful things to me,” Ethan threatened.

“I’m telling my parents you married their baby in a shady African ceremony,” Maggie returned.

“It wasn’t shady; it was rainy,” Ethan countered.

“Is anyone pretending we’re here to work?” Ridge asked.

“Uh-oh, Dad’s mad,” Blue whispered in a loud aside.

“Speaking of dads, Jane, can I have a word please?” Ridge said. They walked to the back of the building, well out of earshot for a while, and had a conference together.

“What’s that about?” Ethan asked Blue.

“I think her dad is some kind of international super criminal or something,” Blue said. “I told Ridge what I suspect, and he said he’d have a word with her about it.”

“You don’t know who he is or what he does?” Ethan said.

“She won’t say,” Blue replied.

“Huh. I guess that explains it,” Ethan said.

“Explains what?”

“Why she’s so, you know, unfazed by all of this. Almost get kidnapped and murdered? Fine. Get involved in trying to take down a terrorist ring? Okey-dokey. Not a lot of people would be so easygoing and comfortable with our world. Something to consider, my son. And there’s your mentoring,” Ethan said, tapping his temple.

“Did you hear the part about her marrying another man in two weeks?” Blue returned.

“Did you see her face when you brought that up?” Ethan parried.

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