Monq opened the door to his study and gestured for Elora to proceed. Stalkson rose when she entered and gave her a slight bow. The movement made the natural blond streaks in his beautiful head of hair catch the light.
"Mrs. Hawking."
He looked her in the eye with a self-confident and slightly arrogant gleam, but she didn't see an outright challenge this time, other than trying to push buttons by calling her Mrs. Hawking when he knew that was not her preference. Or her name. She decided to ignore it. This time.
"Stalkson Grey! What a surprise! Are you here to pick up a stray?"
He managed to laugh without compromising his smug, arrogant manner in the least. "Not this time."
"Well, how is Harry?"
"He's... well, he's Harry."
"Oddly enough I think I know what you mean."
Monq motioned for Elora to sit in one of the stuffed chairs by the warmth of the gas fire. "I'm going to put a couple of people on looking into the problem of too many boys and too few girls. I understand that seeking me out was your suggestion."
Elora looked over at Grey and nodded. "I did say that, if anybody could help, it would be you. I may have gone so far as to call you a miracle worker."
"Schmoozing me, Lady Laiken?"
"I sincerely hope you can get to the bottom of it."
"We're going to try." Monq sat in the chair behind his desk. "Our guest will be here for at least a day. I'm afraid we're grilling him with questions, trying to eliminate as many dead ends as possible. I thought that, since the two of you are already acquainted, you might like to give the king a tour of the non-classified areas."
Elora looked between the two men. "Of course. Just say when."
Stalkson crossed his arms over his chest and looked amused.
"I was thinking now?" Monq gave Elora a pleading look. "We need to analyze some data before compiling another round of questions. Should take a couple of hours or so. If you would be so kind as to show him around the facility and take him to lunch, we should be ready to resume by then."
"Alright. I was just going to come down and see if I could do something to help the IBD team."
Monq glanced at Grey and decided it couldn't hurt to clarify that. "We've just formed a new team to develop an Interdimensional Breach Defense System. It's a project that's very personal to the Lady Laiken."
Grey looked at Elora with open curiosity.
She pulled a phone from her pocket. "Let me make a quick call to see if Ram wants to have lunch with us later."
Stalkson nodded. While Elora was talking quietly with Ram, he turned to Monq. "Any idea yet how long you'll need me here?"
Monq pursed his lips. "Probably just through the day."
"Will you be sending people?"
Monq looked at him closely and detected the worry and anxiety that was barely disguised by pride.
"Let's get through the afternoon and then we'll see."
Elora closed her phone and turned to Grey. "Okay. Tour bus leaving. All aboard."
Grey looked confused. "What?"
She grinned. "Never mind. I guess I just experienced a flash back to my own tour of Jefferson Unit. The guide had a sense of humor. He told me that he would accept a tip, thinking he was being funny, and then was sorry he'd brought it up because he had to spend a half hour explaining tipping to me." She chuckled. "I'm still not an expert on the subject."
Elora walked Grey around the facility showing him the workout facilities, the classrooms for trainees, the fabulous state-of-the-art medical clinic, and the courtpark. She explained the ins and outs of eating at Jefferson Unit including which baristas made the best hot chocolate and what time of day was best to ask for a club sandwich.
Last, she took him to her own apartment to show him their temporary quarters and the absolute best thing on the whole premises - her baby boy.