Ava watched in stunned silence as Adam turned like an automaton on Aaron's flattened door and strode from the room.

She tore herself from Aaron's arms. She pleaded, "Adam, Adam, wait! Let me explain."

By the time she reached the stairwell he was almost two flights down. "Adam," she called out to the top of his head. Zip acknowledgement. She came back into the apartment, stumbling over the door.

Aaron said, "Ava, what is happening? Who is that fellow?"

"I, I can't right now, Aaron. I'm sorry."

Ava pulled on her boots. She scooped up her pakol cap and scarf and reeled from the room.

As she reached the doorway to the street she heard Adam's bike blast off. She swore, "Oh, shit!" Then screamed... "Aaaadaaaam!"

Ava's desperate cry carried halfway down the street before it was churned up by the sound of The Beast's exhaust when Adam slammed her into third.

She watched as he dropped the motorcycle into a suicide angle at the end of the street and ripped round the corner.

She stood, weaving slightly, and listened as The Beast's wail trailed off in the distance.

Finally, in the silence that remained, she swiveled her eyes to and fro and found that several locals had taken an interest in the night-time Soap. But she noted a couple of hairy guys playing dominoes on the sidewalk opposite were gentlemen enough to not even glance her way. She turned on her heel, a trifle unsteadily, and marched with the boldest strides she could muster, back into the building.

"So, who was our gentleman caller?" Aaron asked with a bit of a grunt as Ava slumped up the top flight of stairs. He had his recently-detached front door between spread arms as he attempted to position it on the hinges he had nailed back on.

Ava grabbed the inner side of the door and helped guide it home. She said, "Aaron, I'm sorry. I know I have no right; you've been so generous with your help, and inviting me into your home and everything, but..."

He interrupted her, motioning with his chin at some long nails on the floor. Ava retrieved one and he jostled the door as she wriggled a spike through the uppermost hinge. She got the other two nails and continued her explanation as they seated them home, "I can't tell you who that person is. But I can assure you, despite appearances," she looked up at him and offered an apologetic grimace, "he poses no danger to you or me. He..."

Aaron let go the door and held up a palm, saying, "Ava, that is more than sufficient. I will regard your demonstrative friend as... 'a source'. And a reporter certainly cannot reveal her sources, now can she?"

Aaron gingerly closed the door. It was a tad off-kilter, but the latch bolt was still operational so, No harm No foul, his expression said. After a moment he asked, "But what now, m'Lady? Do you need a place to... what is the phrase? Ah yes... a place to crash?"

"Ohh, gawd, I hope not, Aaron. I found ideal accommodations a couple of days ago. I'm praying there's still a vacancy."