Oly spins in her chair to face Vera's table, noticing her friend almost falling asleep. She sneaks up and slaps her hands noisily on Vera's table. Vera snaps to attention.

'Gees! You scared me.' Vera brings a hand to her face and rubs her eyes.

Oly giggles. 'I noticed you dozing off over here and felt I had no choice. Why so jumpy?'

'Didn't sleep well,' Vera says.

'Hmmm,' Olympia says, sliding closer to her friend, 'been having... interesting dreams? Hmmmm? About a boy, perhaps? A boy with sparkling blue eyes who looks at you like you're the last custard tart in the bakery window? Something like that keeping you in shallow slumber, perhaps?'

'What? No,' Vera says, slapping her friend lightly.

'Hi ladies,' Tamsin says, shuffling up to Vera's workbench. 'How are you, friends?'

Vera can feel Oly's bristles go up.

'Fine,' is all Oly replies.

'Great thanks Tamsin, and how are you?' Vera replies lightly.

'I'm great. I went to see Jake this weekend so been really tired from the long drive.'

'That's nice.'

'There's a meeting later or tomorrow about the whole forest saga thing. I'm sure you guys heard about the grave da-rama. Oh wait, Vera wasn't that you? Who was in the forest?'

'Yes.' She tries not to visibly clench her teeth at the implications of that statement. 

'Oh, so you must know all about this, right?'

'Not really, Tamsin.' Vera lowers her head and begins to sort the papers on her desk, preparing for the work of the day. She grabs her cup of coffee, thinking to use it as an excuse to exit the conversation. But there is still some inside. She sips it. 

'Oh, I'm sure you do. I mean, you were there, weren't you? Do you know what happened?'

'No.' Her voice becomes more clipped.

'A lot of people seem to think you do.' Tamsin says, in a singsong almost-accusing tone. 

Vera clears her throat. 'Unless those people are the police, I'm not sure I care.'

'Ha, ha. I'm sure you'll already know what they're going to talk about in the meeting, don't you?'

'No, I don't.' Vera sighs, looking her in the eyes. This girl does not get the hint. 

Oly's face is turned to Vera's in a way that Tamsin can't see her facial expression. Her eyes are wide, one twitching, Vera can feel the irritation coming off her in waves. She shakes her head at Oly subtly - today is not the day for an altercation. 

'Sure. Well you'll be there right? You'll be there, in the meeting?' Tamsin asks.

'I didn't know there was a meeting. I'll check my schedule.' Vera flips through papers, finding and pretending to check her calendar. 

'Because you know its the ethical thing to do. I know I'm usually the ethical one around here.'

'Are you, though?' Oly says with thinly veiled contempt. Vera is surprised Oly doesn't simply turn around and slap her face. 

'Yes, I have integrity. So I'll be there, because it's the professional thing to do. I am very professional. Okay, bye then,' she wanders off cheerfully.

'Calm down,' Vera says softly, trying to calm her own beating heart. She watches as Tamsin wanders across the room to accost other people in the office. Three faces dip behind laptop screens, another two pick up 'phone calls'.  Vera chuckles softly. 

'If we didn't work together I'd like to punch that woman in the face.' She huffs. 'You think she would be more amicable after spending some time with her boyfriend. He doesn't seem to calm down her nuttiness at all.'

'I know,' Vera says, chuckling at her friend. 

'If I hit her, I'd do it with a big microscope. Wouldn't that be so poetic? Integrity, can you believe that nonsense? She only seems to have integrity when other people are watching.'

'What is that supposed to mean?' Vera laughs. 

'Oh, that high-brow high-society wish-she-was-cool brat irritates me. I almost brought up what happened with James.'

'What happened?'

'Oh my fat filofax, did you not hear?' Oly's eyes widen and brighten the way they do when she has a particularly juicy piece of gossip. She slides a chair closer and perches alongside Vera, sidling up to her conspiratorially.

'You know that guy James who works with her?' Oly murmurs softly.

'I think so, that sweet guy who just went through a divorce?'

'Yeah, that one. Apparently it wrecked him. He is taking the bus to work now, had to sell his car.'

'Oooh, that's rough,' Vera says.

'The other day they got out of work late and he missed the bus. He was waiting in the rain, so good saint Tamsin over there offered him a lift home.'

'Okay. That's actually really nice.'

'Is it though? Half way there she decides that petrol is really expensive right now, so she she is going to have to charge him for the ride.'

'Excuse me?' Vera gapes at her friend. 'No ways!'

Oly nods vehemently. 'I know. She actually charged him, when they were more than halfway back to his flat, after having offered him the ride.'

'Wow. That's actually horrid. That man has been through the most already. Are you sure?'

'He told me. She's despicable. Anyway.' She leans back int her chair, stretches. 'See you at the meeting tomorrow, if you have any integrity, that is.' She barks out a laugh. 

**

Vera is slumped on her living room floor. Her forehead is drenched in sweat, she is surrounded by photo albums. Pictures of two little girls lay spread across the floor, interrupted by a few pictures of those girls as teenagers. There is an empty wine glass on the floor near her. She rubs her temples, murmuring something.

It's 11p.m.. The room is bathed in an amber glow from the sitting room lamp. The chill of night has drifted into the room, but she doesn't notice it. The night outside is thick - there is almost complete silence but for a cricket or two. She's been this way for a few hours, with the albums, rubbing her temples and muttering things.

Suddenly the silence is interrupted by a loud bang on the door. A strange sound, like fiddling of metal in a keyhole, followed by a click. The door swings open. Vera snaps her head up, gazes at the figure in the doorway. A man, with an imposing frame, occupies the door space. She can't see much of him other that his size. She slumps, paralyzed. He takes a step into the room, uses his heel to swing the door shut behind him. It takes her those few moments to realise who this is.

He faces her. 'Miss Vera.'

She gulps. 'I didn't think you'd come back.'

'I told you I would. A few hours ago those three days were over.'

'I told you that I don't have what you lost.'

He sighs. 'Aren't you tired of this game?'

She remains quiet, swallows.

'Hand it over.'

Vera doesn't respond. She stares at him resolutely.

'Alright.'

Davorin makes his way over to her bookshelf. He takes a moment to appreciate it. Then he begins to methodically remove one book at a time and toss it over his shoulder.

'What the heck are you doing?!' Vera yells.

'I am looking behind your books.'

She jumps up from her seat and darts over. 'Stop that!' She pushes him away. He barely moves, looks at her with an eyebrow raised, then turns back to the shelf and continues to throw books over his shoulder. 'Stop that, stop!' She yells again. She moves herself between him and the bookshelf. Pushes him again.

'Hand it over. Or I will find it myself.'

Another book over his shoulder.

'Okay! Okay.' She tugs at his shoulders. 

He stops, gazes down at her through thick eyelashes. A moment passes, his expectant green eyes piercing hers fiercely. She swallows.

'Please wait by the door.'

He scoffs. 'I don't think so.' He crosses his arms.

Vera sighs.

She turns around. Facing the bookshelf, she reaches behind the book in the far right lowest shelf, scratches around a moment. Then she brings a fist out. She turns around. Davorin hasn't moved. His imposing figure towers over her.

'I'm sorry,' her voice is small, tired. 'I didn't mean to steal it. I just...'

He uncrosses his arms, holds out a palm.

She sighs, hovers her hand above his and drops the stone. It glows an eerie emerald green.

He snaps his fingers shut, pulls his hand away, and turns to leave.

'Wait!' Vera yells out, following him. 'Wait. Please. I... ' He pauses, turns to glare at her.

'Please help me.'

He snorts. 'Are you serious? After you stole from me? And then made me come back here to fetch this? I don't think so.' He turns again, Vera pulls at his shoulder.

'Please. I didn't know what else to do. What else to try.'

Davorin sighs peers over his shoulder at her again. Perhaps it's the desperate look of her face, or the tears welling up in her eyes. He looks down at the mess on the floor, sees the empty wine bottle on the table.

'Let's talk another time. You know where to find me. Knock this time, won't you?'

And then he is gone.