Mission Accepted: On The Way
Relative disclaimers apply.

"This is highly irregular, Miss Relena. Especially at this hour," Macaby Johnathan complained as Thomas escorted the two of them to the dining room.

The chief business loan specialist of April May Bank had been surprised when Relena had called him at home an hour ago, requesting that he come to her home now, as she wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be able to meet him in the morning.

"It's only a little after one a.m., Mister Johnathan. Hardly a reason to be so upset," Relena said chidingly.

"This is a very serious matter, Miss Relena, not to be discussed in this kind of environment."

Relena stopped short. As she was behind Thomas and in front of Johnathan, this nearly caused another matter.

"That's not what you said when I spoke to you last."

"It has become serious, Miss Relena. You know that Booth's owns the Walker Building -"

"Yes," she involuntarily interrupted him.

" - and several more of your properties."

She nodded.

"Yes, Mister Winner and I have lost several mortgages to that...company."

He exhaled.

"It's not the company per se. We strongly suspect that the character you mentioned, Briggs Hawton, is using Booth's as a...conduit, you might say. We are cooperating with other banks and have found several transactions that have nothing whatsoever to do with Booth's."

Her eyes narrowed.

Which other banks is April May cooperating with? Some information isn't...shareable. And neither Quatre nor I told any of our banks to cooperate with each other unless we request it.

"Which banks?"

He hesitated and glanced at Thomas, who narrowed his eyes at him.

Something is not right here. Mister Hawton would not allow his transactions to be so easily traced.

Johnathan cleared his throat.

"There has been certain activity in the stock market....The Reserve contacted your banks and Mister Winner's banks and asked us to-"

"Without contacting either one of us? That is highly irregular, Mister Johnathan. And also against the law."

Johnathan scowled.

"Miss Relena, you don't understand. Mister Hawton is threatening our interests."

She glared at him.

"That explains the little message from The Reserve apologizing for 'the inconvenience'."

This is just about money to them.

"Miss Relena, this house is being threatened as well. If we don't do something soon—"

"Something is going to be done."

Relena looked at her butler.

"Thomas, please escort Mister Johnathan to the door. The back door. This meeting is over."

Thomas nodded.

"Come along, sir..."

"But! The gravity of the situation—"

"The situation is no longer in your hands."

"What do you mean by that? I will have you know that my people are working on the solution night and day!"

"Just take my word for it. It will be taken care of."

"But—but—"

Thomas glanced at Relena as he escorted Johnathan away.

"We have a lot of wares up our sleeves."

Relena's eyebrows went up.

"Wares...."

She gasped. She raised a hand to brush fingers against her lips.

Warehouse? Didn't one of them mention a warehouse? I must speak to Quatre.

In the one office that Quatre could still claim as his own, Rashid glanced at the clock on the wall.

Three a.m. A few more hours...

He sighed, then pushed the blinking button on the phone and put the receiver to his ear.

"Hello, Miss Relena...I've been waiting for your call. What kept you? Oh?...Thomas didn't tell you until a few moments ago? That's understandable...he doesn't want you to get involved. At least he didn't. If he had told you earlier you would have had time to prepare to go. Which you must not do. You should let Master Winner and the other boys do this. But I know you won't. This is too important, isn't it? Yes....I understand. And Master Quatre will understand. Yes....and please tell Thomas that it's all right. Right. Good night, Miss Relena."

He exhaled again as he replaced the receiver.

I couldn't tell her that Master Quatre already understands. And this business with her banks working directly with ours, without telling either one of them, is very disturbing. It will be allowed because of the "situation"; no charges will be brought against any of them.

"Politics is a very dirty game."

The door, which had been ajar, was pushed open enough for Quatre to enter the room.

He looked exhausted. It was an effort for him to walk over to the desk. But his eyes were clear and bright, an indication that his mind was awake and alert.

"So...she's coming."

It was a flat statement.

Rashid nodded.

"I didn't waste any time trying to convince her to stay home."

Quatre exhaled and leaned his lower back against the desk.

"They won't like it. Heero especially. But they all know she wants to see this through to the end. So they won't protest too much."

He managed a smile.

"There is nothing like the determination of a woman."

Relena looked at the clock on her desk.

Four-ten a.m. I wonder what time Quatre will come for me?

She hadn't gone to bed. Instead, after Johnathan had left the house she had gone to her first-floor office to search through her files and papers, to find something, anything, that she could use against losing her home.

The banks went too far.

Mortgages and deeds could be bought. But the person who was bound by that paperwork needed to be notified.

Pure politics. Nothing matters but their own behinds when their interests are at stake. But I can't excuse this.

She hadn't found anything yet.

Nothing was missing. Everything seemed to be in order.

He paid people off. Made promises. And perhaps spread some bad rumors or some lies about us.

"I don't understand. What does he have against me? Against Quatre? Why does he want to ruin us?"

Her eyes narrowed to slits.

"I have to know. I have to see his face and get my questions answered."

She clenched her fists.

"And then I'll punish him."

"Miss Relena."

Quatre opened the door, then leaned against the doorway.

He looked tired, but his eyes revealed a fair amount of determination.

"Quatre—"

"You shouldn't have called," he scolded her, but without conviction. In truth, he would have been surprised if she hadn't called.

And she knew it.

She stood up, shoved paperwork aside and began walking over to him.

He put up a palm.

"We don't have much time -"

"I'll say we don't. We have to stop him!"

"Shhhhh."

"How dare this man just - just waltz around as though he owns the world! What does he have against us? Why is he against us? I've never even heard of him and I don't think you know who he is either! This is ridiculous. I—"

"Miss Relena, calm down."

"I can not calm down."

"You can and you will. He's still making moves. I fear it'll be our personal residences next."

She gasped. Then her eyes narrowed.

"Then let's go."

He put his palm down.

"I'm only taking you along because it's in everyone's best interests."

"Really."

"Really."

His tone brooked no argument. She heaved a sigh, then nodded.

"All right then."

I wonder what Heero thinks about this?

Heero didn't say anything or even turn to look as Quatre helped Relena get into the late-model custom black sedan.

We should never have let her get involved. But this isn't a situation we could keep away from her eyes.

"Hello, everyone," Relena said as she sat down.

Trowa grunted. Duo waved. Wufei briefly inclined his head.

Heero continued to do nothing to acknowledge her presence.

She ignored him.

You're not being fair, Heero.

"Would you like some tea?" Duo asked. "We could stop along the way."

"No, thank you. But you can have some, if you want to."

He pouted.

"It's no fun drinking tea alone. 'Tea for two' isn't just a song, you know."

"There's no time for that," Quatre said. "He's expecting us. Let's not disappoint him."

Duo nodded.

"Onward, then."

Each person in the car decided to study their own thoughts. Were they sure what to do when they reached the warehouse? How would Hawton present himself? What would he do to try to stop them from defeating him?

Could they defeat him?

They had evidence. He had more effective resources at his disposal.

But they had the courage and the faith to believe that they would stop him. To them, that was more than enough.

And they were ready to meet any challenge that he threw at them.

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