Leroy had just put Kit back into his cradle when he heard Tanya's phone ring. Deciding to make himself useful, he answered it:
"Tanya's phone."
"Uhh, hi," Tad said, a little taken a back at the male voice on the other end. "Is Tanya there?"
"She's unavailable at the moment," Leroy replied, figuring Tanya probably wouldn't want him to say she was in the shower. "May I ask who's calling?"
"My name's Tad Forrest," he replied.
"Oh! You're the agent assigned to her."
"Uhh, yes... who am I speaking to?"
"Leroy. Leroy Brown."
Tad paused. Leroy Brown? The great legend Leroy? What was he... oh yeah, he was on intimate terms with Tanya. Everyone knew that. Wait... if he was... could he know about Taylor? And Christian? Well, more specifically, Taylor's fraternising with him? Tanya was probably aware, if she knew who Taylor's friends were. Would she have told Leroy? Was it possible that Leroy was in on the conspiracy?
Nah... he had singlehandedly brought in more than a dozen alien hunters and other trouble makers. Surely it wasn't possible?
"Tad? Are you still there?"
The thought that this great hero could possibly be in on it left a bitter taste in his mouth, but perhaps he should test the waters, just in case.
"Uhh, yes, sir, sorry sir," Tad replied.
Leroy stifled a sigh. It never failed, the moment they found out who he was...
"Could I trouble you to leave a message for me?"
"Of course," Leroy replied.
Tad paused for a moment, considering his wording, and then replied.
"Could you tell her that Tad Forrest called, wanting to know about his authorisation regarding letting Taylor go off with friends of his - specifically the ones that he went off with the other day."
"Your charge has been escaping your authority, has he?"
Tad bridled, unhappy about the idea of being critisied by Leroy.
"Sir, it's not as simple as that sounds," he said. "According to Taylor, Tanya should know about the friends I'm referring to, and it should be okay for him to hang out with them without my supervision."
"But you want confirmation from your supervisor," Leroy nodded. "Good man. Never know what kids are pulling these days, although in my experience Taylor has been an honest if unfortunate young man."
"With some unfortunate friends," Tad stratiegically muttered.
"Pardon?"
"Uhh, nothing sir."
"Just who are these friends of Taylor's anyway?"
"Sir... I'm not sure that I should give out that information without Tanya's approval."
Leroy frowned. From his experience it sounded like Tad really wanted to tell him. And there was that earlier comment about hanging out with these friends the other day - when they brough Blakesley in...
"Well, I outrank Tanya," he replied cheerfully, "so by all means, humour me."
"Well, sir," Tad replied, relieved, "I'm not sure how many of them are there, and I only have the one name. Christian Thomas."
Leroy was silent for a moment.
"Sir?"
"Thank you for telling me," he said matter of factly. "I shall pass your message onto Tanya. We'll be in touch."
"Thank you sir," Tad replied.
And they hung up. A huge smile crossed Tad's face. Leroy said "We'll", not "She'll".
"Who was that?" Tanya asked, walking into the room, a towel around her head.
Leroy relayed the message Tad had given him, and Tanya nodded.
"So, who are they?" Leroy asked. "These friends?"
"Leroy," Tanya replied, "Don't you have more things to worry about than concerning yourself with Taylor's wellbeing too?"
Leroy shrugged and smiled and let the matter pass. He made a resolution when he left to check up on Tad's credentials and perhaps contact him to do a little ground work for him. Christian needed to br brought in, and Tanya was obviously hiding things - important things - that could lead to this. He always knew she was a little too attached to that boy.