Chapter Text
“I think you’re on the right track. About going to Leadville first and doing interviews.” Miles watches Melanie flash a triumphant grin on his phone screen – the same one she always gives when he admits she was right about something. Her lips part as if she’s about to say something, but Miles holds up his hand to stop her. “We need to be careful, though. So nobody in the asylum gets tipped off.”
Melanie nods. “Right. We need a cover story, then. Something that’ll give us an excuse to ask around about people’s jobs without it coming off as a targeted search for Murkoff employees.”
“Exactly. And I’ve got an idea.” It’s Miles’ turn to grin now – he’s proud of his plan. “I’m thinking we pose as sociologists – we can tell everyone we’re gathering data to study employment trends in rural Colorado. We should use fake names, too. Anyone who works for Murkoff in any more than an entry level position probably knows who we are, considering how long we’ve been a thorn in their side.”
Melanie hums thoughtfully. “I like that idea. But Miles, uh…how are we going to explain my accent? What British sociologist is believably going to fly all the way to Colorado just to research employment trends?”
“Shit, you’re right,” Miles sighs. Then, an idea pops into his head. “So maybe we’re not full-blown sociologists yet. Maybe we’re grad students working on a thesis project, and you are studying abroad.”
“Better,” Melanie concedes. “That just might work.”
“Of course it’s gonna work”
“Not if you jinx it.” Melanie raises an eyebrow, keeping her features locked in an imitation of unimpressed seriousness for only a moment before her eyes and mouth soften into a fond smile.
Her smile only widens as Georgie enters the room, asking “How’s the scheming coming along?” in her characteristically bright voice.
“Oh, you’ve got it bad,” Miles observes, noting the way Georgie’s very presence seems to make his friend blush and sit up straighter. He’s been close to Melanie and Georgie for years, and he’s never seen them as happy as they’ve been since they got together.
“Shut up, Miles.” There’s no bite to Melanie’s voice as she rolls her amber eyes, still grinning from ear to ear.
Georgie crosses the room and drapes two bronze, bangle-adorned arms around her girlfriend’s shoulders. “Neither of you has answered my question yet.”
“The ‘scheming’ is going well, actually. We’ve just got a cover story worked out.” Melanie leans back into Georgie’s arms, letting out a contented sigh.
Georgie sighs too, though she sounds more concerned than contented as she tightens her arms around Melanie. “So you are going, then? To the asylum?”
Melanie purses her lips, bringing both of her hands up to cover Georgie’s. “It’s probably unavoidable, hon. But the cover story I’m talking about right now is for interviewing people in Leadville – the closest town to the mountain.”
“You two are gonna interview people instead of just breaking into the place you’re investigating?” Georgie gasps dramatically, raising her eyebrows in feigned shock – as if the very notion of Miles and Melanie gathering information legally is absolutely unheard of. A playful smirk crosses her face as she continues, “I’m so proud of you!”
“Georgie.” Melanie groans, dropping her head into her hands in embarrassment as Miles and Georgie both burst into laughter.
“Oh come on Melanie, we deserve that.” Miles shrugs.
“Damn right you do! Especially you, Miles!” Georgie looks pointedly at Miles, her deep hazel eyes seeming to stare into his soul even through the barrier of the phone screen. Her gaze is serious, contrasting with the levity laced through her voice, and Miles is brought back to the first time she leveled that look at him. A time before he knew her or Melanie well enough to even tell them his real name.
“I’m counting on you to keep her alive. You know your way around this profession a hell of a lot better than she does,” Georgie huffed, full of false bravado. The concern in her eyes betrayed her true feelings, the uncertainty lurking behind her tense posture. It’d only been a few minutes since she and Melanie had met Miles at Heathrow Airport, and Miles was not in the mood for this after his long flight from Colorado.
“Melanie’s a big girl, Barker. I don’t need to babysit her.” Miles cringed inwardly at the bite in his voice, the needlessly harsh way he responded to Georgie’s request. But he'd never reacted well to people expressing expectations he wasn’t sure he could live up to.
“Dammit, Upshur, I’m not asking you to babysit her! I’m asking you to make sure she’s okay!” Georgie’s voice rose nearly an octave as she clamped both hands down on Miles’ shoulders. He had to try harder than usual to keep an air of nonchalance as she stared at him with fiery eyes, determined and fiercely protective.
“Alright.” It was the only response he could give in that moment. He’d already been intending to keep Melanie safe – he just hadn’t wanted to commit to it, in case something unforeseen went wrong. But he could tell Georgie wasn’t going to let Melanie go with him – not without a fight – unless she was given some reassurance.
In the present, Miles meets Georgie’s serious gaze with a nod – a nonverbal affirmation that he’s still committed to keeping Melanie safe – before responding to her teasing comment with a chipper, “No idea what you’re talking about, Georgie.”
“Mhm.” Georgie’s arms stay protectively wound around Melanie’s shoulders, but her expression softens into a half smile. Melanie lets out a laugh at her girlfriend and best friend’s banter, unaware of the silent pact between them that’s existed for years.
“When are you planning on flying out here?” Miles asks, after Melanie’s laughter has died down.
“I’m thinking we leave tomorrow morning."
“’We’? Georgie’s coming, too?”
“Someone’s gotta make sure you two don’t get yourselves killed,” Georgie quips in response.