[b][center][h2]Paige Kennedy[/h2][/center][/b] [i]Old Sol Museum - Midday[/i] Paige checked her phone again for the time and sighed in irritation. Milo was late. She [i]hated[/i] when people were late and their time frame was a little sensitive. Double-parked behind Elvin’s stylish Bentley coupe, she leaned against her car and looked around for him finding no one other than regular foot traffic and the slow but steady movement of vehicles in the post-storm, sloshy mess of Sol’s streets. She brushed a few windblown blonde strands of hair from her face. Perhaps a pushy customer had delayed him, or even better, one with plenty of cash, she reasoned knowing people would fork over big dollars for his creations. She called once, but got no answer and left it at that, aware of how much he hated when people blew up his phone. Giving the lot one more glance, she resigned herself to taking care of business and went inside. With the free exhibition hours having ended the sparse visitors dwindled down to only a few and it didn’t take long for the museum’s Curator, whose name Paige couldn’t remember, [i]something[/i]… [i]something[/i], the image of a boxer came to mind…. She couldn’t remember and then it hit her all at once as he babbled on walking beside her across the soft carpet of the main lobby. [i]Ali[/i]. That was it. [i]Dr. Ali[/i]. He was a tad snooty and liked to talk about how important his job was and that Elvin Santos was a regular and a very honored guest. He didn’t want a scene. Paige paid him little attention and caught the unnerved look on his face when she adjusted the gun hanging on her hip slightly. Her mind moving from a feeling of surprise at the visit from the FBI agent to all around irritation. Irritation was the right word and as she bottled it up, it always seemed to come in waves, like she had just about reached capacity for the amount of shit she was going to take at any given time. She felt much like she did before she and Milo had gone out before. Tired of self-important assholes, tired of bureaucracy, tired of having her plans wrecked intentionally or not, tired of the cold, tired of people being late. He wasn’t around to diffuse her this time and the scene that met her as she rounded a corner through a long corridor lined with paintings was going to be the last fuckup she was willing to tolerate for the day. Leading Elvin out with his hands bound behind his back was a black jacketed, crew-cut, FBI agent. “Ah, Marshal Kennedy!” Elvin pronounced with some of his usual bravado. “If you were coming down here anyway, why send the FBI to interrupt my private gallery?” Paige’s glance narrowed further, but one eyebrow arched slightly quizzically. She stopped in their path along with Dr. Ali who seemed to be at a loss for words. “What’s going on here?” “What’s it look like?” The agent said sternly. He was tall and well built and spoke with a gruff monotone. His presence seemed more like a soldier than an officer of the law. “Did Barrett send you?” Paige asked, unintimidated. “Well, he’s the boss, isn’t he?” The man replied. Paige put one hand on her hip and turned back a short glance at the way they had come in then back at the pair in front of her. In spite of her annoyance she was genuinely perplexed. “I just saw him not fifteen minutes ago and he didn’t mention anything.” “Well, maybe he figured it wasn’t any of your concern.” “Except I told him specifically that I was coming here.” She looked around the room briefly at the paintings, but not focusing on anything particular before shaking her head and waving one hand to clear the air to possibly dispel some of her frustration. “I’m sorry, we haven’t met, I’m Deputy US Marshal Paige Kennedy.” “With all due respect…” “Okay, just hold up.” Paige held up one finger towards the man and then motioned it over towards one of the paintings. “Is that one of Siobhan Murphy’s paintings?” Dr. Ali perked up some from his shocked trance. “Why, yes. Yes it is!” He said with some astonishment adjusting his glasses. “How did you know that?” “She’s a friend.” Paige replied. “I’m not surprised you have exquisite tastes, Marshal Kennedy.” Elvin added coyly. “You know, you are my favorite Federal Agent.” “Ma’am…” The FBI agent attempted to interject. “Elvin, you have a silver tongue.” Paige said with a slight smirk. “Ma’am,” The Agent’s voice was firm breaking in, nearly forceful. “I’m gonna need you to step out of the way now.” “Okay, hold on,” Paige rubbed one hand over her face, brushed her hair aside again and placed it firmly back on her hip. Her green irises met his firmly. “Maybe I’m just having one hell of a day... [i]but did you just give me an order?[/i]” Elvin’s sheepish grin quickly dropped into a look of horrid disbelief at the man standing behind him. The voice was firm and clear. He spoke directly at her like an insolent child: “If you don’t move- I’m gonna shoot you.” The roar of fire came raging through her eyes back at him. Her lips curled and she stood her ground defiantly. He went for his gun first, but to his shock, she had already drawn and fired twice before he barely cleared his holster. He fell away with the impact of the rounds firing wildly in the air. Elvin cursed ducking away and Dr. Ali screamed like a panicked schoolgirl at the rapid exchange and the loud snap of gunfire. Paige leveled her sights and put two more in him before he could hit the floor. The body collapsed like a ragdoll and she lowered her gun with clear shock on her face at what she had done. “Holy shit, I hope I got that right…” She said to herself, nearly whispering. Walking over to the body, she holstered her pistol and kicked the man’s gun aside. Her phone vibrated in her back pocket as she looked down. There was a missed call from Xi and a text: [B][i]Call me asap[/i][/b] Her brief distraction was interrupted by a wail of pain from Dr. Ali. She glanced over with a sudden tightness in her stomach thinking he’d been shot, but instead finding him draped over one of Siobhan’s paintings that newly showcased two large bullet holes. “Look at what you've done!” He cried not seeming the least bit concerned with the body bleeding out on the floor. Paige sighed with some relief. There were two more holes in the wall from the errant shots. One appeared to have taken a chunk out of the ornate plaster and there were chunks of white dust falling to the floor. Elvin dusted himself off and looked at the body. “Christ almighty… was he really FBI?” Paige dialed 911. [@PrinceAlexus][@RoccanIronclad][@Rodiak][@Almalthia]