Taya glanced around the large room, double checking they were, indeed, alone. Tables meant for four were shoved together near the back to create a single, long table. A couple others like the one the trio were assigned to strategically dotted the area around it. Purple trim decorated the walls and more paintings supporting local artists hung in satisfying, even intervals. Shelves lined the top of the room, displaying a slew of bovine knickknacks. A door labeled, “Emergency Exit,” created the only other exit to the room.
	Eli, his natural scowl tugging downward slightly, let out a slight sigh and chose a seat that would let him keep both doors and his companions in sight. He sat his briefcase down, leaning it against the legs of one of the chairs, then shrugged out of his overcoat. He straightened his black tie against his gray suit jacket then took his seat.
	Taya gave William a smile in thanks as the man pulled out a chair for her. She mimicked her male companions in removing her coat, draped it across the back of her chair, and sat.
	A moment of silence fell between them as Taya glanced through the menu, already knowing what she wanted, while Eli examined it with a sharp, condescending eyebrow raised.
	When the waitress entered, Taya placed her menu down. When the other woman’s gaze turned to her at William’s insistence, recognition flashed in her eyes.
	“Hey, Luce!” Taya offered, fidgeting with the edge of the menu. “I’ll take the daily special. Side of fries. With a coke.”
	“Sure thing!” Lucy beamed, pulling out a notepad and pen. She quickly wrote the order down, then turned to Eli. “For you, sir?”
	“Just a cup of tea,” he ordered coolly. He held the menu out to her to take, not really looking at her. “Mint.”
	Lucy jotted it down with an enthusiastic nod. If his tone bothered her, she didn’t let it show. She took his and Taya’s menus, tucked them under her arm, then looked back to William, awaiting his order. 
	Once received, she left with the reassurance she’d “get those drinks right out,” then left the trio alone once more.
	As soon as the door shut behind her, Eli bent toward his briefcase. “I trust you’ve been briefed on the current situation, Mr. Grant?” he intoned. The gentle click of the locks on his briefcase springing open rose from beside his chair.
	Taya suppressed a sigh. Straight to business, then.
	Eli placed a classification folder on the table in front of him. The FBI’s logo stood out on the front of the brownish folder. Though thinner than the one Taya had been browsing through, she was confident she knew its contents.
	Eli rested a hand on the folder and looked to William for his answer, the agent’s thin, spindly pointer finger tapping on it lightly.