[b][center][h2]Paige Kennedy[/h2] [/center][/b]

Paige’s expression remained unchanged as she watched the message bubble ripple with a nearly automatic reply and then expanded into another message from Manami. [i]You need to call him.[/i] A persistent voice continued to repeat in the back of her mind as she read the message. [i]She’s probably panicking over nothing…[/i] She glanced up at her dash mounted blue lights just to make sure they were still installed. It had been ages since she used them and she’d become accustomed to just looking past them without a second thought. Riverside wasn’t far away, particularly with very little traffic and in the middle of the night; with the lights on, it would be a [i]very[/i] quick trip. The screen glowed soft white against her gaze as she texted back:

[quote][b]>[/b]I’m on my way from Luna Sports, be there in a few. Send me your address.[b]<[/b]
[/quote]

Giving the lobby of Luna Sports Facility one last quick glance before flipping the light switch on, it wasn’t long before she was crossing the Costa Bridge with the address in hand. Having the blue lights on meant Florida driving styles were in full effect and turn signals were non-existent while brakes were only used as required. [i]I’ll call him in the morning, let me just take care of this first[/i]. She told herself. A pattern of blue blinked across the concrete barriers as she took the ramp towards Riverside.

In a way it was sort of like old times. It had been a while since she’d taken any side work like Manami’s case and she knew she’d be lying to herself if she said she didn’t enjoy it. She [i]liked[/i] the power she had over people and she liked even more when they sought her out to take care of similar situations. Each time she passed out her US Marshal card to someone like Marlin or one of her old high school friends back in Delta City, a small part of her hoped they’d call with some scenario that involved an asshole whose day she would get to ruin and having that silver star clipped to her belt made it all legal. 

As she typed in the gate code, it was evident that no one living in Manami’s apartment complex was lacking for money. Granted it wasn’t over the top, but as she drove along there wasn’t a single car more than a couple years old while the grounds were well-lit and neatly manicured. She had heard stories about how much money some girls made in internet modelling, though had never actually been among any of those circles to verify the claims, not that she cared to know, however looking around a part of her was legitimately impressed. It was much nicer than anything she could afford on her Marshal’s salary. She shook her head a little. 

Using Manami’s code to get into the building, she was narrowing down in her mind the amount of people who would have access to get all the way to her apartment while still glancing around and taking notice of the various security cameras. The front desk was vacant and she took a quick glance over the counter just by chance hoping to find something useful. A few business cards were neatly attached to a small cork board with other announcements for the complex, but for the most part, it was a clean and well kept workspace. She snagged a card that listed a security firm with a highlighted phone number and stuffed it in her pocket. Front desks at places like Manami’s were little more than glorified reception, most of the actual business was handled off-site to keep a streamlined appearance for their target clientele. If she wanted to see the security cameras, then they might want a warrant and that would mean a trip back to the courthouse on Monday to see a judge and a lot of wasted time. Fortunately, she just happened to know a certain young computer technician with several million confirmed reasons to do whatever she asked. Making her way to the elevator, she sent Tao a message:

[quote][b]>[/b]Wake your ass up.[b]<[/b]
[/quote]

Then she sent another to Manami:

[quote][b]>[/b]I’m downstairs, on my way up.[b]<[/b]
[/quote]

The doors parted after a short ascent and Paige stood for a moment looking down the empty hallway. A subtle perfume lingered through the air as she stepped out. To no surprise, the interior of the building was as nice as the outside with a soft white and cream color pallet and trimmed archways. Her footsteps were quiet on the soft carpeting as she continued to listen carefully making her way down to Manami’s door. 

[@Otterpop]