11:55 PM

The evening air chilled Tina and once again she was glad her suit was insulated knowing how uncomfortable she would be without it. She really wished she were back inside where it was warm but going back inside was not something she was prepared to do, especially after the incident with Soldier Boy.

Traffic was almost nothing, this the final few minutes before the event. It seemed like a nice night, if a bit chilly, to walk, or maybe fly. Anything to take her mind off of being benched before the team's first case. When she had told Stone she thought Soldier Boy wanted her off the team she had not expected this. This was worse than being kicked off the team. Now none of the team would take her seriously.

"Had enough party for one night?" said a familiar voice behind her. With a start the masked hero whirled to see who had spoken. Mario was there, wearing slacks and an oxford shirt and conspicuously missing his formal tuxedo attire. His smile was lopsided and casual as he leaned against the building and his eyes brilliant in the street lamps.

"You startled me." Tina laughed. "From the way you're dressed it looks like I didn't do so great at saving your job. I'm really sorry about that." She added with a frown.

Mario looked surprised for a second, then a wave of understanding swept over his youthful features.  "Oh, now I feel bad," he said with chagrin as he moved away from the building to stand next to her.  "He didn't fire me: I quit."  He gave a shrug and a smile.  "It's just a job, right?  It's not the only hotel in the city..."  He laughed then, a light and charming sound that helped wash away her earlier frustrations.

For the first time that evening Tina felt like smiling. Her nerves before the unveiling, the confrontation which had led her to meet Mario, the unveiling itself, and Soldier Boy doing his best to see she did not get a chance, had left her feeling down. "In that case I won't feel bad." She said.

He mirrored her smile, his both soft and warm, matching his eyes.  After the briefest of moments where the silence was anything but uncomfortable and, in fact, almost welcome, a car pulled up to the curb and idled rudely next to them. 

Mario shrugged with disappointment.  "That's my cab..."

A twinge of disappointment almost wiped the smile from Tina's lips. Mario had been one of only a few who had spoken to Tina as a person and not as a potential story, or evening's conquest.

He opened the back door but hesitated.  He turned back as if to say something, but balked again.  Finally he resigned with a smile.  "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year, it was nice meeting you and I hope I see you again sometime." Heatwave inwardly cringed, that had not come out the way she had meant it to.

The young man smiled in return, big and wide.  He must have known how goofy he looked, though, and glanced away, chuckling softly.  Abashedly.  Adorably.  "You too," he said.  Then the cab door closed and the car pulled from the curb.

Tina watched the cab pull away then launched herself into the air and headed home.

*****

Midnight had passed, the obligatory kiss was out of the way, and Jonathan headed out of the hotel, escorting Celeste and Emily.  As he walked, he considered the events of the evening.  Everything had gone fairly well.  It was unfortunate that Angelo DiSantiago had proven unsuitable as a business partner, but better now than after they had entered a binding partnership.  The unveiling went well and things were well reported with a mostly positive spin.  He had been watching the news feeds on his HUD and was pleased.

As the limo driver opened the door, he carefully handed Celeste in, then Emily.  Climbing in behind them, he called up his schedule.  He had time for about 5 hours of sleep, then his longevity project needed adjustment.  Smiling at the thought of getting back to real work, he gave the driver Emily's address. 

On the ride home, Emily fell asleep.  The excitement of the party and the lateness of the hour had been doubly taxing on her.  When JACE roused her she gave him a sleep eyed smile.  "I heard the song too.  Tell, Miss DiSantiago that I heard the song too."

JACE looked down at her, puzzled.  He had heard a number of songs, but nothing that would have necessitated informing Ophilia.  With a lesser mind, he would have dismissed it, but he knew how extraordinary Emily was.  This was certainly something to investigate.  "What song, Emily?" he asked calmly.

Emily stretched as she stepped out of the limo, a bit wobbly on her feet.  "Ring Around the Roses?  ...and London Bridge is Falling Down."  She wiped her eyes and began walking towards the front door to her house, obviously not as concerned as JACE was by the nursery rhymes. 

JACE quickly stepped up and offered her his arm while he considered her information.  His mind raced as he looked at her.  He knew Ophilia had asked her a private question, and that it had somehow concerned music.  In all probability that meant that she had heard these songs as well.  Given the noise at the gathering, it was extremely improbable that the two had heard audible sounds which he had not.  That left some sort of mental projection as the most likely course. 

JACE knew Ophilia was telepathic, although he did not know the extent of her abilities.  It was possible that Emily had some sort of psychic ability as well.  He had not tested her for the meta-human gene or for any other abilities yet.  Angry at himself for the oversight, he opened his calander on his HUD and left a note to test her as soon as possible.  Considering the possible dangers any sort of mental contact could represent, JACE knew he needed to move quickly.  "Wait for a moment, Emily.  I assume you mean Ring around the Rosie?  When did you hear these songs?" 

A chagrined look crossed the little girl's face, she was obviously disappointed that she hadn't been paying close enough attention.  "It was late...really late.  After Miss DiSantiago and Mister Willoughby spoke to us.  ...much later.  I think it was when all the grown ups were about ready to kiss." A little color flooded her cheeks as she admitted that.

JACE noticed the blush, but ignored it.  Now wasn't the time for juvenile reactions.  It was possible this was nothing more than a strange phenomena, but he wasn't willing to bet on it.  He needed more information.  "So about midnight, then," he confirmed, hoping to encourage her to reason more.  "Did it seem loud or quiet?  Have you ever heard things like this before?  Did it sound like people singing, or just music playing?  Was there more than one voice?  Describe the voices."  JACE stated each question firmly, watching the young girl calmly as he did so.  He obviously expected her to be able to remember and answer them in order.  With her intellect, it shouldn't be difficult.

The dim light coming from the patio, was enough to show Emily shrinking under the assault of questions.  She knew that they must be important but it was hard to remember much through the fog of sleep.  As she was trying to organize her evening in her head, her mother opened the door and scurried out in her plush white robe.  "Emily!  Come in out of the cold."

JACE turned, annoyed at the interruption.  Only the realization that Emily might be traumatized by any verbal attack on her mother kept him from lashing out at the idiotic woman.  He took a quick breath and forced his voice to be calm, if somewhat icy.  "Mrs. Eisele, I can assure you this is vitally important.  I have Emily's best interests at heart, and there is information she has that I need to be sure she is safe.  I need to speak with her for a few more moments, then she will come inside." 

Turning away from the woman, he looked back at Emily.  Seeing the exhaustion and concern on her face, he mentally drew back.  He couldn't risk traumatizing her at this point.  "My dear," he said, controlling his voice.  "Go inside and get some sleep.  Your thought processess will be stronger and more focussed in the morning.  Once you are well rested, write down all your memories of the evening.  Send them to me at the e-mail address I sent you previously.  Please make sure you answer all my questions.  I am sending you them via e-mail now."