For Ophilia it was just another day.  She was a bit frustrated with the events that had unfolded last night at the auction, and was still upset with her best friend, Christie Danner.  Irritation aside, she was also troubled with her own conundrum that she'd stepped into when she'd won Stone at the bachelor event.  The general emotions of the night had been a turmoil from others, and she still didn't know how deep that stunt had put her.  Little did she know that the crux of her world was but a minor blemish compared to what her teammates at the auction had suffered.

As was the way with most DiSantiagos, Ophilia was very much the center of her world as her heels clicked their way down the marbled corridor.  She couldn't know that the man she was about to see, had gone on an adventure the night before to save her life and the city.  She didn't know that they had crossed through the physical boundaries of reality and time, fought criminals, disarmed bombs, and learned the brutal truth about how powerful her brother was.  A truth that she herself didn't know.

Basically, this man - along with Nemesis, Sebastian, Edison Palmer, Danny McClain and Vincent DiSantiago, had experienced one hell of a rough day.  ...but since she couldn't know these things, her broken nail and troubled feelings about the night before were her predominant concerns.

Even with Ophilia's soft touch, the big doors swung open easily to reveal the unlikely garage beyond.  The man she was seeking today was Stone, and when you went looking for him, chances were this was where you'd find him.  She heard a clattering in the back and took a moment to silently rehearse her speech one more time.  She needed to explain to Stone why she'd bet on him and to what end, and make absolute sure that there were no misunderstandings regarding the matter.  The others could think what they wanted, she didn't care, but with him she needed to be clear.

When she found him he was in the garage, over where he'd commandeered an entire quarter of the capacious space for his own personal project.  He had his radio turned on, so he didn't immediately notice her and she used the opportunity to watch him for a moment.

He was in his dark blue jeans - she swore he never took them off - and a white ribbed cotton tank whose grease-smudged fabric clung tightly to his body.  His sunglasses were in place, as usual, and his long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail held in place by a plain rubber band as it usually was when he was working.

But he wasn't working.  The mess of parts and drop cloths surrounding a cycle chassis frame, that was his work in progress, had been cleaned up and replaced with a whole motorcycle.  It was the bike he'd arrived on back when Luke had first brought him to her, but it wasn't.  It was more now.  The engine was different, more high-tech, and wider on the bike's frame.  The wheels were different, too.  It was what you might get if his Harley and one of the team's hypercycles had a baby.

Stone was standing there, just watching it.  She didn't know why.  He almost seemed afraid of it, if she didn't know better.  The man hadn't shown the slightest bit of fear about anything since she'd met him, but there was something causing hesitation in him that she couldn't quite put her finger upon. 

"I don't think she'll bite you."  Ophilia said as she approached Stone and his bike.  Her face was serious, as she considered the mechanical beast in front of her.

Stone's sunglasses just looked at her for a few moments and then looked back at the bike.

"I can't believe she's done already."  She shook her head lightly as she admired his handy work.  It seemed only yesterday that all the pieces were scattered over his work space.

"You'd be surprised what you could get done when you don't sleep," he replied.  He stepped towards the bike and crouched down by the back of it.

"I got the hover initiators threaded to the rear wheel, finally," he told her, tracing the path with a finger.  "That was the last piece I couldn't figure out."  He admired the mechanics of it for a moment and then, as he stood up, he added, "Whoever built these hypercycles of yours was damned smart."

He stood next to her again and sighed out through his nose.  "In theory, it should work.  I'm just... I don't know..."  The biker made a word-searching gesture with one hand.

"I think I get it.  Just don't let anyone else on it until you know she's safe."  She continued to stare at the bike, the current conversation both interesting and a welcome delay to what she'd come here to talk about.  "Not everyone is indestructible, and besides, she's yours and might not like you sharing."  A big grin came unbidden to her face just then, as she added.  "Kind of like Tara."

Stone gave her the "I'm not amused" look and walked to his workbench to get a smoke from his pack.  He had to move a rag, and when he picked it up it stirred a memory.  He looked at it, then at her, then at the workbench before dropping the rag and lighting his smoke with his American flag lighter.

"So what can I do you for today, Miss DiSantiago?" he asked while offering the open end of the pack to her.

"No thanks."  She replied as she looked for a place to comfortably perch herself against his work bench.  She took a swipe with one of her fingers to make sure an old spill was dry before allowing her pristine clothes to touch it.  She was thorough and slow in her inspection of the work area, half wanting to get this over with and half dreading to start it.

Finally she settled on a place on the other side of the bench where she could lean over a well kept area.  "The date.  Last night.  I assumed that when I bid on you, there might have been some confusion or misinterpretation of my actions, and I wanted to make sure that we got it out in the open."

He took a drag and looked at her with those hidden eyes of his.  Finally he said, "Is this the part where you break my heart?"

She opened her mouth to speak but he quickly cut her off before she could say anything with a wave of his hand. 

"Relax," he said, drawing into that stoicism he used as a bunker.  "I know you're into Luke, so I didn't assume anything.  I figured you had your reasons."

"Good.  I did have my reasons, and I can assure you that my irritation with Luke didn't play into them.  I hadn't planned on betting on any of you, but brought enough resources along in the event that I felt it was necessary to save you.  I wanted this to be a positive experience for everyone."  

She paused and gave him a smile that was almost impish.  "I have to admit though, I was secretly rooting for Miss Havekamp to win Luke."

The stream of smoke he was exhaling broke from a chuckle that escaped from him at that.  "The oxygen tank... yeah, I was worried about that myself."

"So," he said, once more in his relaxed neutrality.  "We've ruled out casual sex, making Luke jealous, and Miss Havekamp.  I know it wasn't a pity bid - Tara and the cougar had me pretty much locked up.  So what's your angle?"

Phi's eyes narrowed a bit at Stone, sensing some discomfort from him that was different than the usual vibes she got from him. It had taken a while to get used to his overtly masculine aura, and even harder to push aside and disregard his appreciation of her femininity.  ...but this was different and she couldn't put her finger on it.

"It's Carlotta Cruise.  I'm guessing that's your cougar."  Ophilia smiled at the term, it was so appropriate.  "I really had no intention of getting into your personal life, but I know Carlotta very well, and I have a feeling that this won't be the last time you hear from her.  I'd really like for you to steer clear of her... and it has nothing to do with high society politics or me trying to use you as a pawn.  She's just a dangerous woman."

"More than any other woman is dangerous?" Stone replied easily.  "I mean, we both know I'm not above being used for a one-night stand, and it's not like she's a dog."

"Yeah."  Phi said reluctantly.  "More dangerous than other women.  She's my aunt, and I love her dearly.  We have a strong mutual respect and she backed off last night.  ...but now, she might find you even more tempting.  I really don't want to drag in our family's dirty laundry, but I'd do some research on her above the sheets before you let her coax you below the sheets."  Phi's cheeks colored a bit at her frankness.

Stone understood but shook his head.  "I wouldn't worry.  Her interest in me's physical, not romantic.  'Sides that, my heart's got no doors.  If you know anything about me, know that." 

He looked down to vigorously crush out his cigarette in the ashtray on the workbench, and added, almost grudgingly, "Love ain't for me."

Ophilia remained silent, but regarded him with warm eyes as she felt the crushing truth behind those words.  He genuinely believed them.  It took some effort, but she carefully kept any compassion from showing in her dark eyes.  Truth be told his words concerned her, nobody should feel that way, but her gut instinct told her not to take a single emotional step closer to this guy.  Someone could break themselves trying to fix him, and she'd already been bitten once by allowing herself to get too close to someone on the team.

"But enough about me," he said when he was finished tamping out his butt and tamping down his self-loathing, to replace it with a Zen-like presence in the moment.  Stone crossed his arms and regarded the much smaller woman skeptically. 

"This is the second woman you've warned me about.  If I didn't know any better I'd start to think you wanted me for yourself.  Since I do know better, I'm starting to wonder if my taste in women is really that bad.  Or maybe you just disapprove of my promiscuity."

"Well, you have no taste in women, that's apparent."  Ophilia smiled and shrugged.  "Which doesn't concern me - your safety and well being concerns me.  Tara is harmless enough if you don't mind stalkers and slashed tires.  ...but Carlotta, she's married and buried more husbands than I can recall without writing them down.  She's not safe...and once someone gets involved with her..."  She stopped and shrugged her shoulders.  "Look, I just don't want you to get hurt.  ...and it's not your heart that I'm afraid she'll break."

"I'll be careful," was pretty much all he could say to that, and he meant it.  "Thanks for looking out," he added, and he meant that, too.

Ophilia looked at him skeptically and smirked.  "You do that."  She pushed herself up off the stool readying herself to leave.

"Now, about our date," he said in a low, confident tone, slowly moving around the workbench towards her with a predatory intensity.  "You paid a lot of money, so how do you want it?  With or without underwear?  Should I keep my boots on?"

Ophilia's jaw dropped at that for a moment as she took a step backwards.  "Very sweet of you, really.  I...um...  with, of course, but I don't actually go on dates.  I don't...date...  ever.  I mean, but I guess, this isn't a date anyway, at all.  ...but just so you know, I'm not saying that because it's you.  I just don't do that scene...  The dating scene."

Stone stopped and gave an amused grunt.   "Relax," he told her with a gentle, friendly pat on her upper arm.  "I'm just yanking your chain.  You're off the hook with the auction thing, if that's what you're after - no problems."

He smelled like a mixture of fresh Conquistador issued soap and oil, and surprisingly it wasn't all together unpleasant.  As he had drawn closer she felt the familiar ripple of attraction that ran through him.  It was no secret to her that he found her alluring, he was a man that appreciated women, and his mind was frequently alive with virile thoughts.  There was no way that Ophilia could not be aware of them.  ...but at the end of the day, there was always a block there, a boundary that she knew was born and fostered by his friendship with Nemesis.  A boundary that she was grateful for.

"You almost had me going."  Ophilia said, obviously relieved.  "I didn't feel on the hook, so much... I just wanted to make sure you knew where I was coming from.  I'm not a fan of awkward moments."

"Most aren't," he quipped before moving back to the workbench to start putting his tools away.

Ophilia cocked her head for a moment in thought, considering the man in front of her, and a slow smile spread across her face.  "Actually, it was a hundred fifty thousand dollars, ...maybe you could do something else for me.  I mean, it's not a date...but you mentioned that you have a background in detective work.  Maybe you could give me an hour or two of your time, and help me with a bit of a mystery?"  There was a guarded but hopeful spark in her eyes as she awaited his reply.

Stone looked up from his bench and crossed his arms.  "Sure, I like mysteries," he revealed.  Yet one eyebrow went up over his shades and he asked, "Is this official Conk business or just between us?"

"Oh no!"  Phi replied quickly, too quickly.  "It's not official business."

Stone's crossed arms moved to rest on his hips and he regarded her smile and her nervousness with that raised eyebrow for a few before nodding once. 

"Okay, how can I help?"

"Well..."  Ophilia began and then trailed off, as she shot a look at the door leading to the hallway.  "Everything that I have on it is at my apartment.  ...maybe you could come and visit one night this week, around your schedule.  It's not particularly urgent, it's been sitting for three years, another night or two won't make or break this case."

The biker shrugged.  "I'm free now."  As he grabbed his leather jacket, he saw her uncertainty and reassured her, "I don't sleep."

"O...kay."  Phi replied and nodded her head, a bit in shock that this was really going to happen.  It seemed forever ago when she made that call to Angelo to accept the position as the Public Relations director for the new super hero team.  At the time it had been her frustration with her family and this case that had driven her to do it, thinking that with time and trust, she could use her ties with the team to finally get some answers.  The idea that this was about ready to happen was both exciting and frightening.

"Okay."  This time there was commitment and resolution in her voice.  "Let's go.  We'll take my car.  I have to warn you...I don't have everything together, I might not be terribly organized... but I'll do what I can to get you what you need.  ...and I mean, you don't have to actually do this after you hear what's going on.  But just giving me some ideas on where to go from here, anything at all would be helpful."

He stepped up to her and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.  "Ease up - no pressure.  Let's go see what you got and if I can help you I will, ok?"

Ophilia nodded and exhaled some of her nervous energy.  She was still sorting things out in her mind, wondering if it was too soon.  Dreading the sharing of the story behind the case, but at the same time craving the taste of closure so much that she would do anything to get it.  Nothing stood in the way of a DiSantiago for long when they were on a mission, and that fact alone told her how dangerous this case was.

The ride to Ophilia's apartment was fairly quiet.  Stone seemed almost fidgety and out of place sitting in a car, but between his stoic nature and the myriad of things sorting themselves out in Phi's head, there wasn't much conversation.  Surprisingly though, it was a comfortable silence, both of them knowing and respecting the other enough to not take it personally.

The walk to her building and the private elevator ride up was equally quiet.  Stone admired the Bankhurst building, it was lower key than he had expected for a DiSantiago, but it was nice.  He also noted how unplugged Ophilia seemed, usually when she was with him or anyone else, she was very attentive.  Now, however, she seemed wholly distracted and out of sorts.

The apartment itself was simply furnished, but the items that were there were lavish in quality.  From the door, Stone could see the open kitchen with a bar that separated it from the living area and office.  The living room had a large glass door leading to a generous sized balcony, and a plush couch and chair were arranged to where the occupants could comfortably see the television.

Ophilia walked in and left the door open behind her, and made a bee line for the kitchen.  She opened the refrigerator door and rummaged around, before finally shutting it - still completely empty handed.  She stood there for a few moments longer before looking up to acknowledge her guest.

"Oh.  Would you like a drink or something?  I have coke, beer and wine."  She asked politely, despite her obvious distraction.

"Beer," the biker replied around the cigarette he'd already placed in his mouth.

"Balcony."  Phi barked as she pointed towards the door, as usual finding issue with his smoking.  Even though he knew damned well she indulged herself on occasion.

Stone held his hands up in annoyed surrender and turned to walk outside onto the terrace. 

"Nice place," he commented.  "Just you?"

"Mmmhmmm."  Ophilia said as she revisited the refrigerator, pulling out two long neck bottles of beer.  "I really want a dog, but Dad always said that I had to keep a fish alive for one year before I could have one.  ...and after killing a river of fish, I gave up."  She ended the story by handing him his beer, a Scarlet Red.

"Nice view," he said to her before taking a pull from the bottle.  After a moment admiring the scenery, though, he'd had enough.

"So," he asked, "What's this mystery all about?"

She shivered, more from the question than the cold.  "It's a missing person's case."  She began, her voice detached out of habit. 

"You asked me a long time ago to be straight with you, so I think it's important that you know that it's the single biggest reason I let my family talk me into my position on the team.  I mean, since then, things have changed...but at the time, I was so angry about running into one brick wall after another.  I figured that if I could endear myself to a group of super heroes, maybe...just maybe you guys could help me find some answers."

The biker nodded.  "Go on."

"I think my family thought that if they could get me in with the team, it would provide me a big enough distraction that I'd let it go.  ...and to be honest, to a certain extent it has.  Just being a part of this, meeting new people and getting involved with them to varying degrees, has been a healthy distraction."  Here she looked up at him, her gaze so intent it was as if she could see right through his glasses.  "Now, I just desperately want closure."

There was a lot about her he really didn't know, Stone realized just then.  As familiar as they'd become since his arrival, she was still very much an unknown, and a DiSantiago to boot.  He'd have to be careful.

"This person was close to you," he observed, it being obvious.  "Family?"

"My fiance."  She replied, her voice detached again.  "His name is Dean Masterson, and he disappeared a little over two and a half years ago.  Pretty much vanished...and I think that someone in my family might be involved.  If they are, and they find out you're looking into it, this could be dangerous.  I will absolutely understand if you don't want to get involved."  She gave him a forced smile, at that.  "You wouldn't be the first person that had a change of heart.  All of the detectives I've hired have quit...one lame excuse or another."

"Do I look like the easily intimidated type?" Stone deadpanned.

"No." She admitted as a glint of hope appeared in her eyes.  "...but seriously, remember that.  If you get a bad feeling about this, it's okay to back out.  ...just be discreet with the others, I don't want or need any pity from any of them.  I've got plenty enough just trying to keep up in training sessions."

"Start at the beginning," he suggested.  "Give me the full story."

Ophilia nodded.  "Okay.  Inside, I have a few things.  Not much, but a few things."

"Let's take a look," he said while flicking his smoke over the side.

As Stone came in and settled down, Ophilia went to the office and retrieved a wooden storage box, before returning.  But all while she moved, she was talking, her detached tone falling away as she spoke of the past.

"We met in college. He was a big jock, football player.  ...and we hit it off, but my family never approved.  I mean, as far as they were concerned and are still concerned, I'm meant to marry Mason Willoughby.  We were together for a couple of years before he proposed, and still had a year of college left.  He didn't disappear until after we graduated.  He was recruited by the local Thuderbolts, in the second round of the draft.  ...and it was during training camp when he went missing.  It never made any sense."

She'd been standing over him and when she finished she sat down on the couch and placed the box between them.  When she lifted the lid, it exposed a few file folders, some trinkets - including a set of car keys and an engagement ring.

"You realize the obvious theory is that someone in your own family disappeared this guy, right?" the biker asked gently as he pulled a folder out of the box and started flipping through it.

"I didn't think it was the obvious theory, but after the investigators quit, that's where my mind went.  Somebody had to be doing something to keep them from taking my money.  ...but the timing doesn't support that.  Why would they wait for so long?  ...and his career was bound to give them positive publicity.  I'm willing to accept whatever you find.  ...but that's where I want your involvement to end.  If it is someone in my family, I'm going to want to talk to them and understand why, I don't want the authorities involved unless I'm the one to call them."

"You want answers, not justice - got it."  Stone flipped through a few more pages before he closed the file and put it down.

"Exactly.  For now."  She nodded, pleased that part was concluded so easily.  "...and don't hold back from me.  I can take whatever it is.  If he's dead or relocated with a harem on a private island.  I just have to have closure on this.  I like my world contained and controlled, and this is a constant reminder that I have no control."

"Let's start with you," he suggested.  "Tell me about the last time you saw him."

"Okay...wow, long time ago.  I was actually leaving for a couple of weeks, going to the west coast.  Dean was about ready to start training camp...so it was good timing.  We had a good evening, he was a bit distracted - I remember that.  ...but I just figured it was training camp.  He was pretty nervous about that, there were rumors that he might be starting and he was afraid that the team wouldn't be welcoming him with open arms."  

"Did you ask him about it?"

"No."  She shook her head with regret.  "I didn't.  I was going to see Mason, he was graduating with his MBA...and I didn't want to get into any deep conversations.  He had enough on his mind with training camp, and I just left it alone."

Stone grunted his acknowledgement and thought for a moment before saying, "Go on.  You had a good night, he was distracted, you didn't ask.  Did anything else happen that night?  A phone call, anything?"

Phi shook her head, as the far off look in her eyes continued to grow softer.  It was clear that once upon a time her feelings had run very deep for this man.  And speaking of it now was bringing them to the surface.  "We enjoyed each others company that night and fell asleep together.  Things were really good."

"What about in the morning?  What happened then?"

"I woke up in the morning and left to catch my plane.  He was still asleep."  Her eyes had a light gleam to them now.  "I didn't even say goodbye.  I didn't want to wake him."

Inside, Stone knew some of what she was going through - regret, self-blame.  He'd been there, done that.  He understood that it was part of life.  Her misty-eyed response to his questions made him wonder if she did yet.

"Was that the last time anyone saw him?" he asked.

"No.  He was at a charity ball on either Saturday or Sunday after I left.  I think that's the last time any witnesses could positively id him.  There were a couple of other rumors, unconfirmed that he'd been seen after he left the hotel, but I think they were dead ends."  Ophila swallowed and pulled herself out of her reverie, likely uncomfortable showing so much emotion in front of her teammate.

Stone picked up the folder again and turned to the interview notes.  The last people to see him were there and he'd have to follow up on them later.

"How long after the event was he reported missing, and by whom?  And how did you find out he was missing?"

"I believe it was two or three days.  I got a call on Monday when he didn't show up for camp, I was listed as his emergency contact.  I made some calls and came home later that day to see if I could find him.  It wasn't like him to run away from things...but I thought maybe he was so sick with nerves, he'd done just that. 

"I called his parents and brothers, and spoke to all of our mutual friends.  Even some of his old teammates, and when nobody knew where he was, I escalated it.  I mean, Dean was a big guy, even then when things seemed bad, I was sure he was okay.  When people that I'm close to die, I usually know it...and I never felt that...that feeling."

Stone flipped through a few more pages - the notes about an alley fight seemed interesting - before he flipped it shut again and placed it back in the box.  He swirled the beer in his bottle around, watching a thin layer of foam appear.

"If I do this," he said, still watching his beer, "I'm going to do it my way.  Sometimes that's not pretty.  I need to know you got my back, that you won't flinch."

"Oh.  I'll have your back.  ...but remember, this isn't Conquistador business, and the fewer people that know about it the better."  Stone got the distinct impression that Luke was at the top of that list.  "So, that means you keeping the Conquistador name out of this.  Other than that, I'm happy to pull whatever strings I can, within reason."

"Then you have yourself a detective," Stone replied, punctuated by draining half of his beer in one gulp.  

"Good.  I'm glad.  ...and hopefully one that can handle whatever unseen force that has been pushing the others away."  She gave the engagement ring in the box one last long look before turning her full attention back to him.  "You can take that stuff.  ...and if you need anything else, just let me know."

"You know, this is what I did before coming here," he explained in an unusual offering for the man who so rarely ever talked about himself.  "Not missing persons every time, but... people would have problems and I'd solve them.  Sometimes missing people, sometimes retrieval, or protection.  One time I even spent a week and a half tracking down someone's lost dog."

Ophilia nodded at that, aware and listening to him again.  The far away look tidily placed back somewhere in her depths.  "Did you earn much of a reputation for yourself?"  

He nodded.  "Yeah, I guess so, among certain crowds.  Most of my work would come from people seeking me out, folks that heard of me, so I must have been doing something right.  Then again, ain't many who can do what I do, so..."

"Too bad I didn't have your number when it happened.  The trail has to be cold now.  I understand that you'll be at a disadvantage in more ways than one."  Ophilia inhaled deeply and let it out. 

"Oh, I don't know," Stone thought out loud.  "People get to thinking they're clear and they get sloppy, make mistakes.  Maybe that's the case here."  He shrugged.  "We'll see."

"I want you to know, that Bastian has some pretty powerful abilities when it comes to scrying into the past.  He has to know the exact location, though.  But, if you find yourself in a situation where you think his powers might help... let me know.  He's really really not going to like hearing that I've reopened this case, my entire family will be upset if they find out.  ...but he'll help if you need him."

"Uh, yeah... okay."  Stone knew all about what Seabass could do first hand.  Looking over at Ophilia he questioned his previous reluctance to go back and change the past.  She was here and talking to him, and doing those things she did to his insides, but all the same he wondered if he hadn't been right.

"They're gonna find out," he informed her firmly.  "I'm going to want to interview any of them who were at the party, and maybe the others.  No offense, but they had the motive and the reputation."

"Oh...joy."  Phi replied dryly.  "Do what you have to do, of course.  I just want to find out what happened and burn this box."