The Lambert House, Planet Denver

[Manticore]

"Yeah..." Lambert said, suddenly wondering about something. "Like I said, I'm surprised she's not up yet."

He shrugged, finishing the last bite of his omelette and glanced up as Chloe thanked him and took her plate to the sink.

"Glad you liked it, Chloe," he said, but then something on the table caught his eye and he didn't say anything else.

It was a small folded piece of paper, set off to the side on the other side of the table, so he hadn't noticed it before. On the front "James" was written in small letters.

He snatched it up and opened it.

James,

I will be home soon...... I'm going to see Buster.

- Pita

His blood froze in his veins, and he stared down at the note for a long moment, unable to comprehend what he was reading.

Finally, he came to a decision. It wasn't really a decision, even, considering he had little choice in the matter. He stood up, abruptly, crumpling the paper and shoving it into his pocket.

"I... uh... need to go..." he said to Chloe, who glanced at him with raised eyebrows from the sink.

He stepped out of the room quickly, and went up to grab a few things from his room. The most important of these, of course, was his sidearm.

He was back in the living room, and about to head straight for the hanger, but then paused, remembering Chloe was here.

"I'm sorry, Chloe," he called to her. "You can... uh... make yourself at home while I'm gone."

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