Hidden Impact (Safeguard #1)(13)

Maylin didn’t know what to say to that. Despite the impact of the initial introduction, Lizzy seemed to be satisfied with leaning her forearms on the counter and just...hanging out.

After a moment, Gabe sighed. “Skillets are in the lower cabinet to the left of the stove.”

Oh good, she hadn’t been sure they had much in the way of actual pots and pans. Being in motion helped steady her, and organizing her thoughts on what she was going to make pulled other thoughts into more logical order too. Like what information they’d need to find her sister.

“Anyone have an issue with green in their omelets?” She’d assume no one was allergic since it wasn’t likely they’d keep those all on the same shelf. Usually anything someone was allergic to would be segregated.

“We all eat anything,” another female voice called out, and when Maylin turned, a lovely pale blonde was leaning on the counter next to Lizzy. They made a striking pair side by side, Victoria’s ivory and gold a perfect foil for Lizzy’s dark tanned complexion, but the contrast was in basic appearance only. Both women had an air of ready competence. “And it is lovely to have someone ask what we might prefer in any case. I heard something about omelets? I’m Victoria, by the way. The team calls me Vic.”

“Maylin.”

“We know.” Victoria gave her a friendly smile, maybe a little on the feral side. “Gabe and Lizzy gave us a little on your background. Hope you don’t mind.”

What kind of information had they gathered? Did it matter? She was nobody. Her sister was nobody. And still, people were exerting a lot of effort in regard to both of them.

Maylin tipped her head to the side. “Will it help convince you to find An-mei with me?”

No commitment in either Victoria’s blue eyes or Lizzy’s dark gaze. It was Victoria who answered her, though. “It means we’re here to listen.”

“And have breakfast.” The man from the surveillance room, Marc, walked in and took a seat on a stool near Victoria. He grinned expectantly. “Seth is covering me while we have this chat. I promised to bring him back some chow.”

A laugh escaped, bubbling up from her belly in a release of tension. Maylin decided to roll with it because any more stress would make her snap. At least they were all here now. “Breakfast it is, then. So do you all like sweet omelets or savory?”

She considered her ingredients. Could go either way.

Marc’s eyes crossed in a comic expression. “Who likes sweet omelets? Is that a thing?”

Victoria shrugged. “I didn’t know it was a thing.”

“I think she said ‘almonds.’” Marc didn’t sound sure, though.

“No, she said omelets,” Lizzy interjected. “And there’s no almonds in the pantry unless someone bought trail mix.”

Marc waved a hand. “Unless it’s one of those sweet omelet rolls off a nude Japanese woman, I’ll pass.”

Gabe growled. Perhaps he thought she’d be insulted.

But Maylin had spent her share of time around rowdy people. Maybe not as dangerous as these, but definitely uncensored. This was nothing. She kept her expression politely inquisitive. “Does she have to be Japanese? Or just nude? If you’re only worried about body temperature, I don’t think ethnic background is a prerequisite to maintain sushi at optimal serving temperature.”

Lizzy barked out a laugh. Victoria gave her a nod.

Shouldn’t please her so much to see Gabe’s dimple reappear, but really, she liked his smile. It was rakish, like he was daring her to do naughty things. It was fun speaking out around him. Fun to surprise him.

“What do you need to know from me?” Pulling out a good-sized skillet, she blew through the other cabinets for something to serve as a mixing bowl and started recreating things from leftovers.

It was Gabe who gave her the first prompt, his presence to one side an anchor already. “We know your sister was at some sort of genetic research conference. How did she become a guest speaker? Did she propose a topic or was she invited?”

“Invited.” It was reassuring, actually, to hear what they’d already found out overnight. Encouraging. “She was incredibly excited to be invited to speak on her research.”

“Did she seem worried at all before she left?”

Maylin paused in beating eggs and frowned. “Stressed over getting her presentation just right. Aside from defending her thesis, she hadn’t had much experience in public speaking. But not worried about the actual trip. She was really looking forward to visiting China for the first time.”

Victoria shifted on her stool. “She’d never been?”

“Neither of us had.” Maylin set a skillet on the stove, bending to watch the flame as she set it to the height she wanted it. When she straightened, she figured more information was better. “We’re first-generation Chinese American and Mom always meant to take us when we got old enough, whenever that was going to be, but she died. And then Dad remarried and his new wife didn’t have much interest in us, so we never went.”

Daddy’s new wife had only been interested in climbing the social ladder of the local Chinese society. The woman had shown no enthusiasm for Maylin or An-mei when neither would play her matchmaking games. They were leftovers to her, disappointing and little better than old baggage after their father died.