Internet 24

New Affair (Part 6)

A playing card with a cartoon character on it hits the plastic surface.

ALY 

What day are we on?

They sit at a table across each other. Each holds a set of playing cards with detailed, colorful characters ranging from sci-fi and robots to pirates and wizards. They sit at a local comic book and game shop in the mall, a few stores away from their office.

They are dressed down from suits and businesswear, now in casual attire. Don wears light-colored jeans with splotches of white, hi-top sneakers, and a black hoodie with faded words in bright colors. Aly is wearing ripped black jeans, a white sweater with colorful splotches on it. The pink of her running knitted sneakers matches the pink lens of her Ray Ban sunglasses.

DON 

It's our fifth day.

Don places a card down. Aly stares at her cards, trying to calculate her next move.

ALY

 I like this case. I was afraid we would go 

to some dark bars, motel parking lots, and feeling 

disgusting. You know, basic 

cheating shtick. Instead, we get to have fun.

She places a card down.

ALY 

Was he doing the usual in the morning?

Don glances at the table and places another card. Aly lets out a groan at the sight of the card. Don's focus is across the room at a table filled with people playing the same card game. Mr. Olive has

Don's attention. The tie to his suit is undone, his top two buttons unbuttoned, and a backpack lies next to him.

DON 

Yeah, the same as last time. 

Dude was just at work. Then he went 

home for a moment, then here. 

I did notice something, though. 

We're not the only ones tailing him.

Aly places a card down boldly with a smile, a smile that is wiped away when Don puts another card down.

ALY 

Of course you have that.

She mumbles before speaking.

ALY 

What does the person look like? 

Did you get a good look?

DON