Hidden Talents

unwritten rule against asking questions about a person's past unless you were invited to do so.
    Blade was dressed, as usual, in camouflage gear and a pair of thick-soled, military-style boots. A variety of lethal-looking knives and assorted implements were suspended from the webbed belt slung low around his waist.
    “I see you're making your rounds, Blade.” Yesterday on the long drive home to Witt's End, Serenity had tried to envision Blade as a blackmailer. She'd abandoned the attempt almost as soon as she'd begun. She'd known Blade all of her life. He was too direct to bother with blackmail, and much too concerned with his endless conspiracy theories. Besides, he was a member of the family, one of the people who had raised her since infancy.
    “Checkin' things out,” Blade allowed.
    “In the daytime?” Serenity raised her brows. Blade usually slept during the daylight hours and did his endless sentry rounds at night.
    “Some unusual activity on the road last night. Heard a car drive off near here real late. Didn't get a look at it because of the fog.”
    “Probably just someone on his way home from visiting a friend. Jessie, perhaps.”
    “Maybe. Maybe not. Got a feeling there's somethin' about to happen. Zone agrees with me. Figure I'd better watch for the point man.”
    “Point man?”
    “There'll be one. Always is before a well-planned operation. He'll move in to do a recon job. Then he'll signal the others to go ahead with the assault.”
    “Yes, of course. The point man.”
    Blade regarded her with the same unwinking stare the rottweilers used. “What are you doing back here? You're supposed to be in Seattle workin' on your new business plans.”
    “I came back a day early,” Serenity said.
    Blade's eyes narrowed. “Everything goin' accordin' to schedule?”
    “No.” Serenity looked down at Charon, who was rubbing his head against her hand. “Things didn't work out.”
    “Does that mean you won't be openin' up that mail order shop for local stuff, after all?”
    “No, it doesn't. I plan to go ahead with the catalog business, Blade, but it looks like I'll have to find another start-up consultant. Mr. Ventress decided I wasn't a suitable client. Apparently, I didn't meet his high standards.”
    Blade was silent for a long time while he considered that information. “He give you a bad time?”
    “Ah, no,” Serenity said hastily. “No, he didn't. It was just a business decision on his part.”
    “You want me to go see him? Talk to him for you?”
    Serenity could imagine all too clearly what Blade's notion of a conversation with Caleb would be like. She would no doubt wind up being sued. Still, it was sweet of Blade to make the offer. She was touched. Blade never left Witt's End if he could avoid it. He didn't function well in the outside world.
    “No, really, it's okay, Blade. The decision was mutual. I decided I don't particularly care to do business with Mr. Ventress any more than he wants to do business with me.”
    “You're sure?”
    “I'm sure.” Serenity smiled with rueful affection. “But thanks, anyway.”
    “Where you headed?”
    “I'm going to Ambrose's cabin. I want to talk to him.”
    Blade nodded once. “Right. Sure you won't get lost in this fog?”
    “It's not that bad. I'll be all right.”
    “Guess me and the dogs better be movin' along, then.” Blade studied the gray mist with a speculative gleam in his steel-blue eyes. “Just don't like the feel of things today.”
    “I understand. But don't you think it's a little too foggy for a successful clandestine operation?”
    “Can't be too careful.” Blade summoned the silent rottweilers with a movement of his hand. “No tellin' when they'll make their move.”
    “True.”
    He touched the peaked bill of his cap. “Have a nice day.”
    “Thanks. You, too.” Serenity stood with her hands tucked into her pockets and watched as Blade and the rottweilers disappeared into the gray mists. When they were gone, she turned and started once more toward Ambrose's cabin.
    It occurred to her that it would have been interesting to see the expression on Caleb's face had Blade actually turned up to confront him in his office. She sighed with regret, knowing that there was nothing to be gained from dreams of revenge. She had to think about the future. There were new plans to be made. For starters, she would have to find a new consultant.
    A few minutes later Serenity emerged from the trees into the small clearing that