(no subject)
Fingers awkwardly fumble with the phone in her lap, carefully scrolling down the contact list where a number lies. A number that was set there with a single grain of hope, what seems like years ago, before all of this. Before Jack was found. Before Marion was found. Before so many thing that have begun to come to a close. As the line on the other end begins to ring, Zaza picks up the phone and holds it to her ear, waiting with baited breath.
Three hours earlier in someone else's day, a phone rings: all phones have been rerouted to go to the same handset, and thus, it is only a few rings in that Zaza gets her answer. Twice familiar at least, Sal's voice is unmistakable as she says, "Harper," neutral to the point of flatness. Once more, she is attired for and attending to administrative work, in her old armor of neatly-fitted business suit.
"Hello Sal," Zaza says softly, voice tired by long hours. The first name marks a severe departure from their last conversation. "We've got him." That's it. She herself is in a sling and whatever she could managed to get on without much effort.
The other end of the line goes silent -- even more carefully so -- at the sound of her first name; the breath held expels slowly, just as carefully, as Sal lowers her head into her hand. "Good," comes out slightly gruff, followed by, "you do good work, Leferve," which is high praise indeed, coming from Sal.
"We do our best," is the short reply, an 'as you would know lingering along its edges.' Sometimes, their best isn't good enough. But this time, this time, it /was/. An almost smiles curves her lips, Zaza shifts carefully in her chair, the position of the phone adjusted against her ear. "We'll have him back to you... as soon as we can. Soon as he's good to."
There is a snort of breath in the lingering pause after that 'best,' acknowledgement of the unspoken sentiment. She drums her fingers against her desk -- lightly, for her, but with enough force that the sound is still loud in the continued quiet. "Alright," she finally acknowledges, without asking for more details, her short, sharp nod unseen by Zaza. "As soon as you're done with him, and he's good to go." It sounds, for another stretch of time, like this might be all -- but there is a warm wealth of relief in her voice when she finally says, "Thank you," and hangs up the phone.
The end, with a push of a button to hang up the phone on Zaza's end. This is followed by a lowly exhaled breath, her head tilted back against the wall.
6+1. Zaza turn at the exposition game.