Page 74 of Statler

“Something else you said, though, caught my interest,” Dizzy pondered. “What did you mean, that the day was confusing and ironic?”

Eliza waved a hand around. “Don’t mind me. I’m sure I’m imagining things that don’t exist; reading into situations that are totally innocent on the surface, like when Statler asked about factory finances.”

She couldn’t know that his interest had actually been quite real, and that they could all easily see she was prevaricating.

In his head, Statler was quickly adding two reconnaissance missions to his list.

One, would be to break into Eliza’s house and find Holden’s notebook. Two, would be to infiltrate the factory after hours—and after the special “night crew” was through—not only to have a look inside the secret room, but to analyze the books that Eliza kept.

It was, however, time to man-up and own his faux-pas.

“I’m sorry if I came off as heavy-handed,” he grimaced. “It’s the downside of being a boss, always wanting to know exactly what’s going on. I clearly overstepped, and for that I apologize.”

A pretty blush worked up Eliza’s cheeks.

“That’s okay.”

She actually grinned then, and a dimple popped out. “Are you still interested to know why “irony” is the word of the day?”

“I am,” Sherbert spoke up.

“We all are,” Statler responded mildly. He didn’t want her to know they were digging for intel.

“Okay. Well, this morning, as you might have figured by Jeremy’s comment last night…”

Right. Jeremy.

Stat gave an internal vow.

Jeremy was an asshole, and a dead man walking. At least metaphorically.

It was clear to Stat that the prick was making moves on Eliza, and it was also apparent that Eliza was not welcoming those advances.

He’d have a talk with the guy and set him straight.

That would be fun.

Eliza, however, was continuing, so Stat tuned back in

“…my father wasn’t exactly happy that I’d gone to the lake with Statler last night. After yelling at me, he declared that he didn’t want me, uh, fraternizing with any of you, in any way.”

Why had her blush, deepened?

Statler wasn’t dumb. He’d noticed her interest in him, and now, he couldn’t wait to tell her that it was mutual.

But back to logistics.

Statler had already taken Flazer’s measure, and he wouldn’t be surprised if Eliza had been told by the old bastard, not to whore herself out, or something equally as crude and inane.

“What did you say to him?” Blue asked.

Statler wanted the answer to that, as well.

“I actually kind of stood up to him.” Eliza ducked her head like she might have done something wrong.

Not so.

If she’d put the controlling prick in his place, Stat was all for it.