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“What is she doing here?”
Beakley glowered at Scrooge as he walked past her, airily patting her arm and waving his hand dismissively. “Ach, it’s nothin’, Beakley! She’s jus’ helping me with research for an adventure.” From across the mansion’s foyer, Goldie O’Gilt smirked at Beakley, sticking her tongue out.
Beakley’s scowl turned scalding as she resisted the urge to bend the vacuum hose in half, in anger and as a display of strength. She’d been vacuuming peacefully when Goldie had strolled in, as casual as ever, clearly making herself right at home. It was only Scrooge appearing that had kept Beakley from immediately chasing down the thief. “Since when have you needed help with research? Anytime I offer help you brush me off and act as if I’m trying to police you around!”
“Then you must be doing it the wrong way,” the smugness in Goldie’s tone filled the entire room, oozing into the red carpet, reaching past the bright windows, and filling every cranny of the high arching ceiling above.
Despite its permeating feeling, Scrooge didn’t seem to notice. “Goldie’s good with looking over ancient texts, she’s gotta good eye for puzzles too. Besides, Aye can handle her, don’t worry.”
Beakley crossed her arms, raised her eyebrow. “Ignoring what you’ve just implied about me not being good at those things, you’ve had a long history of not handling her.”
“Donnae take it personally!” Scrooge exclaimed, and the former S.H.U.S.H. agent was sure he’d barely heard a word she’d just said. “And Aye’d like ye check her over for anythin’ she may have stolen on her way out.”
“The recurring issue is being unable to catch her on her way out.” Beakley pointed out, and somehow Goldie’s smile became even more smug.
“She’s agreed to a search.” He held out his arm, allowing Goldie to take it. “Shall we then?”
“Alright then, that’s fine.” Beakley held up her hands. “It’s your house, it’ll be your stuff she’s stealing.”
“Quite right, Bentina!” Scrooge said with a smile, already heading down the hall. Beakley knew for a fact he hadn’t heard her.
With a groan, she continued vacuuming the foyer. She knew he’d be a mess in the morning, whenever the sinister side of Goldie’s scheme was revealed and she made off with her pickings of his fortune lying around the mansion, and he was left to pick up the pieces in her wake. Why he continued to put himself through this Beakley had no idea, but it didn’t affect her one bit. If he wasn’t going to take her advice, she would just quietly continue her housekeeping duties and leave him to deal with the consequences.
Yes, that was definitely her course of action. Scrooge wouldn’t work her into feeling bad for him this time. He deserved this.
-☆-
“Bentina!”
The F.O.W.L. agent next to Scrooge giggled. “Ooh, the first name. Someone’s mad.”
Scrooge didn’t dignify that comment with a response, but simply glared at her.
A few moments later Beakley appeared in the kitchen doorway, her brooch crooked and her bun a little messier than usual. She must’ve gotten dressed in a hurry. “Yes, Mr. McDuck?”
“Would you like ta tell me,” Scrooge growled, “why the blazes Aye woke up this morning to find a F.O.W.L. agent rooting through mah pantry?!”
Beakley’s expression turned grim. “Ah.”
“‘Ah’ indeed.” The billionaire’s eyes narrowed. “What is she doing here?”
“Not sure,” Beakley’s accusatory gaze landed on Black Heron, who was still standing half in the pantry, an oversized light pink robe tied around her waist and draped loosely over her shoulders. The right sleeve hung limp, and she had her left hand on her hip in a teasing defiance. “I told her to not leave my room without me.”
“Yes, but you see 22, I got hungry.” Black Heron crossed the kitchen to stand in front of Beakley, smirking up at her and putting her hand on her shoulder. “And you were taking ages to get ready, so I figured I’d help myself! I was sneaky enough.”
“Aye walked in on you noisily rooting through the cereal!” Scrooge argued. “You dinnae even notice Aye was here until Aye cleared my throat!”
Heron glanced back at him, an eyebrow raised judgmentally. “Yes, all you have are cheesy cereal brands or sad oatmeal. Is this house full of children and old people, or something?”
“Yes!” Beakley and Scrooge exclaimed at the same time, and Heron giggled again.
“People who are not supposed to know you’re here, that was part of the agreement!” Beakley pointed out to Heron.
“An agreement?!” Scrooge threw his hands up in the air, too appalled to speak. “Bentina, just get her out of here, now. Aye’ll deal with this in a moment.”
“Yes, Mr. McDuck.” Beakley nodded, and Scrooge watched as Heron reached up to pat her cheek before setting off backward down the hall, pulling the S.H.U.S.H. agent along with her. The second Heron’s hand was on her face, Scrooge could tell, Beakley was immediately distracted by her. Forgetting much of Scrooge’s anger already.
He could hear their footsteps down the hall, their whispers- Beakley’s chastising and Heron’s teasing, no doubt- and Black Heron’s hushed laughter. Scrooge sighed, rolling his eyes. He’d really need to talk with Beakley about who she allowed in his mansion.