I2 - The Irish Conquer The English (Food)

[Kayla Walsh]

Kayla wracked her brain... "I don't remember them. That's weird, I usually pick up on things like that."

At the large man's table, he picked up his phone and started thumbing around on the screen like he was sending a text message.

[Samantha McManus]

She shrugs. "They were trying to look different. I guess I just pick up on faces."

[Kayla Walsh]

Kayla made a thoughtful noise, "Maybe they're just tired of people telling them they looked alike?"

[Samantha McManus]

"Yeah, I guess. Just not something you see every day."

[Kayla Walsh]

"True. Identical triplets would be a weird thing. Though no weirder than anything at the school."

[Samantha McManus]

"Not even a mutation, I guess."

[Kayla Walsh]

"Maybe. How'd you know they were watching us?"

[Samantha McManus]

"I don't know. Just... a feeling, I suppose? I pick up impressions from people sometimes, even if I'm not trying to."

[Kayla Walsh]

"Pick up like?' She tapped her forehead.

[Samantha McManus]

"...yeah. Sorry. I guess I should've mentioned that."

[Kayla Walsh]

"Oh, no worries on that front. Just curious. I..." She glanced up as the door of the restaurant opened and the 'triplets of doom' walked through the door. "And... I'm really not sure how I didn't see them before." The triplets found another table on the other side of the restaurant with no intervention by the hostess.

[Samantha McManus]

"...aye, well don't stare."

[Kayla Walsh]

"Of course not, that would be rude."

[Samantha McManus]

"Anyway, food's good so far. I'd definitely come back."

[Kayla Walsh]

"Yeah, I think I'd be up for coming back myself. Hopefully Maldon's got other good food like this. So, anyone at school I should be wary of?"

[Samantha McManus]

"Let's see, I already told you about Carlos. Not that he's a bad guy, but he could get on your nerves."

"There's also Molly. Molly is kind of... judgmental, aye?"

[Kayla Walsh]

"So noted. Take what she says with a grain of salt then?"

[Samantha McManus]

"I wouldn't take it too personally."

[Kayla Walsh]

"I can be thick-skinned when I need to be."

[Samantha McManus]

"She just kind of... likes to dig, aye? Like she knows you, or what you're about."

[Kayla Walsh]

"Digging? At a school like this? That seems like a recipe for turning up things better buried."

[Narrator]

The big man got up and approached their table. "My apologies for eavesdropping, but I couldn't help but hear you went to the school here." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photograph. "I'm looking for a friend of mine who might be going there, maybe you've seen her?" The photograph showed a several years younger Tereza posing in front of the Eiffel Tower.

[Kayla Walsh]

Kayla took a look, "Nope, can't say that I have."

[Samantha McManus]

There's a look of recognition in Sam's eyes that she can't quite hide as she looks at the photo. However, as Teresa has said a few things about her old friends, she replies.

"Not ringing a bell, I'm afraid."

[Narrator]

Sam got the impression that someone else was talking to him, but her mind couldn't quite pick up on what was said. He looked at the photo and then offered it to Sam, "Take a closer look? I just want to be sure. I'm worried about her."

[Samantha McManus]

"I don't know. The picture looks... kind of like Lzzy Hale?"

[Narrator]

The man looked at the photo himself, then back at Sam. That undercurrent of conversation happened again and he chuckled, "I suppose it does at that. Sorry to bother you, ladies. Thanks for your help." He walked back over to his table to pick up the check and head to the register.

[Samantha McManus]

"...I think they're mutants," Sam says quietly to Kayla after he's out of earshot.

[Kayla Walsh]

"What makes you think that?" Kayla says quietly, glancing towards the register.

[Samantha McManus]

"He was talking to someone else at the same time. You know," she taps the side of her head.

[Kayla Walsh]

"That's... strange. Should we leave?" She looked around again, obviously worried.

[Samantha McManus]

"Well... the rest I can explain later. Perhaps best not to show we twigged to it."

[Kayla Walsh]

"Yeah, probably," she said, going back to finishing up her meal. The triplets of doom seemed to ignore them, continuing with a meal of their own.

Once they'd finished up their meal and Kayla paid, they stepped out onto the street. "So what's the deal?"

[Samantha McManus]

"Well okay. The girl in that picture? Probably doesn't want to meet any of her 'old friends.'"

[Kayla Walsh]

"So you did recognize her," Kayla said. "Is it a 'better if I don't know' thing?"

[Samantha McManus]

"She's kind of hinted to me that she used to run with a bad crowd. I'm going to tell her someone's looking for her of course, but it's kind of better if it's on her terms, aye?"

[Kayla Walsh]

"Yeah. If I had bad people looking for me, I wouldn't want to just stumble across them. Especially if there's a telepath involved." She added quickly, "No offense."

[Samantha McManus]

"None taken. I had to learn how to mind my P's and Q's."