Treacherous Impulses: Day 2

Word Count: 12,014

Summary of Events:

Mackenzie discovered Hilton was on her flight to Brussels, which upset her. Hilton booked a hotel room for them — she made sure it had two beds — and she got upset at him for being so presumptuous. Mackenzie settled down, however, and they went for lunch, where she told Hilton she wanted to warn Dr. Haner about what she'd found on Wikipedia for the sake of his kids, which unsettled Hilton. Hilton drove the ring road around Brussels nearly one and a half circuits before he was able to settle down again. After sightseeing in Brussels Hilton dropped Mackenzie off at the place Dr. Haner was giving his lecture where she managed to find his 'dressing room' in which were three men that weren't him, and one who was intent to deny her access to Dr. Haner even though she was pretending to be a reporter . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

""I must have a personal interview with him," Mackenzie said, thrusting her chin upward defiantly — not that she had to look up much to meet the first man's gaze.

"It will not be granted," the first man replied, furrowing his bushy brows over his eyes, narrowing them so far she could barely see where his pupils were.

"Why must it be a personal interview?" the second man asked.

"Oh go away Brian!" the first man roared, turning to address the second man. "It's bad enough trying to get rid of her without you encouraging her to wheedle her way inside!"

Brian. Dr. Haner's oldest son's name was Brian. She recalled that from the Wikipedia article. Dr. Haner was Brian Kevin Richard Haner the fourth, and his oldest son was Brian Kevin Richard Haner the fifth.

The first man and Brian were off on their own argument about calling Brian by that name now. Brian was vehemently insisting the first man call him Ricky, but the first man was insisting on calling him Brian.

Mackenzie looked over at the third man, a longer, narrower figure than the other two, he had thinning grey-brown hair combed over what had already gone bald, and appeared to be watching the scene between the other two men with amusement.

He swung his gaze over to Mackenzie, his blue eyes glittering with mirth. "His uncle wants him to grow up more than his father does."

Mackenzie glanced over at the bickering pair, who both had death grips on each other's collars and were screaming into each other's faces. Mackenzie wasn't sure about the third man, otherwise she might've made a dash onward into the room to try and find Dr. Haner.

"I will say though, darling," the third man said. "I don't see why you need to have a personal interview with Brian, unless you want to bore yourself to tears."

Mackenzie opened her mouth to pass the warning on to the third man, but she stopped herself when the third man stepped forward, a hunger in his eyes much akin to that she'd seen in Hilton's eyes the night before, except stronger, and much more terrifying.

"I would be much more entertaining, I think," he said, his voice having lowered to a near guttural rumble as he reached out and fingered her jaw.

Mackenzie didn't want to take a step back, but the last thing she wanted to do was remain there either. His fingers felt too smooth over her cheek, not at all like her father's, not at all like a hardworking man's hands.

"Such baby soft skin you have," he whispered lowly. "Is it that way everywhere?"

Mackenzie leapt back and bolted out the door. Dr. Haner was going to have to get his warning in Marseille. She was not staying in there any longer."