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[ Well, to say that this is unexpected is an understatement, honestly. Alex had never expected to hear from Cheryl Baker again. Not if she hadn't contacted Richard after the recording of Coralee alive, and not after knowing that Cheryl hadn't reached out to contact him. For a moment Alex doesn't know what to say, but she's intrigued enough to respond back. ]

Sure, Cheryl. I can do that. When would you like to meet?

There's a starbucks-

[she gives her an address and shakes her head as she does so before texting again.]

I'll be there tomorrow morning. Ms. Reagan, my brother doesn't know I'm here. I'd like that to continue

[Does Alex turn up her nose at going to a starbucks? Yes, but she's not the one setting the meeting.

Lying to Richard is another thing entirely.]

Mrs. Baker, I'm not going to tell him that I'm going to meet you. But if he asks me if you're here? I won't lie to him about that.

But I assume he isn't going to ask.

[Because why would he honestly?]

I'll see you at Starbucks.

[It's too soon that she's sitting there on a bench, sipping at green tea and rising when she spots Alex. She and her brother are twins and they look it when they're both in suits - good little strand children, always polite, always formal.

She offers her a slim white hand and smiles clearly appraising Alex.]

...Ms. Reagan. Your publicity photos don't do you justice.

...Please. Have a seat. I won't keep you long.

[Alex knew they were twins of course, but she hadn't expected them to look so alike. Or honestly the suit, and she feels the slight pangs of being under-dressed that she'd always used to feel being around Richard. Until, of course there had been his time where he wore days old flannel and hadn't showered.

That definitely kind of breaks that out of you.

She knows that she's being appraised, and thankfully at this point in her career (and life, really) Alex is used to that by now. Cheryl isn't quite as tall as her brother, but she's still taller than Alex is, and somehow that surprises her too. But she takes the hand that's offered, and then she sits down on the bench too, holding her travel mug of coffee in her hands.

Thankfully, it means that she can have actually good coffee even if she's here.]

Please, call me Alex. Everyone does. And what can I do for you, Mrs. Baker? What brings you to Seattle?

Work.

[She pauses, struggling. Her hands fold around her tea and she swallows.] as well as something in regards to our family's...estate.

[She pauses and sighs.]

How much...do you know about our family history?

[For a moment, Alex just studies her, because Alex thinks that she's gotten pretty good at reading Strand's (or a Strand, at least) body language, and what's there between the lines, and she's trying to do the same thing to Richard's twin.

Honestly, Alex feels more than a little bit disloyal to Strand sitting here, especially considering how Cheryl was asking her to keep this quiet.]

Um. If it has to do with your family's estate, shouldn't you talk to your brother? I mean, I'm hardly his favorite person these days.

[...oh.

She frowns and then snorts.]

What did he do to you?

[Folding her hands she chuckles] Take it form someone who knows him better than he knows himself. It's not your fault. He is emotionally stunted. So am I, but...don't blame yourself.

[Alex looks offended, both for herself and for him.]

He didn't do anything to me. I did it to him, and he has a right to be pissed off at me. I did it because you set me on the case of Bobby Maimes, Cheryl. So if there is a Strand to blame for this, it's probably you.

[A beat.]

You could have told me what I was looking for before I started looking. And what it would mean. And what the hell did you mean by 'drifting?' You'll find out isn't really an answer.

[Her features stiffen and Alex might notice that she looks like Richard when he's displeased, when he's upset.

She stares at her fingers.]

...He never would have told you. And he needs to face it.

[She grimaces]

...He likes you. He'll never admit it but he does. I knew he'd at least talk to you about it.

Well, he's not talking to me about it. He's ignoring my calls and Nic's calls and everything else. He's definitely not happy with me, and I don't even think he likes me at this moment.

[Does Alex think that Cheryl is talking about him liking her as anything more than a person and maybe a friend? But nothing beyond that. Strand loves Coralee, and more often than not lately, Alex feels like she's an intrusion on that.

But she does know that Cheryl is upset, that look is too familiar for her not too. ]

What is it you want from me, Cheryl?

[She hesitates, opening a slim black briefcase and pulling out a manila folder and pushing it over to her.]

I found this in the papers I was given as executor.

They're letters. Addressed to someone named Warren.

What?!

[Alex’s voice is sharp, shocked, quick and she reaches out to touch the file that Cheryl is holding before she jerks them back.]

You’ve been listening to the show. You know who your brother thinks Thomas Warren is. Why are you just coming with these now? And why to me? Why not bring them directly to him?

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