Margaret: "What do you want?"
Tristan: "Stephanie sent us."
Margaret: "Stephanie who?"

Tristan looked back at Mary.

Mary: "Um... lovely woman, young, rich... said you could help us find a friend who was sent here against her will."

The old woman looked from Mary to Tristan and back again.

Margaret: "Come in already, you're letting the bugs in."

Mary and Tristan walked in, barely making it across the threshold before the old woman slammed the door shut behind them.

Tristan: "I'm Tristan, and this is Mary."
Margaret: "Good for you."

Another woman who was sitting in a chair in the living room jumped up and joined them.

Alex: "I'm Alex. Don't mind Margaret, she tends to be cranky on days that end with 'Y.'"

Mary smiled at the new woman, who was at least a few decades younger than Margaret. She also appeared to be pregnant, her large stomach both concealed and accentuated beneath a fashionable maternity shirt. Margaret grumbled and shuffled off to the kitchen.

Alex: "We've got one more here--Ticia!"

Mary jumped as Alex yelled for another woman, who came bounding down the stairs.

Alex: "Ticia, we have company. This is Mary and Tristan."
Ticia: "And why are they here?"
Alex: "Apparently they're looking for someone who isn't supposed to be here."

Ticia's face lit up.

Ticia: "Really?! How interesting. What happened?"

Ticia took Mary's hand and lead her to the couch.

Mary: "It's all kind of a blur. But my best friend was dating this lying asshole. He was using her. And then I'm not sure what happened, but she ended up here, and I'm certain it's because of him."

Ticia: "So she was just running away from him?"
Mary: "No! She wouldn't run away. She was just... just..."

Mary trailed off, lost in Ticia's eyes. Suddenly, she couldn't remember what she was doing or why she was there. She was overcome with exhaustion and the desire to sleep.

Then Tristan was kneeling in front of her, turning her face toward him. She blinked twice before snapping back to awareness.

Mary: "Tristan, I don't understand what happened. I don't know why..."

Tristan interrupted her.

Tristan: "She was sent here. A man named Andrew Stone plotted this. She is not supposed to be here."

Ticia: "Really! That is interesting. We might be able to help you, but we'll need to check this out first. We have some pretty good contacts. Why don't you two have some tea while we wait? Margaret, will you please call Karrie? I feel that we should investigate this right away."

Mary looked up to see Margaret setting a tray with a teapot and five cups onto the coffee table before vanishing once more to the kitchen. Ticia passed one cup to Mary, one cup to Tristan, and held one out to Alex.

Alex: "Oh, no, I can't. The caffeine is bad for the baby."
Ticia: "Of course! I always forget."

Ticia took Alex's cup for herself. Mary smiled uncomfortably and took a sip after discreetly checking to make sure the words "Drink Me" weren't printed anywhere on the tea cup. She nearly choked as sudden burst of light, accompanied by a thundering boom, resulted in the presence of a demon in the middle of the living room.

Tristan jumped up and immediately assumed a defensive posture while Mary tried to keep her tea from spilling.

Karrie: "You called for me?"

Ticia smiled and set down her teacup.

Ticia: "Yes! We have a job for you. We need you to speak with a..."

Ticia looked uncertainly back at Mary.

Ticia: "I'm sorry, what did you say his name was? The one who betrayed your friend?"
Mary: "Um... Stone. Andrew Stone."

Mary looked hesitantly from Ticia to the demon. The demon looked back at her with eyes that penetrated her fully. Then, without a sound, the demon was simply gone. Mary looked at Tristan, her eyes wide.

Mary: "What's going to happen?"
Ticia: "Nothing much... Karrie will bring back this Andrew Stone, we'll question him, and if what you say is true he will be punished."
Tristan: "Works for me, but what about Emily?"
Ticia: "Your friend? I suppose that will depend on the results of our investigation. It shouldn't be long. We can just watch TV while we wait! Any requests?"

Mary: "Do you get the Food Network down here?"