Reacting

[Everett King]

"I bet she simply loves that," he muttered with a smirk. At this point he would have been much more comfortable talking about Erika, rather than her estranged mother. The fact that they were still on the topic felt too much like avoiding the topic; and he couldn't stop the guilt at berating a woman he'd never met. Even with the stories he'd heard. 

Everett's eyes clouded thoughtfully as he scanned the small room, a relieved smile ghosting over his lips. Finally they were getting down to business, though Elsa's little show certainly had drawn more attention than he was comfortable with. "Right. Booth it is," he agreed quietly, gesturing towards the comfortable space in the back corner. Ideally he would have much preferred to leave and talk in the open. There seemed too many ears about to listen to something Erika seemed incredibly keen to hide. But Elsa had to be doing the talking, so she had to be the comfortable one. 

Sliding into the booth he propped his leg up on the seat and looked at Elsa, waiting for her to sit adjacent to him. "Alright. What was Erika trying to hide?" The man asked wearily, rubbing his eyebrow.

[Elsa Bellefonte]

Booth it is. Elsa walked over there, already rehearsing what she needed to say in her mind. She'd found an ally, finally. She could remember all those thoughts, could practically feel the concern and worry coming from Everett now. Maybe he could succeed where Elsa had failed.

The Bellefonte remained quiet as she slid into the booth, moving along and adjusting herself as best she could, placing her newest cup onto the table and folding her hands over it. She looked to it for a while, even after Everett asked his question. Then Elsa took a deep breath, looking up into Everett's eyes.

"Right," she said, taking another deep breath. "It's common knowledge that Erika was kidnapped a few months ago, along with a few other students. I'm hoping she told you that much," Elsa paused just long enough to get confirmation, a nod or a yes, and then she continued: "While she was kidnapped, SPECTRE discovered who she was, at least in general terms. I don't think any of the others really told all that much, though Frank Cox was there and she can't shut up.... and, well, Trevor Paige was there too," Elsa looked away for a moment, almost as if feeling guilty for bringing up the name again. She shifted and looked back. "They found out, and they tortured Erika for the information. I'm not entirely sure for how long," she sighed, looking down at her cup, "because she... wouldn't tell me. But they kept going, and it got so bad that I---I felt it. I entered her mind and knew each and every thing they did to her," Elsa couldn't stop staring at the coffee. "Which is why the moment I knew, I launched a group to pull her out but... Everett I---I don't know," Elsa licked her lips, taking a deep breath, "I don't know how long they were doing it, or what all they did," she looked up, meeting his eyes. "I... I thought maybe she'd run off, maybe with you and-- so I covered for her. We'd talked about doing it before, and we had done it occasionally. Not everyone's as savvy as you.

"But they tortured her, Everett. Professionally."