Go check out the Sports complex.

Recognising a dismissal as well as a tease when you hear it you slide off the stool and head for the door.

"See you at seven," you say, turning to look at her as you open it. "I'm in Cottage 4."

"I know," she replies with a laugh and a wink. "Everyone knows. Don't keep me waiting."

Shaking your head, you chuckle as you leave, still not quite sure what to make of the encounter with her, but knowing you are definitely intrigued.

You decide that you want to see the sports complex now, and consult your map again. The building and the adjacent sports fields are not far from where you are, and with a smile you put your map away and make your way out of the Arts Pavilion.

The first thing you see as you approach the sports complex is the imposing hulk of what has to be a gymnasium. Attached to it is a lower building that you're guessing contains training rooms and locker rooms. Somewhere in there is your office, you assume. You can see the expanse of the soccer field behind the gym, and at this end of the lower building the softball diamond looks like a green jewel to your biased eyes.

You can't help but turn in that direction, wanting to see the field and walk on its turf before you do anything else. You open a gate in the chain link fence that surrounds it, stepping through and out onto the soft grass. Another few steps and you cross the basepath, stepping onto the red dirt of the infield, and hearing the crunch of it under your shoes. You walk out to the shortstop position and survey the infield, admiring the quality of the groundskeeping, and only slightly bemused by its smaller size than the infields you used to patrol. You drop into a shortstop's crouch for a moment, surveying an imaginary batter, then fielding an invisible ball and flipping underhand to second base to **** the non-existent runner.

With a smile, you hold up one hand, your index and little finger extended to indicate two outs on the double play you just turned, then shake your head ruefully and start to walk off the field.

It's then that you hear a familiar sound.