[ a slight upward tick of the mouth at the breaking of the tension, but he falls into step and they're off. out into the day, warned not to be seen on their way out of the safehouse - as if that much isn't common sense. ]

I'm sorry to have been so blunt. But it seemed best to get it out of the way. We don't have a lot of time for beating around the bush.

[ still, he can acknowledge that he did somewhat pull the carpet out from under them ]