Sleep didn’t come easy. He thought about Maria,
about Lynx, about his father, about what had happened in Sunset Valley, but
most of all, he thought having to turn in Chloe and her crew within four days.
He got up early, transferred the money to Violet, and sank back into thought.
Kiara was his cousin, could he give her up? What crimes was Catherine guilty
of? If the feds didn’t have anything on those he named, would they know who did
it, and come looking for him when they were released? Would he have to be
hiding under some other name for the rest of his life?
Danielle:
What are you doing?
Daniel:
Just thinking.
Danielle:
There is some leftover salmon. Do you want some?
Daniel:
Sure.
Danielle:
Did we do the right thing, Daniel? With Jackson, I mean?
Daniel: I
don’t think we had a choice.
Danielle:
Are you coming?
Daniel:
Just a minute.
Four days. If they didn’t send someone to pick him up, how
long could he wait before heading off to Starlight Shores and trying to find
someone willing to take him there by boat? Would they close their doors to him
if he just showed up like that, or lock him up somewhere, suspecting he had
been compromised? When would his life stop feeling like a continuous series of
crises?
Daniel: I
might have to leave suddenly if a helicopter comes to pick me up, but I don’t
know if…
Danielle:
You’re leaving already? You just got back. Celeste’s birthday is in four days,
and I expect you to be here for that.
Daniel: Can
you send me an email about that?
Danielle:
An email?! I am telling you, and you better not forget ab…!
Daniel:
It’s for my employer, so that she’ll know that I need some time off. Don’t hold
back on what’ll happen if I don’t show up.
Danielle:
Oh. Very well, I can do that.
Daniel: I
can’t believe she’s about to become an adult… When did she come home last
night?
Danielle:
Very, very late. She’s going through a phase right now. Do not be surprised if
she’s a bit… antagonistic, and go easy on her.
Daniel: Is
she taking care of the foal?
Danielle:
Mostly. I have had to step in a couple of times.
Daniel: Why
do you let her get away with that? She was meant to take care…
Danielle:
Because she’s a teenager whose father was just committed to a psychiatric
institution. Do you think that’s easy for her? He had another “episode”
yesterday morning, and she witnessed it, unfortunately.
Daniel: Hm.
What did he ramble about?
Danielle:
He kept repeating over and over that he had found her, that rich woman who was
here, and…
Daniel:
Chloe?
Danielle:
Yes. He said something about finding her in a newspaper, and he was extremely
excited, following me around and shouting like a madman. I had to lure him into
the washing room and lock him up there.
Daniel:
What else did he say? It could be very important.
Danielle:
Something about a glass bed, I think. I don’t remember much of it, I was busy
trying to keep him away from Celeste.
Daniel: Are
you sure that’s all you can remember?
Danielle:
Yes. I have to get changed and go to work. Celeste may not be in her best shape
today, but I have made it clear that she is going to that meeting. Remember
what I said about going easy on her. Don’t alienate her, Daniel, that is the
last thing this family needs right now.
Daniel:
I’ll do my best.
Alternating between knocking on her door, and
calling her name, he paced about in the upstairs hallway, but his mind was
somewhere else. His father, and thereby Nuraya, had “found” Chloe all
those years ago. As media-shy as she had been, the newspaper he had seen had to
be in the future. When, and what did it say? Somehow, he’d have to get to
Twinbrook and question him about it. Finally, there were some signs of life
from the teenage den.
Celeste:
Uuuh… I feel so bad…
Daniel: Are
you hung over?!
Celeste:
No… I’m sick.
Daniel:
Right… Are you hungry?
Celeste:
No…
Daniel:
Good, because there’s no time for you to eat.
Celeste: I
can’t do this. I have to stay in bed…
Daniel:
Forget it, you know what mom said: You’re going to that meeting.
Celeste:
Mmfgh… I need some painkillers.
Daniel:
Hurry up. I’ll be waiting downstairs.
Celeste:
Ugh…. What?
Daniel: A
nosering. Wow. What does the A represent? Your grades?
Celeste:
Anarchy.
Daniel:
Great… You look like a real princess. I wonder what Alecia would say if she
could see you now…
Celeste:
Who…?
Daniel:
Your grandmother?!
Celeste:
Whatever…
Daniel:
Maybe some more formal clothes would have been more appropriate…
Celeste:
Conformity is death.
Daniel: Hm.
We don’t have time for that anyway. Let’s go.
Daniel:
When’s your prom?
Celeste: As
if you care. Tomorrow.
Daniel:
You’ll be going with that Paxton kid?
Celeste:
His name is Bryce.
Daniel: I
suppose you’ll be heading off to university after you graduate…?
Celeste:
No. School’s out.
Daniel:
Sure about that? You’ve got the head for it, and a change of environment could
be… inspiring.
Celeste:
You’re a 35-year old living with your parents, and look at the car you’re
driving. Don’t coach me about life.
Daniel: Hm.
Is Bryce going to university? With his father’s illustrious degrees, I’d think
he…
Celeste:
Can you just shut up?
Annie:
Welcome, Daniel. I’m so glad to see you. I really mean it. I’ll never forget that you didn’t sign
the petition.
Daniel:
Annie… I thought Angelica was Celeste’s main teacher?
Annie:
Angelica Diamond quit several years ago, when this became a public school. I was her
replacement.
Celeste:
Unfortunately…
Daniel: Hm.
Annie: I
trust you’ve read the letters, or that your mother has informed you about the
situation?
Daniel: I
haven’t heard about any letters. What situation?
Annie: Oh…
That is… worrisome. Please have a seat, both of you, and let’s shed some light
on the matter.
Annie:
Since becoming a teenager, Celeste’s behavior at school has become…
challenging.
Daniel: In
what way?
Annie: In
every way. Your mother hasn’t mentioned this to you?
Daniel: No…
Annie:
Celeste has failed to turn up in class, on countless occasions. She has been
involved in fights, and has displayed a very disruptive behavior, including
disrespecting the teachers and the staff…
Daniel:
What…? I don’t think mom knows about this.
Annie:
Really? Well, as you can see, she doesn’t seem to take this meeting very
seriously. Her behavior has been on a downward spiral for quite some time, and
it keeps getting worse.
Daniel:
Do you think you’re tough or something? Sit up straight and open your eyes!
Celeste:
Frack off.
Daniel:
What’s going on with you?!
Celeste:
Can I have a drink? I’m thirsty…
Daniel: You
gotta be kid…!
Annie:
Daniel, please… Don’t get provoked, nothing good will come of it.
Daniel:
Nothing good will come out of how she’s acting either! How are her grades?!
Annie:
She’s flunking every subject, I’m afraid…
Daniel:
What happened to you?! You were reading advanced organic chemistry when you
were eleven!
Annie:
She’s clearly very intelligent, and what we should do now is ask ourselves why
this is happening, and what we can do to improve the situation. Whenever the
school staff try to question her about it, she just says that school doesn’t
matter.
Daniel:
This boyfriend of hers, Bryce Paxton, could he be the one dragging her down?
Annie:
Bryce is doing very well, I don’t think we should look to him for an answer to
this. How are things at home? Have there been any problems lately? Quarrels,
struggling relationships, any illness?
Daniel: Our
father got committed to a psychiatric institution, but her change in behavior
must have begun long before that. I don’t understand why mom haven’t mentioned
the letters, and done something…
Celeste:
ZZzzzz….
Annie:
Celeste could have intercepted the letters while she was ditching. Maybe your
father was the one who picked up the mail? Anyway, at this stage, I’d like to
recommend psychiatric counseling, to get to the root of the issues.
Daniel: A
shrink? I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.
Annie: It
isn’t about her school performance, it is too late for that anyway, it is about
her life, Daniel.
Daniel:
Maybe this is about school. Her changed behavior and bad grades coincides with
this place becoming a public school, and Angelica leaving, don’t they?
Annie: Yes,
they do. But if that was the cause, we would have seen it, statistically.
Except for Celeste, the student body’s academical performance is on par with
what it was when this was a private school.
Daniel: Maybe
she was every attached to Angelica…
Annie: She
hasn’t mentioned her, to my knowledge, but it could be something for the
psychiatrist to delve into, among other matters.
Daniel:
These letters you mentioned… Do you have copies? I want to make sure mom gets
them, if they haven’t reached her.
Annie: I
can’t give them to you, but I’ll drop by your house and deliver them to your
mother personally.
Daniel:
Thanks. What happens now, with her, I mean? Is there any point to her coming
here, if she’s flunking everything and is just being a nuisance?
Annie: I
think the only reason she comes here is her boyfriend, and we shouldn’t deny
her that. We’ll deal with it, and I’ll make sure she graduates, somehow. Like I
said, I haven’t forgotten that you didn’t sign that peti…
Celeste:
Uuummgh… I’m not feeling so good…
Daniel:
Thank you, Annie.
Celeste: I
need to use…
Celeste:
Bhlwaaaarch!!
Daniel:
Geezuz…
Annie: I
hear there was a gathering of teens at Moonlight Point last night, engaged in
some quite adult activities, but I’m sure Celeste just has the flu, don’t you
think, Daniel?
Daniel:
Yeah, that better be it…
Celeste:
Bwhf… Uaaarchh…
Annie: Now
that everything has been brought forth, so to speak, I think this concludes our
meeting… I don’t think she’s fit for school today, you should take her home,
Daniel.
Daniel:
Send the cleaning bill to our mother. Our little princess here is going to get
a job and pay for it. Maybe she’ll learn something from that.
Annie: Very
well. Take care, both of you, and I hope to see you tomorrow, Celeste.
Celeste:
Mmptufff…
“A formality”. That’s what his mother had called the
meeting. A formality… Compared to this, his own meeting with Maggie Donovan
seemed like a formality. Either his mother didn’t know what was going on, or
she had become a different person. Celeste looked somewhat embarrassed by what
had happened, and as he was in a sour mood, and clueless about what to say, the
trip back home occurred in silence. The thought that his refusal to let her
boyfriend visit her, might be partly to blame for her state of mind, had
started gnawing on his mind by the time they reached the house, but he still
didn’t know what to say when they got out of the car, or walked up the stairs.
He said her name when she hurried up the stairs, but her only reply was the
crashing sound of the door to her room slamming shut.
There was a real chance he’d have to leave
before seeing her again, and he couldn’t part from her like this. He had to say
something, even if it was that Bryce Paxton was welcome to visit her. Upon the
first knock on the door, she fired up her stereo, and just turned up the volume
to drown out his subsequent knocks. The door was locked, but he refused to give
up.
You…
Were my oppressor
And I…
I have been programmed to obey
And now…
You are my handler
And I…
I will execute your demands
Leave me alone!
I must disassociate from… you!
Behold…
My transformation
Any y…
Pearl: If
you want in, why don’t you kick it?
Daniel:
What the… Did you break in here?!
Pearl: Affirmative,
and I’m getting tired of watching you mope at that door.
Daniel: My
sister’s having some problems, and… Is that a gun?!
Pearl: I
told you: Deserters are shot. You’re a deserter.
Daniel: Are
you crazy?! I can explain what happened, and I want to get back! That’s why I
sent the message!
Pearl: You
failed to make it to Hotel Charlie for extraction, and went MIA in enemy
territory. Do you know how bad that looks? I’ve got to figure that you’ve been
turned.
Daniel: No,
no, I had to hide, Pearl. Can you put that thing away?!
Pearl: Why
are you saying my name? Because of the wire you’re wearing? Take off your
clothes.
Daniel:
What? I’m not wea…
Pearl:
Strip. Now. I won’t ask twice.
Pearl:
Do you have something you think you need to hide? I’m an army girl, I’ve seen
it all, fobbit.
Daniel:
Geezuz, Pearl. Gimme a break…
….no longer do as I am told
Pearl:
You’re pathetic. You wouldn’t even pass level A of SERE.
Daniel: I
don’t know what that is.
Pearl: No,
you don’t… Target is yellow, proceeding to phase two.
Daniel: Do
you have a whole squad in the house…?
Pearl: Put
your clothes back on and go to your office.
Let me go!
Daniel:
Could you… eh… turn around?
Let me be!
Pearl: You
could still be a threat, and I don’t turn my back to a potential threat.
You will never own me again!
His cover story wasn’t too complicated: After
Danita Rashford had sent the cops after him, he had ditched the suit in the
park, where he had ran into Nelle Bryant. She had agreed to shelter him for the
price of a pink diamond, and he had stayed in her apartment until traffic
opened up. Cutting off his hair to be less recognizable, he had sought out
Maria Younan and hitched a ride with her. It wasn’t long until Pearl homed in
on the place where he had supposedly spent the most time: Nelle Bryant’s place.
He had been there, 20 years ago, and thanks to his session with Nelle, he was
prepared for it.
Daniel:
Well, it’s… modern, I guess.
Pearl: Like
most apartments? I expect you to be a lot more on point.
Daniel: The
walls are painted yellow-greenish, and orange, and the lighting is kind of red…
The furniture is modern, but cheap, except for a fountain next to the dining
table…
Pearl:
Describe the layout.
Daniel:
There are two bedrooms upstairs. Downstairs, the kitchen and living area are
divided by a wall, with the dining area adjoining the two. Next to the dining
area is a sliding door, leading out to a small porch overlooking the street.
Pearl:
Describe the rack room.
Daniel: I
napped for a few hours on the sofa, I never went upstairs.
Pearl: Then
how do you know there are two bedrooms?
Daniel: She
told me. She seemed quite proud of it.
Pearl: What
kind of chow did you get there?
Daniel: She
made mac and cheese. Half-burned and very salty. She rather likes salt.
Daniel:
Do I pass, or what…?
Pearl: Hang
on. I’ll find out soon enough.
Daniel: I’m
telling the truth. I wouldn’t lie about…
Pearl: Any
sign of November Bravo?
Daniel:
Who?
Pearl: Shut
up fobbit, I’m not talking to you.
Pearl:
Address confirmed?
Pearl:
Affirmative. Break and enter.
Daniel: Do
you have someone breaking into her apartment?!
Pearl:
Roger. Get me visuals.
Pearl:
Straight. Hold. Pan to three. Back to twelve. Straight. Hold. Is there anything
decorating the dining table?
Daniel: A
vase with yellow lilies.
Pearl:
Straight. Hold. Pan to three. Describe the lamps in the kitchen.
Daniel:
They’re square-shaped glass lamps, with a fluorescent tube behind the glass.
Pearl: Pan
to niner. Adjust to ten. What is to the left of the sliding door?
Daniel: A
stereo, a plant of some sort, and a picture.
Pearl:
Describe the picture.
Daniel:
It’s a city skyline at night. Dark building silhouettes against a blue night
sky.
Pearl:
Inspect the food waste.
Pearl:
Roger. Initiate exit procedure.
Pearl:
Seems like you’re shooting straight, fobbit.
Daniel: Are
you satisfied?
Pearl: The
operative will keep gathering intel, but you’re cleared for duty.
Daniel:
What operative?
Pearl:
That’s classified. Ready for evac?
Daniel:
Yeah, I just need to do visit a clothing store first, and pick up some wigs, if
they’ve got them.
Pearl: You
in that much of a rush to get some hair back?
Daniel: Not
really. But I can use some disguises if I go undercover again.
Pearl: You
got till thirteen hundred. I’ll ping you the location.
Marigold:
Good morning, Daniel.
Daniel:
Marigold. Where’s Patty?
Marigold:
Upstairs in her “office”, by the sound of it. I think she’s… done, and is
coming down soon.
Daniel: The
shop is supposed to be open, isn’t it?
Marigold:
Yes… I’m here to order a wedding dress, but I’ve had to wait for a while.
Daniel: You
guys getting married? Congratulations. Well, I don’t have time to wait, I’ll go
up and get her.
Marigold:
That’s probably not a good idea.
Daniel:
Bah, don’t worry about it. I know Patty.
Man:
Eaaeeh… I’ll be… going now.
Patty:
Don’t forget your briefcase, Mr. Taylor. Or your pants…
Mr. Taylor:
Yes, eh…
Patty: Have
we cleared up the discrepancies in the accounting?
Mr. Taylor:
What? Yes… I’m sure it’s just… a misunderstanding.
Patty: I’m
just a stupid store
clerk, I’m sure the money can be found somewh… Ah, detective Carson is here…
Daniel:
I’ll go back downstairs, I’m sorry…
Patty: I’ll
be down shortly, detective.
Patty:
Mrrm… Marigold… How may I be of assistance?
Marigold:
I’d like to buy a wedding dress. Ayden and I will celebrate his election
victory by getting married. No hard feelings, I hope?
Patty:
Wedding dresses aren’t our specialty, but I can make anything. Something black
perhaps, with frills, metal spikes and a bit of strategically dangling chain?
Marigold:
What?!? Absolutely not. This is a wedding, and a celebration, not a freak show!
Cream-colored satin, with plenty of embroidery, if you please.
Patty: Of
course. I’ll make some drafts and be in touch as soon as they’re ready. When
will the wedding take place?
Marigold:
In one week.
Patty: No
worries. The dress will be ready in time.
Marigold:
Excellent. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.
Patty:
Aiden getting married… Mrrm!
Daniel: Did
you track down some wigs?
Patty: If
the marriage is a celebration, what if he doesn’t win the election? Will it be
canceled?
Daniel: The
wigs, Patty?
Patty:
Yeah, I got two… How are you doing with sticking something on Ayden?
Daniel: I
haven’t got the time right now. I’m leaving town, but I’ll be back in a couple
of days.
Patty:
Mrrrm! The election is in three days!
Daniel: I
know. I need more time, but right now I’m just here to pick up the wigs.
Patty:
There is no time! You have to do something, now! Whatever
it takes…
Daniel:
Why is this so important to you?
Patty: Are
you going to do something, or not?!
Daniel: I
told you, and Becky, that I’d look into it if I had the time. I’ve got stuff on
Ayden, but…
Patty: What
stuff?!
Daniel:
Stuff I can’t just tell you. If you want me involved, buy more time. Get the
election postponed.
Patty: How
are we supposed to do that?
Daniel: I
don’t know. I’m not a politician, or a lawyer. If this is so important to you,
find out how. I have to go, Patty.
Patty: Of
course you do. This other case of yours is infinitely more important than helping me or my family…
Daniel: You have no idea. Nobody does. Goodbye, Patty.
Worlds Apart 