September 4th, Tuesday - Casey Silpetti
Casey wakes up the next morning after hours of poor sleep. Half-remembered dreams of smoke, running, gunshots and fear kept the sleep from being the rest that she needed to fully recharge, but something is better than nothing.
It takes a few bleary moments before she sits up, confused as to where she is: lying in a queen sized bed in the middle of what has to be some boy’s room. Soccer and Ultimate Martial Combat posters battle with posters of less-than-fully-dressed women to cover every inch of the walls. Sports equipment is tossed haphazardly around the room; a desk in the corner is covered with a computer and schoolwork.
Pictures on the dresser show Aiden and his family, his soccer team, one of him in a kickboxing ring, with his friend Chance, and a few of him and May together.
She gets up, noticing that thankfully she’s still fully dressed; which a moment later turns to horror because her clothes are still filthy, and she was in Aiden’s bed. Then she notices a set of fresh clothes laid out at the bottom of the bed, they’re not only her size but are brand new, the tags (but no prices) still on them. Nothing fancy, just clothes from Bullseye, the low price super store. She blushes when she sees the bra and panties neatly folded next to the clothes, until she sees the note under them written in Harmony’s handwriting. “Take a shower and meet us downstairs. And burn those clothes you’re in, wear these instead.”
She checks her phone, noticing about 6 voice mails from Harmony, but no other calls.
She steps into the attached bath, to find towels and toiletries already laid out for her. Including – thankfully – a brand new toothbrush with a little red bow wrapped around it, just Harmony’s style.
Once she feels human again, she heads downstairs. She can hear Harmony and Aiden talking, and a TV playing in the background. When she walks in, Harmony jumps up and flings herself at her.
“Damn girl, I was worried sick about you!” She pulls Casey into a tight hug. “When I didn’t hear back from you, I called Dennison and threatened him, until he told me ya’ll were ok.”
She lets go and pulls back. “He was just telling me some of what happened. I can’t believe you were right there when it happened! I’m just glad you’re ok; he said they actually shot Cadence and Fetch!” Harmony runs her finger over the scratch on Casey’s face, “Is that the worst of it?”
“Yeah, I’m ok. Just a little worse for wear, but we were lucky.”
“Thank goodness. Dennison asked me to stop and get you those clothes-“
“Yeah, I figured your outfit got ruined cause I asked you out, so it was the least I could do to replace it. After all, if you’d have stayed home you wouldn’t have been dodging explosions or anything,” he tries to joke.
“Right – like I said, he asked me to pick them up on the way when I told him I was coming over.”
“What about school,” Casey asks.
“Like I would worry about school when my best friend was almost killed, and is having a fashion emergency! As if!” She smiles as she says it, but Casey can see the real worry in her eyes. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people are missing school today, a bunch of the parents are way worried now that V got ‘napped.”
“Well, I was thinking maybe we could go to the hospital, see if we can get in and see Cadence,” Aiden says. “That is, if you want to?”
“Do you think she’s out of the ICU by now?” Casey asks.
“She should be. That doc said he thought she’d be downgraded today.”
“Then, yes, let’s go visit her. You coming with Harm?”
“Don’t you know it!”
Aiden pulls up to the doors at Kingdom Hospital, stopping as close as he can. It’s raining out, fat drops of rain coming in thick waves that mixed with the chill in the air is enough to make it a somewhat miserable day. Kingdom Hospital looks spooky in the dark, gloomy morning. Parts of the building are brand new and modern, all glass and sharp angles. But the old building can be seen as well in all its gothic glory, even including gargoyle rain spouts.
“I’m going to find a parking spot and pick up flowers on the way up, I’ll meet you in her room,” Aiden says.
The girls get out quickly and run until they get under the overhang, thankfully Aiden got close enough that the damage isn’t too bad.
They get directions to Cadence’s room from the information desk, and head up the elevators. Harmony finally breaks her silence with, “So, are you sure you’re ok, Case?”
“My cheek is sore where it got cut and I ache a little all over from the exertion and the heat, but really, I’ll live.”
The hospital is creepy on the inside as well. The elevator finally reaches the right floor, and they step out into a gloomy, quiet hallway. The windows let in the grey light from outside, and the overheads seem to be turned down, almost as though it were nighttime. There is no one in sight, and the very air seems still and empty.
Cadence’s room is towards the end of a side hallway, and the two girls walk softly, as though afraid to make too much noise in the tomb-like stillness of this ward. Harmony sticks close to Casey’s side, becoming her living shadow. Harmony is a full-on scaredy-cat, and she has an unnerving ability to get Casey all worked up along with her, which is why they never watch scary movies together.
They walk up to Cadence’s door, but Casey stops short when she hears talking inside. It sounds like she and someone else are having a quiet, but intense argument in some foreign language. It’s a harsh and guttural language, not one that Casey knows, but it sounds strangely familiar.
The hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up, and she can feel Harmony – pressed tight up against her – shudder with quiet dread. Maybe it’s just the stressed nerves that haven’t fully decompressed, maybe it’s the close proximity to Harmony who’s scared of her own shadow, add on top of that the gloomy nature of this hospital; whatever reason, Casey feels her heart pick up and her instincts start humming. She has the sudden recollection of childhood nightmares, of the monsters that hide in closets and under the bed.
“Case… I think—“
The argument comes to an abrupt end inside the room, and Casey hears footsteps coming their way. She interrupts Harmony by pulling her along behind her, barely making it into the empty room next to Cadence’s when a figure steps out into the hall.
It quickly walks towards the elevators, and try as she might, Casey can’t help but peek out to watch it leave. Harmony makes some kind of noise that would probably translate into “I don’t think that’s a good idea!” Luckily she isn’t heard.
The bald, fit man walks purposely down the hall, something in his gait familiar. It isn’t until he reaches the elevators and turns that Casey catches a glimpse of him, though in profile. But she recognizes him immediately; it’s Mr. Pleasant, the groundskeeper at Blake Holsey. What the hell is he doing here?
He steps into the elevator and disappears from sight. Casey’s heart slows back down as she steps back into the room, letting her breath out with a deep sigh.
They stand in silence for a long moment, and Harmony is the one who finally breaks it. “Ok, what the hell was that? I mean, I’m not the only one who got the major wiggins there, was I? Who was it, did you see? “
“Well—“she’s interrupted by the sound of the elevator bell dinging. They look at each other, Harmony’s eyes comically widening. They both crowd close to the door, trying to hear what’s going on outside the room, but afraid of accidentally showing themselves.
They head Cadence’s door open next to them, and Aiden’s voice carries down the hallway. “Hey Cadence, how do you feel?”
Casey quickly looks back at Harmony, grabs the other girl’s hand, and hauls her out the door. They almost fly to Cadence’s door, and tumble through.
Aiden and Cadence both turn towards them, and Casey plasters a fake smile across her face. “We were trying to catch up to you; we got turned around and lost trying to find the room.” She walks over to Cadence before Aiden can say anything, and takes her left hand. “How are you doing?”
Cadence smiles up at her, and squeezes her hand. But there is a shadow in her eyes, and she glances at Harmony surreptitiously. “I’ve felt better,” she says in a horse voice. “But I’m on the right side of the ground, so I can’t complain too much. Thank you all for coming here, I wasn’t expecting… I didn’t… thanks. And for the flowers, they’re beautiful.”
Harmony smiles a little uneasily at Cadence, “I’m glad you’re ok.”
The room falls into an uneasy quiet for a very long moment, and Cadence finally glances at Harmony again. “Harmony, do you mind… can I speak to Casey and Aiden alone for a minute?”
Harmony looks over at Casey, then back to Cadence and shrugs. “Sure. Ahh… why don’t I go find something to put these flowers in.” She takes the flowers from Aiden and heads towards the door. “Is this like a 5 minute disappearance, or like a half hour, kind of one?”
Cadence gets a very small smile on her face, and Aiden and Casey grin at Harmony. She always knows how to say what nobody else really wants to. “How ‘bout 10? And Harmony?” Cadence calls, stopping the other girl at the door. Harmony turns around to see Cadence giving her a wide, honest smile. “Thank you for coming here. It does mean a lot to me.”
Harmony grins back. “No problemo, Connor. Take it easy, eh?” She walks out, leaving the room in silence again.
Cadence lets go of Casey’s hand, and turns to look out the window. Casey steps back, takes Aiden’s hand, and looks over the smaller girl.
Her color is still much paler than normal, and there are dark circles under her eyes. Her right arm is bandaged and wrapped, hung from a sling. Her cheeks have bright, feverish spots on them, and her jaw is tense with suppressing the pain she’s in.
She turns back to the other two. “I asked her to leave because I didn’t want to risk getting her involved anymore than I have to. Unfortunately ya’ll are already involved, because of yesterday. I owe both of you, you saved my life.” She sees Casey about to open her mouth, and interrupts her. “Both of you. Keeping me out of those pictures was just as much saving me as Aiden getting that bandage on me, and stopping the bleeding. And I wish I could answer all the questions I know you have right now, but it’s just not safe for you.” Casey puts her hand on Cadence’s good arm, comfortingly, and waits for her to continue.
She looks down, and Casey can see an intense sadness welling up in her eyes. “My mother doesn’t want me to have friends, and it’s for your safety that I shouldn’t. You don’t know how nice it’s been to feel like I’m a part of your group, I’ve… I’ve never really had that before. But ya’ll should forget about me, it’s too dangerous to stay my friend. Hell, I might not even be staying here after all this anyway.”
She looks up, blinking tears out of her eyes, and a sudden grim determination fills them. “But I need one more favor from you, two really, before you go. They go hand in hand, kinda. My mom won’t be home for a while, I need you to sneak into my place and get something for me. I live in some of the dorm apartments at school, number 13A. My room is the one towards the back. My keys are in my purse, in the closet. Under my bed is a large keepsake chest. In it, on the top, is a black velvet bag. I need that bag.” She looks away and her face colors a bit. “There are a lot of my private things in that box, I’d appreciate it if…” She trails off, and leaves it at that. She turns back. “The second is harder. I know it won’t be easy, but I need something of Veronica’s. Something personal, the more personal the better. I need to try and help her, and I need something of hers to do that. Could you do that, for her sake?”
“But how will we be able to get anything of hers?” Aiden asks.
Before she can answer, Casey’s phone chirrups, startling them all. She sheepishly pulls it out, and can’t believe the name on the caller ID. Bianca.
“It’s Bianca.” She opens the phone, “Hello?”
“Casey, it’s Bianca.” The other girl’s voice is raw from crying, and it sounds like there are plenty other people around her. “I need you to come to the house. The Secret Service want to ask you a few more questions about what happened; go over the police report again. But I also need you to do me a favor, if you can. Can you come over here?”
“Ummm…yeah. Harmony and Aiden are with me…is it ok if they come too?”
Bianca hesitates, “It would be better if it was just you, but as long as I can talk to you privately it’s fine. How soon can you get here?”
“We’re at Kingdom Hospital right now. We can leave in a few minutes, so it won’t be too long.”
“How is Cadence?”
“She’s hurt, but she’ll be alright.”
“Tell her I’m thinking of her, and get here as soon as you can Casey.”
“I will.” Casey hangs up and passes Bianca’s message to Cadence. “We’ll go over there and while I’m with Bianca, Aiden can try and get something of Veronica’s.
“Thank you both…for everything.” Tears are in Cadence’s eyes again as Harmony bounces back into the room with the flowers in a vase.
“There’s a super hot guy nurse out there…is he yours?” Harmony asks Cadence.
Everyone laughs at Harmony’s ability to lighten the mood. “No, he’s not my nurse, but I’ve seen him.”
“Damn…you should work on getting him as your nurse. Then at least you have something to look forward to.”
“We should get going,” Aiden interjects. “We’ll see you later.” Harmony sets the vase down and Casey gives Cadence a gentle hug, careful not to hurt her any more. Harmony and Casey wave on their way out, Aiden following behind.
“What now?” Harmony asks.
“Well, Bianca called and she wants to talk to me, so I need to go over there. Do you want to come with, or do you want Aiden to drop you off?”
“I can hang. Let’s go.”
They arrive at the Carlson-Kane residence and even after Bianca and Sandy give the ok for them to be let in, they’re given the third degree by the secret service.
Aiden is asked into a separate room for questioning, leaving Harmony and Casey in the dining room. He doesn’t look happy to leave, but goes without putting up a fuss. Harmony looks around in awe at everything in the room, it’s obvious that the Carlson-Kane’s are in a higher tax bracket than her, and that’s saying something.
Bianca steps into the room, her eyes red but determined. Harmony walks over and gives her a hug, expressing her sympathy and saying that ‘everything will be ok.’ Bianca hugs her back hard, and blinks back a few tears.
“Thanks Harmony. Do you mind if I borrow Casey for a moment?”
Harmony gets a look on her face as she looks between the two of them. “Again? Geez! I kinda feel like a mushroom today!” She chuckles softly at Bianca’s confused look. “No problem B, I was just admiring the art anyway.”
She walks back to the other side of the room, and Casey walks over to Bianca, patting Harmony on the shoulder in passing. The two girls step into the kitchen, and Casey notices a large schoolbag on the floor.
“I know they’re going to come get you soon to ask you questions, so I’ll be quick. I need your help to find Veronica. I don’t trust the cops, or any of them, they’re imbeciles. My mom mentioned someone last night, but the mayor shot her down. I did some digging, but didn’t find too much. His name is Malcolm Faust. He works somewhere in Lower Arkham, I think.
“He’s kinda a PI or something. The cops seemed to know the name; it looked like some thought it would be a good idea to get him. Some of the other cops didn’t look so sure. Anyway, I can’t get out of here to find him, and if he can help at all, I need to get him involved.”
She nudges the bag with her foot. “Here is $10,000. If he needs more, I can get more. I don’t care what he does, as long as he finds her. Will you find him for me? Please, Casey, I can’t sit here and do nothing!”
“I’ve heard the name. I suppose I can try to find him. Do you really think he’ll be able to find her?”
“I don’t know, but I have to try. Please Casey…”
Casey sits and thinks for a minute and decides she doesn’t really have anything to lose by finding the PI and asking him to help. “OK, but I have some questions for you before we go. How are you doing…I mean really doing?”
Bianca looks down at the floor. “I…I’ll be ok. It’s hard, Fetch hurt, V missing, nobody knows how to find her.” She starts sniffling and Casey can see the tears ready to fall again. Bianca laughs a little, “I can’t seem to stop crying.”
Casey gives her a hug. “But Fetch will be ok, and we WILL find Roni.” After a moment, Casey pulls back and asks her next question, “Ummm..I don’t have a car, and Aiden’s been driving us around, so umm…if he asks can I tell him what’s going on?”
Bianca sighs, “If you have to. I mean, yeah. Just don’t tell a bunch of people.”
“I won’t.” Casey starts to ask another question, but Aiden walks in. “Case, they’re ready for you.” When she walks past, he pulls her to him and acts like he’s kissing her cheek, but whispers, “Be careful, they’re looking for something.” She grabs the bag from the floor and hands it to him. “Hang onto this for me please.”
Casey is let into an empty home office. She glances around, and realizes this must be Sandy’s study. Everywhere she looks are pictures of Sandy and his daughters, looking like they’re having the time of their life. The few pictures with Madison are more serious, posed family affairs, although there is a really old one of Sandy and Madison at a picnic with a toddler where they both look happy.
Veronica’s face peers at her from a multitude of pictures, and in those pictures she is open and joyous, not the shy girl she normally is at school. The love between her and her father and sister is almost palpable.
The door opens, and the stern, serious man who leads the Secret Service Detail – Alexander Walker – steps in and sits across from Casey at Sandy’s desk. He spends the next thirty minutes getting Casey to repeat herself over and over, as though he’s trying to get her to change her story.
He shows her the pictures she took. “This man here is picking up one of the other tangos, who’s wounded. Who hurt him?”
“Agent Wilson’s gun was fired three times. Did you see who he fired at? Did he hurt them?”
“I’m not sure. It all happened so fast and there was so much going on, I really don’t know,” she says over and over in response to his questions.
“Where are the rest of the pictures you took that day? I’d like to see the entire roll of film. Unaltered.”
“You have all the pictures from that day. I didn’t give you the ones from the town meeting that were on the front of the roll. Didn’t figure you needed them,” she lies. “I only cropped some because in all the craziness my finger was in some of them. I didn’t want people to know that had happened. I mean…I sell some of my photos and if people think I’m not a good photographer, then I can’t make a living with it, ya know? I didn’t think it mattered.” She forces herself to breathe normally, hoping he buys it.
“Why were Cadence Connor’s fingerprints on the gun found at the scene? And whose gun was it?” Again, she goes into her I don’t know, it happened so fast routine.
Finally he seems somewhat satisfied with her story. He tells her that she can go, but they might need to go over some things later. Right as she opens the door, he asks with a very thick, false sincerity, “Oh, and Ms. Silpetti. What’s a good number I can reach your foster parents at? In case we need their legal approval for your statement, of course.” He watches her with a calm, intense stare. Casey stops dead in her tracks and turns back around, “Huh?”
“The number for your foster parents?”
“Oh right,” she stalls nervously, but trying to hide it. “Well, I can’t imagine you need it, but the home number is 555-1864.” (Hopefully they stand by their habit of screening and not answering calls from numbers they don’t recognize. It’s not like they need anyone to find out she ran away.)
They pull up at school, and Casey can feel her insides knot up (as if they can get anymore twisted after the morning she’s had). But still, pulling up to the building that she’s been staying at, even though Harmony and Aiden don’t know that, it’s unsettling to say the least.
They pull in the empty parking spot, and Aiden kills the engine. As they start to get out, Casey stops them. “Look, we’re not sure her mom isn’t going to be back soon. I knew someone who was in one of these before, I know my way around. Honk if you see someone coming, I’ll be in and out.”
She stops herself, and looks over at Aiden. “Were you able to get something of Roni’s?”
“Yep.” He pulls out a thin black notebook, secured with an elastic band. “I didn’t really look through it too much, but it looks like her journal.”
“Ok, good. Keep a close eye out for me.”
She steps out of the SUV, and heads quickly for the door. Using Cadence’s keys, she lets herself in. She closes the door behind her, and stands there in the darkness for a long moment, listening to the silence.
The room is very spare, there aren’t many personal touches spread out. A picture of Cadence and her mother together hangs over the mantle, but that is about it. The layout of the furniture seems odd, but Casey doesn’t bother to stand around trying to figure out why. She wants out of here as soon as she can, it just doesn’t feel right to be sneaking around in here.
Up the stairs and through the door, and into Cadence’s room. Like downstairs, it’s bare the many touches a girl’s room normally has. Her closet door is open, and half packed duffel bags lie on the floor, ready for a quick escape. The clothes that are hanging are all functional and plain.
On the bed lies one of the only touches of personality, a small, ragged little stuffed bear. It’s fur is no longer the white of its youth, and when Casey picks it up with interest, she notices it’s been carefully repaired several times.
She places it back carefully where it was, and goes to her knees beside the bed. Reaching under, she pulls out a solid chest, that’s lighter than it appears. The wood is old and scarred, and a faint pattern covers the edges.
She opens the silver clasp, and opens it. Inside is a mess of various things: papers, notes, photographs, bags of various sizes, smaller boxes holding who knows what, bottles, etc.
Just as Cadence said, right on top is a black velvet bag. She picks it up, and feels something shift inside, a musical ‘chink’ ringing out. She picks up the photos to look at them, but changes her mind, deciding to honor Cadence’s privacy. She closes the chest and slides it back under the bed. She looks around the room once more and on a whim grabs the bear from the bed to take to Cadence at the hospital.
She locks the door and gets in the car, feeling like she interrupted Harmony and Aiden’t conversation. “OK, back to the hospital.” Aiden doesn’t move to start the car and Casey looks from one to the other, “What’d I miss?”
Harmony jumps in, “Well, we were thinking that, ummm, with secret service looking into this and you taking those pictures that are all over the news and stuff…well…we think you should stay with one of us, at least ‘til they find V.” Casey just sits there not sure what to say.
Aiden continues, “We’d really feel better if we knew you were somewhere safe, and we know you won’t go back to your foster home.” Casey feels tears in her eyes, not used to people caring what happens to her.
“Ummm…I…well, I’ll think about it.” She looks out the window as a tear falls down her cheek. She wipes it off as Aiden starts the car.
They listen to the radio for a little until Harmony speaks up, “You know, this Cloak & Dagger stuff is fun and all, but I know you guys aren’t telling me everything and I’m not so sure I want to know, so ummm, would you mind dropping me off, I have some more ideas for my comic and I’d like to work on that instead of being third wheel.”
Aiden and Casey mumble their ok’s and Aiden drops Harmony back at his house where her car is. Casey gives her a hug before they go, “Sorry you feel left out Harm…it’s just…”
Harmony interrupts, “It’s ok. You don’t have to feel bad about this, I know it’s probably better if I don’t know what all y’all are doing. And, please, please, think about what we said. Come stay with me, or here with Aiden.” She gives Case another quick hug and they head their separate ways.
Aiden and Casey head over to Kingdom Hospital to see Cadence.
They ride in silence, the droning of the windshield wipers filling the interior of the cabin. Casey feels Aiden look over at her a few times during the trip, but he stays quiet, letting her sit with her thoughts. It’s been a crazy few days in a kinda crazy few weeks at school, and there’s still processing to be done in her head.
She stares out the window, Cadence’s teddy bear sitting on her lap while her hand idly plays with the bag she retrieved from the chest. She can tell from feel that there are several – feels like three – objects in the bag, all spheres about the size of a racquetball. They must be cushioned or wrapped in something else – some kind of fabric of something from the feel of it.
The later hour hasn’t made the hospital any less spooky. They don’t run into anyone they know on the way up to Cadence’s room, and there are luckily no surprises there either. Cadence is lying in bed, seemingly waiting for them to show up.
She smiles when she sees the teddy bear in Casey’s hands. “Lancelot!” She hugs the bear to her tightly, and smiles up at Casey. “Thank you, I didn’t think it’d make me so happy to see something from home. I guess this place is kinda getting to me.”
She reaches out and takes the bag from Casey as well. “You found it, thank you. And did you get something of Veronica’s?”
Aiden holds out the journal he took from her room. “Will this do?” Casey can see the skepticism in his eyes about this whole thing, but true to his word he isn’t asking any questions.
She takes it from his hand, and holds it a moment. “Yes, this should work.” She turns and places the journal and the bag in the nightstand drawer next to her. “I appreciate again the help, especially since I know you have questions.” She refuses to look either one of them in the eye, but Casey can see the sadness welling up in her eyes.
“It was… it was very nice being your friend. It really meant a lot to me.” Now she does look up at them, her eyes silvered with unshed tears. “I owe both of you.” Something in her tone changes slightly, becomes more… ‘real.’
“Casey Silpetti, Aiden Dennison, if there comes a time that you need anything I can do for you, you have but to ask. I owe the both of you, and will repay the favor any way I can.”
She looks away again. “Aiden, I’ll try and get us changed as lab partners when I get back to school. Take care, both of you. Good bye.” The last is said almost in a whisper.
They sit in Aiden’s SUV, letting the heater slowly warm them up. The rain has brought a chill to the air that caught them by surprise as they ran through the parking lot.
Aiden breaks the silence first. “So now what?”
Casey’s thinks of the bag hidden in the back seat, full of money. $10,000, more money than she’s ever seen at one time. Enough money to get her out of this city and away from her foster parents, start a school career somewhere else. All that money, trusted to her by a girl who barely knew her really, to try and help find her sister, another girl who barely knew Casey. Who was kidnapped at gunpoint just feet away from her. For a long moment, her mind has troubles even comprehending all the twists and turns life has made in the past few days, to get her to this point. She decides to level with Aiden.
“We need to find someone. His name is Malcolm Faust. Bianca thinks he might be able to help find Roni.”
“How are we going to find him? And how can he help?”
“I’ve heard the name before. I think I know where I saw it; we need to go to the bus station down on Seaside. And she said that the cops knew this guy, and so did her mom. So we’ll see what he can do.”
It takes some legwork, but eventually they find a small sheet posted to a notice board, and get his address from that.
Once they get there, even Casey starts to have some second thoughts. His “office” is a ramshackle building hidden away deep in the back roads of Lower Arkham. From outside it looks as though the upper floor is an apartment. All of the windows are shuttered and curtained, the inside glass grimy with years of neglect.
They walk up to the door hesitantly, Casey’s knuckles white from how tight she’s holding the money bag. A small brass plaque next to the door reads:
Malcolm Faust
Troubleshooter / Adjustor
Taped to the doors window is a larger handwritten sign, simply stating “NO HELP” in large, bold letters.
Casey knocks, her knuckles barely touching the wood before there’s a click, and it swings open. She glances back at Aiden for moral support, and they both step into the dim building. Somewhere in the back there is a record playing something slow and mournful, something that would be home in a blues club.
Most of the bottom floor appears to be a large, open area that’s a combination library, office, living room, and junk heap. Masses of paper and other – mysterious – items are scattered over almost every level surface in sight.
A large raven watches them both silently from its perch on a beat up file cabinet, momentarily stretching out its wings to shake some feathers back into place.
All of her attention is suddenly drawn to the man who steps out from a back room, wiping his hands with a dish towel. The aroma of cooking dinner follows him into the room. A neutral expression sits across his face, his eyes shadowed as they stare with sharp intensity at Casey. His head is shaved, he wears faded blue jeans and an untucked, simple, black, long-sleeved shirt. He looks a little care worn, there is a hint of age to him despite the fact that he looks to be only in his early 40’s or so.
“Mr. Faust?” Casey manages to ask without stammering. The intensity of his stare is starting to make her feel very uncomfortable, and she wishes that he would at least blink. She can feel Aiden behind her though, and his nearness keeps her courage up. He makes no answering gesture, so she continues on. “We need your help-”
With that he interrupts, his hand coming up and cutting across in a harsh gesture. “Didn’t you read the sign?” he snarls. “I don’t do help. If you need help, call the cops, find a PI. Help is a four letter word around here, say it again and I’ll kick you out on your ass.”
Aiden’s hands come up and rest on her shoulders, and she realizes that she must have stepped back into him, she can feel the firm press of his body against her back. Faust stands there, waiting to see what she will say next.
“Fine, then we need your expertise at finding people,” Casey says, hoping that’s what he really does. “We can pay for your services.”
“Sounds like a bass-ackwards way of saying you need my help,” Faust answers.
Casey takes a step forward, out of Aiden’s reach, “Well, Mr. Faust, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Senator Kane’s daughter Veronica was kidnapped. The police, the FBI, nobody’s having any luck finding her. We thought that with your more non-traditional contacts, you could at least find out who took her and why, if not where she’s at. As I already said, we’d pay you for your services, but if you’re not interested, we’ll just take our $10,000 and find someone else who will work with us.” She pauses for a moment, waiting for him to say he’ll do it and when he doesn’t she turns for the door, saying over her shoulder, “Sorry to have interrupted your dinner. Thank you for your time.”
Aiden follows her and grabs her arm once they’re outside. “What did you mean when you said we had $10,000 to pay him with?” he asks Casey as she turns to face him.
She pats the bag, “It’s in here. Bianca gave it to me for him. I guess we need to take it back to her now. I know it’s late, but I really don’t want to hang onto this longer than I have to.”
“Wow.” Aiden stares at the bag for a moment, then they both head for his car. They get in and are ready to drive away when Faust steps out of the building. Aiden rolls down his window, but neither of them say anything.
Faust just stands there staring at them for almost 2 full minutes. He finally says, “You comin’ or what?” before turning and going back inside.
Aiden and Casey look at each other, then he kills then engine and they both follow Faust back to his “office.”
They step back inside and he points at a worn couch. “Sit.”
Aiden and Casey sit next to each other. Faust sits in a chair off to the side of the couch. “What exactly do you think I’ll be able to do for you?”
Casey thinks a moment, and making sure not to use the word help, answers. “I was enlisted to find you and procure your services. The police and Senator Kane seem to think you can find out more than they or the FBI, but for some reason there wasn’t a consensus so they didn’t contact you. Bianca, Senator Kane’s other daughter, would have come herself, but is otherwise occupied, so she sent me.”
“That is most formal way anyone has ever said jack shit to me.”
Casey blushes a little and decides to tell him the truth. “Honestly, I don’t know what it is that you do, and I don’t think Bianca knows for sure either. She heard the Senator and the police both mention you, but neither really wanted to contact you, and she feels like you’re her last chance at finding Veronica. They’re watching her like a hawk, so she sent me.”
“And him?” Faust points at Aiden.
“Ummm…he’s my ride.” Casey pauses for a moment. “What exactly do you do?”
He gives her a terse smile that is neither happy, jovial, or kind. In a word, it’s simply chilling. “Didn’t you read the sign outside, my dear? I’m a troubleshooter. Someone who has trouble comes to me, and I shoot it. Not always literally, which is why I added the Adjustor bit. I’m good at adjusting
things, people, attitudes…” He drifts off, his matter of fact tone even more chilling than his smile.
“You know, you look familiar to me. Why is that do you think?” Faust asks Casey.
Casey looks down at the floor when she answers, running her words together really fast, “There are places near here where nobody lives, and sometimes if I didn’t have anywhere to go, I’d squat for a while. Sometimes I’d hang out at the University, same reason.” She looks up at him, “Will you accept the job?”
He stares long and hard at her. Aiden shifts slightly, and Casey can tell without looking that he’s uncomfortable with the way Faust is looking at her. But she refuses to back down, and returns his stare carefully, as though she’s taking a test she doesn’t quite understand.
Finally a grin crosses his face, this one actually tinted with a bit of humor. “I have to say, ten grand is enough to get my curiosity peaked.” He stands and crosses the room to a desk, where he sits. He reaches into an interior drawer and pulls out a piece of parchment and bottle of ink. He dips a pen into the ink, and starts to write.
“The real question is, will you - agent for Bianca Kane, roamer of empty places - sign my contract? Will you be bondsman for Ms. Kane? For I do no job without a contract.”
He rises from his desk, and walks back to his seat next to the sofa. He passes the parchment over to Casey, who takes it hesitantly.
The first thing she notices is that the parchment is actually warm. It’s thicker than normal paper, with an odd texture that she chooses not to think about. In flowing script in black ink are the terms of the contract.
She reads over them. They state rather plainly that he agrees to try and find Veronica in exchange for the $10,000 offered by Bianca’s bondsman, with a blank there waiting for Casey to fill in her name. It states that if he fails to find her, he will refund half of the agreed fee. There are no legal terms, just the title of ‘Contract’ handwritten at the top. At the bottom is a place for each of them to sign.
“If it’s agreeable, sign it and go. I don’t work with an audience. Leave the money. Not agreeable, well, don’t sign and go. Take the money with you. Simple enough?”
“What if I want to offer my help to you for this job? You don’t get the money if I don’t tag along?” Casey asks.
He gives her another grin, this one just a slightly bit more friendly than his earlier attempts. “Now I know you didn’t read the sign. ‘No Help,’ remember? Where I’m going, you don’t wanna be going.”
Casey fills in her name as Bianca’s bondsman and signs at the bottom. She hands Faust the contract and the schoolbag full of money.
She writes her number on a piece of paper and hands it to him. ‘In case you have any questions, or if you find something.” She and Aiden head towards the door.
Before they leave Faust looks Casey in the eyes one more time, saying as he turns away, “By the way Miss Silpetti, you have your mother’s eyes.” Casey stands there stunned until they hear him lock the door and Aiden starts pulling her toward the car.
Outside, they sit in Aiden’s SUV for a long moment, before he turns to her. “Well, where to? I called my folks earlier, they won’t be home for two more days. So you can either come home with me, or I can drop you at Harmony’s. No place else unless you wanna walk, and we both know I’m not going to let you do that.” He smiles over at her, but his eyes are serious.
“Ummm…it’s late and I’m wearing the only clothes I have with me, so if Harmony’s still up I’ll stay with her. Otherwise you’re going to have to loan me something to wear for pjs and let me run a load of laundry. On to Harm’s house.”
They pull up in front of Harmony’s house. The only light on is downstairs in a corner room.
“I guess you’re staying here then,” Aiden says.
Casey laughs. “Nope. Nobody’s up. That light is on a timer and the rest of the house is dark. It stays on until just after midnight, and although it’s late, it’s not quite that late. So, I’m bunking on your couch tonight and doing a load of laundry.”
“Ok then.” Aiden finds a song he likes better on his iPod and heads off toward home, smiling to himself. Casey just smiles over at him and sings along quietly. “You know, we’re going to have to get you more clothes. We’re not doing laundry every night.” Casey pretends not to hear and keeps singing.
…
Once at his house, they walk up to his room in companionable silence. He looks through his dresser, and hands her some clothes he pulls out. It’s a pair of boxers and a long t-shirt, almost like a hockey jersey. It has a punching bag with a fist superimposed over it, and the words “Donner Stephan – UMC Light Heavyweight” emblazoned across it. Once on, it’ll probably end somewhere mid-thigh, it’s a large shirt even for him.
He starts pulling the sheets off his bed. “If you want I can bring yours down with this, might as well do all of it at once. You can just toss it all on top of that, I’m going get some new sheets for ya.”
“Hey, I was going to sleep on the sofa, remember?”
“Riiight, like I’d let you do that. Nope, you get the bed.” He stops and gives her a sly look. “Not exactly how I thought you might get into my bed, but I’ll take what I can get.”
She feels the blush spread across her face. “So, been thinking about getting me into your bed?” She tries to sound gruff.
“I’m a guy,” he states simply. But he stops in the doorway. “The real question is, have you been thinking about it?” He grins and walks out to go get the sheets.
