By the time he was ready to make a final offer, Dimitrios was satisfied he knew her better than her mama. He received permission to begin showing her cases they were trying to solve. When the agent studied the cases he presented, she was hooked. As soon as she said yes, the transition process began. Anjoleah would turn out to be the one hire that was the most important asset to the prime minister’s office.
Until now, Dimitrios never had a reason to question her loyalty to Anthony. Thinking back, there was one thing about tonight that made him uneasy about the whole fiasco. What was in that look between the Taboocat and the prime minister? That brief moment that his memory kept pondering. He knew he'd seen it before. He was trying to decide the exact moment he'd seen it in her past. What was she up to?
Chapter 118
Charles was exhilarated and intrigued by Jasen's interview. He pondered the bad boy image for a few seconds and wondered if Caroline would like that? He wanted to know more about Jasen's life. What would it be like to have the dangerous secret life of a Rogue Seeker or a Passageway Thief? What was Jasen's family like as he was growing up? Was it possible his parents were good role models and he had misunderstood their intentions? Did they attempt to teach him right from wrong? Or were they cruelly strict, emotionally cold, disinterested and overbearing? In the interview Jasen told them a little about his parents and siblings, before he shied away from answering further questions about his family. Charles noticed that Jasen seemed to be almost yearning for his family, as if he actually missed them. The last thing the young man mentioned, before he stopped talking about his family, was that his dad was demanding. His father would command him to repetitiously perform the same assignment until he was convinced that Jasen had learned to do the task faster and more thoroughly. The thought crossed Charles’ mind that Jasen’s family must have been financially well off. To some extent, someone must have trusted him, if the young man was taught the requirements of Sojourning. Someone had sponsored him, but whom? Charles came to the conclusion that Jasen, as a young child, must have learned the basics of being a thief before he was recruited. Probably the Rogue Seeker wasn't caught when he first began stealing; maybe his parents simply looked the other way. Charles tried to think how Jasen may have felt the first time he purloined an object, but there was no way to be certain. The major question still remained unanswered; did the young man feel anything? What would someone like that feel during the act: hatred, remorse, maybe an adrenaline high?
Charles thought about what Jasen said in the interview they witnessed. The young man told Phil that he had been recruited while he was visiting the Hub. During the time he was exploring in a shopping sector, a man approached him with an offer of becoming rich beyond his dreams. He impetuously decided he wanted a life of excitement and adventure. Jasen stated he didn’t realize what he had been forced into at the beginning. When he wanted to leave the life of thievery, he quickly learned it would be too dangerous to walk away. Others had tried it to their detriment. Some individuals said they were finished and thought they could leave when they wanted. Everyone involved soon learned once they took part in a crime, there was no escape. Others had attempted to barter their way out, but the price was continually raised. One option available for a Passageway Seeker to obtain true freedom was if someone bought you out. Everyone and everything was for sale on the other side of the border. It had to be kept in mind that the more productive an individual was, the price he or she would bring to the organization would increase.
Jasen shrugged as he talked. “Whom would I know that has the money and would put their own neck on the line for my escape from this life? I heard of that happening only once. No one learned the outcome of that deal. We all secretly wanted to believe it could happen. We wished someone would come for us. No one ever did man; no one ever did...
“I know of one other option and that is to escape. If you successfully escape, then your ‘community’ pays the price. They work harder to pay off your debt, or they have to fill your spot by dragging someone else into their nightmare. No one wants to do it. Who wants to have a life of deceit? That's our life. That is what we do to live. You learn to be good at it, really good. No one really befriends those who exist in our ‘communities’. No one really trusts each other. We don't want to have friends, in case they escape. It's better that way. Those who might escape will spend the rest of their existence in the blurred background of life, afraid of a Global Hunter tracking them, always following their trail. The most feared tracker is named Aszero. If he finds a runner, the escape is death.”
As Charles got ready for the night, he sat at the foot of the bed and started to daydream, thinking of himself as a Passageway Seeker. He thought of how he would look with a tattoo on the back of his neck. Charles rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand. In his mind he tried on different leather jackets until he found just the right black one. His attire had to be just right. He decided to go with an all-black gothic style. Charles thought about his hair and how he'd wear it. He'd add a little blood red color to the hair at the base of his neck to make him appear a little more dangerous.
Charles stood and stared at himself in the mirror. He squinted then turned his head to the side. He didn't like what he saw. He didn't like the way that he felt when looking at his reflection. He knew Caroline wouldn't like it either.
He finished getting ready for bed and turned on his bedside lamp. Charles sat with his back propped up against his pillow. Why would I want to be someone I’m not?
Charles realized that he didn't want to have somebody else's life. Indistinctly he heard Nana and Paw Paw talking downstairs. He couldn't understand what they were saying. Charles’ thoughts turned to school, until he finally fell asleep.
Chapter 119
Cassia walked into the office and put her things away. She did a double take as she peered into Dimitrios’ office. It was a wreck. She said, “So this is where you were last night? I wondered what happened to you."
Dimitrios thought about her comment for a moment. The mind fog was so deep at this point it was difficult to react. When he focused his eyes on Cassia, he realized they had a date planned for the previous night. He had forgotten.
He closed his eyes, took a shallow breath, then looked at her and said, "I am so sorry. Something came up. It isn't that it was more important than you; I just got wrapped up in an assignment. I'm on a deadline. I'm truly sorry. I'd like to take you out when this is finalized."
She gave him a sympathetic look and smiled. "I'd like that, but only after you get some sleep."
Cassia asked, "How may I assist you in your assignment?"
Dimitrios thought about her question and swallowed hard. Then he said, "I'm not sure you can help me with this project. I mean, I wouldn't even know where to start. I'm almost finished. Thank you though."
"All right. If I can help you at some point, let me know." She started to walk out of his office then stopped and halfway turned around.
Cassia said over her shoulder, "Anjoleah came by last night."
She walked to the credenza in her office space and began to brew the coffee. As Dimitrios worked, the aroma of the coffee drifted through the air. Cassia came in with his usual coffee fix.
He thanked her, took a sip and then said, "Why don't you fix some for yourself and join me?"
"Okay." Dimitrios cleared a spot for her to sit down.
When Cassia returned, she sat and took a sip of coffee. She always brought her own coffee to the office. She liked her coffee flavored with a lot of creamy froth. He couldn't understand why she even drank it. It defeated the benefit of having a strong drink. He sat back and watched her, wondering if in fact she would start talking. She didn't. They sat in awkward silence until Anthony came into the office.
Cassia stood and offered him a cup of coffee. When Anthony accepted her offer, she went to her office to prepare the prime minister’s coffee. Cassia closed the door leaving the men to their business. As she returned to Dimitrios’ office with t
he drink, Anthony met her on his way out. He thanked her, chatted for a minute and then walked out, taking the mug with him.
She looked through the doorway at Dimitrios and said, "That's the fourth mug he's taken in the last week. Is he starting a collection?" They smiled at the thought.
Dimitrios avoided the conversation about Anjoleah. He tossed out a couple of places Cassia might like to go for dinner. Then he asked if she had a preference. She said she'd like to go to a quiet restaurant, other than that she didn't care. So Dimitrios told her he'd make the reservations. When they finished their coffee, Cassia took his coffee mug and left his office.
Dimitrios gathered his paperwork into his briefcase. He combed his hair and put on his suit coat. He handed Cassia a list of work to be completed and told her he'd come by for her around 6:00 p.m. He headed for Anthony's office.
He arrived at Anthony's office and walked in. The secretary was busy filing paperwork. The phone kept ringing. The prime minister motioned for Dimitrios to come in and close the door. He did. Anthony was looking over paperwork, stacking the pages up into a pile as he finished reading.
The prime minister stopped his work and gave Dimitrios his full attention. Dimitrios began by going over their options as he opened his briefcase. He was aware that the prime minister would be making the final decision. Anthony leaned forward in his chair and looked over the confidential files for Anjoleah’s replacement that Dimitrios set on his desk.
Anthony leaned back and said, "You have prepared excellent options. I think we ought to go with Captain Shawn Caruzio. After talking with you in your office, I took the liberty of calling Oscar. He will be here any minute. Just for good measure, I think I will also give him our number two pick as well. It is always good to have a backup plan. I'm giving you permission to make an offer to Shawn. You may approach him as soon as tomorrow afternoon.”
Dimitrios was a little uneasy about moving so quickly to replace Anjoleah. "As soon as I hear from you that you have finalized the decision with Oscar, I will start proceeding with our plan."
Anthony was looking over a file, as he said, “No need to wait. Proceed tomorrow around..." He looked at the clock on the wall. "Noon. You can schedule lunch with him. Anjoleah has already turned in her notice. She gave it in writing this morning."
Dimitrios said, "I will go right away and make a reservation at Aristarchus’ restaurant." He turned and left Anthony's office, closing the door.
He walked briskly back to his own office. He asked Cassia to make a lunch reservation for two at noon the next day. Then he left the office.
As he briskly walked down the hallway, Dimitrios heard footsteps coming faster and faster keeping up with his step. He stopped to look around; no one else was in the hallway. He thought the footsteps he heard could have been his own. His heart began racing so he loosened his tie. Dimitrios turned the corner and noticed the hallway looked longer than it ever had looked before. He kept up the fast pace but soon found that he was almost running through the hall. He started to perspire. He thought: I need to go home and rest. The tension created by Anjoleah’s departure is affecting me.
Dimitrios made his way as quickly as possible to his house. He was exhausted as he entered his living space. He tried to calm his thoughts as he walked to his bedroom. Random flashes of memories appeared in his mind. His head hurt. He sat on his bed. Before Dimitrios put his head on the pillow, he set the alarm. He knew all too well what could happen if he didn't. The lights went out. A figure in the shadows waited briefly before departing from the grounds of Dimitrios’ residence.
Chapter 120
Caroline was ready for school. She was hoping that after school they could go back to the Kingdom of the Last Dragon. It had been a while since she was allowed to go anywhere after school for any length of time after her “jogging” incident. She blew a breath that moved some annoying hairs out of her eyes. Caroline thought about the discussion she heard between her parents the night before.
Her mom thought she was out of hearing distance when the talk began. As Caroline walked by the kitchen, she overheard the conversation. She discovered that Bev had invited her to come to the farm after school to work on homework. Joyce said that she accepted the invitation for Caroline as long as their daughter could be home by nine o’clock. Caroline was standing in the doorway when her dad looked her way and smiled. She had let out a silent squeal and silently clapped her hands. Her mom had her back to Kevin putting the plates away. As soon as her mom turned around from putting the dishes away, she looked at Kevin and took a couple of steps back so she could see Caroline in the hallway. Caroline quickly put forth a solemn face and straightened up, not knowing if her mom would be as thrilled as she was to have freedom once again. Joyce had been very over protective lately. Her mom looked her up and down and then cleared her throat. She repeated her conversation with Bev to Caroline and said, "Since you overheard our conversation I guess you know I said yes to Bev's request. Just be home by 9:00."
Caroline thanked her parents over and over promising, "I won't be late." She hugged them several times before she bounced all the way up the steps to her room.
Caroline couldn't wait to get through the school day. Charles pulled up in front of the house. He got out and stood by the passenger’s door, waiting for her. Joyce hugged Caroline and requested that she call after reaching the Jones’ farm. Caroline promised she would and grabbed her backpack off of the bench as she fluttered out the door.
Joyce grinned at Kevin and said, "She'll be all right. I know she will."
Kevin hugged her. "Of course she will or she will be grounded for the rest of her life." Joyce shook her head as she took Kevin's hand and led him to the kitchen to finish reading the local morning paper.
On the way to school Natalie and Wayland sat in the back seat of the car quietly discussing the rumors they had heard. Wayland said to Natalie, "I wonder what Anjoleah’s quitting does to our assignment?" Natalie told him that her dad was going to be meeting with them after school to go over the plans.
Charles looked at Caroline and asked her if something was wrong. She sighed and said, "No, not really. I was just hoping that we could visit the Kingdom of the Last Dragon after school. I haven't been for a while. That's all."
Charles said, "I don't see why we can't leave for the kingdom after Dimitrios is finished talking to us."
Caroline’s face lit up. "Okay, thank you! I'm so looking forward to going."
Natalie chimed in, "Count us in! We'd like to journey also. The kingdom is so close to being a paradise."
Caroline said, "I can't wait to see what has been accomplished since the last time I visited."
Charles and Caroline planned to finish their homework at school so they could travel to the kingdom when they reached the farm. The conversation continued through lunch and in between afternoon classes. When school was out, they raced to Charles’ car. Charles and Caroline took an inventory of the assignments they had to complete. Both were almost finished with their schoolwork. Before they went to the office, the friends went to the kitchen with Caroline to call her parents. Bev had a snack sitting on the counter waiting for them to take to the office.
When they walked in Carson's office, Dimitrios was already talking to Carson. They set their bags down and joined the conversation. Caroline went to Charles' desk and started working on her assignments. She heard bits and pieces of the conversation as she concentrated on the work before her. She was determined to finish. She didn't want anything to keep her from returning to the kingdom when the meeting with Dimitrios was concluded.
Dimitrios explained that the rumors were true; Anjoleah had turned in her notice. He was in the process of interviewing candidates to fill her position. He assured them that Charles was safe. They had not come across any information that he was in jeopardy.
He told Natalie and Wayland, "Keep doing your jobs and be vigilant. When word gets out that Anjoleah has left the building, no telling what may transpire out there in Ganglan
d."
When they finished the discussion, Dimitrios looked over Charles’ homework to check what he was studying. Next they went over his grade sheet. Natalie was tutoring Caroline as they listened in on the conversation.
Dimitrios asked Charles, "So what are you going to do tonight after you finish your school work?" Charles’ eyes met Caroline’s as he told Dimitrios that they were going to Caroline's kingdom.
Dimitrios said, "I might like to revisit the kingdom sometime."
Charles invited him to join their trip. Dimitrios declined and said, "I owe Cassia a night out. She's cashing in on a previous missed date. I hope I can join you another time."
Charles shrugged. "Anytime you want to join us, the offer is available. We are hoping to see the dragon."
Dimitrios laughed. "What dragon?"
"Virgil's dragon."
Dimitrios was skeptical. "Virgil's dragon?" He looked amused.
Charles repeated, "Virgil's dragon."
Caroline chimed in. "It's true."
Natalie looked up. "I'm going just to find out."
Wayland was talking to himself. "I wonder if you can take a ride on such a creature?" Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the Journeyman.
Chapter 121
Anjoleah looked at her appointment book. She took a pen and wrote in bold letters in blood red ink, I QUIT! It didn't really seem as satisfying as she thought it would. She scowled at the words then turned her attention to her unfinished business.
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