Collinsport, once a sleepy little town that had thought itself cured of an ever-growing series of dark shadows, finds itself once more a town draped in mystery.
The History seems to have returned. And there are those who whisper, when they know there isnt anyone affiliated with Collins Family around that it seems to have started when That woman from England arrived. And for that woman, Nicole Collins, having newly established herself as a private investigator, she has discovered that her doors now never seem to be closed.
As the afternoon shadows have begun to lengthen with the advent of autumn, the sun has set and dusk falls upon the costal town of Collinsport. A slowly opening lid rises as long, slender fingers reach out and grasp the grey metallic lid of the coffin. Nikki arises and like a cat awakening from a long a nap she shifts her shoulders, stretches her neck. She slowly lowered the lib. It wasnt that Nikki had to sleep in the close confines of the coffin, it being an odd rumor circulated about vampires, but it was something she did as a reminder to herself. She looked at the polished copper-hue surface of the coffin and concentrating as Elizabeth had recently taught her, was able to turn the dark shadowy blur of her reflection into the hazing image of herself so as to check her hair. Make-up had always been something of a nightmare since her turning. Now, as Elizabeth explained, a concentrated effort of growing her mental prowess and she could change the blurred image into a momentary reflection except in any silver-backed mirror which was of course most of them. She closed the well hinged coffin. Below, beyond the second story storage room, she is aware that Esther is busy at her desk.
Nikki stepped out of the door of the secord floor storage room and on to the narrow landing, looking down into the main offices of Collins Investigations and saw Ester at her desk. “Esther . . . and how are you tonight?” She asks coming down the stairs.
Esther, startled for a moment, as Nikki does have the unique ability to just sneak up on you, her footsteps all but inaudible, looks up from her desk. Good evening Nik. Bah. I’m fine.
“Anything of interest?” Nikki asks slowly descending the narrow stairs. And just as she is reaching bottom step, as if on cue, there is a light rap tap tapping on the glass of their Investigative offices chamber door.
Esther looks over at Nik, then the door, with a look that says, do we really want to open it?
Nikki smiles, knowing she is closer: Oh, I will get it.
Esther replies watching Nikki stroll toward the front door of the main office of Collins Investigations, Nope not much till now, although, I think there was some theft of films or somthin.
Nikki goes to the door, turns the key in the lock, and opens the door.
Swear, if it’s anouther bag of s***… Esther mutters to herself.
Standing at the door, with a notebook in hand, and a multicoloured backpack stands a young woman in her early 20’s who was obviously an anime fan as she wore an anime school girl cosplay outfit and a cheerful smile. Hello
Nikki holds the door open, “Hello, and do, please enter, if you will.” She motions with her hand.
The young woman walks in, her ponytail bouncing.
“So, how may I help you?” Nikki asks, looking over to Esther as if to ask, is this something normal one would wear, but receiving an odd shrug and a look that indicate . . . yes, was strange, even by Collinsport standards.
Well, I think its more like if you can help me…. She says with a more than slightly over dramatics sigh. Do you, by chance ever expand outside of Collinsport?
Nikki looks at Esther and raises an eyebrow as she can tell that Esther was already begun to quickly formulate an opinion of this person.
“That would depend on out far from Collinsport you may be suggesting.”
The girl in the cosplay outfit flops down in a slightly frustrated humph, opening her notebook on her lap.
Esther watches her out of the corner of her eye as she picks up a beer bottle and retrieves a bit of paperwork for perspective clients to fill out.
So far its just Boston, though some . . . errr . . . some of the bodies have been found at the university.
Esther starts to search the desk for the stapler.
Nikki saunters over the one of the chairs in front of Esthers desk and languidly takes a seat across from the anime girl with blue hair.
“So, you’re a student at Harvard?” Nikki asks?
Oh no ! Nothing like that ! Im in M.I.T. – working on the E-8 project
Esther moves papers about the desk, mumbling to herself, “I swear, if somebody took my f***in’ stapler….”
‘Oh,” Nikki looks at Esthers frustration, “M.I.T. ”
The young girl opens her backpack, Uhm, I have a stapler or two in my pack here if you need one?
“Well, first, how about we start with your name, Miss Nikki began her blue observant eyes now the shade of pale sapphires.
Oh M.I.T. Esther says looking up at Nikki and taps her nose knowingly and continues her search.
Pei Huang The young woman replies beginning to look for a stapler in her back.
Nikki leans forward, “That is quite alright, Esther likes hers.”
The young woman looks up, stops looking in the pack, puts it beside her chair, Pleased to meet you – you come highly recommended.
Esther sits down and pulls out a pen. Right. And how do you spell that again?
Nikki sitting back introspectively in her chair as there were two thinks already on her mind since awakening, one was Sam, whom she certainly need to either call or go and see and either make amends or break it off, the other, was something intangible, some feeling of a gathering darkness, a forboding, Oh, I do. And who recommended me Miss Pei?
Miss Pei Huang looks seriously at Esther and nods her head. People are always walking off with my office supplies . . . and my name is P E I H U A N G
Esther writes it down all as one word
On the edge of her chair Miss Pei Huang perches, anxious, as if she were about to just rise and leave at any moment. I was visiting the Miskatonic . . . or however that is pronounced . . . to see if they had anything I hadn’t yet seen in regards to the flower of life, as that is of course a viable aspect of E-8.
Nikki nods still rather distracted.
. . . And I was eavesdropping when someone one mentioned your name.
“Oh, I am sure they are using my name quite a lot today after last night.” Nikki smiles, and so Miss Pei, how can I be of service?”
Wellllllll… I dunno if you have heard of the recent string of murders?
Nikkis eyes now shifted to a darker shade of sapphire as she sat up. String of murders?
Miss Pei nodded, And so I was wondering if you could look for this person.
She disappeared a while ago, but like one of my friends seems really . . . bothered by everythinglike, she wont even go out in public anymore except to class and then she holes back up again . . . and she has other obligations too, but she really doesnt leave her room very often – its so weird and it seems to revolve round this person.
Nikki looks at the photo, and then back to Miss Pei, “And this person is?”
She was one of those punk rock band people – she went by the name Razor.
Esther with her pen poised to write, So you don’t know ‘er name.
I dont know what her real name is, but my friendwhen one of my other friends brought in all the CDs of her, she stayed in the bathroom till they left . . . then came out and just snapped CD’s in two. She looks at Nikki and Esther and thinks that nay sound horrid and so she continues, She’s not a total bitch. Really. She gave me the money to replace it, but she seemed really . . . disturbed . . . And this Razor, there’s lots of rumors going on about that person, like she is going around killing people and . . . my friend has weird reactions to it,:
“And the name of this Band, the one that Razor sings for, what is their name?” Nikki asks.
Miss Huang flips through her notebook, “Uhm, hold on, I have the article here. She hands it over to Nikki who takes it with renewed interest. “I kinda … found this laying on a police officers desk and photocopied it.”
“My friend would probably burn it if she saw it. She adds while Nikki looks at the photocopy of the article.
Esther looks at her, “You stole something from the police?”
“PHOTOCOPY is not stealing!”
“And then had sensitive information photocopied. Esther continues tapping her pen against her pad of paper.
“It’s important, I think my best friend is loosing her mind,” Miss Huang defends herself, still poised on the edge of her seat as if to leave at any moment, “You care that much if it was your best friend who was loosing her mind?”
Esther cut her eyes a moment to look at Nikki who was still reading the article.
“If you say you are above trying to find out as much as you can to help someone you care about . . . well . . . you can’t possibly care all that much — besides the police are clueless anyway. And Boston isn’t usually a place where people get all . . . scared like this, you know. It’s affecting people — even grown people too, there was this one older guy ranting on the streets about how Razor is going to kill him and his family and.. Its become a normal occurrence.”
Esther was incredulous, “Boston’s a big f***in’ city. People go missing every day. plus, it’s much too out of the way for us.”
“Yeah, well, but I don’t think this is a normal case.”
Nikki looks up from the photocopy, her two fingers now scissoring the piece of paper as she leans forward to hand it over for Esther to read as she looks over at Miss Huang — “So, in order to make certain I understand . . .. Your friend, is she Isabella Brown — also known as Razor?”
“No, my friend goes to Boston U.” Miss Huang replies, as she flips trough pages of her notebook, “But, yeah Isabella is Razor . . .”
Esther looking over the article Nikki has passed cuts her eyes, “So, you DO know her name. Well at least that is something.”
“So, your friend and this Isabella Brown are both missing persons?” Nikki says.
Miss Huang looks at Nikki, “One can just disappear and make CDs.” She shakes her head, “No, my friend is a normal – or so I thought- relatively anyway- College student.”
“And what is her name?” Nikki asks, “Your friend.”
“Nefret Nubti.”
Esther deadpans, “Great.”
Miss Huang blinks confused at this reaction, “She is a really nice person . . . and lately she has been counseling this lunatic as part of her PhD thing. Whatever those people do . . . clinicals?
Nikki leans forward on the arm of she chair, “She is also known as Neffy?”
“Only her friends call her that but yeah”. Miss Huang nods, “But that guy she is working with . . . now he does just give me the creeps.
Nikki adds, “She is part of the Interfaith — here in Collinsport.”
“She doesn’t really talk about that much. I know she does charity stuff.”
Esther scoffs slightly, “Course.”
“Frankie?” Nikki asks, The guy she is working with.
Yeah.
Esther gives a look and hands the article back to Nikki.
“But she doesn’t ya know, sit around and wax religious banter.”
Esther puts her pen down “This sounds like a job for the Boston PD. Or better yet, go find a PI actually FROM Boston.”
Miss Huang protests, ” But the Boston PD is clueless and more people die each day, meanwhile my best friend in the world is all acting weird . . . I came here because you guys are supposed to be able to deal with the unusual.”
Nikki looks at Miss Huang with concern, “You see, at the moment, I have several cases — and I am not sure I can give you the immediate attention you need.”
More to herself than Nikki or Esther, Miss Huang says, Who makes CDs that sell all over the nation yet no one knows where they are?”
Nikki reaches over and takes a pen and piece of paper from Esther’s desk: “Now, I am going to give you the name of someone who can help you.”
Thank you, but you know . . ..
Esther says, “Sondos Alhazred is hidin’ somewere in th’ mid east. And yet she still sells CDs all ‘cross th’ Arab world.” Seeing a look from Miss Huang, “What. there was a USA today article ’bout it.”
Nikki starts writing, “It’s not that I don’t think your case is important. ”
Miss Huang is not at all happy by the apparent lack of interest in her friend’s disappearance, “There was lots of interesting dust at the last crime scene – if who ever this maniac is comes here – don’t say you got no warning. ”
Nikki continues writing, “It’s just I have a pressing case at the moment and want to assure you get prompt attention.”
She hands the paper over to Miss Huang,
She takes the piece of paper and it goes into the notebook, which she closes rather abruptly, “It would totally make my stomach turn if I know I could prevent deaths in my area but . . . was too busy with my e-8 thesis to . . . ya know . . . care. Well, have a good day and thanks kinda.”
And up from her perch on the edge of he chair and she walks with a bounce in her step out the door and into the night*
Esther looks over behind a couple books. “Well there’s my stapler . . ..
Nikki still in thought looks up, “Great.”
Esther says, “Nik. That photo. Did you notice th’ box she was sittin’ on? Egyptian, it looked like.”
“Did you recognized it from somewhere?”
Esther shook her head, “No. But what kinda punk rocker named Razor goes around posin’ on stuff like that. Somthin’s not right.”
“I really hated having to let her go, but I have this Snow case I have to wrap up.” Nikki says, “Okay, so what were you saying earlier about tapes?”
“Yeah. Missin’ tapes from th’ film festival. Cut out the article. It’s somewhere here on the desk,” Esther says as she starts to shuffle crap around.
Nikki’s eyes shift a darkening shade of blue at this news.
“Course . . . what kinda punk rocker named razor wearsnever mind. Found th’ article. here ya go. Seems some of th’ films that where stolen from th’ projectionist were stolen again? ‘t least that’s what I think. Din’ really read the article too carefully.”
Nikki takes the Collinwood Star newspaper from Esther and looks over the headline, and then starts reading the article.
“I knew this was going to happen.” Nikki says.
Esther putting fresh staples in her stapler, “Got any suspicions?”
Nikki sits down, The truth?”
“No Nik. I want you to lie about everything.” Snaps the stapler shut.
Nikki smiles, her teeth very white, with just the hint of the sharpness of her canine teeth just visible, “Because I really don’t like the idea of where my suspicions happen to be heading.”
Esther sits and pulls out a cigarette from the pack on her desk.
“I think our client did it.”
Esther nods, “She’s not paying us is she?”
“I have begun to suspect Natasha Snow has been up to something all this time — I just don’t know what it is, yet.” Nikki sits forward, “And I don’t like getting used like that. The more I look into this, the more the whole Snow family angle doesn’t add up.”
Esther, seems to be quoting something, “I knew from the moment she walked into my office she was trouble . . . Look Nik. Whether she’s payin; us or not, we gotta find th’ truth.”
Nikki nods, “Yes, you are so right.”
A familiar rumble would be heard in the night, followed by the slam of a car door, as Rhyaad makes his way slowly up to the door. He opens it without knocking and enters, looking a bit disheveled, distracted, and dismayed as he silently crossed the floor and plops down in a vacant chair. “Vedui, aminmellonarim”, he barely muttered.
“Client or no, if she is involved we will have to turn her over to the authorities.” Nikki says agreeing with Esther.
Nikki looks at him, and passes over the paper,
He waves his hand, dismissing her. “I’ve seen it. Now the films are stolen too. What now?” He stared into space dejectedly.
“As I was telling Esther, I believe our client is involved in this theft.”
“I’m not so sure of that. But I think it’s time for that ‘B&E’ you mentioned.”
Esther nods to Rhyaad’s suggestion, “Seems to make sense. Legal route is too slow, an’ we have been so busy with all this other c*** that we hav’nt been able to devote much time to this case. She mighta taken it inta her own hands.”
“She is leasing the old Cranshaw House, perhaps we should have a look.”
“Right. Ya can’t solve a crime without commitin’ a crime . . . Sarcastically Esther stabs her cigarette out in her ashtray, Sat, what if perhaps we should first talk t’ her. See what she thinks about stolen tapes.”
“I will give her call her and she what she says in regards to the stolen films–” Nikki rises and walks slowly into her office.
“Whatever you think is best, Nikki.” Rhyaad calls out as she enters her office, “Though if we intend to enter and search without her knowledge, it might be better not to draw attention.”
“No.” Exhales a plume of cigarette smoke, “We need to draw as much attention to it as possible. Letting everyone know about it and even putting a sign up in the middle of town. Takes another cigarette out as if she has decided on a certain number of cigarettes she needs to smoke in the next half hour the whole breaking the law things is worrisome to her not so much about breaking into Natasha Snows house to see what the porn star was up to but that Nikki did not need to be calling law enforcement attention on to herself.
Nikki Collins closes her desk drawer, looking at her phone and pondering whether to call Natasha Snow.
Suddenly the door to Collins Investigations opens and young Anna trots in, letting the door close loudly behind her.
“Hey. Its that kid that exploded.” Esther says.
Anna trots through the main office and enters Nikki’s as she goes around the old desk and presents Nikki with a picture of a rainbow.
Rhyaad looks up, as there is a muffled yelp from behind the slammed door. The door then opens revealing an overly officious woman in a tweed suit and a clipboard.
Nikki signs to Ana, “Oh that is a lovely picture, Ana.”
Nikki signs to her, “Are you here alone?”
The woman with a sour face, dressed all in tweed, glares imperiously around the room, her lips pinched as she frowns as if she smells something rancid.
In response to Nikki’s question about being alone, Anna signs: ‘Yes. ‘
Esther looks up at the woman in the suit.
The overly officious woman clears her throat.
“Yeah. How can we help you?” Esther asks.
The woman who seems to exude annoyance raises an eyebrow at Esther, her frown and nose stuck in to a more unpleasant look says, “I am here to interview a,” looks at her clipboard, “Nikki , or Nicole, Collins.”
Anna, having trotted out of Nikki’s office hurries over to Esther, and hands her a stapler remover.
Esther looks down, takes the remover, and then starts to search throughout her desk, trying figure out how Anna got the remover, and whether or not it is even hers, “Ya got an appointment?”
Rhyaad watches the girl trot to and from Nikki’s office, staring at her. She didn’t seem wounded anymore nor about to explode. Then he turned his piercing gaze on the woman, and frowned deeply, as if he found something about her disturbing or unpleasant.
“I am with the department of child welfare, I do not need an appointment young woman!”
“Right well then. In ya go. Best t’ get this kid outta here quick an’ easy eh?”
Ana turns to see Rhyaad and smiles brightly and proceeds to sit on his lap.
Esther puts the staple remover on the desk with everything else.
The woman in tweed marches into Nikki’s office with the air of a petty village tyrant awaiting serious adoration.
“I am Nicole Collins, how may I help you?” Nikki asks, irritation in her voice, her blue eyes shifting a shade darker. She has Natasha Snow on her mind, not this odious woman in tweed.
Ana glares at Nikki’s office then pulls out a crossword puzzle, and looks up at Rhyaad as if to invite him to help her with it.
Rhyaad was startled at the girl sitting on his lap, and found himself quickly checking her for any blemishes, but could find nine. “Anna . . . are you all right tonight?” He asked her.
The Woman In Tweed, standing in Nikki’s office, glaring about the room, would seem almost to be vampiric in that she needs someone to invite her to a chair, Nikki thinks to herself.
Esther can tell that Nikki is in one of her moods, as she has not offered the woman a seat, so she gets up and enters the office, taking up her normal spot on the wall.
Ana smiles and nod yes and scribbles a word in the puzzle and then hands it to him for his turn.
Rhyaad having noticed her glare and whispers to Ana. “Did this woman follow you?”
He scribbles what seems to be the next word.
Ana blinks at him as if to say ‘what woman.’
“Well madam, most people who see me, do so with an appointment.” Nikki tells her.
Esther standing against the wall knows she was right, Nikki is definitely in a mood – a desk drawer could come hurling out at any moment.
The Tweed Woman makes a ‘noise’ * I see.
Esther knowing Nikki would regret throwing something afterwards, says, “Child services Nik.”
The odious woman scribbles something on her clipboard, still standing, awaiting Nikki to offer her a seat.
“Think it’s bet t’ get this ov’r with quick eh?” Esther suggests to Nik, raising her eyebrows
“I have heard.” Nikki states – informing the woman she is aware of who she is and is not at intimidated by her title or place of employment.
“Is it normal for this child to be hovering around such an adult place?”
A frog jumps out of the confines of Anna’s purse, she jumps down after it, it of course, hops about the office straight for and into Nikki’s office and interestingly enough, some how on the desk.
The Tweed Woman looks at the frog, watches Ana’s behavior, and scribbles on the clipboard.
“Has she ever spoken to you?”
Nikki looks up at her, “No.”
Anna enters the office again and comes to stand beside Nikki and then begins to try and entice the frog off the desk by placing a trail of crickets across the desk –she tugs on Nikki’s sleeve, so she too can share in the excitement of the frog hopping back into the ‘purse’
The Tweed Woman stands and looks at the child, then at Nikki, the frog jumping into the purse.
Ana closes her purse, glares at the woman and takes her frog and returns to Rhyaad’s lap.
“The woman with the wrinkly nose and the stuffy old suit”, he whispered to her, “I bet she eats pickles all day long. Is she here with you?”
Esther puts out her cigarette in the new ashtray Nikki has apparently brought in for her, and leans against the wall.
“I am sorry and don’t mean to be rude, Ms – Nikki says, “I didn’t get your name.
Merieather. Ms. Meriweather.
“Very well, Ms Meriweather, I do have some rather pressing business and so what can I do for you?
The door to Collins Investigations opens and Simone Danvers enters, a concerned look on her face.
The Tweed Woman looks quite offended, “If I recall correctly, it was your home when Ana was …harmed?”
Esther takes note of the shift in Nikki’s eye color and thinks, here comes a drawer.
She then hears the door open and leaves for the main lobby.
“I’m so ‘sorry’ if this matter is such a trifle compared to . . . whatever it is a private investigator does?” she scribbles something on her clipboard.
Nikki places her arms on her desk, and leans forward, “Well it would seem you are misinformed. Anna was not harmed in my home.”
Esther walks up to her desk and to the blonde woman looking at Rhyaad and Anna, “Yes? Can I help ya?
“Oh, then what would you call it?” The Women in Tweed rather sarcasticly.
“Well – Ms Meriweather – I am aware to two instances in which Anna was injured. The first, she was found on the grounds of the Collins Cannery. The second was an accident at a tearoom. I currently do not reside in either a cannery or a tearoom.
Simone Danvers looks at Esther, “I don’t recall seeing you about here before. Are you employed at this location?”
Rhyaad nods to the girl. “I keep forgetting you don’t talk. All right. But she did follow you, it seems. Let’s call her Miss Pickleface, OK, just you and me”. He started to scribble suggestions for the crossword puzzle.
“Oh yes… ” Ms Meriweather turns and looks back over her should toward the main office of Collins Investigations at Rhyaad, “HIS tea room”
“Yeah. That I am. Now How can I help you?” Esther says.
“So, my first thought is that your facts in the case are already suspect, so what else have you gotten wrong in your notebook?” Nikki continues her British accent gone cold and her eyes dark.
“If I am not mistaken, yourcousin David was ‘out’ and the child was in your care at the time?”
“At what time?” Nikki’s lips pulled back so that there is more than a hint of sharp eyeteeth/
“And so you saw fit . . . Im sure . . . Owing to your . . . particular lifestyle . . .
My particular lifestyle?
Mrs. Meriweather looks at her dead-pan, You are a homosexual are you not?
Nikk glares at her, eyes shifting even darker.
And so, I would seem, to you of course, quite alright to take her to a . . . tearoom late at night.” She says her voice dripping with disdain.
Simone Danvers directs her full attention now to Esther, “I am here to discuss developments on a case I hired Miss Collins to investigate.”
“No, I did not!”
Ms Meriwether holding her clipboard as if one of the tablets brought down from some mountain looks at her, “Are you saying David Collins did not appoint you to watch over the child? He just left her alone?”
A centipede now crawls out of Anna’s box . . . heading of course straight for Nikki’s office. Ana watches it intently.
Esther’s attention divided between the woman at the desk and Nikki hurling the woman out of her office says, “Yeah.” She looks distractedly at her notes. “Danvers was it?”
“Yes.” The CEO of Mayfly Securities becoming now irritated by the lack of attention.
“Oh, well there again, I think your notebook is a bit incorrect. David had to go out and so he availed himself of the use of the child care services provided by the Interfaith Ministries, and she was under the care of one of their Directors, a Ms Chiyo.”
“Ana”, Rhyaad whispered. “Miss Pickleface will get mad if you keep letting her see your bugs.”
Esther looks at Simone Danvers, “Well. She is in a meeting right now. But if ya dun mind waitin’ she will be able to see you in a few moments.”
“On that night in question I was meeting someone at the Tearoom, but the child was not under my care.”
“hmmhmmm” Ms Meriweather makes the noise again. “Oh, so you’re saying it was this . . . person . . . . Who supposedly was watching over her, and allowed her to just wander into this tea room.”. Shifting her weight as she has not been offered a seat still. “And so, it doesn’t bother you that she was taken to a place like that?
“Like what? She entered the tearoom as most do, to have a cup of tea.”
The woman stood scribbling.
Finally Meriwether spoke, “Well then, call the child in so that I may speak with her, and if you don’t mind waiting outside.
“Me — wait outside?”
Again she gives Nikki that imperious look over the rim of her half-glasses placed just so “You object to me talking privately with her?”. More scribbles.
“No I was uncertain if you sign, as the child does not speak.” Nikki answered, “Else you may want me here to do so for you.”
“I am aware, and of course – it would be a waste of time to assign a case worker who didn’t, now wouldnt it Miss Collins?” The Tweed Woman stands and taps her pen on clipboard
The door to the main office and Natasha Snow comes striding in looking over the room and appears very unhappy that she may have to wait.
Nikki walks out of her office, and Esther informs her, “Ah, Nik. A Miss Danvers to see you. ”
Nikki nods to Miss Danvers and sees Natasha Snow in the office, “Well, someone I wish to see.”
Ana sits looking at everyone while she chews on something from inside her box.
To Miss Danvers, Nikki nods and says, It’s good to see you. I will be but a moment.”
Danvers, having stood up, sits back down, not at all happy either.
“Miss Snow”, Rhyaad bowed his head slightly to the woman. Her also recognized the other client, but didn’t recall her name.
“Where are my goddamed films?” Natasha says very, very loudly.
“A question I would like to ask you.” Nikki replies flatly.
Ana gives Natasha a surly look and then pulls out a gigantic water bug to munch on*
“Me!” She stands hip-shot. “You think I stole the damned things?”
“Did you think you could hire thugs to obtain them for you?” Esther says, and then to Anna, she points her thumb at the office with the social worker in it.
“AHEM”…. Rhyaad glared at the woman. “Miss Snow… there are children present.”
Anna gets up, trotting to the office – peeks in- walks back out and sits by Esther.
Esther looks at her, then takes the child by the shoulders and escorts her into the office.
“What? Where?” She looked about, Anna now in doorway of Nikkis office. “Listen bitch, I hired you to find out if they stole my films and now they have stolen them a second time!”
“Miss Snow! Your language please! I assure you, the theft of your films disturbs us as much as it does you.” Rhyaad said in exasperation with the porn star.
“So where were you Natasha, when the films went missing?”
Ana in the threshold she looks innocently up at Esther with a question on her face.
Esther motions to the child to enter the office “Go on.”
With a look of mild confusion she goes into the office . . . Sees Ms Meriweather now seated in a chair, she looks at her for a moment, and then walks back out.
“Well, first of all I don’t think that is any of your frickin’,” stops now and looks over to Rhyaad as if to say I could have said f*****g, “business, but I was out of town. In Arkham of all frickin’ places.”
Esther returning to her desk makes a mental note to have a door installed to both the offices and the storage room.
Ana trots back across the room and to Rhyaad, where she suddenly notices the katana on his back, her eyes a sparkle she slides it out of its sheath.
She giggles.
“Arkham? Been to the university lately,” Nikki asks, her eyes have gone dark blue since her conversation with the Child Protective Services woman arrived and they have not lightened.
Natasha laughs, “Me, a university? You have got to be kidding. The only time I go to an University is sign autographs.”
The Tweed Woman sudden barges out of the office. “YOUNG LADY!”
“Ana!” Rhyaad now scolded Anna sharply and took her hand gently but firmly from the hilt. “No playing with swords. Katanas are not for little girls.”
Simone’s phone rings, and she stands up and leaves to answer it.
“Miss Snow, you wanted to stop the films presentation, and you wanted possession of those films from the first moment you arrived here in Collinsport, and now, they are suddenly missing – I am certain it comes as no shock you would be suspect in their theft. Nikki walks over and motions for the adult entertainment star to fllow her into the second office.
Ana blinks in surprise and writes: Chyio and I practice every day, I only get to use long knives though.
“MZ COLLENZ I was under the impression that this child could hear!”
Rhyaad pushed the blade back into the holder, then shhhushed the girl. “Miss Pickle face would NOT like to hear that, Ana,” he whispered softly to her.
“Right, since I wanted the films back, and started a law suit in order to get them back, and then, let’s see, oh yeah, I f****n’ hired you to try and determine true ownership, so. . . . I would spend all this frickin’,” looking over at the child, “Money and then steal them?
Ana chooses this moment to sit on the floor by Rhyaads feet and look in her box.
“I may f**k for a living, but I am not stupid . . . cause I could have saved a lot of money by just stealing them to begin with Honey.”
Ana sits and writes a note for Rhyaad, since he doesn’t know sign language.
Esther in an aside to the social worker tells her, “Ma’am. I think you need to get this kid as far away from here as possible.”
Ana’s note to Rhyaad: You smell like Aunt Nikki – can you talk in your head too?
“Lets step into the other office, Miss Snow.” Nikki motions to the smaller office.
Meriweather says, “Now wait just a minute!!!!!!!”
Rhyaad shook his head at the girl. “Not me,” he kept whispering.
Simone Danvers reenters the main office.
Ana looks to the door, writes: Chyio wants me home. She gets up and runs over to Rhyaad and gives him a hung; then trots out the door.
Miss Danvers face is graver than before.
Meriweather watching as the child runs out the door suddenly asks, “Where is that child going !!?!??! MZ COLLENZ are you even paying attention !!?!?!?!”
Esther looks to the social worker, “Prolly back to those cultists.”
Meriweather stomps to the door and flings it open, then stops suddenly, turns to the office, “Where did she GO !?!?!?”
“She went home, Miss Pi… I mean… Mam”. Rhyaad informs her.
“Okay, Natasha — I have looked into this case, and I have to admit, it’s certainly a very good chance the films in question were originally stolen.”
Esther mutters to herself, “Got her brainwashed at an early age they did.”
“Can you prove that?” Snow wanted to know, her eyes growing with excitement.
“You will find her at her home, in the SAIM temple. I suggest you go interview them, Miss. Speak to a Lady Chiyo. I’m sure you and she will get along fabulously.” Rhyaad told the social worker with a tiny grin.
“I have enough questions I think your lawyer can build a good case – but at the moment that is all moot since they have been stolen.”
“Those are serious allegations, though -doubtful anyone would take you seriously,”
Esther looking at Rhyaad rolls her eyes.
Then Boss Tweed turns to Rhyaad “And how do you know where she went, and if you knew she was going why let such a young child go BY HERSELF!!??! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!”
“Again!” Miss Snow says angrily. “Once wasn’t a f*****g enough!”
With her clipboard to her chest, the odious Ms Tweed makes her ignoble exit.
“She’s goddamned right, what is up with you people!” Miss Snow puts her hands on her hips, “I hire you guys and look what happens.”
“She wrote to me on her puzzle paper, Mam. And I am not her guardian. She’ll be polite. All little girls are not so helpless as they seem.” Rhyaad kept a slight grin on his face.
“You did not hired me to safe guard anything Natasha. I was hired to determine whether they had been stolen in the first place. What I want to know is why do you really want those films.”
Esther sighs and gets another cigarette, “Long night. just getin’ started.”
“Because they belonged to Vera.”
Now that Meriweather has left, the door of the office opens and Ana slips back in. Rhyaad looks at her then at Esther, who shrugs. Ana takes her puzzle book and writes to Rhyaad: Chiyo told me not to go home yet, I get to go back to David!”
Esther almost yells at the girl, “You go back to that social worker NOW.”
Simone amidst the chaos of the office debates whether she should continue waiting.
“Pickle is looking after your safety.” Esther explains.
Rhyaad looked at the paper with confusion. “I thought Chiyo decided to take you from David. Keep you with the Temple people?”
Ana gives a yellow rose to Simone.
In the small office, Nikki leans forward, “Natasha, I am more than certain you have other reasons for wanting those films.”
Ana shakes her head, writes a long time, then hands him the note: I was there till I healed up- I don’t want to stay there, I want to stay with David and Auntie Nikki and Auntie Esther.
“Oh, Esther, I sent the social worker to visit Lady Chiyo.” His grin widened as he thought of the two of them meeting.
“Oh… erm… thank you…” Simone takes the rose.
Rhyaad nodded to the girl. “Should we call David for you?”
“And what if I have?” Natasha Snow admits. “I do not see that why I want them is any of your godamned concern, Miss Collins. I’m paying you to determined if they are mine — or not . . . .legally.”
Ana walks over to the desk Esther is occupying and, with a cute sly grin, puts an air-freshener by the ashtray.
Esther frowns, then looks at Rhyaad. “We need to get that social worker back here. Obviously she has the power to take her out of this place. Get her a real family out in th’ country somewhere. Not with some nefarious cult . . . or us. She then lights up a cigarette.
Ana looks up at Esther wide eyed, writes: But I like you.
Esther looks at the note, then at Ana, “Yeah. Youre a good kid. But you deserve better than this.”
Ana writes a hurried note and gives to Esther: I don’t want to be sent away!
“As I said, yes, there evidence that they were stolen previously.” Nikki told Natasha aware that the platinum blonde was intentionally avoiding not having to look in her eyes. “Now, you tell me about Vera and the murder case.”
Ana runs over to Rhyaad and writes: Did I make Auntie mad? Is that why she doesn’t want me around? There are big tears well in her eyes.
“That is something we never talk about — Miss Collins.”
Rhyaad shakes his head at the girl. “She doesn’t understand”
Ana climbs back in his lap, and pulls a book out of her box.
“Esther”, he looks over at her sitting at her desk, “This girl has… special needs. You know how I feel about the Temple people. But she needs to be near them.”
“There is more than strong evidence that Vera committed a murder in California, Natasha.” Nikki told her; looking to see what reaction Natasha had to the accusation. Snow looked at her as if to say, so? “And if so, there could be a case that she stole her own films and they really belong to the studios.”
Esther looked back at him, “Oh yes. Let them corrupt the youth first. That sounds just plane splendid. You will excuse me if I don’t see eye to eye of letting them just brainwashher like that.”
She gets up, putting her cigarette out, “I’m gonna check in on Nik.”
Natasha Snow contemplating what Nikki had just said stood glaring at her.
Esther walks over to the door of the smaller of the two offices.
Ana writes: Chiyo said Esther hurts inside, and that is why she doesn’t like people*
Natasha suddenly waves a hand very dramatically “Well – I came to tell you that since you have done next to nothing on my case. That while you have done next to nothing, the films have gone missing, and so, I don’t think I need your next to nothing services any more. And that’s what I am going to pay you, next to nothing.”
Simone gets up and leaves a note on Esther’s desk for Nikki asking to speak over the phone at the first opportunity on the desk and departs-
“She does hurt inside. But she likes you Ana. She means well. But she doesn’t really understand that you are different from other little girls.” Rhyaad tells Ana.
“That is certainly your right Miss Snow.” Nikki replies.
Esther leans on the doorframe of the small office.
“Yes, it is, isn’t it.” And Snow turns quickly to leave.
Esther watches her walk past.
Natasha all but intentionally bumps into Esther as she does so.
“Oy!” Esther tells her in passing, “Watch it.”
Rhyaad looks up as the platinum blonde marches to the door, “Ahem…. Miss Snow?”
Ana glowers at the woman.
She stops at the door and looks at Rhyaad and gives him a hard glare, eyes cold as ice.
Ana throws a very large spider at her.
Natasha opens the door and slams it shut.
Esther, in the threshold of the smaller office door turns to look at Nikki seated at the small outré, antique desk, “So you tell me. Did it go well, or not so well?”
“Do be careful.”…. Rhyaad tried to warn the tall platinum blonde to no avail as she had already stormed out.
For a moment, Nikki is silent, as she looks at Esther. Her eyes navy blue are lightening, always a good sign. Rising from the desk, she languidly makes her way to the door and stands to smile at Esther, Well, you could say there went our case.
Ana handed Rhyaad another note: She is hiding things isnt she, that ugly woman?
Esther thinks for a moment, Nope. Just our paycheck. She lights up another cigarette and returns to her desk.
Rhyaad nods, As I intend to do that little ‘special investigation’ anyway. Beside, we really can not afford NOT to continue the case, after what we learned in Arkham.”
Nikki turns and looks at Esther who is pulling back the chair of her centrally located desk, the hub of Collins Investigations. Nikki smiles. “Dear Esther, thank you for stepping in, both with that odious woman in tweed and Miss Snow you have become so adapt at reading my moods.
Esther nods, a slight smile on her lips, Here to help, Nik.
Nikki points toward the door, That woman something about her is just all wrong.”
Ana sitting on the floor with her purse and box nods in agreement. Ana starts to sign: Should I send my friends to follow her.
“It will be interesting to see what we find in her home.” Rhyaad grinned.
Esther says, Hell. If you need people steppin in doors… She stops, looks at Rhyaad, Learned what in Arkham?
Nikki walks over and pats Anas shoulder, And so where did Miss Pickle go?”
A crow lands on the windowsill out side the glass, Ana walks over to it, looks at it for a long moment – it then flies away.
“It’s a long story Esther. Suffice it to say, the stolen projector and the films both have a special technology that may be the creation of these Cthullhu cult people. What could happen if the special film is shown on the special projector . . . I don’t know? Rhyaad explains, “Of course those people in the Miskatonic they do, but they won’t tell us anything. I have a plan for that though.”
Ana slowly turns to Nikki, making the little known sign for Cthulhu with a confused look on her face
Nikki walks over and sits on the old stool, “And then, while we are discussing matters of importance regarding the case with Professor Swift I inadvertently said some name that happened to be in the report St. Clair’s left when she brought back your fathers gun, and then from no where this monster appeared out of the library table.”
Esther shakes her head: Another cult?
Nikki signs to Ana, ‘Don’t worry about it at all love.’
Rhyaad nodded. “Yup. Smelly green monster came right up out of the floor.”
Ana looks very interested and signs: What kind of monster? Slimy or solid, she continues to sign, tilting her head to the side, pondering something.
Nikki looks to Rhyaad, Yes, it would appear that Vera was part of some cult but the name associated with it, based on the information in the file St. Clair left with me — was not Cthuhlu — and when I said that namethis thing appeared, or when Rhyaad said it, one of us said it.”
Well then. Don’t either of you say it. Esther demands.
Ana writes to Rhyaad: the ones who kept me always brought in monsters.
The little girls handwriting is suddenly shaky.
“Yes…. Yog-Sothoth. Rhyaad says and Esther gives him a hard look as if to say didnt I just say not to say it? Still don’t know what that means.”
Ana blinks, writes: Isnt that a servant of chthulhu?
“AH, don’t say it again, as I think, there is apparently some power in its name and I don’t want that showing up with Ana here.” Nikki instructs.
Ana signs to Nikki ; They would bring them into my room, I had to ….
“Well, Natasha, I think she stole the films — now more than ever.” Nikki changes the subject.
Ana stops signing, she is shaking and can not finish*
“Ones who kept you?” Rhyaad looked curiously at Ana. “And they brought in monsters?” He looked at the sign, then at Nikki. “What does that sign mean? And all right, I shall try not to say that name again. ”
Ana and Nikki nod.
“What does Ana mean by the ones who kept her? Rhyaad asks now concerned, The SAIM? Who?”
Ana pulls on his shirt, shaking her head No —
Esther shrugs looking for another cigarette.
“As for the sign, I am not sure, although I hear Cthulhu in Ana’s head. The ones who kept her, I think is in reference to whomever had her before she was found among packing crates at the Cannery.” Nikki tells him.
Ana tries to write but cant so she signs to Nikki referring to her wrists – The Ones who kept me…not the nice people.
“It cant be The Collins?” Rhyaad says in disbelief.
Ana shakes her head no again.
Nikki has to sign be sure as no one has asked the question: Before — the ones who hurt you before you when to Uncle David’s, right?
Ana showing him her scarred wrists.
She signs yes.
“Oh His face turns stony. “The ones who abused her. They kept bringing monsters.”
Ana nods yes.
“Who, Ana? Who did this to you?”
Nikki signs: What did they call the monsters, Ana?”
The little girl closes her eyes and shakes her head – as if she either cant say it or she cant remember.
Ana looks back at Nikki and hurriedly signs, many different things came, they all had different names*
Nikki smiles, and signs it’s okay — don’t worry about it honey.
Nikki noticed that for some odd reason she gets calmer when talking about the monsters as if they were easier to deal with than the people who ‘kept’ her*
“So I guess I am in trouble with Child Services — I can not believe how misinformed that woman was.” Nikki sighed and combed her finger back through her hair.
Ana looks in Nikkis eyes, with an incredible tenacity and a spark of power Nikki caught a glimpse of, a power she had only suspected up until this moment: I wont let the agents of Cthuhlu hurt you*
“I wonder where she got any information at all, no matter how twisted.” Sitting back now Rhyaad ponders.
Esther moving her stapler and re-setting it on her desk, She means well, and the sooner we can get everything sorted out, the better
Nikki signs, Agents? Are there agents here in Collinsport?
Ana suddenly switches the subject and signs: Chiyo and I are going home to Davids today. She told me
“Ask her Nikki… the monsters… were they the kind, the Yog-I-won’t-say-it kind, that we saw last night?” Rhyaad adjusts himself to be comfortable in the chair.
Nikki signs: Oh, that will be lovely.
Ana thinks for a moment then in reply signs: Auntie, there are monsters everywhere and sometimes they are people; and to Rhyaad she turns and nods yes.
Nikki signs: When you see a monster that is people, let Auntie know.
Esther lights up her cigarette.
Rhyaad looks shocked, and then stares at Nikki. “So…. these same kind of cult people may have done this to Ana!”
Nikki nods, “I am beginning to think it is a possibility.”
Ana continues to sign: They brought all kinds, not just one. She looks kind of confused as if she isnt quite sure how to say it right
Nikki signs, Did they say anything about bringing them through a Gate?
“Well, the one we saw was very icky, with wavy green tentacles, and it smelled very, very bad.” Rhyaad tells Ana.
The little girl thinks for a moment, signs: different ways, portals, circles, triangles gates… lots of different ways and things.
On the wooden stool, thinking about Natasha Snow, Elizabeth Bathory, the horrid people who would abuse a little girl for her power, Samantha, the odious Ms. Meriweather, Cults, the missing girl from Boston U., the article Miss Huang had shown her, Esthers Starry Wisdom Church information, the fact she would really like a long, long drink of blood, and always back to Sam again, she looks up and says to Rhyaad, “Oh, that young lady, Miss Monilla — last night, when I looked into her eyes, she had gone so very far from our reality, I was ever so lucky to have gotten her back.”
Then distractedly, she adds, ”Well — I did find out one thing tonight.”
Esther exhales a breath of smoke around each word as she asks, Oh? Whats that?
“Natasha Snow, she stole the films.” Then standing up from the stool, ”Now the question is, what is she going to do with them using that Farnsworth Projector she also had stolen.”
Watch them presumably. Esther remarks.
Nikki nodded, “Yes, but somehow I feel there is more to it than that — I just don’t know what.”
Ana listening to her Auntie Nikki signs: it tells her how to do…to …bring things, or helps, something about …the color/vibration???.
Then Ana trots over to the window where she stares as another bird alights on the outer sill.
“How do you know that Snow stole the projector and the films, Nikki?” Rhyaad asks.
Ana: I dont think she should play them, Nikki hears her say in her mind even as the little girl continues to stare at the bird
Well she is an actress and a bad one at that, this whole scene, coming here, irate in order to fire me was merely an act because she has them already, and so, she doesn’t need us any more, or so she thinks. . . . Plus, I read her thoughts for a moment . . .”
Ana thinks in Nikkis head, Her thoughts are icky colors.
Esther looks now at Nikki with a strange concern, Well thats a useful and very peculiar thing. Then taking a long drag from the cigarette asks, Isnt it way past her bedtime?
‘Which is something I have been meaning to ask you Rhyaad — lately, I have discovered I can get flashes of thoughts — and I can speak to others directly into her minds – is that normal for a vampire?” Nikki asks, while walking over to Esthers desk, and she adds “And yes, I would think it is past her bedtime, and that woman — she just left Ana here alone?”
Esther looks at the little girl, The social worker ran off looking for her and Ana here, was naughty and ran away from her.
“Not for my kind of a vampire, Nikki. Not from what I understand of the human-vampires, them either. If you can do this, it is what they call a rare and special ability.” Rhyaad explains.
Ana yawns and like any child her age signs: Im not sleepy.
“Well, then I wonder if she will put that in her notebook, she let a child in her care get away from her?”
“The ‘child’ eluded her. Rhyaad said evenly, And it is past her bedtime, I’m sure.”
Nikki signs, why don’t you lay in that big cozy chair since you are not sleepy for a little bit.
Ana suddenly signs — I have to go home now!
She dashes out the door
“But if you’re sure about Miss Snow, then our course of action is clear.”
Nikki looks at her she calls Ana but only in Ana’s mind.
He watched the girl. “You see? She dashes off faster than anybody can react to. And she’s not human, you know.”
‘Yes, I think we were right all along. So, let’s plan a little B & E for tomorrow night.” Nikki says of the Snow case, and adds, The flashes, the thoughts I can project, it started with Elizabeth. Could I have gotten it from her?”
Chiyo suddenly appears and in Nikkis head she hears her say: I think youre telepathically sensitive
Chiyo, I wish you would knock.” Nikkis says in response.
Giving Rhyaad a pretend scowl, her eyes dancing, she takes a seat and says to Nikki, That…woman was preposterously ridiculous
Esther stands up straight and watches Chyio when did she enter the building?
Chiyo looks rather surprised: Knock?
Esther scowls back, So much for cutting all ties with the temple huh? You show up once again?
Well . . . I suppose . . . . Chyio says at the request, At any rate, I took care of that . . . woman of tweed
Esther takes the cigarette from her lips, What did you do?!
“You just appear so suddenly.” Nikki says with a smile, “Humor is still a weakness I see.”
Chyio smiles nastily and looks at Esther, I just dropped my intellect down and descended to her level.
“You did not eat her did you?” Nikki asks in mock surprise.
Of course there wasnt really that much to work with. Chyio waves a hand.
Rhyaad in response to Nikkis last question, interrupted by the abrupt appearance of Chyio replies, “I suppose you may have gotten it from her, Nikki. And you could be sensitive . . . in more ways that one. I’ll have to do a private ‘training session’ with you sometime and we can investigate this. For now, beware your powers as they could also get you into some trouble. Undirected thoughts in others minds can be very disconcerting and may give you away.” He looked at Chiyo and Esther. “She just does that all the time, very annoying. As for the visit, she has a good reason this time. I sent that woman to her.”
Chiyo looks up at Nikki: I would never eat a person so badly dressed, honestly, Im shocked and appalled you would think I have such bad taste.
Esther exasperated with the womans ability to never answer a question she directly puts to her, as if intentionally ignoring her says, Would you stop being so d*** cryptic and answer the question? What did you do to the Social worker?
Chiyo looks at Esther, I spoke to herall things considered it was … quite difficult to communicate with such a being of immensely lesser intellect.
So, is everything alight — I know you asked me to talk to her, but tonight there were several things happening here.” Nikki tells Chiyo.
“I imagine that somehow, you managed to get things across to her though, Lady Chiyo?” Rhyaad grinned slightly.
Chiyo grins back, why of course… she seemed – rather uncomfortable but I really wasn’t going to stop in the middle of my tea ceremony. To Nikki she adds, Oh my asking was a . . . heads up, she would have come to you at any rate.
Esther signs as she sits back down, oh yes. Because the government only hires imbeciles. Get off your superiority complex and tell me. Is she going to be taking Ana out of this s***hole?
Chiyo looks at Esther now, giving her her attention, But Ana wishes to stay with all of you . . . certainly she could be admitted into the seminary but …she doesnt have the interest
“Chiyo, is this place really safe for her?” Nikki asks, “She told me about the ones who had her before — they could still be around here, watching her.”
Esthers really concerned, What she wishes is no concern. This is no place to raise children. Your complex is the worst possible place to raise children. What she needs is a good family in the country somewhere.
Nikki places a hand on her hip and asks Chiyo directly: “Is she going to stay with David?”
Did you know, that more than half the complex is a refuge for displaced and abused families, where they can stay with out fear, and receive counseling? Chiyo answers Esthers indictment, and looks up at Nikki, Yes, Nikki she is.
Rhyaad nods, “This place is not safe for children, or not appropriate. She should stay with David. Or at the Temple.” He looked at Esther. “Ana is not like other children. She may have… needs that only those temple people can attend to.”
“Has he gotten a new governess yet I do so need to see him on various matters.” Nikki asks Chiyo.
Chiyo states: She is staying with David –
Esther looks at Chiyo, Oh, yes. I didn’t help you out of your trouble. God did.” Bulls***. Now if there are any medical issues with her, there are other great doctors in the world beside that a**hole you call Frankie. But she looks up at Nikki, David…well there are worse people to live with.
I have no idea what you are referring to – certainly people can receive any type of religious … what not should they desire, but only when they want, Chiyo sates to Esther, aware of her deep suspicion and dislike for the Interfaith, You do have some interesting ideas for a person who has never set foot in a Complex.
Nikki puts a conforming hand on Esthers shoulder, “Esther, I know you are concerned for her, we all are, but I think Rhyaad maybe right Ana I think has special needs.” And then she looks over to Chiyo, “I can sense she has some power, yet unrealized.”
Then get her to a specialist. Hell. Get her to that Doctor Artemis that everyone talks about. Esther protests.
“As much as I detest that ‘Frankie’ person, I have to admit he may have skills to help her that no other Doctor does.” Rhyaad counters.
Chiyo looks at Esther: Do you honestly think Im one of ‘those religious zealots? Since when have I spoken anything religious to you?
Rhyaad suddenly thinks aloud, “Oh Gods, no! Not Artemis! He animates dead bodies!”
Chiyo dismissively adds, And Frankie has a wonderful bedside manner. Of course, its reserved solely for his patients. If he is as bad as you think he is, I wonder why he and David are friends?:
Esther unafraid of the woman says, Hey, I wonder?
He decided not to comment on that, remembering David’s words about the SAIM.
“Yet another question I have for my Cousin.” Nikki says running her fingers through her hair.
Chiyo continues, David is not the type of person who just uses people.
Esther stubs her cigarette out in her ashtray, Then it must be a lapse of judgment on Davids part. Point isshe needs a second opinion. And so what if this Artemis reanimates the dead? You are re-animated dead!
Chiyo shrugs, As long as Ana is comfortable – I dont see why not.
Esther not at all placated replies, Look. Do you have any other ‘words of wisdom’ to impart on us ‘inferior beings’?
When did I refer to you as inferior?
I’m sorry? Was that a no?
I dont recall look at you and saying Esther you are inferior.
“Honestly, Esther, I’d feel that letting Artemis take care of her is little improvement over Frankie, if any at all. Rhyaad contends, You just don’t know Artemis like I do. He uses people. And with what this girl knows about the tentacled monsters… I wonder whether letting him have access to her is a good idea.”
Amazing, none of you have ever been seen by him, nor have you spoken to his patients and yet you make these assumptions, Chiyo remarks.
Esther not pay any attention to Rhyaad continues, The insult was implied. Now, are you quite finished?
As for Ana, if she doesnt like Artemis, then you need not worry, she wont stay in the same room for very long.
Chiyo sighs, Esther, you make all manner of accusations, yet you are the religious intolerant full of hate bigotry – you are the one who refuses to allow anyone to get along with you.
“Hrm . . . that’s true. Still, I would not trust the man to work with her if he sees some way to use her for his purposes.” Rhyaad contends.
You make judgments while knowing nothing. Chiyo adds.
“I’m talking about Artemis, not Frankie.” Rhyaad corrects.
Esther looks at her, Once again, you avoid the question, so I can only assume you are only here to annoy us. So I say this to you. She leans over the desk: Please leave the premises.
Chiyo emotionless responses: Once again you avoid the acknowledgement that you are acting exactly like those you despise.
Esther slams her palms against the table GET THE F*** OUT OF THIS OFFICE!
Esther points to the door. OUT! NOW!
Chiyo stands, and Rhyaad fears a meal is about to be observed, when Chiyo says instead, Look, there is going to be a fundraiser for the new childrens cancer wing at the county hospital. Why dont youoh I dont know actually meet some of these people are so fond of insulting.
Then looking over to Rhyaad, You both are invited of course – but really, do try to behave appropriately.
Esther points again: OUT!
I do hope, if nothing else, you would support the children with cancer – you know, yelling is not really going to intimidate me.
Cue Music end of Episode.