window? This morning at the café?” Emily’s mind works, attempting to fit the pieces of the puzzle. “Has she gone batshit crazy?”
Tony calmly wraps the gauze around his hand. “You’re not going to find her until she wants to be found,” his voice resonates through the calamity, ceasing William Truly’s exit.
Emily chuckles scornfully. “Well, would you look at this guy,” she says, gesturing at Tony. “One little taste of the celestial and he’s a visionary.” She hurls the potholder onto his counter. “You have no idea what we’re dealing with here.”
“Why don’t you fill me in then,” he replies, his tone overtly demanding.
“Oh sure, let’s just jump in bed with the enemy,” Emily indicates his detective status, the system surely not on her list of trusted allies. “Although, Gina seemed to find it quite intriguing.” She turns to Dr. Godfrey. “Which, by the way, may explain your quandary about the compatibility of his O-positive blood and Vigilare pedigree. Didn’t think it through that far, did ya?” her timbre now reprimanding. “What happens when a Vigilare exchanges bodily fluids?” She slams her hand down on the table, once more feeling as though her rights, her freedoms have been contaminated. She turns to Dr. Ryan with deep affliction. “What have you done?”
Aubrey stands in the middle of the living room, Emily’s analysis hitting home. One more rule. One more infringement upon her liberties as a living, breathing woman with physical, emotional, pure biological needs. One more experience she will be expected to forgo to protect herself and others, while responsibly maintaining her Vigilare status. She looks to Marks, who already has her in his sights. With an apologetic expression, her eyes fall to the floor. Emily turns away from everyone, making a beeline for the front door.
“Emily,” Dr. Ryan pleads, restrained by the comforting, guiding hand of William Truly, petitioning her to give their daughter some space. Aubrey follows quietly behind Emily, the two ultimately united. The door closes behind them. Dr. Ryan turns into William Truly, her body language pleading.
“It’ll be alright,” he comforts. “They just need a little time, that’s all.”
Remembering they are in the presence of others, she quickly retracts from her vulnerable position. “What do you suggest we do, Detective?” Tony looks at her taken aback, confused by her invitation for his advice. “I agree with you. She’s not going to surface until she’s ready. And I’m sure she doesn’t exactly have the greatest trust in me, given the immediate situation.” She looks to him, sincerely interested in his input.
Tony exhales, briskly wrenching his hand about the back of his neck, contemplating. “Well, first, you gotta level with me. I mean, what’s at stake here? And why does she think her dead husband is alive?” He pauses, troubled. “Is he?”
Dr. Ryan and Dr. Godfrey share a concerned glance. “It’s our belief,” Dr. Ryan begins, “that ETNA has somehow created an imposter of Gina’s deceased husband, Lon.”
“ETNA?” Tony asks.
“You remember ETNA Division, the government’s equivalent to Sector 5,” Dr. Godfrey helps him out. “They deal in the supernatural. They’re quite illusive.”
“You mean Dr. Shaw? The guy that testified at Gina’s trial. That ETNA?” Tony recalls.
“Yes. That ETNA. However, Dr. Shaw is dead,” Dr. Ryan clarifies. “He died at the ravine. The tire tracks on the bank left by the black Sedan that you were so curious about…that was Dr. Shaw’s.”
“ETNA. Dr. Shaw caught onto Gina,” Tony deduces, his eyes wild with newfound motive. “Gina was right. The son-of-a-bitch hoarded her blood and lied under oath to protect his own agenda.” Tony scratches his head. “But if Shaw’s dead, what does ETNA want with Gina? Is the whole damn sector dirty?”
“It would seem so.” Dr. Ryan shrugs her shoulders.
“Imposter?” Tony
Tony calmly wraps the gauze around his hand. “You’re not going to find her until she wants to be found,” his voice resonates through the calamity, ceasing William Truly’s exit.
Emily chuckles scornfully. “Well, would you look at this guy,” she says, gesturing at Tony. “One little taste of the celestial and he’s a visionary.” She hurls the potholder onto his counter. “You have no idea what we’re dealing with here.”
“Why don’t you fill me in then,” he replies, his tone overtly demanding.
“Oh sure, let’s just jump in bed with the enemy,” Emily indicates his detective status, the system surely not on her list of trusted allies. “Although, Gina seemed to find it quite intriguing.” She turns to Dr. Godfrey. “Which, by the way, may explain your quandary about the compatibility of his O-positive blood and Vigilare pedigree. Didn’t think it through that far, did ya?” her timbre now reprimanding. “What happens when a Vigilare exchanges bodily fluids?” She slams her hand down on the table, once more feeling as though her rights, her freedoms have been contaminated. She turns to Dr. Ryan with deep affliction. “What have you done?”
Aubrey stands in the middle of the living room, Emily’s analysis hitting home. One more rule. One more infringement upon her liberties as a living, breathing woman with physical, emotional, pure biological needs. One more experience she will be expected to forgo to protect herself and others, while responsibly maintaining her Vigilare status. She looks to Marks, who already has her in his sights. With an apologetic expression, her eyes fall to the floor. Emily turns away from everyone, making a beeline for the front door.
“Emily,” Dr. Ryan pleads, restrained by the comforting, guiding hand of William Truly, petitioning her to give their daughter some space. Aubrey follows quietly behind Emily, the two ultimately united. The door closes behind them. Dr. Ryan turns into William Truly, her body language pleading.
“It’ll be alright,” he comforts. “They just need a little time, that’s all.”
Remembering they are in the presence of others, she quickly retracts from her vulnerable position. “What do you suggest we do, Detective?” Tony looks at her taken aback, confused by her invitation for his advice. “I agree with you. She’s not going to surface until she’s ready. And I’m sure she doesn’t exactly have the greatest trust in me, given the immediate situation.” She looks to him, sincerely interested in his input.
Tony exhales, briskly wrenching his hand about the back of his neck, contemplating. “Well, first, you gotta level with me. I mean, what’s at stake here? And why does she think her dead husband is alive?” He pauses, troubled. “Is he?”
Dr. Ryan and Dr. Godfrey share a concerned glance. “It’s our belief,” Dr. Ryan begins, “that ETNA has somehow created an imposter of Gina’s deceased husband, Lon.”
“ETNA?” Tony asks.
“You remember ETNA Division, the government’s equivalent to Sector 5,” Dr. Godfrey helps him out. “They deal in the supernatural. They’re quite illusive.”
“You mean Dr. Shaw? The guy that testified at Gina’s trial. That ETNA?” Tony recalls.
“Yes. That ETNA. However, Dr. Shaw is dead,” Dr. Ryan clarifies. “He died at the ravine. The tire tracks on the bank left by the black Sedan that you were so curious about…that was Dr. Shaw’s.”
“ETNA. Dr. Shaw caught onto Gina,” Tony deduces, his eyes wild with newfound motive. “Gina was right. The son-of-a-bitch hoarded her blood and lied under oath to protect his own agenda.” Tony scratches his head. “But if Shaw’s dead, what does ETNA want with Gina? Is the whole damn sector dirty?”
“It would seem so.” Dr. Ryan shrugs her shoulders.
“Imposter?” Tony
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