Chapter 38 - Queen's Gambit III
Panic asked Francois. Is the captain of The Green Frog, trustworthy. Francois smiled. He said, he was beyond trustworthy. That's why he was, who he was. When his son, the one into cargo ships... got into cruise liners, as a sideline. It was naturally, born from an investment from Francois's group. And when the son gave his father, who made everything possible... his gift? A cruise liner, basically for his own. To live in, to conduct business on. To be safer than in his home country.
The captain? Was not chosen lightly.
Francois assured him. The captain knows what it means, when Francois shows someone favor. Walks around with them. Introduces them to the captain. Has them for dinner, at the captain's table. That, is someone who can be trusted. Also, Francois gave him two things. One, was naturally a golden sword, on a golden chain. It passed for a little gold cross, unless you either knew or inspected it closely. That would identify him, as inner circle. For whatever reason or purpose? A member of the investment group's inner workings.
And, if he had to prove it any further? Francois's ship necklace. His medallion. Basically, his panic button. Yeah, I know. Francois? Gave Panic, his very own panic button. Sorry for the pun, but I swear it. That one, was not at all intended. If he toyed with it, and activated it? It alerted the engine crew. All of them, on duty or off. They would home in on the signal, knowing their leader needed them and was in a pinch. All former French Foreign Legion. Men that could be trusted.
Panic and JG boarded The Green Frog. I was with them. We ambled around, and headed for the bridge. Junior was moderately impressed with the reception we got. When no one was noticing, Panic dangled the golden sword, kind of playing with it in his hand. It caught the Captain's attention quick. Though he said nothing, he did smile and nod.
The navigation and communications officer, Panic's geek tech buddy on the boat. Any chance they could have a little pow wow when he was off duty? The captain waved his hand and smiled. The captain gave his officers rest and relaxation time. After all boys, we're in port. After what happened? We're not putting out real soon. The captain then smiled, and left Panic alone with me and Junior and the navigation communications officer.
We had the bridge to ourselves. Its safe enough, not like we're moving. Panic explained what he wanted. A movie, of what he called the air traffic controller screen. Not a problem. If he had a day and time in mind? Easy. They first brought up the SS Tadpole's transponder signal, in port. They used basically fast forward, pause and reverse. Like, operating a movie player.
Then? When the SS Tadpole goes off line, transponder quits. That's the ship being blown. They now turned on all other transponders. Sure enough? There was one. Relatively near. Not something you'd think of or maybe even notice. But, close enough you could use binoculars to scan the area.
Panic had now only those two signals, and all other's blanked out. Now, it was painfully clear. Played in reverse? That ship tagged along, at a distance. In reverse, they both went back to the docks. Then, in super fast reverse. They watched. The Tadpole sitting, with no signal. It wasn't powered up. But the other transponder signal? On, night and day. It was sitting around, constantly manned. Bridge panel power always humming.
JG laughed.
"Senpai? They just make it too easy. We got these fuckers."
"We don't got them. But, we know who they are. Well, we have the ship."
Panic explained the next part. Tag and release. Same as Junior had done for the Smiley Face Killer case. JG approved.
"Kemosabi? Not bad. Instead of fighting, you're just going right to the information war."
Panic grinned.
"I learned from the best. I finally learned my lesson. On the Alley Shadow case. Which, by the way... Little Lightning still mentions. Apparently? You're her big hero, you know."
"Yeah. So I hear. Does me no good, until she's single."
Panic shoved his shoulder affectionately.
"Could happen anytime. And? It will happen, eventually."
"Well. Assuming I even believe that. What's everyone waiting for."
I cut in.
"Junior? You know the basics of Zar's history. And believe me, as horrible as what you know happened to her even is? It was worse. There's... stuff you don't know about. That poor girl shouldn't even be alive, let alone have as much of her shit together as she does. She's just... a born survivor."
"What's that got to do with me and her playing video games, after I check on the servers, and have dinner."
"JG? Light wasn't with... me and Wizzy back then? For fun. I mean, it was fun, but... she honestly didn't know what love was. Sex, was love. Love? Meant you have sex with someone. She couldn't get into a car, with any boy, for any reason. She couldn't go on a date. She couldn't take so much as a pencil, as a gift from the boy. She wouldn't ever bring one home. When the boy realized, something was weird? He moved on. And that? Was all she could do, all she could get."
"Walking wounded."
"Yeah. She saw, living with me and Wizzy? What real love looked like, up close. Day and night. She wanted that. I was her therapist. It started out? Just for fun, and... yeah. She gets to see a relationship. From the inside out. She was scared to leave, and go out on her own. So? Me and Wizzy, we took her in. She could stay with us? As long as she wanted. Forever, if that was what she wanted. She was terrified, of being put out."
JG furrowed his brow. It was kind of neurotic and sad.
"You know this part of the story. Wizzy? Got former MP's to come in, and set things right. We took that town apart, like the hammer of god himself. Mister big? Killed his own son. Her madam mother? Was flipping on Mister Big and the son that ran the town. She either killed herself, or Mister Big did her in. Wizzy? Did all that for her. He... was the father figure she never had. Her big brother, that wouldn't let anything happen to her. He made her respectable. And, just when everything was about over? You know what happened."
JG looked down.
"Yeah."
"She was devastated. What she used to do once a month? Get love in little bursts, when she could, the only way she knew how. She went back to that. Instead of monthly, though? It, was maybe three times a year."
Now I paused. Maybe I'm picking up the big dramatic pause, too.
"Then I found Panic. After years, of... never mind what. In my mind? I swear. He's Wizzy, reincarnated and sent back to me. I told Light, and you can imagine how excited she was for me. Then? She meets him. She told me. She can see, what I saw. It was a lot like having Wizzy back. So? That's how this... happened. She wanted what she had, before they killed Wizzy. This isn't for fun. Not really."
Junior nodded along.
"The original plan? As long as it took, she could stay. With me and Wizzy. Even after graduation? No throwing her out. But also, the original plan? Was that if she was ever ready, she could... go out and have her own relationship. A good one. A guy like Wizzy? For her own."
I paused.
"This isn't the... sob story, why the smart pretty girl, is the way she is. She's lucky to be alive, and even luckier she's as tough of a survivor, as she is. She is smart, she's beautiful. And? She doesn't run around. She was exclusive to me and Wizzy, he made her respectable. She loved that. And Panic? Did it for her again. But, she wants nothing more, than... to find another Wizzy, another Panic? And... finally have her own deal."
Pause.
"Wiz? Had personal values, like you couldn't believe. He didn't really care about money. He... touched everyone's life, he was involved with. He wasn't good. He was great. You were there, where they gave him what they call unofficially? The hero's funeral. At Arlington. It was like Wizzy came out of his own grave, to take revenge on the other guys that were in on his death. In some strange way? That, brought the longest and worst chapter in my own fucked up life? To a good ending."
Pause.
"Maybe you can find someone as pretty as her. Maybe, one that's into the things you like she's into. I know you like your gamer girl. Your unicorn. But, when she's with someone? She's as loyal as a pit bull. And at her age? Good luck replacing that. There's nothing me and Panic here want, for her? More than for her to finally have her own adult relationship. And she wants that, too. She just wants to make sure? Its playing for keeps."
Big pause.
"She loves you, you idiot. You know, you're just like Panic. You're both fucking brilliant? But, when either one of you miss something, it really is the forest for the trees. You're in a forest, bitching you can't find a tree."
Little pause.
"I know what you want. You? Just like Panic here. Just like Wizzy was. You think its an accident? She got your favorite childhood gaming console. Every fucking game they ever made for it. And, stuck it in her bedroom? She wants to lay on her bed, and play. She was a gamer girl in college. She got that? Off of Wizzy's friends. The geek squad. She could have had... any football player, at a big top ten university? She pointed at. She didn't want one."
Tiny pause.
"The boys had that... pumpkin spice beer, at the range camp? You and him liked it. You ever notice? She bought every case they had, on sale after Halloween was over, and they had a big sale to clear it. Just like your... gaming console? She has a stack of those cases. Its just... bait. Dinners, at her house? Showing you she can cook. That she's a homebody."
Pause.
"When she was dancing, for fun and exercise? She had us kidnap you, so you could see her perform. You've seen her, all dolled up. Men stare. You put that on your arm, for the big fancy dinner with our Uncle Mike and the assistant directors? At the big restaurant? You'll be the envy of every rich guy there. And you know something? You deserve it. She's only really been in love? Twice in her life."
Little pause.
"Third time? Is the charm."
Tiny pause.
"If you want this? All you have to do. Next time you go handle the servers. Dinner and unicorn gaming, on her bed. All you have to do? Is tell her. If you really mean it? I just about guarantee it. You won't get any static. She'll probably squeal and cry. Then hug you so tight, you'll think you're going to get strangled to death. And I just happen to know what she can do, so...trust me on this one. You spend one night with her? One weekend. Your head will explode."
I chuckled.
"That girl? Has five big rings, from the toughest division in college sports. The mid-west conference. She has conference championships? And a national title. When she goes back for homecoming games? She's one of the alumni, that they bring out on the field, at halftime for the girls soccer game. Its their version, of the boys football homecoming game."
I laughed.
"When you're there, for the girls soccer games? Look around at all the big banners up. The conference final banners. The bigger conference championship banners. The first national title, in 20 years? Has her name and number on it. They retired her jersey. They jokingly call it? The house that Little Lightning built. If she did all that playing football? Not only would she play pro football, she'd probably have ended up in the super bowl. But? Its soccer. And the joke is. If you don't play football? Don't even bother."
I shook my head.
"I honestly, don't know what else you could want, or even look for. All you have to do? Is tell her. And mean it. The rest? Will just be fairy tale level material. Live happily ever after. She doesn't want your paycheck? She has her own. You've seen her all dolled up, and how she can dance. You think if she wanted to be out getting dick-ed, she'd have any trouble doing it? Not at all."
I giggled.
"You could even retire young, if you wanted. You're going to end up with an even bigger percentage of the business? Than you have now. Yeah, she has controlling interest. Yeah, the contract says you can't sell it, you can only revert it back to her, for one dollar."
I poked him in the shoulder, like Panic does all the time. Its like his little brother, these two are close.
"That? Is all... one possible future. And all you have to do, if this sounds good to you? Just... open your damn eyes, and open your god damn mouth, and say something. Then, grab it with both hands? And, just enjoy it. And one more thing. Don't ever feel guilty, not for one second. If anyone deserves it? You do."
I waited. Nothing. I looked from one to another, Junior then Panic, and back again and again.
"Will one of you two idiots, open your god damn mouth, and say, something? Anything."
Nothing.
"I'm waiting!"
Not a word.
"I'm trying to decide? Which one of you, I'm just about to backhand across the face, so damn hard you pick your ass up off the floor, wondering what in the hell just hit you. And whichever one gets it first? Don't worry, you'll have company. Real soon."
Panic wisely opened his mouth. He doesn't know if I'm kidding or not.
"Little buddy?"
"Yeah, Senpai."
"What she just said."
"You're gonna smack me too?"
"No, you idiot. What she was saying? Before that. Jesus H. Christ. Everyone knows you two, are both in love? Except you two. I think. Just one question."
"What."
"You always said. When you vest at the bureau? You wanted to open a little PI office. Like the old books. But? You needed a secretary. You said it yourself, the PI? Always has a secretary, a hot middle aged one. With really big boobs."
Junior smiled.
"Yeah."
"Well? Just wondering. Any chance, one with legs up to her neck, and perky little tits, would do in a pinch? Just curious."
"Actually. Giant knockers? Nice for young boys to look at. But, the little ones? They defy gravity longer."
"All right. So, when we get back, to the real world? All this crazy shit is over. You'll think about it?"
He calculated.
"Definitely."
"A, fucking, men."
We went back, to the plan.
