Support Team, page 20
part #6 of Damsel Series
There was a rustling, and a sound of rapid movement.
“I have everything.”
“Bring it. I’ll do that in... Five minutes, unless you need more time than that?”
“Understood.”
Then the line broke, suddenly.
Hannah smiled, hoping it was sympathetic enough. There was nervous swallowing and a bit of excitement from Port. Which came with a smile.
“He’s just coming here? Like that? Or, he could think I’m someone else, you didn't use my name...”
That was possible, but Hannah blinked.
“Right. Don’t say anything important over the phone, internet or by using magic. All of that is monitored. They might have telepathy tapped as well, but so far it doesn’t seem to be worldwide, like everything else is. Everything is being watched, by the enemy.” She grinned, and hung a lantern on it. “Which, yes, that sounds pretty paranoid. It is. Except that it also seems to be real. So, even if you decide to tell me to get lost, you need to hold to that. We’ll get you hooked up with the telepaths, so you can communicate. Again, we should do that even if you fight with Carl and end up having a punch out. Though, avoid that? I’m planning to move soon and don’t want to have to renovate this place first.”
That got a strange look, but a smile went with it.
“Why? This place is great.”
She shrugged.
“It’s a million dollars a year, and my dad is paying for it? I don’t just mean out of the trust fund, either, so, you know, I’ve decided to actually do that for myself. I can teleport, so the work commutes aren’t going to be that bad. Maybe something kind of off in the country? I love big city life, but it’s hard to run a special kids program out of here.”
Port sighed.
“I think I get it. This is going to be awkward, isn’t it?”
“Probably. Just be honest and try not to hit anyone. Especially me?” She was about to play the cute card, but there was a smile that seemed sunny and cheery.
A bit fake, being too big, but not evil or sullen at all.
“I promise. Besides, if I’m not sent away instantly, I need you to vouch for me, with that job? Um... Yeah. So...”
Hannah stood up, and then closed her eyes, waiting on Carl. He was still collecting things from a safe, in his house. He’d changed as well, all inside five or six minutes. When he was finished and stopped moving, just waiting on her, she brought him in, to her. To meet his daughter, for what was probably the first time as a person and not a damp lump of baby.
If that had even happened at all.
The man appeared, about thirty seconds later, Hannah’s head burning from the effort. Instead of hugging, or being dramatic, both of the people there stood awkwardly.
Because, they didn't know what to do. She didn't either, but could think her way through it, since it wasn’t her life about to change drastically.
“Come and sit? We have some food.”
There was enough of that for all of them, she thought.
Chapter thirteen
Simply being ready to jump up, or even to leave her apartment, if the others there needed to talk alone didn’t work. When she hinted at the idea, before even sitting back at the table, having gotten Carl a plate and some silver, the man checking out the candles as if they meant something, the tall guy waved for her to sit.
“Don’t leave me here alone. You know I’m not good at this kind of stuff.”
She nodded, as did Port.
“I second that one! Um, first, hi? I’m Port. Which, clearly, you already know, or you wouldn’t have come? We were just going over favorite colors. Mine is pink. You?”
It was a strange opener, but Carl actually relaxed, and stopped holding his face ready to hide the pain he was about to be in.
“Brown. Tan really. Oh, I... Here. I have these. I kept them all.”
There was a thick collection of differently sized envelopes. Most of them white, but clearly addressed to Portia Darius. On the outside, when they were spread on the table after the woman took them from her father, said return to sender on the outside. In bold, harsh, letters.
Which had Port seeming annoyed. Majorly so.
Which didn’t keep her from smiling at the same time.
“My mom’s handwriting, of course. Thank you? For bothering to keep trying, even if it didn’t work. It means a lot to me, now. Here I’d thought I was just the mistake baby that you didn't want to do anything about the whole time. This says something else, doesn’t it?”
Hannah nodded, but kept her face shut. It wasn’t her business, even if she was playing collective teddy bear for the moment.
Carl sighed.
“Honestly, it had occurred to me that that might be what was going on. I didn't want to push you, though. Just in case. I...” It seemed like he was going to just sit there, not speaking, when he suddenly went on.
It was a bit shocking, really.
“I wish I’d fought harder for you. When you were little, I mean, four weeks old, your mom told me that if I tried to stay in your life, past some letters and gifts, that she’d take you away. Really, she implied that she’d kill you, in a way that no one would ever be able to prove. That, to stop that, I had to keep the money flowing in. I wanted you to have a good life, so went along with it. It... Kind of broke me, to do it. Not the cash part. It was only about a million or two a year. The not being there for you part.”
There was silence for a moment, and an angry expression from Portia, which wasn’t directed at Carl, at all, even if he seemed to think it should be. The man wasn’t hiding his emotions behind a mask of toughness very well at the moment. Not that he was crying or anything, either.
After a moment, seeming subdued, Portia closed her eyes.
“Fuck. I had no idea. Worse, I can believe it, totally. Is there a paper trail on that money you sent?” She seemed almost to think she was going to be insulting the man.
He just moved, quickly, pulling a four-inch-thick file from the bottom of the stack he had.
“I kept that, too. It has everything. The monthly payments, the trust fund and college fund I set up for you, doctor’s bills and all that. Even the private school fees.”
There was no speaking, as the Chinese food was pushed aside and the girl started to go through the paperwork. After a moment, she started pulling things out, making a separate stack. Then, as she went through it all a second time, explained herself.
“I went to public school. The whole time. I can prove that, and get my official records, I think. This one here? I think it’s fake. I mean, I know it is, but there probably isn’t a real doctor at all. I didn’t break my leg when I was eleven. I’ve never broken a bone at all. I don’t think I even can.” She went on, pulling more, a bit faster as time went on. “Summer camp in France? Um, bullshit? I went, sure, but it was Lake Wannakipsi, in Wisconsin. That’s a good place, but it wasn’t in Europe. Special tutors... No...” She stopped and grinned. “Piano lessons? I begged for piano lessons. She always told me that we couldn’t afford it, because you were cheap and hated me for being born.”
She did stop then, looked up and held her right hand out, flat, palm down.
“Okay, she never said it like that. It was more that you freaked when I was born and tried to run off, so she had to hire a private eye to find you and insist you help her so I wouldn’t starve. I kind of took the rest from context. That’s on me, I guess. This... Isn’t what I’d been told. Horse stable fees? For my pony? Also, you paid for a pony? I’ve never even touched a horse in my entire life. I mean, not even at a petting zoo.”
She went silent for a long time.
“You also paid for a car? That... A hundred and twenty thousand dollars?” She tightened her jaw. “Fucking hell... She got that, and kept it for herself. I wasn’t even allowed to ride in it, since she wanted to keep it clean, for her string of creepy, drugged out boyfriends.”
There was sneering then, from Carl, who was actually shaking in anger. Hannah had never seen him do that before, and she’d seen him fighting to the death and losing, without him even getting pissed off about it.
Hannah just whistled. That got both of the others to look at her.
“Damn, that’s... Cold. I’d kind of been thinking that she’d been a little stingy with the ten thousand you sent each month, Carl. This is... Actual theft. A long con, in fact. You could sue her, but I’m betting that it will be hard to prove anything much. On the other hand...” She stopped, and tilted her head.
Carl glared at her, but she didn't let that stop her from thinking. Then, she realized that the man was probably considering the idea that Hannah could actually make the woman vanish. She nodded.
“Okay. I could do that, of course. Teleport her into space, or a thousand feet underground, where she’d never be found. I was thinking we do this a bit more... Elegantly? Not that it isn’t good to have a second option ready to go.”
The man, seeming sour and ready to fight, physically, took a sharp breath.
“How so?”
“John Fawks.” She looked at him, dead in the eyes, and watched as he got the idea. After a moment, he started to chuckle.
Which had his daughter making a slightly questioning face.
“Not to be that girl, but, what? I’m a bit lost here. Who is that?”
Hannah smiled.
“He’s a mage and wizard, from London. Also, and perhaps more importantly, he’s a con man. The real kind? We can get his face changed, I bet, body as well. Not that he doesn’t look fine at the moment, but we can make him irresistible to a certain ex-wife?”
Carl nodded, and Portia seemed troubled. Only not over what Hannah was saying, exactly.
“You were married? She always made it seem like it was a one-night stand and you just didn’t want to be... My whole freaking life is a lie, isn’t it?”
There was an angry, clipped, nod from the giant man, but Hannah waggled a hand in the air.
She spoke first, with Carlton Darius glaring at her. Hard.
“Yes and no? She told you that she didn’t want you to be spoiled, and even if that was a cover for her stealing millions, it really did work. I can assure you, being raised an entitled brat isn’t really better than being a hardworking, good person. Now... Should we bring Alex in on this?” It wasn’t his kid, after all. Plus, Carl didn’t really seem to love his brother that much.
She’d figured it had to do with the man’s checkered past, but didn’t know for certain.
Groaning, Carl closed his eyes.
“We pretty much stopped talking when I married Angela. He’d told me she was a gold digger, and that he’d had her investigated, but I was young and in love, so didn’t listen. Then, later, I was so hurt and angry over it that I kind of blamed him for it. Which, yeah, dick move on my part. I got that she was asking for a lot, but I’d kind of hoped that you were being given the best life possible. Even if she was poisoning you against me.” The man stopped for a moment, and looked at the far wall, to the side. “I don’t know if Alex will come, given all of that. I wasn’t kind to him about it, or anything, and haven’t been for over two decades.”
The man wasn’t really needed, she thought, but then pulled her phone, and then rolled her eyes and looked at Port.
“I’m learning to use telepathy? Not well or anything, I can kind of read minds and send thoughts, if I’m in a deep enough trance. I should contact him that way, not over the phone.” Only she wasn’t certain that he’d believe it was her, if she did it that way.
Not trying wasn’t going to work. Carl just nodded.
“Do it? Not practicing rarely makes anyone better skilled.”
She agreed with that one, so close her eyes, sank into a deep trance, barely breathing, and flowed in place with Alex Darius. Who, as always, was awake and working. She kind of wondered if he actually slept at all.
Some people didn’t, after all.
~Alex? This is Hannah. I’m at my place, and Carl is here. His daughter Portia, as well. Would you like to come over? I can pick you up... Pretty close to instantly, if you want?~
~Hannah? Portia is there? I... Yes, please? I’d love to meet her.~
He actually seemed a little nervous about it, but that, she noticed, was about how Carl was going to react. As if they might be ambushing the man, who didn’t really want to see him.
After he moved from behind the desk, Hannah brought the man to her place, with an actual pop, this time. He spoke before her eyes were even opened.
“Carlton! Portia! This is almost a family reunion. Or would be, if... Well, Lovely to meet you, Portia?”
The man moved in as the girl stood and gave her a brief, but real enough, hug. Then moved back and almost seeming impulsive about it, slapped Carl on the shoulder. Alex was about five-nine or ten and thin, bald and looked like a fit fifty-year-old. Carl was six-six, leaner and seemed to be about thirty.
Side by side the family resemblance was clear. Even Portia had that going on, though on her it worked pretty well. Hannah wasn’t going to see Alex or Carl’s face every time she moved in for a kiss or anything. Not that it would have been a deal breaker, if it were like that. It just wasn’t.
Which was all kinds of presumptuous of her to even think and definitely not the time for that kind of thing.
Hannah got a hug as well, which had Portia tilting her head.
“You did say you were friends with both of them. Not dating? Because I’m planning to see where this goes, if it isn’t stepping on any toes?” She waved at her and then Hannah, which had Alex snorting a bit.
“That would be lovely, I’m certain. I can give a good recommendation for Miss de Peyser, as well. She put together an emergency food bank system, and enlisted my aid in it. Also, a computer program, for underprivileged youth.”
She nearly blinked, since, a bit stuffily, Alex Darius was acting as her wingman. With his own niece, who he didn't know that well, if at all. He’d clearly recognized the name.
Hannah waved at the paperwork.
“So, we just uncovered that Portia was raised like she was poor, and that all the payments, support and gifts that Carl sent were absorbed by the mother, Angela.”
Clearing his throat, Carl nodded.
“You told me, way back that she was in it for the money, but this is more than that. This pile is just stuff that Portia told us never even happened. Forged, probably. Instead of taking her to court, or removing her, Hannah suggests that we get John Fawks to seduce her and take her for all she’s worth.”
Alex looked at her, then, slowly, nodded.
“Understood. We need to, if not do this within the law, attempt to hold to some form of morality. I prefer not to bring in law enforcement, myself, but is this really the best course?” He looked at his niece, locking eyes with her for a moment. They were the same color.
Then he dropped the volume of his words a good bit.
“Don’t misunderstand me here. If we need to do it this way, or to ruin her in some other fashion, or even take more permanent steps, I will back what you want. Unconditionally. There is a difference between having her punished for her crimes and ruining her, however.” He smiled, this time it seemed fake, small and grim. “On the other side of the coin, we may not be able to prove much at all. White collar crime is rarely punished and... how much was this for, Carlton?”
Tilting his head back and forth, he seemed to be counting something up in his head.
“About thirty million?”
His brother nodded.
“So, we could do this legally and make things a bit difficult for her, for a time. Or we could do almost anything else, including nothing. I vote for not letting her truly prosper from deceit. After all, she could have simply stayed married to you Carl. Built a life with you and a family. Her claiming that you were too weak and not manly enough for her was... Insane, on her part. Kindness doesn’t mean that at all.”
The man glowered, but fought the look from his face.
After a moment, Hannah nodded.
“I kind of like the parity between what she did and having that done back to her? After a fashion, of course.”
After a moment, seeming a bit sad, the pink woman nodded.
“I do, too. It isn’t really up to me. I mean, it wasn’t my money that was stolen like that. Um, Carl? Uh... Dad? What do I call you?”
“Carl works, for now. We can’t really get your childhood back, which is another thing that was stolen from us both. Yeah, let’s see if we can get this hooked up. I want a plan and at least three backups, and then contingencies, in case things go sideways. Which, face it, they will. In that case...”
Hannah tightened her face then.
“In that case, we have her mind taken over and have her sign everything she has left over to Portia and then commit herself to an insane asylum?”
Hannah couldn’t do that herself, and knew that Alistair Marks wouldn’t do it, either. Still, they weren’t the only telepaths in existence or anything. It was weird, but Carl smiled at her then. Like he meant it.
“That’s one plan. We don’t really need the money back. You have fifty million in your trust, and I check it regularly. I’d wondered why you never touched it. Angela can’t, but she should have given it to you when you turned twenty-one. Even if she hated me that much, she should have. Then she could have begged you to share it with her, and cry poor.”
Portia went very still then.
“Sorry. That... I have an account with that much in it? I... Look, I have two roommates, so that I can rent a crappy apartment and have a walk-in closet for a bedroom. Literally. I don’t need much, but... It would have been nice if she’d mentioned that to me. Yeah. Even if you want the money back, which is fair, it means a lot that you bothered to do anything that way.”
There was a pause.
Then Alex spoke, his voice cultured and not harsh or loud.
“Why would we need that back?”
The woman shrugged.
“I... My mother isn’t a good person or faithful. I mean, she always has multiple guys on the hook, even when she settles down for a bit. What are the odds that I’m actually yours? We need to run a paternity test.”
