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jesterladyficRandomly Destined
This chapter's title comes from Eugene Peterson.
Chapter Five:
“Claire, are you going to come?” Claire looked up from her mother’s side at Peter and Ando standing in the doorway. They were dressed in what everyone hoped were more traditional looking Japanese clothes. Ando said they were the best at the museum Angela had helped them borrow from.
“I’m coming,” Claire said firmly. She took her leave of her mother and brother and changed into her own clothes.
“Be careful, honey.” Claire smiled reassuringly, though her stomach was jumping up and down.
Peter placed one hand on her shoulder and the other on Ando’s. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard, thinking of Hiro’s place in his card catalogue of powers. He wanted to make sure they would come out the exact time and place. He wasn’t really sure where in Japan Hiro was, but if they were in the right year, directions probably wouldn’t be too hard to acquire.
An odd sensation was felt by all three as their surroundings melted away and were suddenly replaced by a completely different location. Trees, grass and wooden huts.
“You two stay here,” Ando instructed. “I will ask where we are and confirm the year.” He walked away muttering to himself. “They will think my accent very strange.”
Peter and Claire watched from a distance as Ando approached an older man sitting outside his hut, bowed deeply and began to speak. The man was obviously startled, but it was only a short time before Ando came back to them.
“You brought us to the right year,” he said. Peter sighed in relief. He hadn’t teleported often. “Kensei was spotted in that direction about three days ago. Maybe 50 miles. Can you teleport us there?”
“I think so,” Peter answered. “It worked before.” They repeated the ritual they had done before. It seemed to work just as well this time. They did it several more before they found themselves in a place that Peter recognized from his dream. The same rural setting with the rundown buildings.
They started a clandestine path down the hill.
“We must make sure we know exactly where he is,” Peter hissed to the other two. “In my dream, he was in prison and there was somebody, Kensei I guess, with an ability.”
“I will go,” Ando volunteered. “I will look less suspicious.”
“I have to agree,” Peter said reluctantly. He didn’t want Ando to get hurt, but he let him sneak forward and begin searching through the buildings. There were few people around, mostly guards seemingly off duty.
A half an hour later Ando returned with information.
“There is only one place I could not see into, but there are guards. I am sure Hiro is there.”
“Let’s go then.” Peter and Claire followed Ando as he led the way. They went as quietly as possible to attract no attention.
“Better let me take out the guards,” Peter said. “I have a little strength boost.”
Using a slight bop to the head, Peter disposed of the guards, who slumped to the floor. Ando and Claire dragged them out of immediate sight.
Peter broke the lock on the door and went inside with the other two following him. Hiro was there, tied up and looking pale.
“Stop!” he said in the kind of voice people never disobey. “You will lose your power!”
“What do you mean?” Claire asked as she stopped obediently, Peter at her side.
“Kensei is near. He takes power, but he does not give back until you are away from him. He showed me.”
“How do we get you out of here?”
“I will get him,” Ando stepped between them. “It is my job to get him out of trouble.”
Hiro’s face lit up at the sight of his friend.
“I knew you would come! It is about time.” Ando grinned and walked quickly to him and untied his bonds. Hiro’s own grin faded as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
“Behind you!” he screeched to Peter and Claire who whirled around to face the guards who brought their swords whistling down at their heads.
***
Mohinder looked up as Niki walked through the door, her arms full of bags of groceries. He had yielded to her determination to repay his generosity by getting groceries. It was hard to say no to a woman who could rip him in half if she wanted to.
“Where are the kids?” she asked as she put things away. It was amusing to see that she already knew where things went in his tiny apartment.
“In the other room. I tried to put them to bed, but I think I lack the touch. I finally resorted to bribery and letting them stay up until you got back.” Mohinder’s voice was touched with irony, but also annoyance. Niki stopped her task and looked at him.
“You’re doing fine.” Mohinder lifted his head to look at her. “This parenting thing isn’t easy. I don’t do such a great job either.”
“Thank you.” Mohinder went back to scanning newspaper headlines in order to hide his embarrassment. “How is DL doing?”
“About the same.” Niki’s voice was tinged with heaviness. “The doctors say his brain waves are fully functional. Whatever that means.”
“Take encouragement from it,” he told her. “It is better than the alternative.”
“Yeah,” Niki sighed. She finished with the groceries. “I think I’ll check on them. Maybe I can actually get them to sleep.”
Mohinder nodded and then became engrossed in his work once more. Lately, he’d been obsessed with finding Sylar. He spent hours and hours looking for news of killings with Sylar’s trademarks. He also catalogued all of the names from the list left to him and tried to analyze which ones might be next. It was an arduous process and one that seemed hopeless. Nevertheless, he kept at it.
Hours passed. Niki and the kids were asleep. Still Mohinder worked. Finally, he caught a name that seemed familiar-one that Sylar might have known about or could know about, now that he could paint the future. It fit in with the time and with the location Sylar had last been seen. And if they were lucky, no headlines meant they might still be able to save that person. He’d have Peter try to help him when he got back from his mission, but Mohinder was certain that as Molly was not yet well enough to use her ability, this was the best way to look for Sylar.
***
Peter and Claire ducked, but both of them caught blows on their shoulders instead of their heads. Straightening up, they felt the wounds close themselves.
“If only the blood went away too,” Peter sighed, feeling it trickle down his arm.
“Sorry, but you just have to get used to that part,” Claire said wryly, dodging to one side, avoiding another sword. Peter shrugged and then bowled forward, shoving the guards aside with enough strength that they went flying.
Ando and Hiro hurried out of the house. Hiro seemed much better.
“Maybe my powers are back,” he murmured happily as he picked up a sword from the ground. That he knew he could use.
“Peter!” hissed Claire, pointing. More soldiers were running in their direction. “We should leave now!”
“I highly agree,” Peter said. “Everybody grab hold of me.” They all did and Peter shut his eyes, depending on the rest to protect him should anything happen. Desperately, he thought of Hiro and he thought of home. Having Hiro beside him must have helped because the next time he opened his eyes, he found himself in his own home.
“You did it!” Hiro cheered him on and closed his own eyes, then popped up behind them. “And I can do it too! I am back.”
“Finally,” Ando told him grinning.
“Shh!” Claire was listening to a loud voice coming from down the hallway. They all stopped to listen as it came closer.
“Peter! If I’ve told you once-well, I’m not going to say the rest. You know not to do that!”
“But Nathan said!” came the tiny little voice of a boy not more than six or seven.
“In here!” Peter said and they ducked into another room as a younger looking Angela and a much younger Peter went past. Peter’s arm was firmly clutched in his mother’s hand and he was trying to put on a pair of big glasses with one hand while running.
Once the coast was clear, Peter looked down at his feet.
“Must’ve got the year wrong. I was six the year I had those.”
“You’re so cute as a boy,” Claire teased him. “The glasses only add to the charm.”
“Well, let’s just get back to the right year, shall we?” Peter gestured for them to grab hold of him once again.
“Allow me!” Hiro said confidently. “I am eager to prove my part in my rescue.”
Ando rolled his eyes, but put his arm on Hiro’s shoulder, followed by Peter and Claire. Their surroundings melted away and were replaced by the drawing room of the Petrelli home with Claude, Nathan, Angela, and Heidi surrounding them.
“Actually did it, eh?” Claude said in surprise. “Might make something out of you yet.”
***
Micah pushed his way through the now familiar hospital doors. He hated that he knew his way around so well. All the nurses knew who he was and he was definitely a pro at working the television remotes, even without his ability.
“Your dad looks well today, Micah,” Sarah called to him from the nurse’s station.
“Thanks.” He smiled at her. She was his favorite.
His mom had dropped him off. She was going to run some errands and then come back to see DL.
Micah sat down next to his dad and pulled out a computer chip he’d been working on. He hadn’t had nearly as much time as usual because he’d been spending a lot of time with Molly. Not that he minded too much. It was really nice hanging out with someone his own age who had powers.
He told DL all about her. He told his dad about everything because he’d heard people talking about comas. You were supposed to talk to them because it would make them want to wake up.
“I’m almost done now,” he said expecting no more response than the empty air and the whir of machines. “Mom says she’s going to get me into college early at this rate. But you know her, always trying to make me more than I am. But I have to admit, I’d miss it if she stopped.”
He glanced over at DL, whose eyes were moving back and forth rapidly under his eyelids. He breathed steadily and all the machines were telling him that they were doing their job well and nothing should go wrong.
“Anyway, the man that we’re staying with wants us to go to school and learn from this other guy. Well, you were here I guess when Mom found out. I think we should, but you have to wake up in order for it to happen. But I think it would be fun.”
“Can’t be having fun without me.” Micah froze. The voice was raspy, hardly the deep confident voice he was used to hearing. But it was…
“Dad!” Micah flung himself onto the bed. DL let out a huge grunt, but he wrapped his arms around his son anyway. In fact, he didn’t think he’d ever let go. Micah didn’t want to ever let go either, but he still sent a message through the machines to let the doctors and nurses know his dad was awake. He wanted to make sure everything would be okay.
“Are you okay?” His dad asked him.
“Am I okay?” Micah said incredulously. “You’ve been in a coma! Are you okay?”
“I feel okay. Weak, but okay,” DL assured him. “Where’s your mom?”
“She’s fine. She’ll be here soon.”
“And she’s…?”
“Really Mom,” Micah answered. “She was very worried about you.”
“I’m sorry,” was all DL could say and hold his son tighter.
The doctors rushed in at this point. But Micah gladly let go so that they could make sure his dad was well.
“Your dad’s going to be just fine,” Dr. Samuel said laying a hand on Micah’s shoulder. “He’s a lucky man.”
“I had a lot of help,” DL said, looking at his son and thinking of his wife.
“Micah!” Niki’s voice was loud as she spotted her son with the doctor. Had something happened to DL?
“Dad’s awake!” Micah shouted, running to her and grabbing her hand and pulling her along to see.
“Baby!” she cried as she caught sight of her husband. She flung herself into his arms, much as Micah had done, but she kissed him and felt as much of him as was decent to make sure he was really there.
“I missed you so much,” she murmured. He smiled under her, lifting his hand to wipe away a tear.
“Not half as much as I missed you.” He kissed her again and extended his hand to Micah. “And you, Micah. You two brought me back.”
The reunited family huddled together talking and laughing.
***
Claire sighed as she closed her new bedroom door. Angela had been hounding her ever since they’d gotten back. It was, actually not that bad, getting to know her birth family. But she felt the tightened supervision and added nagging more and more these days. Still, it didn’t look like she’d be leaving anytime soon.
She picked up the phone and dialed a very important person.
“Odessa, home of the boredom attack,” said the voice on the other line.
“You’re such a freak, Zach,” Claire laughed.
“I’m a freak?” he questioned. “What, do you have amnesia? Did the Haitian take your memories? Or do you know you’re indestructible?”
“Stop it!” Claire sat on her bed, still grinning. What a relief to talk to somebody her own age. “Zach, I need you out here!”
“It would be harder for me to pull a disappearing act than you,” he said regretfully. “I have a normal family. They might actually miss me.”
“Maybe,” she conceded. She could just see his expression. “But you can surely visit a friend over the holidays?”
“That’s more in the line of the possible.”
“So, come! My family apparently is very rich. We have many rooms.”
“Many rooms, huh? How many do I get?”
“As many as it takes to get you here, you dork!”
“Okay,” he surrendered. “I’ll ask my parents. I’m sure they’ll say yes. But you’re helping to pay for my flight!”
“I’ll pay for the whole thing,” she said exasperated. “Just come.”
“Don’t get too high on the rich thing now,” he teased. “If you don’t hear from me, expect me in a couple of days.”
“Perfect!”
“See ya, Claire.”
“Bye.” Claire hung up the phone much happier than when she picked it up. Having lots of grownups and estranged family was great. But she needed someone to count on. Having her mom and brother here, as well as Zach, would be just what she needed to bring some reality into her crazy world.
The phone rang, startling her. Claire picked it up on the second ring.
“Hey, Claire-Bear.”
“Daddy? What’s happening?”
“Important things. Do you want me to tell Peter or do you want to give him a message for me?”
“Tell me. I can let them know.”
“The good news is the company is officially shut down. Linderman’s death helped with that. But there are a lot of loose ends to tie up. It’s still much too dangerous for you guys to come back and I’ve got to stay here. I’ve got the Haitian and Candice with me, but it might be awhile. Is-is that okay with you?”
Claire bit her lip, thoughts racing through her brain. Life was so insane right now and she desperately wanted her daddy. On the other hand, she knew what had to be done and she knew that her own path right now would be smoothest without her dad around.
But she said so with a heavy heart.
“It’s okay. Do whatever you have to. I understand.”
“Are you sure, honey?”
“I’m sure, Dad. Do you want to talk to Mom now?”
“Yeah, if I could.”
“Okay. Bye, Daddy.”
“Bye, Claire.”
Claire slowly carried the phone downstairs to her mother, cuffed Lyle on the arm
and went to find Peter. She had to tell him everything. After that, well, there would be work to do.
This chapter's title comes from Eugene Peterson.
Chapter Five:
“Claire, are you going to come?” Claire looked up from her mother’s side at Peter and Ando standing in the doorway. They were dressed in what everyone hoped were more traditional looking Japanese clothes. Ando said they were the best at the museum Angela had helped them borrow from.
“I’m coming,” Claire said firmly. She took her leave of her mother and brother and changed into her own clothes.
“Be careful, honey.” Claire smiled reassuringly, though her stomach was jumping up and down.
Peter placed one hand on her shoulder and the other on Ando’s. He closed his eyes and concentrated hard, thinking of Hiro’s place in his card catalogue of powers. He wanted to make sure they would come out the exact time and place. He wasn’t really sure where in Japan Hiro was, but if they were in the right year, directions probably wouldn’t be too hard to acquire.
An odd sensation was felt by all three as their surroundings melted away and were suddenly replaced by a completely different location. Trees, grass and wooden huts.
“You two stay here,” Ando instructed. “I will ask where we are and confirm the year.” He walked away muttering to himself. “They will think my accent very strange.”
Peter and Claire watched from a distance as Ando approached an older man sitting outside his hut, bowed deeply and began to speak. The man was obviously startled, but it was only a short time before Ando came back to them.
“You brought us to the right year,” he said. Peter sighed in relief. He hadn’t teleported often. “Kensei was spotted in that direction about three days ago. Maybe 50 miles. Can you teleport us there?”
“I think so,” Peter answered. “It worked before.” They repeated the ritual they had done before. It seemed to work just as well this time. They did it several more before they found themselves in a place that Peter recognized from his dream. The same rural setting with the rundown buildings.
They started a clandestine path down the hill.
“We must make sure we know exactly where he is,” Peter hissed to the other two. “In my dream, he was in prison and there was somebody, Kensei I guess, with an ability.”
“I will go,” Ando volunteered. “I will look less suspicious.”
“I have to agree,” Peter said reluctantly. He didn’t want Ando to get hurt, but he let him sneak forward and begin searching through the buildings. There were few people around, mostly guards seemingly off duty.
A half an hour later Ando returned with information.
“There is only one place I could not see into, but there are guards. I am sure Hiro is there.”
“Let’s go then.” Peter and Claire followed Ando as he led the way. They went as quietly as possible to attract no attention.
“Better let me take out the guards,” Peter said. “I have a little strength boost.”
Using a slight bop to the head, Peter disposed of the guards, who slumped to the floor. Ando and Claire dragged them out of immediate sight.
Peter broke the lock on the door and went inside with the other two following him. Hiro was there, tied up and looking pale.
“Stop!” he said in the kind of voice people never disobey. “You will lose your power!”
“What do you mean?” Claire asked as she stopped obediently, Peter at her side.
“Kensei is near. He takes power, but he does not give back until you are away from him. He showed me.”
“How do we get you out of here?”
“I will get him,” Ando stepped between them. “It is my job to get him out of trouble.”
Hiro’s face lit up at the sight of his friend.
“I knew you would come! It is about time.” Ando grinned and walked quickly to him and untied his bonds. Hiro’s own grin faded as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
“Behind you!” he screeched to Peter and Claire who whirled around to face the guards who brought their swords whistling down at their heads.
***
Mohinder looked up as Niki walked through the door, her arms full of bags of groceries. He had yielded to her determination to repay his generosity by getting groceries. It was hard to say no to a woman who could rip him in half if she wanted to.
“Where are the kids?” she asked as she put things away. It was amusing to see that she already knew where things went in his tiny apartment.
“In the other room. I tried to put them to bed, but I think I lack the touch. I finally resorted to bribery and letting them stay up until you got back.” Mohinder’s voice was touched with irony, but also annoyance. Niki stopped her task and looked at him.
“You’re doing fine.” Mohinder lifted his head to look at her. “This parenting thing isn’t easy. I don’t do such a great job either.”
“Thank you.” Mohinder went back to scanning newspaper headlines in order to hide his embarrassment. “How is DL doing?”
“About the same.” Niki’s voice was tinged with heaviness. “The doctors say his brain waves are fully functional. Whatever that means.”
“Take encouragement from it,” he told her. “It is better than the alternative.”
“Yeah,” Niki sighed. She finished with the groceries. “I think I’ll check on them. Maybe I can actually get them to sleep.”
Mohinder nodded and then became engrossed in his work once more. Lately, he’d been obsessed with finding Sylar. He spent hours and hours looking for news of killings with Sylar’s trademarks. He also catalogued all of the names from the list left to him and tried to analyze which ones might be next. It was an arduous process and one that seemed hopeless. Nevertheless, he kept at it.
Hours passed. Niki and the kids were asleep. Still Mohinder worked. Finally, he caught a name that seemed familiar-one that Sylar might have known about or could know about, now that he could paint the future. It fit in with the time and with the location Sylar had last been seen. And if they were lucky, no headlines meant they might still be able to save that person. He’d have Peter try to help him when he got back from his mission, but Mohinder was certain that as Molly was not yet well enough to use her ability, this was the best way to look for Sylar.
***
Peter and Claire ducked, but both of them caught blows on their shoulders instead of their heads. Straightening up, they felt the wounds close themselves.
“If only the blood went away too,” Peter sighed, feeling it trickle down his arm.
“Sorry, but you just have to get used to that part,” Claire said wryly, dodging to one side, avoiding another sword. Peter shrugged and then bowled forward, shoving the guards aside with enough strength that they went flying.
Ando and Hiro hurried out of the house. Hiro seemed much better.
“Maybe my powers are back,” he murmured happily as he picked up a sword from the ground. That he knew he could use.
“Peter!” hissed Claire, pointing. More soldiers were running in their direction. “We should leave now!”
“I highly agree,” Peter said. “Everybody grab hold of me.” They all did and Peter shut his eyes, depending on the rest to protect him should anything happen. Desperately, he thought of Hiro and he thought of home. Having Hiro beside him must have helped because the next time he opened his eyes, he found himself in his own home.
“You did it!” Hiro cheered him on and closed his own eyes, then popped up behind them. “And I can do it too! I am back.”
“Finally,” Ando told him grinning.
“Shh!” Claire was listening to a loud voice coming from down the hallway. They all stopped to listen as it came closer.
“Peter! If I’ve told you once-well, I’m not going to say the rest. You know not to do that!”
“But Nathan said!” came the tiny little voice of a boy not more than six or seven.
“In here!” Peter said and they ducked into another room as a younger looking Angela and a much younger Peter went past. Peter’s arm was firmly clutched in his mother’s hand and he was trying to put on a pair of big glasses with one hand while running.
Once the coast was clear, Peter looked down at his feet.
“Must’ve got the year wrong. I was six the year I had those.”
“You’re so cute as a boy,” Claire teased him. “The glasses only add to the charm.”
“Well, let’s just get back to the right year, shall we?” Peter gestured for them to grab hold of him once again.
“Allow me!” Hiro said confidently. “I am eager to prove my part in my rescue.”
Ando rolled his eyes, but put his arm on Hiro’s shoulder, followed by Peter and Claire. Their surroundings melted away and were replaced by the drawing room of the Petrelli home with Claude, Nathan, Angela, and Heidi surrounding them.
“Actually did it, eh?” Claude said in surprise. “Might make something out of you yet.”
***
Micah pushed his way through the now familiar hospital doors. He hated that he knew his way around so well. All the nurses knew who he was and he was definitely a pro at working the television remotes, even without his ability.
“Your dad looks well today, Micah,” Sarah called to him from the nurse’s station.
“Thanks.” He smiled at her. She was his favorite.
His mom had dropped him off. She was going to run some errands and then come back to see DL.
Micah sat down next to his dad and pulled out a computer chip he’d been working on. He hadn’t had nearly as much time as usual because he’d been spending a lot of time with Molly. Not that he minded too much. It was really nice hanging out with someone his own age who had powers.
He told DL all about her. He told his dad about everything because he’d heard people talking about comas. You were supposed to talk to them because it would make them want to wake up.
“I’m almost done now,” he said expecting no more response than the empty air and the whir of machines. “Mom says she’s going to get me into college early at this rate. But you know her, always trying to make me more than I am. But I have to admit, I’d miss it if she stopped.”
He glanced over at DL, whose eyes were moving back and forth rapidly under his eyelids. He breathed steadily and all the machines were telling him that they were doing their job well and nothing should go wrong.
“Anyway, the man that we’re staying with wants us to go to school and learn from this other guy. Well, you were here I guess when Mom found out. I think we should, but you have to wake up in order for it to happen. But I think it would be fun.”
“Can’t be having fun without me.” Micah froze. The voice was raspy, hardly the deep confident voice he was used to hearing. But it was…
“Dad!” Micah flung himself onto the bed. DL let out a huge grunt, but he wrapped his arms around his son anyway. In fact, he didn’t think he’d ever let go. Micah didn’t want to ever let go either, but he still sent a message through the machines to let the doctors and nurses know his dad was awake. He wanted to make sure everything would be okay.
“Are you okay?” His dad asked him.
“Am I okay?” Micah said incredulously. “You’ve been in a coma! Are you okay?”
“I feel okay. Weak, but okay,” DL assured him. “Where’s your mom?”
“She’s fine. She’ll be here soon.”
“And she’s…?”
“Really Mom,” Micah answered. “She was very worried about you.”
“I’m sorry,” was all DL could say and hold his son tighter.
The doctors rushed in at this point. But Micah gladly let go so that they could make sure his dad was well.
“Your dad’s going to be just fine,” Dr. Samuel said laying a hand on Micah’s shoulder. “He’s a lucky man.”
“I had a lot of help,” DL said, looking at his son and thinking of his wife.
“Micah!” Niki’s voice was loud as she spotted her son with the doctor. Had something happened to DL?
“Dad’s awake!” Micah shouted, running to her and grabbing her hand and pulling her along to see.
“Baby!” she cried as she caught sight of her husband. She flung herself into his arms, much as Micah had done, but she kissed him and felt as much of him as was decent to make sure he was really there.
“I missed you so much,” she murmured. He smiled under her, lifting his hand to wipe away a tear.
“Not half as much as I missed you.” He kissed her again and extended his hand to Micah. “And you, Micah. You two brought me back.”
The reunited family huddled together talking and laughing.
***
Claire sighed as she closed her new bedroom door. Angela had been hounding her ever since they’d gotten back. It was, actually not that bad, getting to know her birth family. But she felt the tightened supervision and added nagging more and more these days. Still, it didn’t look like she’d be leaving anytime soon.
She picked up the phone and dialed a very important person.
“Odessa, home of the boredom attack,” said the voice on the other line.
“You’re such a freak, Zach,” Claire laughed.
“I’m a freak?” he questioned. “What, do you have amnesia? Did the Haitian take your memories? Or do you know you’re indestructible?”
“Stop it!” Claire sat on her bed, still grinning. What a relief to talk to somebody her own age. “Zach, I need you out here!”
“It would be harder for me to pull a disappearing act than you,” he said regretfully. “I have a normal family. They might actually miss me.”
“Maybe,” she conceded. She could just see his expression. “But you can surely visit a friend over the holidays?”
“That’s more in the line of the possible.”
“So, come! My family apparently is very rich. We have many rooms.”
“Many rooms, huh? How many do I get?”
“As many as it takes to get you here, you dork!”
“Okay,” he surrendered. “I’ll ask my parents. I’m sure they’ll say yes. But you’re helping to pay for my flight!”
“I’ll pay for the whole thing,” she said exasperated. “Just come.”
“Don’t get too high on the rich thing now,” he teased. “If you don’t hear from me, expect me in a couple of days.”
“Perfect!”
“See ya, Claire.”
“Bye.” Claire hung up the phone much happier than when she picked it up. Having lots of grownups and estranged family was great. But she needed someone to count on. Having her mom and brother here, as well as Zach, would be just what she needed to bring some reality into her crazy world.
The phone rang, startling her. Claire picked it up on the second ring.
“Hey, Claire-Bear.”
“Daddy? What’s happening?”
“Important things. Do you want me to tell Peter or do you want to give him a message for me?”
“Tell me. I can let them know.”
“The good news is the company is officially shut down. Linderman’s death helped with that. But there are a lot of loose ends to tie up. It’s still much too dangerous for you guys to come back and I’ve got to stay here. I’ve got the Haitian and Candice with me, but it might be awhile. Is-is that okay with you?”
Claire bit her lip, thoughts racing through her brain. Life was so insane right now and she desperately wanted her daddy. On the other hand, she knew what had to be done and she knew that her own path right now would be smoothest without her dad around.
But she said so with a heavy heart.
“It’s okay. Do whatever you have to. I understand.”
“Are you sure, honey?”
“I’m sure, Dad. Do you want to talk to Mom now?”
“Yeah, if I could.”
“Okay. Bye, Daddy.”
“Bye, Claire.”
Claire slowly carried the phone downstairs to her mother, cuffed Lyle on the arm
and went to find Peter. She had to tell him everything. After that, well, there would be work to do.
