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CHAPTER 10
Tess
Tess observed the blonde tall beauty from the adjoining hallway for a couple of minutes before she made her presence known. After all, this meeting was important.
If Isabel Evans was connected to Tess’ past, she had to thread carefully to be able to get what she needed out of Isabel.
“Excuse me,” she said softly, interrupting Isabel in her reorganizing tasks of her work station.
Isabel looked up, brushed a tendril of light hair out of her face, and answered breathlessly, “Can I help you?”
Tess extended her hand. “Sorry to disturb you, but my name is Tess and I’m-“
A light flickered on in Isabel’s eyes. “You’re David’s girlfriend.”
“Something like that,” Tess confirmed evasively and Isabel took her hand in greeting, “I’m Isabel.”
“Nice to meet you,” Tess smiled. “It’s not my intention to disturb you, but you… do you have a minute?”
Isabel let her gaze quickly flutter across her working area, as if to make sure that everything would be under control for the next couple of minutes without her. “Sure.”
“It’s just… I’m kinda new to Boston,” which wasn’t really true, but Isabel didn’t know that, “And I’m just holed up in my apartment at the moment, waiting for David to come and visit me.”
Isabel grimaced in compassion. “That sucks.”
“And except for David, I don’t really know anyone here.”
Isabel nodded, seemingly awaiting the punch line.
“It was actually David’s idea,” Tess effectively added an embarrassed laugh, “I don’t want to intrude…”
“I could show you around,” Isabel offered, having picked up on Tess’ intentional unease.
Tess’ face broke out into a smile, breathing in relief. “Could you? Really?”
Isabel waved the gratitude away with her hand. “It’s no problem. Of course you need your personal guide of Boston. I bet it’s torture just sitting around and not having anything to do. We could squeeze in some shopping too if you want. How about this afternoon?”
“Oh,” Tess breathed. “You’re amazing. David told me that you were kind but…”
“For once…” Isabel smiled and gave Tess a conspiratorial wink, “David’s right.”
Tess returned the smile. She was in.
Then Isabel smacked her forehead with the back of her head. “Shit!”
Tess frowned. “What?”
It was Isabel’s turn to look embarrassed. “It’s just, I just realized that I’ve already got plans.”
“That’s okay-“ Tess started.
“I was going to help Michael pick out an anniversary present for his girlfriend. Oh sorry. Michael, that’s my friend.”
Michael. Tess smiled. Michael Guerin. Yes, she knew who he was. His biography had been in the last papers of the yellow Manila folder. But even before she had read out the words, which could’ve been an account of her own life, Tess knew who Michael Guerin was. They had met, on several occasions.
Michael Guerin and Theresa Harding, compared to Maxwell and Isabel Evans, both lacked the detailed account of how they came about walking naked on a deserted road. Michael Guerin had only made it onto the FBI’s list because of his close connections to his friends and the fact that he also was sans parents with a memory originating at an age of four. Michael had, similarly to Tess, been placed at the orphanage in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Michael had been found outside an alien-themed diner in Roswell, eating garbage, clad in mismatched clothes that he had encountered during his dumpster diving.
He hadn’t spoken the language, in fact he had been called a wolf child for the first two months, acting rabid as soon as someone tried to get close to him. According to the FBI-file, it had taken four full-sized men to restrain him and bring him in.
It was at the Christian Children’s Home that the two children had encountered each other briefly in the stops between foster homes. Neither of them were considered angels (one foster parent had accused Michael of being the spawn of the devil) and their visits in different foster homes were usually short-lived. As they got older, the were increasingly difficult to re-home, due to their accumulating years and the accumulating rumors.
Tess had somewhat better success, being a pretty blonde girl, but it usually didn’t take long for the latest foster family to figure out that she was trouble.
Because they were both troublemakers, they had been carefully separated at the orphanage. Consequently, Tess knew of Michael, admiring his work from afar, but had never actually spoken a word to him.
The FBI-file had in its blunt documentation stated that Michael had eventually ended up in a foster home to stay, shortly before he had requested emancipation of minor at the age of seventeen, packed his bags and moved to Boston. The facts were less detailed on the reason behind his move and how he had ended up with the Evans’, but Tess hadn’t been surprised when the familiar face of the troubled boy from her childhood had shown up in a folder together with the Evans siblings.
Now, she looked at Isabel and saw her chance to kill two birds with one stone. Meeting Michael again would be fun. She wondered if he would remember her, if she had made a lasting impression.
“Maybe I could come with?” Tess asked innocently.
“Seriously?” Isabel asked doubtfully. “I don’t know… Michael is not really a people-person.”
“I’m just really starved for human contact,” Tess said, half-begging, and smiled inwardly at her ‘human contact’-reference.
“I don’t know…” Isabel was not convinced.
“I really need to meet some new people. We don’t have to go sightseeing, we could just go shop. Maybe I could help out with some ideas for his girlfriend’s anniversary present.”
Tess could tell that Isabel wasn’t convinced, but the shorter blonde was certainly wearing down the tall one’s resolve.
“It’ll be a blast,” Tess added and pushed hopefulness into her pleading eyes.
That did it.
“Okay, sure,” Isabel sighed. “Michael could use some socializing anyway; it’ll be good for him.”
“Great,” Tess smiled. “Meet up here at…?”
“I get off at 4.30, so around 4.40?”
“It’s a date,” Tess confirmed with a brilliant smile. “Thank you, Isabel.”
“Don’t sweat it,” Isabel said, a twinge of worry in her voice.
Tess’ smile was victorious as she walked down the corridor, the extra spring in her steps making the curls on her head bounce. Isabel had every reason to worry. She was about to let the wolf child out to play with other children.
*****
Michael
This had to be one of the worst side effects of being in a relationship. Anniversaries. Well, not anniversaries specifically, rather having to give gifts. Which ultimately meant that he would have to spend a day in agony, going through shops which were filled with humans.
And to top it off, Isabel had asked to meet up outside her office claiming that it was easier. This meant having to hit public transport (even though Maria spent a lot of time nagging him about it, Michael still hadn’t gotten a driver’s license), which had been crowded with smelly humans and screaming infants and had made his mood even fouler. It only served Isabel right that, as a consequence of everything she made him go through to meet her, she would be taking a very grumpy Michael shopping
Why hadn’t she just come and picked him up, like she normally would?
As he got closer to the entrance of the office building, he realized that Isabel wasn’t alone. A petite girl was standing next to her, talking animatedly with her hands. Why did she look familiar?
Isabel spotted him and raised her hand with a “Hey, Michael,” as if she was standing in a crowd and having been made invisible by all those other people. Not standing alone with a woman that barely reached up to Isabel’s chin. Michael rolled his eyes and gave a short sourly wave back. She smiled at the response.
Yes, Isabel, I can see you. Congratulations.
Michael stepped up to the couple, shot a cold look at the girl and asked “Who’s this?” before Isabel had a chance to greet him.
Isabel smacked him over his arm. “Behave.”
Michael was not looking very impressed when he turned his attention back to Isabel. “I thought we were going shopping. So what’s this?”
Isabel turned to the girl, her cheeks blazing with the shame Michael had caused her. Michael didn’t care. She
knew how much he hated this and then she still decided to invite someone else. A stranger.
“There are no words,” Isabel said to the girl. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s alright,” the girl answered lightly and offered Michael her hand. He just stared at it. The stranger lowered it again, her smile wavering. But, she didn’t appear intimidated, Michael noted. They usually were. Instead she continued, “I’m Tess. But we’ve already met.”
Michael squinted at her suspiciously.
“You have?” Isabel asked in surprise.
And then it hit him. “Theresa Harding,” he stated, some emotion creeping into his stony voice.
“It’s Tess now,” the girl corrected.
“How do you know each other?” Isabel asked and Michael refrained from rolling his eyes at her, again. Isabel would eat this all up.
“We were at the same orphanage in Albuquerque when we were young,” Tess explained lightly.
Michael narrowed his eyes further. He didn’t trust a girl who were so chipper about that place. Sure, it had been a good enough orphanage, but he had hated it there.
Isabel’s eyes widened. “You were? That’s… a coincidence.”
That’s one way to put it, Michael thought. He was naturally suspicious of most things.
“You’ll have some catching up to do then,” Isabel added, hoping to ease the tension.
Michael snorted. “Yeah, right.”
He didn’t remember much about Theresa Harding, but he remember her being trouble. Much more so than he was at the time. That was saying a lot.
“I think it’s a time we both rather would forget,” Tess mused, looking sympathetic.
Damn, she still has it, Michael thought as he watched Isabel nod emphatically. Theresa, or Tess, had been the queen of manipulations. He was pretty sure she hadn’t changed all that much since he saw her last.
“Is she coming with?” Michael asked cooly.
Let’s get this shit over with.
“Is it okay?” Isabel asked.
Now she asks. Michael shrugged and donned his most bored expression. “Whatever.”
“Let’s go then,” Isabel said and turned to Tess in a hushed tone, “He’ll come around.”
But Michael couldn’t help but wonder if Tess had any ulterior motives about being here. He didn’t much believe in coincidences. And this would be a big coincidence.
TBC… (on Sunday
)
) who seems to like it!
) and I am quite sure that Max is the target! No?
