by P. S. Power
Keeley found the chair he’d indicated, one that was far too nice for an office setting, almost a leather reading chair, and sat comfortably, making eye contact with the older man the whole time.
“So, I have a few things to talk about Mr. Benson. First, well it’s a bit awkward, but I was wondering if you knew about the horrible problem they’re having with alcohol and underage drug parties at Wilson High school? Now, I don’t want to keep anyone from having fun, but I’ve heard that the Homecoming party is going to be huge this year and many illegal activities are planned. Drinking, underage sex, possibly people taking pictures of nude underage girls engaged in who knows what to put on the internet for perverts to look at, which is highly illegal. I’m sure that people will also be smoking marijuana and doing stupid things like recklessly jumping over bonfires.” Keeley did her best to sound like the prim church lady from every television show ever. It kind of worked, and got the requisite perfunctory nod from the man in front of her.
All that stuff probably would be happening after all. It was what people did for fun, most places.
Before he could speak Keeley grinned at him suddenly, getting a questioning look in response.
“Now normally, I’m sure such things would just be overlooked. Kids will be kids and all that kind of thing, plus the paperwork has got to be a nightmare. However, a firm stance now, against such things might just help remind people that you care about kids personally, which won’t make you look bad at all, after the thing with Rob. Plus, most people won’t be able to tell that you’re mainly doing it to make them feel their kids are safe. So it moves right past the whole thing where they think you’re just spinning things to try and look good. No one cares about the issue of underage drinking, except for the fact that right now, they’re worried about their children being murdered. Be seen making them safer and people will associate their children not dying with you. Since most of them won’t be dying anytime soon, you really can’t fail there.”
The man didn’t say anything for a long time.
“So, you want a crackdown on parties?” He finally spoke, his tone slightly wary.
“Not at all. God no. That would just be mean and make the police look like killjoys. I want you to go to Wilson high right after school on Friday, just before the preparations for the big game begin, and have some officers look in specific vehicles for alcohol. Just through the windows, so nothing illegally invasive. No alcohol means that about eighty percent of the problems will go away instantly. Though…” Keeley had a thought, one that made her blink for a few seconds. It was a good idea, if a little risky for the Chief.
“What?”
“Well, what if the police force held a party? For the kids? Maybe a couple? Set up some refreshments, maybe some music. Hold it outside with the police already there and let the kids know that they won’t be busted for making out or getting a little loud, since it’s sanctioned. No booze, but most kids aren’t alcoholics anyway. If five show up, call it a win and get it in the papers. I can set most of that up for you if you can provide the police to watch it and are willing to slap your name on it? Maybe get a few guys off duty? So you know, adult supervision without uniforms too? I’ll get Coretechs to front a bit of money for supplies. If you want, I mean.” It was a public relations gimmick, but it was also one that Darla hadn’t given him. Plus, if they did it right, the whole thing could really work well.
“Sounds… Really, why not? A bit short notice, but if you think you can pull it all together in time?”
“On it then. Um, do you have a card, so I can get with you on details? Oh, anyway… All you need to do is check the cars of the football team and I’m certain you’ll find what you’re looking for. Friday, right after school, before everyone leaves.” With witnesses, so no one could claim the police planted anything. That would just be wrong, after all.
Because she was going to do that part.
Keeley noticed that Roy didn’t ask a lot of questions about how she knew where the booze would be or anything. It was pretty handy, to tell the truth. She didn’t have a lie ready at all.
“Was there anything else then?” The Chief stood and gestured to the boxes with an interested smile, which got one of them quickly put in his hands, Keeley dancing a little to make it happen, trying to make herself remember a time when she not only felt, but was, truly graceful. To her surprise it actually worked. She felt graceful and became that way instantly. Useful. It also led her to think of a few other things, like what would happen if she focused on strength or speed?
Could she enhance that too? Darla kept talking about those things as just being natural, just a part of who they were as Demons, but what if her problem wasn’t a physical one at all, but just a mental block? She’d lived her life just being a regular American girl. Bookish and a little shy, not wanting to touch anyone or get to close. It made sense at the time, but it also meant she hadn’t played sports a lot, or really pushed herself very often.
Maybe she just needed to learn how?
Roy smiled at her, “Bavarian, so… Darla put you up to this?”
Keeley shrugged.
“Only to tell me I should get donuts and that it was an in joke that everyone here would understand. The rest is all you. So, do I give the other two boxes to the man on the front desk or…”
“Oh, would you? Thank you by the way. The day shift guys never leave anything for the people on night shift. I work too much to pick anything up, so something like this is a real treat. I’ll make sure to tell everyone where it came from.” He winked at her. It was more creepy when he did it than Darla even.
But then, the first time they’d met the man had openly suggest that he, Darla, and his wife all get together. For sex. Though he’d backed off Keeley pretty quick when he learned she wasn’t old enough, so there was that at least.
Keeley dropped the goodies off on her way past, making sure to give a smile to the man on the desk phone, even though he couldn’t talk at the moment. He did wave, still looking like he was probably a jerk to most people, but he was nice enough to her. Maybe he just had one of those faces?
It happened.
The trip home was uneventful until she pulled into the driveway and saw her father standing there, looking a little angry. It wasn’t his full on “you’re in trouble” face at least. She was late, it was true, but only by about five minutes. He normally didn’t get that petty about things like that. Clocks got set to different times after all. When she got out he waved his right hand at her, not letting her speak. That was fine though, she wasn’t trying to.
“I just got a call for you, from the Chief of Police. Mind telling me what that was about? He asked me to have you call with the information as soon as you have it. What have you gotten yourself into?” He seemed actually worried, and for once, it seemed reasonable to Keeley.
After all, if the police called about your child, it was almost never a good thing.
Keeley smiled, as if the call made her happy. Actually it was a little premature, but it made sense that the man wanted to get things moving and make sure the whole thing wasn’t a prank or that she might not be up to planning a few small get-togethers.
“This year the police department is going to be working with the good people of Coretechs to hold safe “after parties” for the Homecoming dances. I’m helping to organize that with the Chief. Friday night… are you in to help with that? With the murder, well a lot of parents are uneasy, so this will help set some minds at ease. There will be some police there, and it’s not going to be a prison or anything, but no real drinking, no antics wild enough to land people in the hospital and all that. Speaking of which I need to get in touch with Mrs. Gibson or her rep and see what she wants done for this. It was her idea, or at least that’s what we want you to tell people at work. Really it was the Chief. Really cares about the kids.” She started walking toward the front door carrying her school bag, which was actually filled with books.
She still needed to get her homework
done after all.
And, somehow, get enough booze to have some football team members taken out of the game. That was going to be hard to manage. Really, the only people she knew that were old enough to buy it were her school teachers. Well, and her parents, but mentioning that to her dad would be a very poor plan. In his mind there was only one reason for a girl to drink, and that was to lure boys into sex.
As if they needed the extra incentive? Keeley kept her face still, happy, but in a determined way. Her father, for his part, seemed pretty much speechless. It was better than fuming, so she decided to call that one her own personal win.
Her dad rubbed at his thinning hair, and patted at his face a little as if trying to keep the shock off of it. What, had he thought Keeley had taken to running drugs or something? She didn’t look at him, but did give him a half wave to get him to come with her. It was subtle enough that, even though she knew he saw it, he wouldn’t take offense. It was a happy enough thing, she decided, working on projects like this.
Besides it would give her something to do while everyone else slept.
The next part of the trouble took place when she walked into the living room. Her mother, who looked a lot like she did, if with a few extra pounds, which looked pretty good on her really, and slightly shorter hair. She’d cut it in the last week, doing it herself. Luckily she was good at it and managed a pretty credible job. It was cute. Also not as hot, if she ever decided to go outside. Arizona wasn’t exactly cool all the time, was it? At least it was a dry heat though.
The look on her mother’s face was concerned, which was something that she did well. And often.
“Keeley, is… are you in some kind of trouble, drugs or…” She didn’t mention what the “or” would be.
Why would she think drugs? Oh, right, well losing about forty pounds in six days did look a little off, didn’t it? She’d gone from decently average in weight to almost too thin faster than was possible for a person that wasn’t dying of something. Then again drugs didn’t really do that either. Even parasites didn’t.
“Nope, not at all. Just trying to help Chief Benson put together some safe parties for after the dance. It’s a last minute thing. Maybe you could help too?” Keeley nodded, since the idea really did make sense, her mother was good at things like that wasn’t she? True she had some corsages to get ready the next day, but after that she might be free.
Since they were new in the area, it would be a good way to network and all that anyway, right? Sherry looked at Charles as if she expected him to fight her on it, to insist she stay home and not venture a foot outside the door. This time he didn’t though, he just shrugged and glanced at Keeley, then back at his wife.
“Apparently this is actually some kind of real thing? Coretechs is funding it and the police are going to help, security or something. Not normally my thing, but, well, if Keeley is involved, we should support her.” He even sounded like he meant it. It would probably last right up until a man talked to either of them, but it was a nice effort on his part, weird hang-ups or not.
“Really? I, well, yes, I can spare some time. What do I do though?”
That would take some work to figure out. First she needed to get with Darla, since she owned Coretechs, and tell her about her new civic work plan. Hopefully she’d go along with it. Otherwise Keeley was going to look pretty bad, wasn’t she?
“Well, I need to make some calls; can I get back to both of you on that in an hour or so?”
They agreed, and wondered off to do their own things, which was the normal pattern. They didn’t do much together really as a family. In that way, maybe this would be good for them? Her too. She wasn’t going to be at home forever after all. It would be nice to have some memories of her parents that weren’t just their eventual divorce.
That was coming. Actually it kind of surprised her that they hadn’t done it already. Charles was controlling and jealous, prone to anger about it and had no clue that real women weren’t always out having sex with everyone in the world all the time. Except him. Having sex with everyone other than him. It was the big issue. Sherry was OCD, high strung at times and frustrated with her life on a level Keeley wasn’t really sure she exactly understood.
It pretty much meant that as soon as their reason to stay together, her, went away, so would their relationship. On one hand it would have been nice for her own comfort, if they stayed together forever, as if nothing ever changed. On the other… They both deserved a chance to be happy, didn’t they? While they were still young enough to really enjoy it?
They weren’t. They muddled through alright, and could convince themselves that it was as good as anyone ever really got, most of the time, but neither of them really believed it. Not deep down.
It was true though. Most people weren’t really happy. It was part of the reason Keeley didn’t like to touch people. Knowing a person, any person, too well, was always a bad idea.
For the moment though they left her alone to make her phone calls, not asking why she thought a teenage girl should have Mrs. Gibson on tap like that. True, she had a job at Coretechs herself, half days in the mailroom on Saturdays. So far she’d put in four whole hours. It was simple enough work, sort the incoming mail, which there wasn’t a lot of, loading it on a cart, then walking it around for delivery. They almost didn’t need the position at all, there was so little paper mail coming in, it being the digital age and all.
Maybe that was why she had time to be chatting up the big boss? Except they’d never met. Oh, Mrs. Gibson was just Darla, who could change shape physically to look like pretty much anyone she wanted. Possibly animals too. So it was a cool power. Some day Keeley would be able to as well, if she lived long enough to learn how. The thing there was that it took about twelve hours for Darla to change like that, and her main job was actually looking after the new baby Demon right now. Not the business. Mrs. Gibson was traveling a lot and doing her work by phone for the most part.
Which worked for now.
The phone picked up on the third ring.
“This is Gibson, go.” The tone was slightly clipped, forceful and almost a little manly. Not a woman faking a guy’s voice, but the voice of a woman that had already gone through menopause, the testosterone levels having been left un-equalized by natural estrogen for at least two decades.
“Mrs. Gibson? This Is Keeley Thomson, from the mail room? I managed to get with Police Chief Benson, like you suggested, and he really likes the idea.” Keeley just filled her in on the whole thing, pretending they’d already talked about it before for real.
It was interesting, because Darla never once broke character. If spies had been listening in, they’d have thought it was a real conversation or something. It was something to keep in mind, living the part like that. If she ever had to do anything like that, it would be a good habit to have for herself too. Probably even holding her thoughts in a way that would only show the character she was playing. Keeley let her voice go a little nervous, trying it out.
“So, I kind of told him I’d try and see if Coretechs could help cover the expenses? It probably won’t be that much, there are five schools, but I was just thinking some soda, chips, that kind of thing?”
The sound from the other end of the line was dark, not a pleasant thing at all. For a second Keeley figured that her idea was going to be shut down, but “Mrs. Gibson” surprised her.
“Not with my companies name on it. Hire catering for the parties. I’ll send someone around for that, to arrange the funds you need. Try to keep it under fifty thousand. Get with me if you can’t. You’ve met Dan Carmichael?” The voice sounded cagy then, just slightly. Most people would have missed it, but Keeley didn’t.
“Yes. He brought by some papers for me one time. Tax forms and things like that.” It was true, but what Darla was getting at was, had she recognized him as the Demon Finias. She had, of course. It wasn’t exactly hard.
“He mentioned being an old and dear friend of yours?” She added, playing the game to
the hilt.
“Oh, yes, that’s the man indeed, a real charmer. Well then, I won’t have to do much more on this, not with you two on it.”
Then she hung up. No goodbye, see you later, or good work new girl, even. It gave a sense that the woman was busy, didn’t it? Very busy indeed. Keeley almost felt bad for disturbing her. Even knowing that it was just Darla on the other side of that voice. Then Darla was also a busy captain of industry, as well as trying to teach her how to not die. So really, “just Darla” probably had even less time than “Mrs. Gibson”.
The next hour was interesting to say the least, and actually had Charles calling Dan Carmichael at ten in the evening to ask if he’d really heard what Keeley had told them. Keeley shook her head and sighed at her father for the first time that day when he asked the man that. As if she’d lie?
“It seems a bit much for a few school parties, doesn’t it?” The phone, a nice slick looking black cell phone that looked just a bit retro compared to what most the kids at school had made a laughing sound then.
“I see, so fifty thousand? Alright. Well, yes, I guess… Let me check?”
Charles blinked, looked at Sherry and then Keeley, then back at his wife.
“Um, well, Dan would like to know if he could liberate Keeley from classes tomorrow to get the caterers set up. It means missing a day of school. Is that doable?” At least he really sounded dubious about the whole thing, as if he really didn’t know, rather than acting like Dan was going to run off with her, Keeley thought.
Sherry for her part started to nod slowly.
“Well, I think it might be OK, I mean as long as we get the school involved in it, which really they should be. This is pretty short notice. I wonder if anyone will attend? I mean there are already dances scheduled… But why not. Keeley rarely does anything but schoolwork anyway. It might be good for her to actually miss a day. Build some of that character we always hear about on television.”