Return of the Clonsayee

by Elaine Bassett

  “You feel sick?”

  “No silly. It matches my blue dress.”

  He looked into her color-choice-of-the-day green eyes. “Come on then Miss fashion diva. Let’s go meet her.”

  “You first, Non. I’ll feel better if you are in front of me.”

  Non stood tall and put his shoulders back as he walked with an air of confidence. He thought: If I am going to be of any help to her at all, this is the best way I can present her. Nxy is a survivor. She can handle herself, and will find a way to get through to Maureen. If not, the consequences will be horrific.

  As he walked down the hallway, he could hear Nxy singing a ditty in a whispering voice. He knew her well enough to know it meant she was at ease. The girl sang when she worked because she claimed it helped her concentrate.

  Nxy was the best time manipulator they had. The girl had skills that were unbelievable. The most priceless treasures they had put on the Stygian Market were ones she was responsible for bringing in. The problem was, that no one else could duplicate her secrets.

  Non hoped the boss had explained that to his ball wrecking wife. Maureen was known for having a very nasty temper, but was also known for making shrewd and calculating decisions. He had no idea where the conclusion of this first meeting, with these two very different women, would end up. He knew one thing was certain; he was going to keep quiet, watch and observe. The initial reaction ought to be priceless.

  He thought about the differences between the two women: Maureen is a mature woman of the extremely wealthy upper class, from entitled old money. She’s exceptionally polished and a very attractive slender lady. With her salt and peppered black hair, and cold-as-steel piercing blue eyes, Maureen steals the show. She looks just like her personality, cold and untouchable. She’s well educated and very well spoken, but uses her tongue like a weapon of mass-destruction that can slice and dice anyone that dares disagree or cross her. I’ve never seen her get over a grudge.

  Nxy on the other hand is a chameleon. She never looks the same two days in a row. The young woman has a fashion sense that changes like her hair and eye color. One day she’s sweet and innocent, the next a hardcore rocker.

  Something Non had learned about Nxy was that what she looked or dressed like, had nothing to do with her mood. Her background was something of a mystery to everyone on the compound, with the exception of the upper echelon. Nxy didn’t act like it, but she came from a moneyed background too. She was the hellion that her family didn’t know what to do with. She was the secret they wished would just go away. According to Nxy, she came from a large family, three older brothers and three sisters. Nxy said she was one of the middle children; no one missed her when she left. In fact, it was a relief to her parents when she disappeared.

  Non had checked out her story himself. It was completely true. He’d presented himself as an investigator and interviewed them. He saw pictures of the real Nxy. No one else had ever seen how truly beautiful she was, without all the fakeness. He had to admit; even he was taken back at the truth. Her parents had seen him looking at the most recent photograph of Nxy, before she’d left. Reluctantly they sat down with Non and showed him an album of the family. Her petite, slender, athletic build made her appear solid but feminine.

  When her parents finished looking through the album with Non, they made it clear that they had no intention of looking for Nxy or trying to track her down. They believed that she would be better off wherever she was. The police investigation had concluded she was a runaway and her parents were at peace with the information.

  Even as cold-hearted as Donovan was, he felt sorry for Nxy after reading Non’s report. He tested her ability and they quickly realized she was just as street savvy as she was gifted. Donovan quickly took to her nonsense-is-not-an-option attitude. That’s when he became, in a sense, the father figure she had never known. He took a chance and positioned her well within the organization, against the recommendations of those in the higher ranks. She was one of the few on the compound allowed to come and go freely. Nxy became a big time player, one of the best they had. From the time she became an elite player, she’d been extremely loyal to Donovan.

  When they turned the corner, Nxy stopped singing. Non glanced at her over his shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  “Sure, sure, just keep going, all right?” He looked straight ahead and did as she asked. They turned the corner and headed for the main area.

  Maureen was talking to Joseph as they were walking down the steps. When she saw Non, she stopped and looked in his direction. She squinted and cocked her head at an angle, as she looked Nxy over. She pushed Donovan out of the way to get down the steps.

  Maureen whispered, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Maureen made her way to the ground floor. She stepped over to where Non was standing with Nxy.

  Joseph and Donovan paused on the stairs watching Maureen. Joseph gave his father a worried look as they hurried to catch up with her, in case there was an altercation.

  When Maureen came face to face with Nxy, her face lit up. “You, my darling, are something special, aren’t you? Let me take a look at you. Yes, I can see why Joseph is captivated with you.”

  She turned to Non. “Well, can’t you Non?”

  Non coughed and nodded as he turned away. Once he regained his composure, he said, “Yes, yes I can see why. You have a very good eye, Maureen.”

  She looked in Non’s eyes to read his thoughts. Then Maureen turned to Nxy and said, “Oh, that’s right. We haven’t met, but I have heard about you from my husband.” She turned to Donovan, glanced at him, and then looked back to Nxy.

  Maureen reached to hug the younger woman, but was taken back by the snake around her neck. She withdrew her arms and pointed to the young lady’s necklace. “I like that. I wouldn’t mind having one myself.” Maureen kept watching it.

  Nxy fidgeted with the necklace. “Mrs. Grey.”

  Maureen corrected her. “Maureen.”

  “Maureen, I think you’re too dangerous for a necklace like this.” Non cringed but tried not to show it.

  Maureen drew back, but wasn’t speechless. “You’re probably right.”

  Nxy reached out and hugged her. The two women in that instant became friends. Nxy became the daughter-in-law that Maureen always wanted.

  Maureen turned to Donovan and said, “You boys run along and find something to do.” She took Nxy’s arm and the two ladies walked down the hall together, having girl talk, laughing as they went.

  Non was amazed. “What just happened here? Did I miss something?”

  Donovan said, “My wife is a mystery.”

  Joseph said, “I guess Nxy can handle herself. You heard Mother, let’s get busy.”

  Donovan said, “I think it might be a trick. She’ll want to know what we did once she gets back. Move it!”

  Chapter 25

  Caroline sleepily got out of bed and walked over to the clothes that had been set out for the day. She looked over her choice but the outfit didn’t look very appealing in the morning light. She put it on, looked in the mirror and sighed. Caroline walked over to her closet and stared. Nothing seemed right. She became frustrated with her options.

  Joyce tapped on the door then opened it enough to put her head through. “Good morning, Sweetie.” She saw the look on Caroline’s face. “Everything okay?” She entered the bedroom and closed the door.

  Caroline cried, “Mom, nothing looks right.” She sighed and slumped her shoulders.

  Joyce stood beside her. “Believe me, that’s happened to me before too.”

  She looked Caroline over. “I think you look just fine, but I understand. Maybe it’s time for us to go shopping together. What do you think?” Caroline nodded.

  Joyce encouraged her. “Let’s choose something for today then after school we will go shopping.”

  Caroline groaned, “I was supposed to go with Charles to study after school.”

  “That’s right I forgot. Okay then, would you like me to go shopp
ing while you are in school, to see what I can find?” Caroline smiled.

  Joyce said, “I take that as a yes. Okay, I can do that.” Joyce reached into the closet and pulled out a couple of choices.

  “Oh, all right. I guess I’ll wear that outfit.”

  Joyce smiled, seeing that a crisis had been averted. “See you downstairs.” She left Caroline to finish getting ready for school.

  Caroline fixed her hair then went downstairs for breakfast. She noticed the time and ate quickly. She finished just in time, as Cynthia pulled up in their driveway. Kevin waved to Charles and his sisters. He called for Caroline.

  “Coming Daddy.”

  Joyce handed her the backpack. Caroline hugged her parents. She slipped on her jacket as she stepped out the door. Charles got out of the car and put up the seat for her to get in. She got in and sat next to Sophie. Charles and Caroline put on their seatbelts before Cynthia drove away. Charles waved to Joyce and Kevin. They waved back then went into the house after the car was out of sight.

  Sophie took a folder and a piece of paper from her backpack. She gave Caroline a glance as she explained the rules. “This is what we are going to do Caroline. I am going to tell your fortune. Are you ready?”

  Cynthia interrupted, “Sophie. Enough already.” She sighed, annoyed by her little sister.

  Caroline looked at her and whispered, “Okay, go ahead. I dare you.”

  Sophie bit her lip as she pulled a pencil out from her backpack. “Okay, this is how it works. I will make a spiral circle and you tell me when to stop.”

  Caroline nodded as she watched Sophie from behind the folder the young girl held up. Caroline said, “Okay, stop.”

  Then Sophie said, “Tell me seven letters that come to mind.” Caroline rambled off seven letters. Sophie continued, “Now tell me the first five numbers that come to mind.” Caroline answered. Sophie whispered more questions to Caroline. Caroline responded with more answers.

  Sophie said, “Okay, very good.” After she wrote down all the information, she put the pencil inside the folder and set the folder aside. She set the paper on top of it.

  “Now let me see your hand.” Caroline held her hand out to Sophie. The young girl held Caroline’s hand, looked it over and studied it. Then she looked up at Caroline saying, "Ohhh."

  Sophie dropped Caroline’s hand just as Cynthia pulled up at the front door of the middle school. Cynthia stepped out of the car and pushed the seat up. Sophie quickly grabbed her folder and stuffed it in her backpack. Then she grabbed the strap of the backpack and hurriedly climbed out of the car.

  Cynthia called out, “Goodbye Sophie.” Sophie didn’t say anything as she ran by her friends and into the school. Cynthia looked at Charles as she put on her seatbelt.

  He shrugged off his sister’s look. He looked back at Caroline, as she said, “I wonder what I did?”

  Cynthia put the car in drive and said, “Who knows with Sophie. She thinks she’s psychic.”

  Caroline looked out the window. Charles laughed and said, “Maybe I ought to take a look at that hand myself.” Caroline looked at Charles and gave him the, I’m not amused look.

  Cynthia quickly glanced at her in the rearview mirror. I wonder what Sophie thought she found out about Caroline. That’s going to bug me all day, until I see Little Sister after school.

  Cynthia pulled into the high school parking lot and parked the car. Charles got out and pushed up the seat to let Caroline out. She realized that Sophie left the fortune telling paper in the car. It had fallen to the floorboard. As she was getting her backpack, Caroline picked up the paper. When she stepped out of the car, she blocked their view, folded the paper and slid it in her pocket. Caroline put her backpack on her shoulder as they said goodbye to Cynthia.

  Pete got out of his car and walked over. Charles waved at his friend as he walked by with Caroline. “See you later this afternoon to practice.”

  They walked inside the building together. Charles and Caroline went their separate ways at the end of the hall, to their own lockers. Once Caroline reached her locker, she took Sophie’s paper out of her pocket and unfolded it. After she looked it over, she refolded it then put it in her backpack.

  The school day was uneventful and slow. Time seemed to drag on forever. Caroline wondered if the last bell would ever ring. By the time it rang she was ready.

  After school, Charles met Caroline at her locker. She grabbed her backpack, loaded it with books, took her jacket and they walked to meet Cynthia at her car. She was ready to go when they walked up. Charles opened the car door and pushed the seat up for Caroline to get into the back. As soon as everyone was buckled in, Cynthia drove straight to the farm. She was in a hurry, so she dropped them off in front of the house. Cynthia left as soon as Charles closed the car door. She didn’t acknowledge that they waved goodbye. She was anxious to get home. Cynthia was determined to find out what happened during the fortune telling session that morning. Sophie knew something, and she was going to find out what Little Sister thought she knew about Caroline.

  Chapter 26

  Once Cynthia drove away, they walked to the office and threw their jackets on Charles’ desk chair. Carson looked up from the paperwork he and Dimitrios were perusing. On Carson’s desk was an open briefcase containing Caroline’s Sojourner tools that she had inherited from her great-aunt Catherine. Caroline had received the tools from Mr. Gladestom, when the group met at the tree house to accept Caroline’s inheritance. Dimitrios had researched each tool. He then wrote a guidebook on what each tool was and how to operate it. He explained what he had discovered to Caroline and Charles.

  Dimitrios said, “Anthony and I had fun discovering what each of your tools are capable of executing. Honestly, it is possible that the tools can do more than what we have found, but Anthony and I believe what we wrote in the guidebook will give you a good starting point.” He pointed to one of the Sojourner tools. “This one however, we were not able to make it perform. It is possible that it will only work for you.”

  Caroline picked the tool up and examined it. She carefully set it back in its place with the other tools.

  Dimitrios continued, “Caroline, what you have here are extremely rare Sojourner tools. Any Sojourner would be proud to have this collection in your briefcase. They are considered advanced tools.”

  Caroline looked at Carson and asked, “May I keep the collection here in your vault? I believe that would be the safest place to store them.” Carson agreed. Caroline closed the briefcase and he took it to the vault.

  Dimitrios and Carson then turned back to the paperwork on Carson’s desk. Charles and Caroline sat at Charles’ desk and began working on their homework. After Dimitrios and Carson finished with the paperwork, Dimitrios explained he had a meeting scheduled with Anthony and that it was time to leave. Before he left, Caroline once again thanked him for researching the Sojourner tools and for compiling the work in a guidebook.

  When Charles and Caroline finished their assignments, the afternoon sun was bright and warm. They went outside to shoot baskets. Pete showed up and the boys continued to practice. Caroline went into the office to get a book out of her backpack. She walked out to the porch and sat down at one of the tables to read.

  Bev brought out lemonade and cookies for everyone. She asked Caroline a question about the book she was reading. Caroline answered, saying she was reading the book for a class project.

  Bev stared at the cover of the book, then asked, “May I see the book you are reading?”

  “Sure. It’s a fascinating book.” She handed the book to Bev.

  Bev looked it over then asked, “Caroline, do you remember where you bought this book?”

  Caroline was puzzled when Bev inquired where she made the purchase. “I bought it when I went on a shopping trip with my mom. I believe we found it in a downtown shop that has rare previously owned books.”

  Bev sat down beside Caroline and leaned toward her. She pointed to certain images on the cover, that when the
book was held at a certain angle, resembled something entirely different.

  Caroline said, “I never thought to look at the cover of the book like that. How extraordinary to discover hidden pictures.”

  Bev smiled at her. “I’d like to show Carson your book.”

  “Okay.”

  Bev stood and went into the office. Carson stopped what he was doing as she entered. She walked over and showed him the book cover.

  Carson took it from Bev and studied both the cover and the contents of the book for a moment before looking up at her. “Is this what I think I see, or are my eyes deceiving me?”

  “Your eyes are not deceiving you. I see it too.”

  “How can this be, after all these years?”

  Tears formed in Bev’s eyes. She shook her head. “I don’t know. Caroline was reading this book…” She shrugged. “It’s amazing. I’ve been searching for so many years, and there it was in Caroline’s hands, right in front of me.”

  “She may have been close all these years and we never knew it. Would you like to see if she’s still there?”

  “What if she’s not there anymore? I’m afraid to even begin to hope that she is still in the town’s vicinity. We’ve had so many dead ends over the years.”

  “We’ll never know if this is that one time in a million when we are lucky enough to find her, if we don’t go.”

  Bev agreed with him. “Let’s go now.” He stood up from the desk and put Bev’s car keys in his pocket.

  Carson and Bev took the book back to Caroline. He asked, “Caroline, do you remember the shop where you purchased this book?”

  “Yes, I remember. It wasn’t that long ago. My mom took me to the bookstore after school because of an assignment I had in class. She called several stores and it was the only place that had this particular book.”

  “Do you remember the name of the shop?”

  “No, I don’t remember the name, but I’m sure I can find it.”

  Carson said, “Good enough. Would you be willing to take us there?” Caroline said she would.