While Chris and his friends are dealing with their change circumstances their way Chris's mother Sharon is dealing with something very similar during her day at work. Sharon Sharp works as the manager of a Chase bank. Three times during the day she has seen people staring at her from out side, their eyes never blinking and their expression never changing. Each time after a couple minutes she called the security guards to deal with them and question them. The guards always came back telling her that once they confronted the person they seemed to come out of their trance. For the most part she just had to get though her day.
She had a strange encounter around one PM when a representative for a Mr. Gabriel Tarque came in to withdraw all of his client's money. She remembered when Mr. Tarque and that lawyer came in for a business loan, she dealt with the two of them personally. She remembered being creeped out by Tarque but for some reason can't remember what he looked like. She had been trying to remember Tarque's face yet his features are a blur.
Anyway there was no problem with the lawyer coming in and closing Mr. Tarque's accounts, as the bank got a conformation from the man that he was indeed closing his accounts paid the business loan and that that he had to close the business and was now leaving the state. So she was expecting a meeting with his lawyer. However it was the state his lawyer was in that creeped Sharon Sharp out this time.
The first time she saw Anton Rast, the business lawyer looked like a smug arrogant bastard who would never take orders from anyone but himself. He is a twenty something hot shot lawyer with cold blue eyes and light brown hair, a man who always looks his best and attempts to out do everyone else. In contrast to Tarque who she can't put a face to she remembers Rast clearly. She dealt with him several times before.
The Anton Rast she met with today was not the same man. Oh he was Anton Rast alright, same face, same blue eyes, same hair, but he looked older, he looked defeated. He looked like he ages twenty years in two months, his eyes no longer seemed cold but well filled with fear, his hair slightly graying and messy. He was still wearing a suit but it looked like it had not been ironed in weeks. The man also lacked the confidence he was known for. He was stuttering, looking down at his shoes, and just over all nervous in his actions.
She was called in to deal with Rast because his behavior seemed shady to the person who was dealing with him. Sharon contacted Mr. Tarque and saw that Rast was doing exactly what he was suppose to be doing. Still the man was acting out of the ordinary. While he acted very different from McCannon she could not help but feel the same strange vibes from him. That something was no right. Still it was only a hunch and she had the accounts for Mr. Tarque closed and all the money was given to Rast.
Still since it was bothering her she checked the web site for Preston and Nash law firm where Rast worked. She found the E-mail for the office and sent them a letter, 'I have received a visit from Anton Rast for one of his clients. While the action was legitimate Rast seemed different. I was wondering if anything was up with him.'
An hour later she got a response from the law firm, 'Mr. Rast was let go from the company as of November first 2005 due to a change in behavior, we do not know his current employment or where he could be reached.' It was strange, though she thought that maybe Rast works for Tarque now, given that the lawyer seemed to be a very different person maybe it was just bad luck. Sharon had to get the thought out of her mind and focus back on her work.
At five ten PM Sharon picks up her things and locks her office. She says good buy to the employees that are left and leaves leaves the bank. She takes out her phone as she walks to the car and calls a local pizza joint, “I would like one large sausage and Mushroom. Yes that's right extra cheese. Also I would like a side of cheese sticks. Now I will be picking up the pizza. Okay yes I will be there in twenty minutes.” She had unlocked the car and was already behind the wheel when she turns off the phone. Sharon adjusts the mirror, puts the car into drive and then takes off. She then pulls down hard on the breaks when she sees a man in front of her waving her down. She opens the car window and looks at the distressed man, “Mr. Rast?”
The nervous looking lawyer walks over to the car, “Ms. Sharp? Can, can you help me.”
Sharon does not have a good feeling about this but the man looks desperate. “Meet me at Densaur Pizza, we can talk there, I have to pick up dinner.”
“I, I currently don't have a car. Could, could you give me a ride?” Anton says very weakly, Sharon nods her head and he enters the passenger seat.
They do not speak on the way to the pizza place, Rast seems like he has something he wants to say but can't and Sharon does not know what to make of him. The once confident lawyer looks like a wreck. She drives silently wondering just what is wrong with him, she will get him help quickly and get away from him. She has a feeling something is not right here.
Sharon and Rast walk into the pizza place and Sharon goes up to the counter to tell them her name, she still has ten minutes left so she walks Anton Rast over to a booth, “Okay whats going on.”
The Lawyer takes a deep breath, “I... I, you're in danger, you and your son.”
After what she has seen today she believes it, “How do you know this?”
“Mr. Tarque, he. I...” Rast shakes his head and starts shaking, “Arrg, WHAT IS...” He opens his eyes, “Ms. Sharp? What am I doing here.” His voice is cold and lacking emotion.
“You were telling me about Mr. Tarque?”
“I was?” He rubs his temple, “Oh yes Mr. Tarque is a great employer and would like to meet you. He has an offer for you and sent me to ask for you.”
Sharon is confused, not fully understanding what is going on with this man. Rast is acting closer to his old self but something is wrong. “But you were about to warn me about Tarque?”
“Why would I do that? He will change your life, he has a job for you that you should accept.” There is something about his voice that is strange, like he's forcing something back.
“I pass.” Sharon stands, “I believe you should leave.”
Rast moves over to Sharon and grabs her by the shoulder, “You must, it is not a request. You do not say no to Tarque. You... you... run.” Rast in a moment of clarity pushes away from Sharon, “Get out, GET OUT.” With that the lawyer runs out of the shop.
Sharon Sharp looks around in the pizza place and sees that she and Rast were the center of attention. She is embarrassed, “I apologize, that shouldn't have happened.” She walks over to the counter and sees her pizza and cheese sticks are ready. Sharon puts a large tip in the jar, “Sorry for causing a scene. I don't know what was up with him.”
“It was not your fault Sharon.” The lady at the desk said, Sharon is a regular at this pizza place and is on a first name basis with some of the employees. “That man comes in here a lot and he has changed dramaticly in the last month. I think he has fallen on hard times. I figure our economy will get worse before it gets better.”
“Your probably right.” Sharon says and she walks out the door. Somehow she doubts very much that the cashier is right, it's not the economy that is the problem, not this time. As she walks out of the store and heads to her car a long black car with gold trim drives up in front of her. Sharon tries to walk around the car when the window rolls down and yellow eyes glare out from the dark car.
“Ms. Sharp.” A creepy, low pitched and thickly french accented voice. “Stop.”
Sharon stops in her tracks despite not having control over her action, “Wha?”
The door to the car slowly opens and a white gloved hand motions for Sharon to enter, “Come lets go for a ride.”
Sharon backs off, “I would rather not.” but while she tries to take make a run for it but she can't.
“Ah but I insist madam Sharp.” The voice is deep and commanding, even if Sharon wanted to she could not resist the voice. She walks into the car leaving the pizza behind her. “Mr. Rast, lets go I have preparations to make.” The man then potions for Sharon to close the door and the car t
akes off, leaving the pizza and cheese sticks laying there right near the road.
Chapter Five
Valmont Sharp: Monster Hunter Page 5