Balance - Book 2

by Marc Dickason

  *****

  Later that day I sat in a chair at a neurologist’s office. It was not red.

  “Any more headaches?” he asked.

  “No.”

  “Taken any medication for it?”

  “Not today, no.”

  “Well, you’re fine. I mean, I can’t speak for the hand, but you’re fine up here.” He tapped a finger to my forehead.

  “You sure, doctor?”

  A few hours later Chief Commander Gill was talking. I watched his mouth forming words, saying something about the report I would have to write. That it would have to give explicit detail, every ‘i’ dotted and ‘t’ crossed to avoid backlash from Little Dreamers Day Care. But I wasn’t listening. In my head a little boy named Ken was arriving home. He opened a gate and called out for a dog named Buddy. I didn’t think Buddy would be there. I didn’t know if there was a dog named Buddy. Or ever had been.

  Some time later I found myself at a work station in my D.O.M common room. I sat at a computer and logged into my account. Upon entering my password “1 message” flashed up and I clicked it. An official report on Jenny Buckland appeared, forwarded by Benny.

  I opened it, scrolled multiple pages and paused on the ‘Final Analysis’ heading. Words jumped out; ‘contact with Selena Stephania on several occasions’, ‘communicated via telephone’, ‘unaware of perpetrators location’, ‘willingly agreed to participate in kidnap attempt’, ‘known use of Ghosting.’

  The report was closed and I accessed the D.O.M database, typing in the word ‘Ghosting.’ A window opened that read;

  ‘Confidential… Request Access?’

  I clicked and a small tab appeared;

  ‘User Logged; Clarence, Jet.

  Information pertaining; Ghosting.’

  Beneath was a form and I entered relevant information then clicked ‘Request’.

  A second search was done; ‘Global Net’. The official website was full of bright colours featuring the motto ‘Let us connect you’. The Company was proudly declared a ‘Leader in modern IT networking’. Under the ‘locate us’ section I found a map and photo of the headquarters; unmistakably the same building seen in the mind of young Ken. I attempted to find any reports of wrong-doing by Global Net. But nothing was returned. Strangely, I could find no record of the company having done much business of any kind.

  I did a third search, ‘Clarence, Liza,’ and was presented with case files. All were marked ‘Active.’

  ‘Ambience Tweak Violation’, ‘Linked to Murder Case: Spouse; Clarence, Carl – Update: Case Closed’, ‘Relation to Enforcer; Clarence, Fran – Suspended from Duty Pending Investigation – Update: Removed From Active Duty’, ‘Location: Currently Unknown’, ‘Detain for Questioning on Sight’.

  Beside the information was a small image of her face. The first I said seen since that day at the Sushi Palace.

  ‘Mommy loves you’ the image said, ‘How could you ever question that?’

  The flame raised its head and thrashed about, snapping at the cage door and rattling the bars. Heat rose to my cheeks. All at once my lips were trembling.

  “Clarence?”

  Chief Commander Gill was beside me. I blinked and looked up. One of my hands was massaging the wrist of the other. I stopped it.

  “Yes, Commander Gill.”

  “You requested access to the files on Ghosting?”

  “Yes, sir. I did.” I realised sweat had gathered on my forehead and wiped it away.

  “Why?”

  “Jenny Buckland used the technique, sir. She spent much time in the company of Selena Stephania and I believe the Spell may have passed between them. I’d like to study the Spell and learn the counter.”

  “I see. Stephania. Not your case though, is she?”

  “Not directly, sir. She is involved in a case my mentor is working on. Enforcer Kingston.”

  “Ah, Kingston. Alright, you’ll have access in a minute, I’ll put it through.’

  “Yes, sir.”

  His eyes narrowed. “You look horrible, Clarence. You shouldn’t be in here today. That head wound is nothing to take lightly. Go home. Come back tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be okay, sir. I just want to open the case file for Little Dreamers.”

  “Fine. But go home after that. You’re my most valuable Enforcer, Clarence. Look after yourself.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He headed back to his office. A moment later a notification appeared on my monitor and I clicked it. A few pages were returned. Some linked to cases in which the Ghosting Spell had been used. Others listed those capable of doing the spell; about a hundred in total. I clicked on a link and scanned the information.

  “Ignore me,” I said to myself.

  Next I clicked the ‘Open new Case’ tab. Under ‘Case Location’ I entered; ‘Little Dreamers Day Care’. Under possible connections I wrote; ‘Global Net’.