Chapter 73 - Information
"They’re on their way?" Roland exclaimed when Simon told him the news, "We’re nowhere near ready, you know that."
"I don’t think Medo cares," Simon said, "He’s more worried about getting Massimaferro some help."
"That boy has only been sick twice that I’ve known," Roland sighed, "Never thought we’d be worrying about him this young."
"Explains a bit doesn’t it?" Simon said, "I think we now know why the Siraqis were so agreeable."
"I’d still like to know how they found out about it before we did," Roland said, "They’ve got to have one hell of a courier system."
"I don’t know," Simon shrugged, "But we’ve got little time."
"I’ll get a place ready," Roland nodded, "How did Medo sound?"
"Tired, but stable," Simon said, "He’s Medo, I mean it’s going to take more than just a little work to push him over the edge."
"We’ll find out soon enough," Roland nodded, "I’ll get the sleeping quarters ready for them. Go ahead and find Miranda’s sister. We’ll want her nearby when they get here so she can help diagnose Massimaferro."
"You got it," Simon nodded, "Know where she is?"
"The Medico house is down at the bottom of the hill," Roland told him, "Unless she’s off somewhere taking care of someone she’s probably there."
"Right," Simon nodded, "Be back in a few."
Simon jogged down the dirt road on the hill and found the Medico sign on the house. He knocked and waited, hearing some movement and a light turning on. A woman in her mid thirties answered quickly, opening the door and looking out at Simon. Simon knew immediately that this was Miranda’s sister, the resemblance was too close for it not to be.
"Yes?" Toria Studebaker asked, "How can I help you?"
"I’m Simon Sutcliffe," he told her, offering a hand, "I’m a Mullinix Representative for Medoferro."
"I’d heard you were in town," Toria told him, nodding, "How can I help you?"
"Just need to talk to you a few minutes," Simon told her, "May I come in?"
"Come on in," Toria nodded, smiling for the first time, "Would you like some tea, Mr. Sutcliffe?"
"Yep," Simon nodded, "Thanks. Name is Simon though. I’m not old enough to be Mister yet."
"You’re a lot like my sister said in her letters," Toria told him, "So what is going on?"
"Your sister asked me to let you know that she would be in town tonight," Simon said, "She’s with Medoferro and the Mullinix convoy. They’re coming in to town tonight."
"What’s she doing with the convoy?" Toria asked him, "Last I heard she was finishing up her training in Mullinix Centre."
"I don’t know all the details yet," Simon told her, "But from what Medo told me a little while ago Insegniferro sent her and another friend of ours, Stacy Cossy, with some papers for Medoferro. I personally think she was sent mainly for moral support."
"Why for?" Toria asked, intrigued, "Why would Medoferro need…"
She thought about it and remembered that she’d read in the newspaper that Medoferro had taken his first cases and that it had broken quite a few precedents. It had been centuries since an apprentice had taken murder cases in their first year, and longer than that since one had done it alone.
"Massimaferro is sick, isn’t he?" Toria asked him, "That’s why the extraordinary measures?"
"You got it, Toria," Simon nodded, "Miranda is helping aid the Medico on the scene. We’re going to need your help to spell Coblein when they get here."
"You’ll also need facilities too," Toria nodded, "I hope they were planning on bringing him here?"
"That’s one of the reasons I’m here," Simon agreed, "Medo was getting ready to leave when I talked to him about a half hour ago. They’ll be here sometime after midnight most likely."
"Just bring them here and I’ll be ready," Toria promised, "I assume you’ll be back then as well?"
"Probably," Simon grinned, "I’m like a bad penny. I always show up."
"I’ll remember that," Toria chuckled, "See you in a bit, Simon."
"Only if I don’t see you first," Simon jested and headed back outside.
Toria laughed quietly and then went to get her supplies together and do some last minute cleaning up. It wasn’t every day that you got a Mullinix into your place, especially one who actually needed you.
The Mullinix Book 1: Ascension Page 76