Chapter Four
The coffee shop had a nice view of the square. Chloe and Tracy sipped mochas and watched the people go by the picture window. Tracy took out a little black notebook and said, “My dad used to scribble in a notebook all the time. I always thought it was funny, now I know why he did it. It’s like having an extra brain.”
Chloe tapped her head and said, “I like to keep things clear. Did you know I meditate?”
“I wondered about that. I’ve seen you. Does it work?”
Chloe nodded, “Yeah, it took a while to get into it and figure out how to make it work for me. This morning, for example, I thought about your new problems.”
Tracy smiled, “My problems? That’s sweet.”
Chloe fluttered her eyelashes, “I am sweet.” They both laughed. She continued, “My two cents is publish the stuff on the Internet.”
Tracy nodded thoughtfully, “I really like that idea, too. What about potential drawbacks?”
Chloe shrugged, “I think it’s pretty simple. This is a valuable secret. Secrets are only valuable because of the limited number of people who know them and control them. Presumably whoever tried to break in wants to keep this secret and wield the power for themselves. I say fuck that person and publish it.”
Tracy cooed, “Oooh. I like your decisiveness. You always go straight to the point. What if the information is actually dangerous, like plans for a nuclear bomb or a gun?”
“I thought about that angle, too. If your daddy discovered this thing, someone else will, too.” Chloe said in a matter of fact tone. She took a sip of her mocha. “As far as I can tell, keeping them secret really only endangers you and Robbie, and maybe me and my dad too.”
Tracy considered what Chloe said. “I can’t argue with any of that.” She spoke in a pseudo queenly accent, “I shall present this to the council!” She texted Robbie and Johnny.
Her phone buzzed a few times with replies. Chloe asked, “What’d they say?” She leaned over to look.
Tracy narrated, “Johnny sent a thumbs up and said, my thoughts exactly, that was Matt’s original plan.”
Chloe asked, “What about Uncle Robbie?”
“He said let’s consider it one more day, but he’s in general agreement.” Tracy smiled. “So now, I guess that’s one less problem.”
Chloe looked out the window and scowled, “Well, another problem is about to walk through the door.”
Monica Merchant flipped her long blond hair out of her face and walked into the coffee shop. She saw Chloe and stiffened. Monica was afraid of Chloe, but managed to mask it with anger and feigned annoyance. Tracy patted Chloe’s arm and said, “This whole feud is nonsense, Chica! We’re way better than this!” She waved over to Monica and said, “Hey Monica, come join us!”
Monica said sharply, “As if!”
Tracy followed Monica over to the counter and offered, “Hey Monica, I think we all got off on a bad foot, and frankly it’s beneath us. You’re too good for that and so are we. Maybe we won’t be best buds, but I’d like it to be pleasant to run into you out on the streets.”
Monica considered it for a minute. Her face remained hard. She asked, “Why didn’t you visit Richard yet?”
Tracy said, “Maybe I’ll go over there today, want to go?”
Monica asked, “Is she going too?”
Tracy shrugged, “Chloe? I don’t know, probably, we’ve got a lot to do this afternoon so we won’t stay long.”
Monica’s face softened a bit and she said, “Well, thanks for the olive branch, Tracy, but I’ll pass on the trip to Richard’s. That’d be too awkward for words.” She took her drink and walked over to Chloe. “Hey, I am sorry about messing up your car. Sometimes I can be crazy. That was stupid and totally uncalled for. I’m glad you got it repainted. It looks really cool, now.”
Chloe regarded her with suspicion but decided Monica was being sincere, and finally said, “Apology accepted.”
Monica waved through the picture window as she walked over to her car.
Chloe smiled at Tracy and said, “Look at you, peacemaker! I am impressed, and frankly, I am much less irked at Monica. In fact, I’m irk free.”
“There’s another problem solved! We’re on a roll.” Tracy took a big sip of her Mocha and said, “Here’s my todo list: go see Richard, go to see Demetria, attempt to have otherworldly experience and contact Samantha. You wanna partake?”
Chloe tapped the side of her mocha mug thoughtfully. “Is the 40 mile walk really necessary?”
Tracy shrugged. “You know what, I don’t think so. There’s a park that’s most of the way there. If we drove there and walked a few miles, I think it’d maintain the same secrecy, plus we’d see if someone was following.”
“Alright. Let’s do it.” She said. Her voice wavered a bit and she cleared her throat.
The Chardon Chronicles: Season Two --- The Winter Page 39