The golden elevator doors opened for the second time that day. I was surprised when you took the first quick steps out onto the soft, carpet floors. I had never seen you in this environment and for you to immediately know your way around was a little odd for me. Nevertheless, I followed behind you into Elliot’s office.

The room looked up as we entered. I saw their faces move from the normality of seeing you there to the surprise of my own presence. Sierra, Elliot, Justine, and another man who I had never seen before sat in spare chairs that circled around the center of the room. Two left open for each of us.

“Gerard,” Elliot smiled. The tone of his voice already sounded more cheerful and bubbling. He rose from his arm chair and began to cross the room towards me.

“Not so fast,” I raised my hand to stop him. “I’m just watching. I’m not on board.”

Elliot sat back down but his smile didn’t fade. “Fine by me,” he crossed a knee over his leg. “Gerard, I’d like to introduce you to Duke Herringbone. He’s been a friend of mine for a long time and he’s an attorney. He’s going to be helping with the case.”

The strange man rose from his seat. He was about the same age as Elliot, maybe thirty. He had light red hair and deep green eyes that looked honest but more formal than Elliot’s always pensive and impatient dark browns. He wore a button down shirt with the sleeves pushed up. He outstretched a hand towards me.

“Pleasure to meet you, Gerard. I hope you decide to work with us,” his voice was kind and calm.

“Thanks,” I said back simply. I shook his hand but the look in his eyes was almost like he was talking to a child. Elliot must have briefed him on me. That made my heart sink a little to know that I had become [i]that[/i] person.

You took a chair next to Justine and I sat down next to Sierra. I looked up at her for a moment.

“Hey,” she said with a cautious composure. As if she didn’t know if I was still mad at her.

“Hey, Sierra,” I said not as warmly as I would have liked to. It sounded a little sarcastic. I regretted the tone when I saw her lip quiver and her face turn back to the papers in her lap.

“Let’s get started, than,” Elliot said loudly and rambunctiously. Clapping his hands together before pointing towards you. “Michael. What have we got on the way of parents?”

You opened one of the manila folders in your lap. “Uh…,” you stammered as you looked over your sheets, “I’ve tried making calls, but I’ve gotten a dozen or more declining comment. They just don’t want to do it.”

“Get Mrs. Shea,” I heard my lips mutter out. I wasn’t really conscious of the fact that I had actually said it.

You looked at me with a distant stare and processed my comment.

“What? Who?” Elliot pushed eagerly.

“Mrs. Shea,” you turned back towards him. “He’s the mother of a boy that Gerard went to school with. The boy killed himself shortly after leaving Reynard’s.”

My mind flashed back to the leather burns left on the young boy’s neck. The way he slept so dreamily in his coffin. I felt my teeth begin to gnaw at my nails.

“That’s…” Elliot pondered. “horrible.” I could see he was trying to be sympathetic but it was really a story he needed for the case. “Call her tomorrow, Mikey?”

You nodded to him with pursed lips and looked sideways at me. Your eyes asked the question in your throat. [i]You okay?[/i]

I gave a cough and nodded quickly. Waking myself out of the memory.

“Okay so that leaves us with a count of one parent, three alumni, and two workers,” Duke twirled a pen in his hand as he looked over his legal pad.

“Who are the staff members?” I asked.

Sierra handed me a folder.

I opened it up. The first face was unfamiliar. A Haitian guy that was posed for a Polaroid picture. Crafty, bright Hawaiian shirt that was to tight stood out against his dark skin. I pursed my lips feeling like I should have known him.

The second paper-cliped set held a photo of an older woman. Her neon, brassy red hair and bifocals low on her nose. [i]Sandy.[/i] My mind spun and I looked for a name on the file.

[b]Alfes, Amber.[/b]

“That’s not her name,” I said to myself.

“We know,” Elliot said. “She was undercover there.”

I was confused. “Undercover for who?”

“Herself, really. Her son went there and was never the same after so she took it upon herself to investigate. She was overjoyed when we came to her about helping out,” Elliot tapped his pen on his paper.

I stared at her picture a couple more seconds, remembering the way she walked and the looks in her eyes. Every detail I ever noticed playing back in my head. I shut the folder slowly, also shutting down my thought process.

When I looked towards you, you were already looking back. In your eyes, I could see that you were silently watching me every step of the way. You were scared I’d run for it or have a mental breakdown or both. I looked back down to the floor, aware that I was being monitored, but not hating it. You were next to me. That was all I needed.

“Moving on,” Elliot said looking back down to his list.

----

Two hours later and we wrapped up our work. There wasn’t too much involved, as Duke had explained, because the case wasn’t open yet. They said they would send out a subpoena as soon as they thought they had enough evidence. When he said this though, everyone’s eyes moved around suspiciously. I got the impression that I was the thing they needed to make the case. But I knew this. I knew I had more information than anyone out there.

“Okay, guys. I think we are done for tonight,” Elliot dropped his pen and leaned back in his chair, stretching. “No meeting tomorrow because it's Friday. But Monday we will meet.”

Everyone began getting up and collecting there things.

“Are you okay?” you asked me as you gathered you folder.

“Yeah. I’m fine,” I said getting up slowly. “You ready to leave.”

You nodded and waved silently to Elliot before turning towards the door with me.

You didn’t speak again till we were out in the parking lot. “Do you think you’ll do it?”

I twisted my mouth up, “I don’t know.”

You stopped and looked up at me, “You know you really should, Gerard. Not just cause we need you. Cause it’s the right thing to do.”

I sighed. “I know. I know.”

You reached out at me and grabbed my hand. I felt my stomach start to churn.

“Please, Gerard,” you said quietly. “Please do this.”

I felt myself gasp for no reason at all. The wind knocked out of me. My face muscles fidgeting like a five year old boy in church.

“Fine,” I breathed out. “I’ll do it.”

Your face broke out in smile that shown in the yellow parking lot lights. “Really?”

I looked up cautiously. Almost afraid of the effect your smile would have on me. I nodded quickly.

“Oh Gerard,” you wrapped your arms around me, hugging me fiercely. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

I couldn’t find words. Everything about you was in my face and too close for comfort.

“Mi-Mikey,” I stuttered out.

You pulled back. “Sorry.” You said a little embarrassed, but not at all put down.

“Can we go home now?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

“Yeah, of course,” your voice so bright.

I forced a smile and got in the car. Completely unaware of what I was getting myself into.