Lee stopped in his tracks and began, "I know... a whole two hours,
but listen, I can tell you what happened."
The figure said nothing and Lee said, "Marco, don't you want to hear
what happened?"
Marco replied, "I figured you would continue, but if you need a cue,
I'll give you one. Go on."
"Well, I got on the plane, but I had this tracking device on me and
then the detectives Zack and Ivy found me and then they followed me using the
device and then I got rid of the device and then-"
"You really shouldn't join so many thoughts with 'and then.' You're
creating quite a long run on sentence," Marco interrupted.
"Sorry," Lee replied and he began again, "I got rid of the device and
th- I mean after doing so, I lost them in traffic. I got back to the airport,
but the plane had already left so I got on the next one and hurried here as
fast as I could."
"Lee, come around the desk and stand in front of me," Marco replied.
Lee obeyed and could now see the angered Marco. His face was hidden by shadows
cast by the hood of his cloak, but Lee could make out Marco's brown eyes and
a tuff of his dark brown hair. Marco was in his late thirties, but Lee could
tell he had seen a lot of people try to beg for forgiveness before him. And,
with the look Marco was giving, Lee knew he wasn't going to receive any
forgiveness at all.
"Sir?" Lee asked slowly.
Marco stood up and grabbed Lee by the throat. "If you're not going
to be on time, call me!" His grip on Lee's neck became firmer.
Lee gasped for breath, "I...I...please stop, you're choking me!"
Marco said nothing for a moment and Lee exclaimed, "Marco, please!"
as he struggled for breath.
"Well, I suppose it's apparent you didn't understand the arrangement."
Marco said. With that, he released his grip on Lee's throat. He then
grabbed Lee by the collar.
"Oh thank you, Marco," Lee replied while panting for breath. "I
won't slip up again."
"You got that right!" With that, Marco gave Lee such a shove with
such force that it sent Lee out the window and onto the bushes a story below.
"Damn," Marco said as he glanced down at the groaning Lee, "I shouldn't have
done that." He paused and then said to himself, "That was an expensive
window..."
Lee tried to get up and as he did so, he heard a snap of someone's
fingers. As if it were a reflex, two guards appeared before Lee and Marco.
"You orders, sir?" the guards who entered the study asked as the
guards by Lee looked up in rapt attention.
"None for you," Marco said to the guards in the study. "You are
dismissed." The guards nodded and exited with a half bow. Marco then pointed
to the guards below and said, "You two, have a little fun with that little
present I dropped off. Just one rule, I need him to talk- much as it PAINS
me to hear his pathetic voice."
"Sir," one guard asked from below as he and the other got a firm
hold on Lee's arms. "Aren't you worried that he'll reveal your hideout?"
"Normally I would," Marco replied, "But I have the place ready for
the..." with an evil chuckle added, "GUESTS that I know will be dropping by."
The guards nodded as they realized Marco's plan. "Any other
arrangements, sir?" one guard asked. The other guard's attention was on
watching Lee.
"Yes," Marco replied, "I want you to take him to the local hospital.
After you've had your fun, dress in civilian clothes and claim you found him
laying on the street near by and thought it would be right to take him there.
Make sure Lee's out cold though so he can't refute your claim- at least at
that time. I'm sure once they find out who he is, ACME will be alerted and
they'll send a couple of agents to investigate. Then the fun is going to
begin," Marco finished with an evil grin on his face.
"Understood, sir." the first guard replied.
"Oh, and as a personal favor, see if the hospital can clean him up
a bit- like shaving that disgusting stubble off!"
The guards laughed and with that began to use Lee as a human punching
bag...
* * *
Later that evening at the Sandiego Manor, Carmen was suffering from
extremely troubled sleep. She decided it was not worth it to fight it now,
put on her red bathrobe and wandered into her den. She sat herself down in a
plush chair by the fireplace and just sat there deep in thought.
Moments later, one of the servants of the Manor, a brown haired,
green-eyed twenty-five year old maid named Amber Hastings entered the room.
"Are you all right ma'am?" she asked Carmen.
Carmen slightly jumped and turned towards Amber. "You startled me,"
she replied.
Amber said, "I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't mean to do so." As she said
that, she sat down in the plush chair next to Carmen.
"It's not you," Carmen replied, "I haven't felt all right in a
couple of days. With Marco on the loose, I've been quite troubled."
Amber nodded. "Would you like to talk-"
Carmen interrupted, "What he did to me is very difficult to talk
about, Amber."
Amber nodded in understanding.
Carmen then asked, "What are you doing up anyway? It's four in the
morning!"
Amber replied, "I just happened to get up and saw you sitting there.
Seeing I was up anyway, I thought I'd ask what's troubling you."
Carmen smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, Amber. I'm sorry, but
I'm not really up to talking about the situation right now though."
Amber replied, "I understand, ma'am, but isn't there someone you
could? Perhaps a friend of yours who lived through it or something?"
Carmen replied, "Yes. And in fact, I should talk to him about it."
"Who?"
"The Chief. He probably doesn't want to talk about it as much as I
do, but at least we both know what happened and maybe...just maybe-"
"He could offer some comfort?"
"Or a suggestion," Carmen replied. "Thanks Amber, I'll go try to
have a talk with him right now. "Now you, get back to bed," she added with
a smile.
Amber nodded and added, "You should try to get some sleep as well,
Ms. Sandiego."
"I'll try, but I doubt I will."
"Good night, ma'am," Amber replied and with that she began to exit
the den.
"'Night Amber," Carmen replied as she walked off to her computer
room. When she arrived, she sat down in the chair and pressed a few buttons.
Suddenly, a sleeping Chief, complete with a striped nightcap, appeared on the
screen.
"Chief? Chief, wake up!" Carmen exclaimed in a half whisper.
The Chief awoke and turned to see who was speaking to him, "Huh,
what?" he replied groggily. He then fully opened his eyes and realized that
Carmen was speaking to him and let out a loud scream.
"Chief! Settle down! I just need to talk to you!" Carmen exclaimed.
The Chief calmed down somewhat. He then began to ask with a slightly
nervous voice, "Ok...about...about what?"
"Well, you know how Marco escaped," Carmen began.
"Yeah," the Chief replied, "I got two words about the situation-
bad news!"
"Exactly! Chief, I'm worried. I don't want Zack and Ivy going after
this guy! He's pure evil!"
"Have you told them about," the Chief gulped and added, "You know..."
"No," Carmen replied bowing her head. "I wanted to forget about
that entirely, but now that he's escaped, it's all coming back to haunt me."
"I don't like this either. I was hoping we heard the last of him!"
"How can you sleep now, Chief?"
"It's a built in program- I rest late at night unless there's a
case in progress and my help is needed."
"Sometimes I envy you, Chief," Carmen remarked with a faint smile.
The Chief chuckled and replied, "Yeah well, at least you have a body.
Sometimes, I envy you!"
"Now Chief, what exactly are you getting at?" Carmen remarked with
a smirk.
"I think I said that wrong, but you know what I meant."
Carmen nodded and replied, "Of course Chief."
"You know, Zack and Ivy told me about the truce and well..." the
Chief began.
"Yes?" Carmen asked puzzled.
"I think we should take it one step further."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I think Zack and Ivy should know what happened that night."
Carmen nodded and the Chief continued, "Neither of us wants to talk
about it, but I just know they'll have to know. So maybe we can tell it
together."
"Well...okay, Chief," Carmen replied hesitantly.
The Chief sighed. "Tomorrow, Zack and Ivy are reporting for work at
ten. How about I bring you here at 9:45 or so and-"
"Wait you're-"
"Yes Carmen, I am saying I'll C-5 you here. I trust you right now and
doubt you'd think of pulling any tricks now."
Carmen smiled slyly and said, "My my, maybe a bit too trusting?"
"You wouldn't dare do anything now!"
"No Chief, of course not," Carmen replied in an extremely serious
voice, "This situation is going to require all of us to work together and-"
"Exactly! Now Carmen, try to get some sleep!"
"I'll try Chief."
* * *
Carmen had tried to get back to sleep, but didn't succeed too well.
At eight o'clock, she awoke to the sound of her alarm and she turned it off
as she struggled to get out of bed.
She entered the bathroom and the mirror above the sink reflected her
restless night. "You know," she said to herself, "I'm glad I wear a hat. I
can hide so much."
By the time she was ready, it was almost ten and she sat in her
computer room waiting for the Chief to contact her. Moments later, he
appeared on the screen and greeted her with, "Good morning Carmen."
"I think we both know this isn't all that good of a morning," Carmen
replied.
"I know, I know." the Chief said with a sort of sad expression on
his face. After a long uneasy pause, he asked Carmen, "Are you ready?"
"Yes, as ready as I'll ever be, I suppose."
"Good," the Chief replied. With that, the C-5 corridor appeared
before Carmen. She walked inside the blue circle and moments later, she
appeared in the main room of ACME.
"Hi Carmen," the Chief said sounding a little nervous.
"Hi," Carmen softly replied looking a little pale.
"I take it your stomach is in knots."
Carmen nodded with a complete look of dread on her face. Suddenly,
the ACME door opened and Zack and Ivy walked in momentarily caught up in
their conversation.
"Yeah so what if you're older. I mean I-" Zack began to say to his
sister, but as soon as he caught a glimpse of Carmen, he immediately became
quiet.
Ivy immediately noticed Carmen after Zack's silence and began to
demand, "Chief, what's Carmen-"
The Chief quickly interrupted her and said, "I think it's time you
two knew what happened."
"With Marco?" Zack asked. "You mean, what this guy did that was
so terrible, Carmen?"
Carmen nodded and choked out, "Yes, you two should know."
"Whoa, you're looking pretty pale there, Carmen," Zack replied, "No
offense, I mean. Uh, why don't you sit down?" Zack offered as he pointed
to chair in front of the screen the Chief was projecting himself on.
Carmen replied, "Thanks," and took a couple of steps towards the
chair. She then turned it around to face the two detectives.
"This must be something really bad, sis." Zack whispered to Ivy. "I
mean, Carmen's barely said five words since we got here. She looks like she
has to do a speech in front of 5,000 people- and forgot her note cards!"
Ivy nodded and felt like she didn't know what to exactly to say at
the moment. All she could reply was, "Yeah Zack, I think you're right."
"Whenever you're ready Carmen," the Chief said slowly.
Carmen took a deep breath and said, "I guess it's now or never." She
bit her lip slightly and began, "With Marco on the loose, I'm quite worried.
You don't know what this guy is capable of." She then sighed slightly and
added, "This is not going to be easy for me to tell, so bear with me, will
you?"
"Of course," Zack and Ivy replied at nearly the same time.
"Thanks detectives," Carmen replied. With that, she cleared her
throat and began to tell her story.
To be continued...
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