Punishment

'Hey, Zafira! What's up?'

'Hey! Just thought I'd call. It's been a while since we last talked!'

'Aww, it's been too long. How's it going over there?'

'It's... going. I'm doing my best, anyway. The final year is never much fun.'

'So I've heard. I'm sure you'll do well! Just hang in there. You'll be graduating before you know it.'

'Thanks. At this point, I really can't wait! Well, it'll be Spring break soon. I'll get to see you at Mum and Dad's, right?'

'Sure you will! I can go up on my days off.'

'Awesome! We've really missed you all.'

'I miss you too, kid. So does your grumpy brother.'

'Awww. Course he does! Mr Grumpy Butt doesn't fool me. What about Cyan? Will she be around?'

'No idea. I'll send her a message. Any more news from Bridgeport?'

'Not much that I can remember. See, I've been too busy studying to get out much. Zen pulled the other night, though.'

'That doesn't surprise me. Who was she?'

'Another model. She seemed older than us...!'

'Zen got himself a cougar, huh?'

'Hahaha, not that much older! Maybe ten years or so. She's got kids. I talked to her a bit when I introduced myself as Zen's twin. She said she's got her own twins.'

'...Did she say anything else about them?'

'They're three year old girls. Why?'

'Because I'm starting to think I know who he pulled, and if I'm right, that's pretty awkward...'

'Ooh, who?'

'My client's girlfriend. What was her name?'

'Sorry, I don't remember... You think it was her? Cos if it was, she cheated on him with Zen!'

'Well, it's an open relationship, so no cheating involved. Not that it'd really matter, he's a sleazy old creep anyway.'

'He is?'

'Damn right he is. I didn't get to tell you before, but he hit on me one time. I pretended to be a lesbian and said I'd prefer his wife, so he said he wouldn't mind if he could watch.'

'Ewwww! That's gross! Wait, wife? I thought you said girlfriend?'

'...Yeah, it's a real clusterfuck. He had a wife, but she left him last year and now he's got a girlfriend. Who happens to be his wife's sister.'

'You're telling me he not only hit on you, but started shagging his wife's sister after she left him?'

'Nope. Before. Those twins are his kids. They'd been having an affair for years.'

'...Wow. Both he and his new girlfriend sound disgusting. And it's really the same woman Zen went with?!'

'Sounds like it. What did she look like, if you don't remember her name?'

'She was a brunette. Green eyes. Smelled nice.'

'Yup, definitely sounds like her.'

'Shit. What do we do?'

'Hmm... let's just hope it was a one night stand and he won't be seeing her again. I think I'll mention it to her, though.'

'Is that a good idea?'

'Meh, at this point I don't think I really care. '

'Hey, Heath...'

'Hey. How was work?'

'Heath... I've got bad news. It's your mum...'

'...Oh God.'

'The hospital called us. She's been beaten up pretty badly. A couple of my colleagues were sent over to question her about it, but she didn't give them anything.'

'Is she gonna be okay...?'

'It was mainly facial injuries. Nothing she won't recover from, thankfully, but they said she was a bit of a mess.'

'Fuck...'

'I'm really sorry.'

'So she didn't say anything about who did it?'

'No. Of course, it's obvious who, but... we still don't know his identity.'

'If we managed to find out his name, could you do anything?'

'I don't know. If she isn't willing to report him, then there'd only be yours and Charon's accounts of when the dealer came over. I'm not sure they'd be able to make a case out of it.'

'And even if we did, we'd have an angry, violent dealer who knows where we live.'

'I can try, if you want.'

'No... She wouldn't wanna piss him off further. I don't think it'd help. Either way, she's gonna hate me forever now...'

'This isn't your fault, Heath. You're nothing to do with either of them.'

'It is my fault, though! I could've stopped it! But I didn't...'

'What were you supposed to do? It wasn't fair of them to put you in that position, to drag you into their dispute. You cut her off for a reason. You never asked to be involved in any of it.'

'Doesn't matter... she still got hurt, and she's not gonna forgive me over it. Neither will her boyfriend... shit, I'm so fucked!'

'Oh, Heath...'

'I feel like the worst person!'

'Please don't blame yourself.'

'I can't help it. I should've paid her. I didn't want this...'

'I know, I know... but you didn't do the wrong thing by not paying her. Staying out of it was the best option. Otherwise, what would've happened the next time she got into debt? She'd just start using you like a bank. The woman has no shame. I agree, she didn't deserve to be put in the hospital, but it still doesn't change anything. She still treated you badly.'

'None of this is right... It shouldn't have happened.'

'I can't disagree there...'

Drug money

'Well... that's that little mystery solved.'

'What?'

'Tate's PND. I did a little digging into the identity of Edward's vampire companion, and now it all makes sense. She's a former employee of ORTOS. Not only that, she's the captain's ex-wife.'

'Oh, shit! The one he's still moping over even though they've been divorced for years?'

'The very same.'

'So... what are you going to do with that information?'

'I'm not going to do anything, Hazel. It's certainly interesting to know, but unless I can do anything useful with it, I'm staying out of it. My employer's marital problems and his inability to move on are none of my concern, hypocritical as that may be coming from me.'

'Yeah, well, your case is different. It's not your fault Mum died. You're not clinging onto someone who doesn't want you. And honestly, with a neckbeard like that, who would?'

'Oh, you're terrible.'

'I know, I know.'

'Still, I can't really say she's upgraded. Edward Farrington is far from a catch.'

'I wouldn't know, I'm not into older men.'

'I'm glad about that.'

'...Or men in general, really.'

'Heh. I'm not entirely surprised by that.'

'You don't mind...?'

'Of course not. Why would that bother me? I'm happy if you are.'

'Thanks. Yeah, I am happy... I've got news, actually.'

'What's that?'

'...Wednesday and I are dating now.'

'Aww, Hazel, that's lovely to hear! Congratulations. Well, at least I know she's a nice person.'

'Oh yeah, definitely. She's not anyone you need to worry about, at any rate!'

'Well, good for you, sweetheart. You really deserve it.'

'You know how miserable I'd been... But now I feel a lot more positive. Even though it might take a while for Indigo to accept me.'

'Let's hope she doesn't cause any trouble over it.'

'No, I don't think she will. Wednesday says she's not going to make it into an issue.'

'Good.'

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

'...Are you expecting anyone?'

'No, I'm not. Are you?'

'Nope. Ah crap, I hope it's not my mum again...'

'Do you think she'd come back?'

'Dunno. She's definitely stupid enough to.'

*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*

'Alright, alright. Guess I'd better see who it is.'

'Heath, right?'

'Uh, yeah. How can I help you?'

'I'm here on behalf of your mum. See, she owes me some money, and she said you could pay it for her.'

'She what?'

'She told me you'd cough up. Does that mean she was lying to me?'

'L-Look, she was here before asking for money, presumably for you, but... I can't pay it.'

'Can't or won't?'

'I don't even have a job! Like I told her, I've got nothing to give.'

'That's a real shame.'

'...Why, what's gonna happen?'

'There are consequences to not paying up, let's just put it that way. You can work it out for yourself.'

'Wait! You can't do that!'

'I can do whatever the fuck I like. I don't give out freebies. You want my gear, you pay for it, or you regret it. If I let one person off, everyone'd start thinking they could get a free ride, and it doesn't work like that.'

'Come on... can't you give her more time, pay in instalments, something like that?'

'No. She's had her chance. So I'm gonna ask you again: are you gonna pay for her, or is she gonna be in trouble?'

'I... I don't want anything to happen.'

'Then you're paying?'

'I'm broke! I live off my partner's money, and he wouldn't agree to it anyway! And I wouldn't expect him to!'

'Then that's tough shit, isn't it? Now I'm not gonna waste any more time here. No's your final answer?'

'...Yeah.'

'Right then. Better hope your mum forgives you. I'll see myself out.'

'Oh my God...'

'Heath, you have to tell Dad about this...'

'Yeah...'