X Author's Note:
A BIG THANK YOU to daydreamergirl10 and Guest for your reviews and feedback! You guys really gave me the push I needed to get me through last week! School's slowly eating at my brain. Thankfully, I have a short break around the corner with US Turkey Day!
What's your favorite part of Thanksgiving? For me, I like the stuffing and pies, particularly gluten-free pecan pie.
I looked at your reviews and I'd say I managed to squeeze in a little bit of everything you asked for into this chapter. Blossoming Nemily romance, Becca/Emily bonding, even a Nemily action scene - and it's not what you think ;-)
With all of that said, please enjoy the chapter! And don't forget to leave a review if you like what you're reading! :-)
Chapter Eleven: Shoot To Thrill
Emily stood outside of the high school parking lot with Nolan. She tapped her foot and glanced to her wrist watch. A breeze picked up, tousling her wavy hair in the dark, night sky. Nolan leaned against the door of Emily's black Mercedes. An SUV pulled into the parking lot across from them and Nolan perked his head up, expecting his familiar silver vehicle.
The evening lights in the parking lot flashed on, revealing a dark blue SUV.
He frowned and glanced to Emily, noting that she was doing her best to keep her cool. "Ems, don't worry, they'll be here."
"There you guys are." Becca appeared walking down the steps of the high school.
"Cute hoodie Becca," Nolan said.
Becca looked down at her outfit of jeans and sneakers. She grinned at her red hoodie which had the Avengers' faces plastered on the front.
"Thanks, Dad."
She glanced to Emily awed by her cream-colored silk, floral kimono top, beige cami, dark wash jeans, and wedge sandals. Even when Emily was dressed casually, she always looked photo-ready. Of course, her dad looked as flamboyant as ever in his purple blazer, black and white gingham shirt, ochre trousers, and tan penny loafers.
Becca looked past her dad to the back seat of Emily's car. "Where's Amanda?"
"She's not here?" Emily questioned.
Becca frowned. "No, I thought she was with you guys." She rolled up her sleeves and scratched her wrists.
"That's not like Mandy," Nolan pointed out. He glanced to Becca noticing her furiously scratching her wrist. "You okay?"
She nodded, "I'm fine."
Emily grabbed her cell phone from her purse and pressed speed dial. "Amanda where are you?"
"I can't make it," Amanda apologized.
"What do you mean you can't make it?" Emily questioned.
"We're swamped at the bar," Amanda explained. "Look, I know it's last minute-"
"It's more than last minute Amanda!" Emily could see her plan falling apart. She needed all four of them for this to work. It was too late in the game to make changes. "Where am I supposed to find a fourth person?"
"Don't worry," Amanda assured. "I got backup."
Emily didn't like the sound of that, "Backup?"
"Remember the picket signs? The guy that made them is a buddy of mine," Amanda started. "I told him the plan. He knows what to. And relax, Ems, I didn't tell him anything more than he needed to know."
Beggars can't be choosers, Emily thought. She placed a hand on her hip. "Alright, anything else?"
"Also, I might have said something about him being paid for the job," Amanda muttered.
"Great." With her cool back in place, Emily hung up the phone. She turned back to Nolan and Becca.
"Mandy's a no show?" Nolan folded his arms over his chest. "Bummer."
Emily sighed heavily, "Apparently, she's hired a friend of hers to help out."
Nolan laughed, "Hired? Ems this club of ours is getting bigger and bigger every day. We really need a name."
"Hey, you Emily?" A male voice muttered from behind them. Everyone spun around to see a tall Indian guy in a blue long sleeve and jeans. His brown wavy hair fell over his square-framed glasses.
Becca thought he looked like those Indian actors from the Bollywood movies that Jasmine obsessed over.
Emily stepped forward eyeing him. "Who are you?"
"Raj." The guy extended his hand to Emily. "Amanda sent me. Said you needed some help."
Emily ignored his hand. "She says you're good at what you do."
Raj got the message and his hand fell to his side. "Not to brag, but I'm a pretty skilled actor."
"We'll see about that." Emily took a slim vial of clear liquid from her purse and handed it to him, "You know what to do?"
"Yes, ma'am." Raj mock saluted. He glanced to Nolan and flashed him a smile, "I'm your man."
With that, Emily, Nolan, and Becca started off for the entrance of the high school.
"I was told I was getting paid. Six hundred up front!" Raj called after Emily.
Nolan spun around to him. "Let's see how well you perform first."
"I've been known to get standing ovations," Raj said in a deep, husky voice, sauntering closer to Nolan.
Becca was getting weird vibes from the guy as he kept his gaze on Nolan.
Nolan stood his ground. He smiled. "I guess we'll see just how good you really are."
Emily rolled her eyes at Nolan. She placed a hand on Becca's shoulder and guided her to the entrance.
"Come on," Emily started. "The game's about to start."
Emily and Becca walked through the crowded lobby of the high school. The squeaks of sneakers running on linoleum greeted them. Becca followed Emily through the gym to their courtside seats. She looked around the gymnasium. Reporters stood off to the sidelines, adjusting their cameras and microphones. Sitting high in the bleachers were hundreds of families, proudly wearing their home team's' colors - purple and yellow- on their faces and clothes. A group of high schoolers cheered, waving banners and #1 foam hands, their voices echoing off the high ceilings of the gymnasium, as their home team raced onto the court.
"It's a full house," Becca observed as she took a seat next to Emily.
"Greene does love the camera." Emily smiled.
"Hey, team." Nolan plopped into the seat next to Emily."You left me behind."
"We would have waited for you, but, you looked like you were busy," Emily said with a snippy tone.
Nolan shrugged and crossed his left leg over his right as he reclined in his seat. "Oh, come on. The guy was just being friendly."
"If friendly is a synonym for trying to get into your pants," Becca muttered. This earned a small laugh from Emily.
"I never knew actors were your type," Emily noted.
Nolan grimaced. "I dated an actor once. Too much drama." He smiled like a school boy at Emily. "You have a type?"
"Yeah," She said simply.
Nolan scoffed. "Let me guess; tall, dark hair, brooding personality?"
She smirked at him. "That's for me to know."
And for me to find out. Nolan thought with a grin.
Becca tapped Emily on the shoulder, "You were right about Conrad." She pointed to a flat screen television mounted on the ceiling ahead of them.
Emily, Nolan, and Becca glanced to the screen. An advertisement showed pictures of Conrad volunteering with various organizations, everything from homeless pets to foster kids and, of course, EcoCorp. The screen faded out to a waving American flag, patriotic music played in the background as VOTE FOR GRAYSON fazed on screen.
"Those pictures were so Photoshopped," Becca pointed out.
Nolan frowned. "Greene's gone to the Gray side, cookies and all."
Emily narrowed her eyes at the screen. Greene was just as easy to fool as she thought.
"Emily, I'm glad you could make it." The infamous Greene raced across the court and stood before Emily and Nolan.
"You're playing?" Emily observed Greene's purple basketball uniform and black Nikes.
"It's a great way to connect with the kids," Greene smiled.
The buzzer rang. Greene turned to the court. "Time to get out there."
"Good luck!" Emily blurted out.
Greene spun back to her and shot her a winning smile. "I don't need luck, with my cheerleader here."
Nolan narrowed his eyes at the punk as he raced onto the court. Becca, Nolan, and Emily sat back and watched the game. Before they realized it, it was the final quarter of the game.
Nolan and Emily walked out of the gymnasium and made their way through the crowded lobby to a makeshift concession stand. Nolan held a box of popcorn in one hand and walked with Emily down the hall.
Emily took a sip of sparkling cider from her flute. "The game is almost over. The presentation's going to happen soon."
Nolan shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "Showtime."
"There you two are." Greene appeared from doors of the gymnasium dressed down in tanned chinos and a blue fitted chambray. He walked in step with Emily and Nolan.
"It's like magic," Nolan gestured to Greene's outfit.
Greene laughed. "I've had my fun. I'll let the real stars shine tonight."
Just then, an announcement on the PA system came on: "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you could all start heading back to the gymnasium, it's almost time for the special presentation by EcoCorp CEO, Joseph Greene."
"You know, Greene I have to hand it to you," Nolan congratulated. "You're still going on with the presentation after everything that happened. Aren't you the least bit worried of the press hounding you?"
"Trust me," He smirked. "Things are going to go my way tonight."
Emily grinned into her flute. "I have no doubt."
Just then, Roman strolled up to them. He leaned towards Greene and whispered in his ear.
Greene said hastily to the blonde duo, "Would you excuse me? I'll see you both in the gym."
Emily and Nolan watched curiously as Greene and Roman strolled down the hall and disappeared behind a pair of double doors.
"Want me to follow them?" Becca walked up to Nolan and Emily with a package of Cheetos in her hands.
"What's going on with your neck?" Emily gestured to the orange dust covering the ends of Becca's hair and neck.
Nolan laughed. "Did you get bit by a Cheetos vampire?"
"No, my neck has been itching like crazy." Becca scratched at her neck as the itchy sensation came back. "Maybe I'm allergic to something. Anyway, who's going after him?"
Nolan ate a handful of popcorn. He threw the package into the trash bin and patted Becca on her shoulder.
"I'll follow him." Nolan said as he walked down the hallway.
"Play nice!" Becca yelled to him before he disappeared behind the double doors. She scratched her hands and frowned at the bright cheesy orange powder staining her wrists.
The music and cheering from the lobby died down as Nolan slipped into the empty hallway. The door slammed behind him and Nolan jumped. He whirled around to see Emily walking towards him.
"What Ems, you don't trust me to play nice?" Nolan grinned and followed after her.
Emily scoffed. "Something like that."
He and Emily walked down the hall and turned the corner entering another hall. All the classrooms were dark and vacant and Nolan peeked into the one of the class windows.
Sleek linoleum lab tables shone in the moonlight, periodic tables lined the walls, and glass cabinets full of shiny glass beakers and mischievous chemicals were locked tight with a chain.
"So, what's your plan to get him to confess?" Nolan turned to Emily, "Let me guess, you're going to go all ninja on him?"
Voices echoed from a lit classroom at the end of the hallway. Emily stopped mid step. She turned to Nolan with a finger to her lips. They stood in the shadows. Emily leaned forward into the hall, her back facing Nolan. He sniffed the air and stared down to the back of Emily's head.
He could smell her perfume.
He cursed at himself for getting distracted and shot his gaze forward, sneaking a glimpse into the classroom to see Joseph leaning on a lab table and Roman standing before him with a tablet in hand.
Roman stared at his Nolpad, "Looks like your investors are growing, Joe."
Joseph twirled a pencil between his fingers, "As they should be. Did you think that thing with the press was gonna stop me?" He stood proudly, "Once the presentation is over, the city will be begging to take me back."
Roman looked up from his tablet, "About that," he started. "The press want a follow up about the CPSC's apology. They're still confused about everything that happened last week-"
Joseph put his hand up, signaling Roman to stop. "Listen, I didn't make it this far, this fast, without pulling out a few stops. The public doesn't need to know that the filters actually leach arsenic into the water."
Emily turned to Nolan with a grin, "Looks like we have our confession."
Joseph shook his head. "Do you have any idea how cheap it is to manufacture filters with bum parts?"
Roman was about to answer. Joseph hopped off the table and stepped towards the bodyguard, "Of course you wouldn't. You never were the brightest kid in the hood," He patted the giant's shoulder. "That's why I hired you and your buddies to break into that engineer's home and steal her laptop."
Emily stifled at the revelation. She wasn't going to let Roman off easy. She'd make him pay.
Roman glared at Greene, "How do you think the press found out about the complaints?"
"I asked myself the same question," Joseph gave him an accusing stare, "Thought you'd know."
"You think I called the press?" Roman argued. He took a menacing step forward, towering over Greene, "Why would I do that?"
Joseph glanced at his wristwatch, "It doesn't matter. Things are back in order and better than ever. You saw how many investors were out there? Grayson knows how to keep his end of a bargain."
He walked into the hallway, "Let's get ready for my big night."
The light in the classroom turned off and Joseph and Roman stepped out of the room.
"Babe, there you are!" A petite dark skinned woman in a skimpy, blue dress sauntered down the hall.
Emily and Nolan leaned back into the shadows watching as the woman stopped at Greene's side.
She twirled a strand of her wavy brown hair around her manicured fingers, "Hey, baby. When are you gonna be done with this boring charity stuff?"
Greene smirked at her and wrapped his hands around her waist, "After the presentation babe."
The woman pouted her big, pink lips. "But, babe." she whined as she placed her arms on his chest.
"Now, don't be like that." Greene pulled her in closer to him, "Guess what I got you for our anniversary."
The woman smirked, "Babe, we've only been dating for three months. You already thinking of our anniversary?"
Greene reached into his pant pocket and pulled out a pair of tickets, "You know what these are?"
The woman's eyes widened, she snatched the tickets out of his hands, "NO WAY! HAWAII!?" She squealed, "OMG, BABE! You shouldn't have!" She threw her arms around Greene's neck.
"Anything for my cheerleader." Greene leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
Nolan's blood boiled. When Greene said that to Emily earlier he'd really meant this… Bimbo!?
Nolan took a step forward with the full intent of walking over there and punching the smirk off his face. Emily must have sensed his anger as she gripped his arm holding him back.
"Let's go." Greene smiled to the woman, "I have a crowd to impress."
Roman followed behind as Greene started down the hallway with Ms. Bimbo latched around his neck. Emily and Nolan dashed into the classroom as Greene, Ms. Bimbo, and Roman rounded the corner.
Emily shut the classroom door behind her. She turned around to the classroom to see Nolan pacing back and forth, his hand to his chin, muttering to himself.
"The nerve of that punk!" Nolan shook with anger. He knew that Greene was a player, but he couldn't bare to see Emily be used like that. It wasn't right.
"Forget him, Nolan." Emily walked further into the classroom. She took a seat at one of the lab tables, "Greene isn't the priority anymore."
Nolan let out a heavy sigh. Emily was right. He needed to cool down and focus on the case at hand.
"And what is?" Nolan spun around to her, "It's not like we recorded his confession."
Emily waved her cell phone in her hand and pressed play, "What the public doesn't know won't hurt them…"
Nolan smirked. She was always a step ahead, "Nice work Batgirl."
"We need to get this confession on the PA." Emily handed him the cell phone.
Nolan grinned, "Leave that to Becca."
The music playing over the gymnasium thumped in Becca's ears. She was crouched behind a cart of water bottles in a hallway, watching and waiting as the DJ - a college guy with dreadlocks- was fumbling to lock the door to the press box.
He hopped from side to side and cursed as he dropped the keys to the floor. He cursed, leaving the door ajar and bolted down the hall.
Becca darted inside the press box. She looked out the box windows giving her a full view of the basketball court down below.
Becca gawked at the mixing board in front of her. There had to be at least 200 buttons on that thing. She was glad she didn't have to touch that for now. She spotted a laptop sitting on top of the mixing board beside a half-eaten burger.
"You want this recording on the air?" Becca took a seat in the red leather rolling chair, "No problem."
She spun the laptop around to her and started to type, "I'll sync my phone to the laptop and upload the audio files. Piece of cake." Becca took her smartphone out of her pocket and connected the phone with a USB to the laptop.
"It's that simple?" Emily asked in surprise through the comm.
Becca grinned, "Don't you just love technology?"
She clicked OPEN FILES and searched for the recording. She giggled, naming the audio file,'The King's Speech' before dragging and dropping it into the itunes playlist on the laptop.
"All done," Becca informed. "I put Greene's speech as the last song in the track."
"Great work, Becca," Emily said. "I knew I could count on you."
At that, Becca smiled. She quickly learned that Emily is a tough person to impress. She couldn't help but feel like a little kid at Christmas at her praise.
Becca had to wonder; why did Emily recruit her for her mission? For her team?
She wasn't as skilled at hacking as her dad. Nolan would hack into the FBI just because he was bored.
She had a black belt in Taekwondo, and could defend herself, but Emily was a kick ass, ninja, capable of getting into the mind of anyone and conning them in a flash.
Becca acted like a bumbling fool when she tried to talk to guys. She laughed at the thought of hooking a guy for a case.
Nope. She definitely wasn't a grifter like Amanda whose looks were just as deadly as her fists.
Rebecca wasn't a genius hacker, cunning mastermind, or a seductive grifter.
She was a normal teenage girl who liked to use a computer, was quick on her feet, and could bribe a couple of teenagers.
Becca frowned as she realized: compared to everybody else, she looked pretty lame
Why does Emily want me? Becca thought. What did she see in me that was so great?
Emily must have seen something worthwhile in Becca to want her around. When Becca would sit in the living room with everyone, going over the case, she felt like she was a part of something important. She felt like she was apart of something greater than a team. She felt like she was apart of a family.
Unlike her mother, Emily made Becca feel like someone worthy of praise and affection. Unlike her mother, Emily made her feel like she was good enough.
And unlike Grace Thompson, Emily Thorne made Rebecca feel cared for and loved.
Because Emily is a tough person to impress Becca won't let her down. She'd keep proving to Emily, to her dad, to everyone, that she wasn't a burden. That she's worth keeping around.
"Thanks, Mo-" Becca cleared her throat, "Uh..thanks, Ems."
"Hey, what are you doing in here!" Becca spun around, to see the DJ in the door, a beer in one hand and his keys in the other.
Becca pocketed her phone and darted out of the seat, "Well, this isn't the bathroom."
The DJ shot her an incredulous look as she breezed past him out the door.
She spun around and quickly threw over her shoulder, "Great music!"
"What are you two doing here?" A voice boomed.
Nolan and Emily jumped to their feet. They spun to the doorway to see Roman. The bodyguard turned on the lights and trudged into the room.
Nolan's heart raced in his chest. The tip of his nose and ears were burning red. This reminded him of the time he was in high school and was busted by a teacher for trying to make it to second base with a girl he was crushing on.
Nolan glanced to the lab table, spotting Roman's silver tablet. The giant followed his gaze. Nolan stepped to the side as Roman plucked his Nolpad off the table.
He shot them an incredulous look.
Emily glanced to Nolan,"We were just leaving."
Emily and Nolan stepped forward, passing Roman to the door. For a heavy guy, Roman sure moved fast. The bodyguard barricaded the door.
Click. Nolan's throat tightened at the sound of the door locking.
Roman turned from the door and stepped towards the duo.
"I knew there was something… off about you two," Nolan and Emily stepped back as he advanced towards them, "Looks like I was right."
Nolan's eyes darted around the room, looking for a way out. He panicked realizing they had one exit and the grizzly bear currently blocking it.
"Right about what exactly?" Emily kept her voice even and cool.
"I know you both had something to do with those emails being leaked to the press," Roman closed in on them.
Emily gasped in shock; a chill ran up her spine as her back pressed against the cold glass cabinets.
Nolan eyed the red fire extinguisher sitting on the wall above a sink beside him. He glanced to Emily out the corner of his eye, she nodded her head agreeing with the plan.
Roman chuckled, "Now you're here to finish the job, release that little conversation to the press."
"You're a lot smarter than Joe gives your credit for," Nolan said coolly as he slowly inched away from the cabinet to the sink. "Look, we don't want any trouble."
Nolan was ready to run for the fire extinguisher, "We can sort this out like reasonable people-"
"No one makes a fool out of me!" Roman yelled. His eyes fell on Emily. His lips twisted into a greasy smile, "Especially, not some dumb, blonde, bitch!"
Roman lunged at Emily and grabbed for her hair. She ducked down. The giant's fists collided with the glass cabinet. Roman let out a monstrous snarl. Blood trickled from his busted hand onto the sparkling, glass-covered floor.
Nolan yanked the fire extinguisher off the wall. He swerved around to Roman and pressed the handle, effectively blinding the giant's face in white, powdery foam.
"Looks like I found your Kryptonite, big guy!" Nolan stepped closer, feeling a surge of excitement overcome him as Roman staggered backward.
"Ems, what's going on!?" Becca's panicked voice echoed through the comm. "What's happening!?'
"Rebecca," Emily breathed, as she heaved a large, clear beaker labeled HCL out of the cabinet, "Hold on a minute."
She darted towards Roman and smashed the beaker of clear liquid over his head.
The smell of bleach nipped at Nolan's nose. He stifled and dropped the fire extinguisher.
"Oh, God, Ems." Nolan coughed. He reached for the handkerchief in his pocket and held it to his nose. "Warn me next time will you?"
Roman wiped at his face and let out a ferocious growl. Emily spun on her left heel and swung her right leg out, slamming her heel into Roman's gut. He staggered back, toppling over the eyewash station behind him, and slammed the back of his head on faucet of the emergency shower.
Emily strolled towards Roman and pulled him up by the scruff of his t-shirt. "Still think I'm a dumb, blonde bitch?"
Roman let out a weak moan. Emily spun around to Nolan and gestured to the cabinet behind him, "Nolan, hand me those Bunsen burner pipes."
With one hand, Nolan handed her the hose. Emily tied the flexible, plastic hose around Roman's wrists, securing the giant to the eyewash station.
Emily dusted her hands on her jeans and came to a stand, "That should hold you."
Roman darted his head up to Emily growling as he struggled in his restraints. "You little bitch! When I get my hands on you I'll-"
Nolan pulled the chain on the emergency shower. Roman sputtered out threats as the water cascaded over him.
"You, Mister, need a timeout," Nolan laughed. "Preferable for fifteen minutes or until that stuff rinses out. That should give the cops plenty of time to find you."
"Ems!? Dad?" Becca screamed. "What happened?! Hello!? Somebody better answer!"
"We got into a little fight…." Nolan started.
"Are you okay?" Becca whimpered.
"We're fine," Nolan assured her. He glanced to a passed out Roman."You should see the other guy."
The PA announcement sounded through the classroom, "Will everyone please make their way to the gymnasium. The presentation is about to begin."
"Becca, meet us in the gymnasium," Emily replied. She opened the classroom door and spun around to Nolan.
"Let's go, Bill Nye."
"I think I took a wrong turn," Becca muttered to herself.
When she'd darted out of the press box and she rounded the corner she ended up in some backstage area.
A stage director walked past Becca. He spun around to her and gave her a look.
"Are you lost?" he asked.
"Yeah," Becca admitted, "I'm trying to get to the gymnasium."
The man let out an annoyed sigh, spun around, and motioned for her to follow him, "Come on."
As she walked with the director they passed by a room. A piece of paper with the words STAFF was taped above the entry way. Becca back stepped and peered into the room. She spotted Raj casually standing at a table with a tray of glasses.
He looked over his shoulder, to the stage crew who were eating and playing blackjack at the lunch table. He grabbed something small and shiny from his jean pocket and leaned over the table.
What's he doing? Becca wondered.
"Miss, please keep walking," the director ordered.
Becca turned around to the man. "Right, sorry."
She glanced back to the hall, hoping to see Raj: he vanished. A woman wearing a headset walked over to the table and grabbed the tray. She passed Becca and strolled ahead to a doorway that flooded the hall with loud music and cheering.
The director lead Becca out the same doorway. She found herself standing in front of the stage with the rest of the tween basketball team. She tried to move out of the crowd, to get to seat ahead of her, but was stuck in between tweens shuffling to their folding chairs. The director motioned for her to take a seat. Becca plopped into a folding chair and she glanced to the young Latino kid next to her. He grinned, leaning towards his knee, and picked at a scab.
Becca's stomach churned and she turned away. She sat up in her chair, trying to look through the wall of people that blocked her view of the gym doors.
"Where are you guys?"Becca hissed into her comm.
All the lights in the gymnasium dimmed. A single spotlight fell on the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, can we all direct our attention to center stage?" The presenter announced. "Please give a round of applause for EcoCorp's CEO: Joseph Greene."
"Thanks," Joseph said as he walked onto the stage.
Nolan and Emily rushed into the gym. "In the gym," Emily replied to Becca through the comm.
"Get me out of here!" She whined.
Nolan and Emily were at a stand still in the crowd as the presentation began. There was no way they could get to Becca.
"Looks like you're stuck there kiddo," Nolan apologized.
An assistant appeared on stage, wheeling a table with glasses, and a water cooler. Becca grimaced as the water in the cooler, which was a murky brown, sloshed around with twigs and rocks. The basketball tweens looked on, some making grossed out faces and others squeaking and making gagging noises.
"Well, in order to start this demonstration, I'll need a volunteer," Greene scanned the basketball team in front of him."Come on, don't be shy. Who wants to come up here?"
"Becca, go ahead," Emily insisted through the comm.
"Me?" Becca whispered. "But, that water looks gross."
"Well, sometimes you have to get uncomfortable," Emily said matter of factly.
Becca whined, "But, Ems!"
"Rebecca, you're the one that wanted to be a part of this case," Emily reminded her. "Now, get up there."
That was true. She did make a promise. "I'm gonna hate this." Becca raised her hand, faking enthusiasm. "Me, I'll do it!"
Joseph motioned for Becca, "Come on up, kid."
Becca walked on stage and stood between the water cooler and Greene.
"What's your name, kid?" Greene asked.
"Anna," Becca blurted out the first name that came to mind.
"Anna, do you have any idea where your tap water comes from?" Greene asked.
She shrugged, "Underground, rivers, lakes, places like that."
"That's right," Greene nodded. "The water from those places is taken to water treatment plants, and it goes through the water treatment process."
Greene looked out to the crowd. "Did you know that some cities don't receive clean water even after it's treated?" He placed a hand on the water cooler, "This water cooler is filled with water that's been treated at a local water treatment facility."
"You sure about that?" Becca grimaced at the muddy brown water. There was no way she was drinking that.
"It's dirty now," Greene smiled to the crowd. "But, we can turn this into clean, healthy drinking with EcoCorps' environmentally friendly home water filtration system."
Becca shot him an unimpressed look. "Are you serious?"
"Don't believe me? How about a demonstration?" He placed a glass under the water cooler and pushed the button. Joseph held the glass of clean water to the crowd, earning a round of applause
Greene pushed the glass to Becca, "You want to be the first to try it?"
"Well, um..." Becca's mind raced back to Raj. What was he doing backstage? She swore she saw him with the vial Emily gave him earlier.
"Rebecca, what's wrong?" Emily asked.
"Ems, I don't know," She muttered. "I saw Raj doing some hanky stuff backstage. W-what was in that vial?"
Emily cut in, "Do you trust me?"
Becca was silent for a moment. She recalled her near colossal mistake in the press box how she'd called Emily "Mom". If her dad trusted Emily to keep their secret, and if Emily trusted her to be a part of her mission, then maybe it was time Becca did the same.
"Yes, I trust you." She said finally.
Emily replied in a firm but gentle tone, "Then trust me when I say that I won't let anything happen to you."
Becca tentatively took the glass from his hands. She took a whiff, expecting it to smell like something disgusting.
"Come on Anna, you can do it," Greene encouraged.
Becca held her nose and downed the water in one gulp. She shoved the glass in Greene's hand and stepped back from the front of the stage, giving her enough room from the crowd if she threw up. The tweens below scooted away from the stage and covered their heads, like they were expecting her to throw up on them.
A moment passed. And nothing happened.
Greene placed a hand on her shoulder,"Well, what did you think?"
"That wasn't too bad," Becca smacked her lips. "It kinda tastes like coconut."
"You see folks?" Joseph turned back to the crowd, "With just this simple piece of equipment you can have fresh, clean water free of dirt and chemicals anywhere in your home."
"Thanks for your help Anna," an assistant said in a bubbly tone as she led Becca off the stage.
"For being awesome, you get an EcoCorp t-shirt and sweatshirt!" The bubbly blonde woman dropped the items in her arms.
"Uh...Thanks," Becca walked down the steps of the stage. She coughed. A sudden tickling sensation scratched her throat. She took another step and put a hand to her mouth as she coughed harder.
"You okay?" The assistant asked.
Becca blinked her eyes, trying to get rid of the blurriness. "Yeah, I'm fine." She placed a hand to her head: suddenly it felt like gravity was pressing down on all sides of her brain. She staggered forward, missed a step, and tumbled down the stairs.
The crowd gasped and everyone huddled around the stage in panic. Nolan and Emily pushed through the crowd and darted for the stage.
Nolan knelt down to Becca. "Kiddo, you alright?" Her face was clammy and her usual bright, toffee skin turned ashen.
She coughed weakly,"Everything's spinning.."
Nolan scooped her up in his arms and helped her into a seated position, resting her back against the edge of the stage.
He snapped to the panicked assistant whimpering in the corner, "Call 911!" She jumped and took out her walkie-talkie.
Becca reached out, grabbing Nolan's hand, she moaning weakly, "Dad.."
He turned back to Becca, "Hey, I'm right here. You're gonna be okay." Nolan shushed as he wiped strands of hair out her face,"Everything is gonna be okay."
Emily paled at the scene before her. She spun around to the crowd, "Is anyone a doctor?!"
"I am!" An elder man with a balding hairline stormed to the stage. He knelt down on the other side of Becca. He took a penlight from his blazer pocket and shone it in her eyes, "Where are you hurting?"
Becca let out a pained whimper and clutched her abdomen,"My stomach feels like it's on fire."
The doctor took her hand and pressed his fingertips to on the inside of her wrist, "I'm having a hard time locating her pulse. It's very shallow."
"Everyone stand back!" A team of EMTs burst through the crowd carrying a stretcher. Nolan was pushed to the side as Becca was lifted onto the stretcher and an oxygen mask was strapped to her face.
He raced with the EMTs as they wheeled Becca out the doors of the gym.
"Where are you taking her?" Nolan demanded.
A grey-hair EMT placed his hands on Nolan's chest, stopping him from following them out the doors. "Sir, you need to stay behind."
"She's going into shock!" a female EMT yelled from the doors.
Nolan shoved the EMT off of him and raced to Becca's side. He swept a pair of curls out of her closed eyes.
"Hey, kiddo," Nolan cried helplessly as he held her in his arms. "Come on, open your eyes."
"Rebecca?" Nolan choked out. Her head fell to her side like a rag doll.
The grey-haired EMT rushed forward and placed his fingers to Becca's neck, checking her pulse.
The man turned to Nolan with a somber expression, "I'm sorry….we lost her."
Nolan stood glued to his spot as the EMTs rushed around him. They threw a white blanket over Becca and hauled her out of the gymnasium.
Emily appeared beside Nolan. She placed her hand on his shoulder in a vain attempt to comfort him. Nolan stifled. He shrugged out of her touch.
He swerved around to the stage staring down Greene with bloodshot eyes, "That was some demonstration." Nolan's voice was cold and icy.
Joseph took control of the situation like a true champ, "Look, everyone it's nothing to be worried about-"
"Who are you kidding? That girl is dead!" The doctor exclaimed.
"The news reports were lying," Emily stated, "The EcoCorp filters were the cause of those families getting sick... and now this?"
"Trust me," Joseph countered. "There is nothing wrong with EcoCorp's water filters-"
"Listen, I didn't make it this far, this fast, without pulling a few stops. The public doesn't need to know that the filters actually leach arsenic into the water." Everyone in the gym snapped their heads to the stage, as the speakers played the recording. "Do you have any idea how cheap it is to manufacture filters with bum parts?"
All eyes, cameras and cellphones were aimed at Joseph. He darted off the stage and raced out the doors of the high school. But, he didn't make it very far.
There to greet him outside of the high school were the NYPD and sitting in the back of a police cruiser was a beat up Roman.
A pair of beefy police officers rushed behind Joseph and forced him to the ground. Click.
"This isn't happening!" Joseph was pulled up to his feet by the handcuffs, "This isn't happening!"
A crowd had gathered outside the steps of the high school. Emily stood on the steps, watching as Joseph was hauled to a police cruiser. As he was about to get shoved into the back of the car, Emily strolled over to him.
"Emily, look," Joseph explained weakly. "This-this isn't what it looks like-"
"Is the Little Prince going to cry now that his castle has burned down?" Emily taunted.
Joseph's eyes widened in realization, "It was you? H-How did you..."
She smirked. "It's just like you said; everything happens for a reason."
With that, the cops stuffed Greene into the back seat. The lights above the cruiser flashed to life. Emily watched with steely eyes as the cruiser disappeared down the street.
"BABE,WAIT!" Miss Bimbo pushed past Emily and raced for the cruiser. She banged her hands on the window and clawed at the door of the cruiser. She stumbled to the side, the heel of her shoes snapping off, and tumbled to the ground. "BABE! What about Hawaii?!"
Emily strolled down the sidewalk to the empty parking lot in the back of the school.
"Looks like you guys survived the night without me," Amanda appeared, leaning on Emily's Mercedes.
"I'll be honest," Nolan walked up behind Emily. He bumped her shoulder with a laugh, "I did not expect him to run."
Raj waltzed over to the team. He folded his arms over his chest and shot Amanda a grin. "Damn, Amanda, you sure know how to have a good time."
A voice replied, "I'll say. That was fun."
Everyone, including Emily, Amanda, Nolan and Raj spun around. Becca walked out from her spot behind the car, a wrapped in the thermal blanket, and stopped in between Nolan and Emily.
"Weren't you on a stretcher?" Raj wondered.
Becca nodded."I slipped away while the EMTs were bombarded with the police."
"Did you see that chase?" She exclaimed and turned to her dad and Emily."It was just like the movies! Do they always run?"
"That was a first," Nolan admitted with a laugh.
"That was pretty good kid," Raj congratulated Becca."What was in that vial?"
"Capcisum extract," Emily explained. "It caused the profuse sweating and flushed skin."
"You knew that Greene wouldn't drink the water, and ask for a volunteer," Nolan put a hand to his chin. "That's why you were so adamant about Becca going up."
"The rest was just acting." Becca grinned. She scratched at her wrists peeling off the latex sheets and did the same with the ones on her neck. "Kinda scary how well these worked on the EMTs."
Becca spun around to Raj, shooting him a glare. "These stupid things had me itching like crazy!"
"Maybe you're allergic to latex," Raj pointed out. "By the way, special effects makeup isn't cheap."
"Right," Nolan took an envelope out of his blazer pocket and handed it to Raj, "Your pay."
Raj thumbed through the cash, "Looks about right." He smiled widely at Nolan, "So, you doing anything later?"
Nolan ran a hand through his hair, laughing nervously,"Well, I don't know if that's a good idea."
Becca narrowed her eyes at Raj and took a protective step ahead of her dad, "Not with you." she said in an icy tone.
Raj looked between Becca and Emily, both staring him down with steely eyes.
He placed the envelope in his jean pocket. "Well, I prefer guys that aren't tied down with a kid, anyway."
He smirked at the team, "Still, Nolan Ross has a teenager? Can't wait to see that in the news."
Emily took a menacing step towards Raj.
Her voice was calm as she said with a chilling smile, "Tell anyone, and I'll make sure you and your little theater - or should I say, ring of con artists - make the headlines come the six o'clock news."
Raj jumped back. "Easy, mama bear!" He threw his hands up in surrender. "I swear, I won't tell a soul!"
He glanced warily to Amanda. "See you around Amanda. It was fun working with your little team."
Becca glared daggers at Raj as he walked out of the parking lot. She turned to her dad, and grimaced. "Did you see how he was eyeing you up and down? That was gross."
Nolan laughed as he pulled Becca into a one-armed hug and kissed the crown of her head. He smiled at Emily. "I don't think we have anything to worry about, thanks to mama bear."
Emily turned to Nolan. "No one messes with my family."
Emily didn't expect it when the Becca threw her arms around her waist, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Thank you, Emily."
Emily could read the meaning the lines, she knew those words meant more than a simple thank you; they really meant that Becca was comfortable with her and that Emily had earned the teen's trust.
In the short amount of time the teen had entered her life, Emily instantly felt a need to protect her. She saw something of herself in the teenager.
Emily wrapped her arms around the teen's shoulders returning the embrace.
Click.
Emily and Becca shot their heads up. They spun to Nolan, who was smiling and giggling with Amanda, his cell phone pointed at them.
Becca laughed, "You're recording that?" She walked over to him, with Emily's arm wrapped around her shoulder. "Seriously?"
"We couldn't pass up the Kodak moment," Amanda laughed.
Emily looked over Nolan's shoulder watching the video play. "Should I be expecting that in the mail?" Emily joked.
"Oh yeah, this is proof," Nolan smiled. "I'm getting it framed and everything."
X Author's Note:
Look out for the final part of this case next week! After that, we're onto some bigger, earth shattering events! Can you guess what's going to happen next to this little family?
Until next time,
DDLJ