THE DOPPELGÄNGER, Chapter 12
Elsie exited the King's Head and drew a breath of relief before descending the steps to join the doppelgänger on the sidewalk.
"That went well, all things considered," said the blonde as they started for home. "Doesn't give you much lead time though..."
The job interview had been mercifully short: a quick glance at Doppie's Green Card - no doubt provided by Lara's tech-savvy friend - and a brief chat had been enough to prompt Gwen to ask if the redhead could start the following Monday. Elsie had been concerned at the doppelgänger's clipped answers but Gwen had apparently attributed Doppie's paucity of conversation to shyness.
Not an altogether undesirable misconception, mused the blonde.
Elsie smiled; the pub would be getting a highly proficient bouncer as a bonus.
They continued on in silence, the blonde becoming contemplative. In a matter of days the doppelgänger would experience the highs and lows of the daily grind. The Rat Race. Nine to Five.
For Elsie the anticipation was both exciting and worrisome: so much depended on Doppie's ability to integrate into society. What would be the consequences of failure?
Equally worrisome, and most surprising to Elsie herself, would be the potential consequences of success.
She knew the day would inevitably come when the doppelgänger would 'fly the coop' - but the notion was filling the blonde with oddly conflicting emotions.
"Doppie...are you absolutely sure you're ready for this?"
"This is the fourth time you've posed that question since yesterday," remarked the doppelgänger.
"Really? Sorry, I didn't realize. It's just that...um...never mind."
The redhead glanced at her.
"Do I not consume food, as you encouraged me to do?"
"Well yes, but -"
"Have I not undertaken to sleep at night as you asked?"
"Sure, but -"
"Have I killed anyone this week?"
"No, but -"
"I'm beginning to detect a lack of confidence," concluded the doppelgänger.
"Doppie, don't get me wrong," clarified the blonde. "I don't doubt your ability. If anything I think this job is...well, almost an insult to your potential."
"That is true," agreed the redhead. "However Lara held a similar vocation during her studies at university, did she not?"
"I suppose..."
"Every journey has a beginning, yes?"
Elsie regarded the doppelgänger with a sly expression. "That's surprisingly poetic coming from you."
"I've been reading."
"So I've noticed," returned the blonde. "Just...try and keep that temper in check, ya?"
"I've told you I will not kill a patron," assured the redhead.
"Good."
"...unless, of course, I should feel like it."
"Doppie!"
The doppelgänger continued on in silence, the slight smile on her features at least partly reassuring the blonde she'd added the last part as a tease.
Elsie swallowed her retort. Right now the most important thing was to be supportive.
After all, the doppelgänger had barely experienced normal life since arriving. And there wasn't much time to gauge her reaction to the inevitable pitfalls society would throw her way.
Patience was not a virtue the redhead possessed in abundance, Elsie knew all too well.
Deep down, the blonde knew she was playing with fire - all while roller skating under a ladder, scissors in hand.
But what other choice was there? Unless...
I wonder...?
"Hey, I just got an idea...a dry run, if you will."
Doppie looked at her. "Yes?"
"There's a Hallowe'en party not far from here on Saturday," explained Elsie. "I wasn't going to go, but...why don't we?"
The doppelgänger was silent.
"We don't have to stay all night," clarified the blonde. "We can leave whenever you've had enough. What do you say?"
"What would be required of me?"
"Nothing, just mingle a little, is all. Small talk. Test out your social skills. Oh, but we'll have to get you appropriately costumed, of course."
The doppelgänger seemed decidedly unenthusiastic. "If you like..."
Elsie was mulling over an appropriate identity for the redhead when the crosswalk sign up ahead started flashing. She broke into a run.
"Hurry!"
She and the doppelgänger bolted across the intersection, the crossing light changing to a steady crimson just as they scampered onto the sidewalk.
"Are we in a rush?" asked Doppie.
"Not really," returned Elsie as she stared at the glowing red light.
Epiphany!
She whirled on the redhead.
"I know, how'd you like to go as Poison Ivy? You've already got the hair for it."
The doppelgänger gave no reaction.
Elsie's shoulder's drooped.
"Oh wait...no, that won't work..."
"Why?"
"I don't have an outfit for her...and it's not like I have the materials to make one, either...crap!"
"Could I not go as I am?" asked Doppie, eliciting a laugh from the blonde.
"Er, it's a Hallowe'en party, d'uh! You can't just go as...oh, wait a minute..."
The blonde considered the doppelgänger unblinking stare.
"Okay, you can't go as yourself, exactly...but I think I got something that might work..."
Elsie grinned to herself as Doppie regarded her curiously. Oh yeah...yeah, I can definitely see it...
The two resumed their trek. Elsie's flat soon loomed into view, but it was the small figure sitting on the front steps that drew the blonde's attention.
The girl stood up at their approach. The two yellow ribbons trailing from the long sand-colored hair provided instant confirmation of their owner's identity.
Elsie waved.
"An acquaintance of yours?" asked the doppelgänger.
"Oh yeah," nodded the blonde. "Sophie. Neighbour's kid. I babysit her from time to time...sweet little thing."
The nine year-old bundle of precocious energy bounded down the sidewalk and skidded to a stop before the two women.
Sophie raised her right hand high in the air, fingers splayed out.
"Nyanpassu," declared the girl, her pretty features devoid of expression.
Elsie's own hand shot up in response. "Nyanpassu."
Sophie's impassive gaze turned to the doppelgänger.
Elsie cleared her throat and nudged the redhead's foot.
Doppie arched an eyebrow but duly mirrored the girl's stance.
"Nyan...passu..."
Apparently satisfied, the girl turned back to Elsie and abruptly thrust a plastic container into the blonde's chest.
"It's lasagna," she announced. "Mom made some extra."
Elsie passed the container to the doppelgänger before crouching down to hug the girl. "Aww, that's so sweet! Thank you so much!"
"It's veggie," said Sophie, returning the embrace.
"I'm sure it'll be delicious," assured Elsie with a smile.
The blonde drew back and playfully mussed the girl's hair. "And tell your mom she's awesome, okay?"
The girl nodded seriously and bolted down the sidewalk.
"Curious," remarked the doppelgänger.
"She's a different bird," agreed Elsie. "But she's a good egg."
"I meant her greeting," clarified Doppie. "What was the significance of that, exactly?"
"Oh, that...you know, I've no idea," admitted the blonde. "It's just you won't get anywhere with her until you give the proper response, she'll literally just stand there and stare. Can be sort of unnerving really. At least until you get to know her."
Elsie gave the doppelgänger a sideways glance. "Kinda reminds me of someone, actually..."
A frown. "What are you implying?"
"Nothing," said the blonde as she started back down the walkway. "Nothing at all..."
~oOo~
Elsie flicked on the lights and led the new interns into the back room.
She waved at the myriad stacks of books scattered haphazardly across various shelves, cabinets and tables. "The Gallery's been planning an expansion for the past two years to display all this stuff, but for now this is the only space we have to house the overflow. Needless to say, we keep this section off limits to visitors."
"Wow," breathed Maya, one of the two new interns that had just started work that morning. "There's as many books in here as there are out there…maybe even more..."
She turned to the blonde. "You guys have an inventory problem."
Elsie smiled at the young Hispanic girl. "Hence why we really need you guys. The owner's a bit old fashioned so it's only over the last year or so that we've started inventorying our stock in an electronic database. But the work had to take a back seat after we lost our last two interns, so..."
The young Asian man who'd been introduced as Patrick chuckled. "I hope that's not foreshadowing..."
"Well, funny you should mention that," returned the blonde. "There's two rules that will definitely help you stay on the owner's good side. One, do NOT wear jeans - he absolutely loathes them. And two, no eating or drinking near the inventory."
"No jeans?" asked Patrick. "Even back here?"
Elsie put her hands up. "I'm just giving you some friendly advice," she explained. "If you absolutely want to wear them, go ahead, but if he sees you it'll be your ass."
"That bad?"
Elsie nodded knowingly. "Loathes them."
Patrick shuffled nervously. "Okay...got it."
Maya grabbed a book from atop one of the stacks and thumbed through the pages. "The Road...oh, I'd love to read this..."
"Well, nothing's stopping you," said Elsie, moving nearer to read the book's spine. "We all indulge on our down time...you like McCarthy?"
The girl slipped the book back atop its stack and nodded. "I loved No Country for Old Men. Well, the book, anyway."
"Gellis will love you," smiled the blonde. "Anyway, as you can see, this place is a bit of a shambles. So your first order of business will be to, er...de-shambelize."
Maya grinned. Patrick looked slightly dubious.
"So, what's the priority?" asked the girl. "I'm assuming we sort by genre first?"
The blonde nodded. "Genre, then alphabetically. Once you're done that I'll show you how to enter them in the database, then you can pull their corresponding cards from the index and cross them off as you go."
"Cool," said Maya, her gaze drifting over Elsie's shoulder.
The blonde turned to spy Gellis peeking in from the doorway.
"Hey," voiced the raven-haired woman tentatively. "Got a minute?"
"Uh, sure," said Elsie, turning to the interns. "You guys okay to start?"
"No problem," assured Patrick.
"Yeah, we got this," echoed Maya.
"Great," returned Elsie. "I'll check back on you guys later."
She turned to her friend. "Hey…you okay?"
Gellis motioned for Elsie to join her in the hall.
"I'm so sorry for the other day," said Gellis softly as the blonde closed the door. "I couldn't get it out of my mind all weekend..."
"Hey, hey," said Elsie, patting the older woman's arm affectionately, "Don't you go torturing yourself, okay?"
Gellis shook her head. "Point is, it wasn't my call to make."
She moved closer and took the blonde's hands in hers.
"Forgive me?"
Elsie smiled sadly. "Oh, Gel..."
She drew forward and embraced the older woman in a hug. "Of course I do, gods..."
The raven-haired woman patted Elsie's back affectionately. "Thank you..."
The blonde pulled back and smiled. "Coffee break?"
"You got it, kiddo," said Gellis with a grin. "My treat."
They'd started down the hall to Gellis' office when they were intercepted by Nathan Fletcher's personal assistant.
"There you are," said Wanda, looking strangely agitated. "I've been looking everywhere for you two!"
"We were in the back," offered Gellis, her brow creasing in concern. "Is everything all right?"
The bespectacled woman ignored the question. "Have either of you seen Rollie?"
"Uh...I assumed he was out on the floor," said Elsie. "Why?"
"We need you three in Nathan's office, stat," returned Wanda as she started back down the hall.
Gellis stepped forward. "What's going on?"
The woman replied without looking back. "The police are here."
The two friends glanced at each other, faces etched with apprehension.