One month after the end of the tour Jayden got a job offer. The media frenzy was still constant but had died down to a steady buzz. Photographers still lurked, Jayden suspected that they would continue to do so for years, but they had learned to live with it. Happily the majority of the press had focused on the adorable star quality of the trio and left Shaun out of it. There were a few outliers but Jayden was still Shaun's bodyguard which meant he got to handle the more aggressive opportunists himself.
Shaun was in the kitchen staring in to the refrigerator when Jayden came in with the mail. Shaun was a full-fledged teenager now and starting to show signs of the man he would be one day. He was athletic and intelligent but quiet, observant he wasn't the boisterous kid in class but when he did speak up his words hit hard.
"Hollow leg?" Jayden asked.
Shaun smiled softly. "Anything good in the mail?"
"Take a look." Jayden said and handed Shaun the mail. He poured a cup of coffee and checked the time debating starting dinner. Madison was on a new story so her routine would be impossible to predict and Ethan was downstairs with Michelle working on a few last minute changes to a nearly finished plan.
"Here." Shaun said and handed Jayden an envelope. Jayden frowned at it before accepting it. He didn't get a lot of mail. He never really had and with email and digital communications taking over the small amount he used to receive had largely dried up. Particularly since his only employer post-FBI lived with him.
The return address was in Chicago and listed a company called Digital Forensics Unleashed. He frowned harder and opened it.
Dear Mr. Jayden,
We are a cutting edge technology focused organization that partners with law enforcement and public safety organizations around the country. We work to bring the best tools to first responders and public safety personnel to ensure they can do their jobs quickly, accurately, and thoroughly. We're contacting you today regarding an exciting opportunity with our East Coast branch.
As you well know the F.B.I.'s ARI program was scrapped due to safety and logistical concerns. Two years ago we took over the defunct ARI program and revisited it. With the help of dedicated experts and medical teams we have re-engineered the ARI interface to be safer, more accurate, and more cost effective.
We are contacting you today to request your presence at a meeting in two weeks with our local representative. We feel that you are uniquely equipped to assist in the revitalization of the ARI program. We are prepared to offer generous compensation and will present a full package of benefits and options to you during our meeting.
Sincerely,
Emmet Wake, C.E.O.
Jayden read it twice then folded it and put it on the island in the kitchen, sat at the island like a robot and tried to keep his thoughts from racing out of control.
ARI was active again. The thought echoed through him like a gunshot, he felt the bone deep longing for tripto spread like fire through his frame. He knew, had known that ARI was being used again. But…privatized? He felt his guts twist and a coldness seep into the hollows carved out by the tripto craving.
Shaun was at his elbow saying something. Norman couldn't hear him, couldn't reply, momentarily overwhelmed by memory and sensation.
Shaun stared at Norman for a moment as the older man slowly sat and stared into space. Jayden's face was frozen and fists clenched, he was pale and a thin sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead.
"Jay? Are you okay?" Shaun asked and put a hand on Jayden's shoulder, Norman didn't react at all.
Frightened Shaun picked up the letter and read it quickly. He frowned over it slowly putting together bits and pieces.
Ethan hadn't wanted him to read Madison's books, though he knew a fair bit about Jayden's public life. Living with Jayden, hearing snatches of midnight conversations, Jayden crying out in the night, Shaun's own memories of Scott Shelby, one early morning catching a shirtless Jayden and seeing the scars on his chest…he knew Jayden was a complicated damaged person but he didn't understand why Jayden was having such a reaction to a job offer. He decide to read Madison's books as soon as possible.
In the meantime he called Ethan. "Dad? Jayden got a letter, something about ARI he's not taking it well, he won't talk to me. I'm kind of scared for him –okay, of course. I love you too."
Shaun hung up as a wave of relief flowed over him. Ethan was coming home immediately.
"Jay? Dad's coming okay?" Shaun said softly and took Jayden's hand in his own. It felt clammy but Jayden squeezed his hand and looked at him, managed a smile.
"I'm okay, I'm sorry I…I was surprised." Jayden mumbled. Shaun looked into Jayden's gentle face, lightly stubbled and lean but beloved. He loved Jayden his other father fiercely. Jayden who had risked his life and nearly lost it to save not only Shaun but Ethan. Impulsively Shaun hugged Jayden tightly and held on until he heard the front door open. Ethan came in at a fast walk.
"Norman?"
Shaun released him and Jayden stood slowly but surely and smiled at his lover.
"I'm okay Ethan I…it just hit me…odd." He mumbled and blushed. Ethan embraced him and held him then kissed him gently and released him. Norman blushed furiously and smiled shyly but relaxed. Ethan read the letter while Shaun made coffee.
"They privatized ARI?"
"Looks like it."
"ARI?" Shaun asked.
Ethan looked at Jayden, the look said 'this is your show'. Ethan had kept much of Jayden's darkness from Shaun to protect his son and his lover. He had appreciated that Shaun seemed to instinctively respect Jayden's privacy and past. Of course what his son heard from friends, online…that was out of his hands.
"ARI was an interface that I used on Shelby's case. It allowed me to collect, analyze, and link evidence and profile aspects far faster and more accurately than traditional methods but…it had side effects. Those side effects were part of why I stepped down from the BAU. They re-tooled ARI and I used it to close a case but it was politically sensitive and cost me my position."
"It sounds like it could be dangerous in private hands." Shaun said cautiously. Jayden thought of the reams of databases, the auto-signed basic warrant templates, the detailed chemical analysis all available at the swipe of a finger or nod of the head via ARI. He felt cold.
"Yes." He said softly and slowly let out a breath.
"The complications Jay…is that why you took tripto?" Shaun asked quietly, tentatively.
Jayden looked at him, to Shaun's relief his second father looked sad instead of angry.
"There was never just one reason Shaun but…that was probably the final straw."
"Do you want to take this job?" Ethan asked gently.
"I don't know, I…I think I should hear them out if only so Madison can expose their shitty idea to the public. I don't think privacy advocates are going to be too happy about something so powerful being in private corporate hands."
"Jay…you don't have to do this. You can tell Madison and she and her paper can take this on." Ethan soothed.
"No, I proved ARI could be a useful tool with Shelby and the Texas case I made it viable one way or another and now…. I…I have to do this, if ARI has become some kind of technological hydra I have to help stop it."
"But not alone Jay not this time." Ethan said and took Jayden's hand in his own two and held it tightly as Shaun put a hand on Jay's shoulder.
Madison licked her lips and adjusted her camera before leaning forward to take another picture.
"Got you." She muttered then opened the door to the camera's memory card, hooked the tiny card with a thumbnail and pulled it free. She let the camera hang by its strap around her neck as she carefully stowed the memory card in the locket she wore. It fit neatly behind the photo of Ethan and Shaun opposite the photo of Jayden. She close the locket and lifted the camera's strap over her head and tucked it into her saddle bag.
The city politician she had just photographed taking a forced 'gift' from a struggling contractor – who had trusted her enough to contact her but not the cops – strolled away from his victim and into his luxury car. The contractor a tough woman in her thirties hugged herself briefly and shivered as a fall chill wind swept through the parking lot. Madison pulled out her cell and thumbed a number from memory while still watching her contact.
"Willa, it's done I got the pictures. I'll get the story to my editor tonight it should run in tomorrow's edition. Get out of town for the next few days and call me from a burner or a public location if you need to talk." She ended the call and put the phone away then slipped on her helmet and turned on the bike. It was well tuned and purred softly as she settled on to the saddle then pulled away.
Jayden was out when she got home Shaun was asleep and Ethan was waiting. He filled her in on Jayden's situation and made her a meal while she took off her leathers and added the finishing touches and photos to her article.
Jayden sat in the bar. He didn't drink much anymore and only with Ethan or Madison. Drinking was too close to the warm fuzz of oblivion he recalled from the height of his tripto fog. No, he didn't drink much anymore.
But he wanted to tonight, wanted the familiar burn and cold numbness. Wanted the frayed raw part of himself that saw through and into people so easily but left him exposed to them just as easily to just shut down and shut up. Go away and let him think for once. Let him be rational and calm and reasonable and all the things he fought for and not the lurching lumbering raw emotion he too often felt he was. He needed to think about this situation rationally and clearly but all he could think about were dead little boys clutching orchids, sweet tripto highs, busting the right perps and eating the political fall out and how dangerous ARI could be in the wrong hands. The shit ARI could reveal, the gaps it could fill in, the secrets it could expose for no good reason.
He had worked hard to sift the relevant information from the irrelevant with ARI had ignored sexual peccadillos and minor weirdness because he of all people could throw no stones and ultimately these small vices and quirks weren't going to help him find a victim or stop a monster.
The new operators, the new ARI would not have those same self regulating rules. There would be nothing to stop a new database of black secrets from being built exploiting individuals and nations via fear and shame. That future no one wanted and only he could stop.
Right? Wasn't this his time to do a true good thing?
He had a drink in front of him, didn't recall ordering it. Drank it anyway. His thoughts darted and coursed like a pod of dolphins on ecstasy.
"Hey you look lonely." It was a woman, she had been pretty once but now just seemed worn. She wore minimal makeup her hair and clothes were mid-grade and she moved with confidence masking weariness.
"I'm fine and gay." He said softly.
She relaxed slightly, angle of her shoulder dropping length of stride increasing, and sat next to him anyway.
"Good. I'm only paid to talk to people not fuck them." She sounded relieved and gestured to the bartender for another round.
Jayden looked at his empty glass and back to her.
"Shitty job?"
"I've had worse. How about you stranger?" She had hazel eyes, the dim light in the bar made them seem dark and mysterious they caught flashes of the gold beer bottle tinged light from the overhead lighting.
"Hard to say." He didn't want to talk not to her not to anyone but something about her determination drew him in.
"You look like you're trying to make a decision honey, wanna talk about it?"
"No."
"That's fine baby, buy me a drink and I'll keep the others off you. Good looking man like you should pick a better place to drown your sorrows."
He thought of Ethan's favorite bar and all the baggage that went with it. He didn't want to be Norman Jayden today he just wanted to be…anonymous.
"I've never been in here before."
She laughed and it took fifteen years and a lifetime of struggle from her with its bell like joy. "Honey I knew that the moment your fine ass walked in. "
His lips curled in a smile that was all reflex.
"Sure you dig dick?" She asked as he took a swig of the fresh drink. He choked, inhaled cheap scotch and doubled over coughing.
"Guess that's a yes." She muttered as she patted his back and he caught his breath.
"Yeah, yeah I'm sure." He coughed and laughed.
Two hours later he was drunk enough that standing would be hard. Her name, so she said, was Candy but he had caught a glance at her license when she pulled out cash to cover their fourth round and saw the name Autumn Sands. He wondered why someone with a starlet name like that could choose Candy as a working name.
"So sugar what'd you do that landed you in this shithole?"
"You first." He said while wondering if he could make it to the pisser in one piece. The bar had filled with a fairly rough crowd a mix of men and women most scarred and worn down before their time with that acid stained look to their demeanors that spoke of prison and fear.
"I did… I did the wrong guys for the right reasons and the wrong guys for the right reasons and now I'm here." She laughed again. He loved that laugh, wanted to capture it and hold it close. Found himself making stupid jokes and bad compliments just to coax it forth again, that laugh more than the liquor or maybe in combination with it was a panacea to his fevered self.
He made it to the john and pissed for what seemed like an unhealthy length of time. He made it out of the stall only to find her leaning against a sink. Bleary but more sober than not he carefully cleaned up and regarded her gravely.
"This is the men's room."
"Sure is."
Then she was pushing against him, his balance was gone, he felt the door to a bathroom stall slam open as his shoulders struck it, felt the hard porcelain of a toilet strike him in the calves and her surprising strength and weight knock him down. He bruised his back against the toilet lid and found he couldn't get enough leverage or coordination to knock her of him.
"What –"
"Shhh. Let it happen." She purred breath stinking of liquor and cigarettes and something underneath it all something base and animal.
Her hands were on him he felt her reach for his wallet and struggled to snatch it back but his limbs felt like lead.
"I gave you something sugar, don't worry you'll be fine in like half an hour." She purred again and he felt her strong thin fingers reaching into his pants pockets.
"Candy…" He choked as he felt whatever she had given him ripple through his system crippling his words and thoughts.
"Don't fight it baby."
"Why choose…candy?" He asked hoarsely his tongue and lips feeling thick and distant.
"Cause candy is dandy but liquor is quicker." She laughed and the bell tone was gone. He felt betrayal then, not at the robbery but at the loss of the bell like laugh, had that been fake too? She leaned over him, pendulous breasts inches from his face and she kissed him. The drug and booze had left his body largely numb and clumsy.
"Good kisser for a fag, damn shame, you're hot baby." She purred and laughed and tugged his dick through his pants.
"S-stop." He groaned remembering another stall, another attack and feeling panic and bile press against the constraints of the liquor and drug.
"Shhh I'm a pro baby you sure you don' t want a freebie?" As she talked he felt the numbness spreading. He still couldn't move, could barely feel her against him. He felt a hot rage sweep over him using all his strength managed to sit up slightly.
"You sure you're gay baby?" She sneered.
"S-stop." He hissed and met her eyes. They looked black now. Her face was flushed and mouth parted she licked her lips and smiled at him.
"You must be. Poor baby you chose the exact wrong bar tonight. " She chuckled and got off him, leaving him half crumpled on the floor with no control, paralyzed for god knew how long.
"Say hey to your boyfriend." She said then tucked her ill-gotten gains into her clutch purse, straightened her skirt and stepped out of the stall. He watched her close it and use what looked like a phone card to flip the latch from the outside.
"Take care honey." She called.
An hour later feeling returned to his hands. Weak and clumsy, he managed to tuck his dick away feeling rage and shame in equal measures waft over him, and left the bathroom. No one in the bar met his eyes he wondered how many were aware of 'Candy's' little game. He glared at the bartender and left. Penniless he could walk home or call Ethan and explain he'd been robbed and sexually assaulted by a professional while trying not to have a breakdown over a fucking job offer.
No, no he wasn't going to call Ethan. He was a goddamn adult he was going to get his stupid ass home, take five showers and get on with his life. Autumn Sands…he would remember that name he had no doubt she was pretty much what she presented herself as but it wouldn't be hard to hire her to take action against Jayden. If she was working for a third party he would find out.
The cold air of the city felt like a healing balm. He wanted to find her, to hurt her and that sickened him. He thought of Shelby's face when he slipped, when Jayden's grasp missed. Thought about the vicious bigoted cops surrounding Ethan, and Madison's courage as she ordered them to back down... he doubled over and threw up until he was pretty sure the only thing left to come up was blood. He was alone on the sidewalk he stared at the puddle he'd made for a moment then walked away.
One goddamn letter and this was what he devolved into a stumbling drunken mess. A victim, again, a tool in someone else's kit again. He felt shameful rage whip through his chest hard and fast enough that he gasped from the force of the sensation.
He felt his lips peel back into a grin that was more snarl. He wanted to find Candy and bash her head in but he couldn't…wouldn't. She was as much a victim in a lot of ways as he was at least he had a safe and loving home to slink back to. He had Ethan and … He felt the nausea come back dropped to one knee and gagged then cough a thin string of bile. His head throbbed abominably.
"Hey you okay dude?" The voice was young and sincere. A figure loomed out of the darkness around the bar's garish entrance lighting. Handsome, dark skinned, bright intelligent eyes and fine features, dressed in battered blue jeans and boots and a wool lined jacket that hung open over a thin t-shirt sporting a worn to near invisibility band logo.
"F-fine." Jayden lied and got to his feet.
"You look kinda wrecked man, look I live like a block from here I can call you a cab –"
"I got..uh I don't have any money."
"Oh well that's okay I have a couch, you can stay the night and figure it out when you feel better."
"Who are you?"
"My name is Dylan. Come on." The young man said and helped Jayden to his feet, slipped an arm around him and let Jayden lean against him.
"Why? You don't know me."
"Yeah but I've had some bad nights and if there hadn't been people to pick my stupid ass off the pavement I wouldn't be here now, consider it paying it forward dude."
They didn't talk until Dylan got them to his building. "Alright dude gimme a second the elevator is toast so we'll have to walk to the second floor, I just gotta unlock the door." Jayden watched him move, the silken ease of his strong youthful body. The confident walk and strong hands, Jayden guessed he did something manual maybe a carpenter or welder something that let him use his strength and physique during the day.
He came back and helped Jayden through the door and partway up the steps where Jayden used the banister for support. In the brighter light of the hallway he could see that Dylan was a little older than Jayden had expected mid-to late thirties but his eyes were bright and clear like a man much younger, or at a greater peace.
"What do you do for a living?" He asked.
"I'm an artist, sculpting mostly."
Jayden stumbled and Dylan caught him, hand warm and strong.
"Thank you." Jayden said softly.
"I recognize you." Dylan said as they mounted the last step to the second floor.
"Now or in the alley?" Jayden asked.
"Both, I mean, I couldn't really be sure at the bar but…yeah I know you."
"Is that why you're helping me?"
"I don't know. Come on it's not far." Dylan said as he steadied Jayden again.
"I was drugged and robbed." Jayden said after a few moments of silence.
"Been there done that man."
Jayden didn't reply, too focused on not falling over or puking to really form a decent reply.
"Look, you don't have to stay the night if you're not comfortable, I got a buddy with a car I can make a call and you'll be home in like an hour." Dylan said after helping Jayden to a worn but comfortable couch.
Jayden's soft snore answered Dylan's question. The lean artist looked a little sad as he picked up a woven Mexican style cotton blanket and draped it over his guest then pulled Jayden's shoes off and lifted his legs on to the couch. He filled a glass with water and set it within reach but safely clear of flailing limbs.
He walked in to his own bedroom and pulled his cellphone out of his pocket. He hit a programmed number and waited.
"It's Dylan. He's fine I have him at my place." He listened for a few moments then sighed.
"Look I know I'm just some random you hired but this guy…I don't feel right about this. I'm going to do what I was paid to do you can trust me I just… I don't like it." He ended the call.
Morning dawned slow and rough. Jayden actually felt better than he expected, not really hung over so much as the morning after a bad fever. He drank the water Dylan had left out for him and sat up to get his bearings.
Dylan's home was beautiful. He must be independently wealthy or a very successful sculptor. It was basically an uninterrupted loft with one corner walled off into what was likely a bathroom and bedroom. Floor to ceiling windows let in huge amounts of light.
"Hey you feeling okay?" Dylan asked. Jayden jumped and turned to face the artist. He was handsome, wearing nothing but jeans, hair mussed from sleep and morning light bathing his lean strong body in clean light.
"Yes. Thank you. I should call home."
"Sure, here." Dylan handed over his cell phone, it was basic model not a smartphone. This pleased Jayden for some reason. As much as he relied, had relied, on his phone it was pleasing to know there were still people that weren't dependent on a hand held computer.
"Norman?" Ethan asked immediately.
"I'm okay."
"I was worried –"
"I know I…needed space. I'm sorry. I had a bad night but I'm okay I'll be home soon."
"I tried to call –"
"Yeah I was sort of mugged. It's a long pointless story but I'm okay, could you uh start cancelling –"
"Credit cards yeah, I'll call the phone company too, are you sure you're okay?" Jayden felt warm and safe at the worry in Ethan's tone, and guilty.
"Yeah I'm sure I love you, I'll be home soon."
He hung up a few minutes later after assuring Madison he was okay and handed the phone back to Dylan.
"That must be nice."
Jayden looked at Dylan.
"Having so many people fussing over you, worrying for you."
"Yeah...it's still new to me, I make mistakes…"
"It takes time to adjust to any new situation." Dylan said softly, his hand brushed Jayden's as he finally took the phone back. Something electric passed between them. Jayden looked away from the beautiful artist to the clean morning light and closed his eyes.
"Why did you really help me Dylan?"
"Because I've been there. I…like I said I was paying it forward." Dylan stammered looking away.
Jayden wanted to push but really what right did he have? This young man had gone out of his way to help him. Sure Dylan had known that Jayden was famous but rather than exploiting that he had …what? Jayden had passed out moments after arriving at the apartment. What if Dylan had taken photos of him? He could be the next best thing to hit the tabloids. Jayden hushed himself and carefully got to his feet. Whatever Dylan had done was done.
"Thanks, I mean it, I guess you know where to look me up if I can help you out?" Jayden asked. Dylan nodded.
"Good, I should go but really if you need anything, let me know okay?" Jayden left fairly confident he could find his way home and to a hot shower (or ten) without too much trouble. Maybe the walk would clear his head.
"Madison he's fine."
"He didn't sound fine Ethan, he sounded confused and guilty."
"He stayed out all night he feels bad that we worried."
"Ethan that letter freaked him out on a basic level. He's never really dealt with ARI he got past it but that's not the same as getting over it."
"What do you want me to say?"
"I… I don't know Ethan, I just … you seem to think he's strong and he is but he can break again. We almost lost him too many times before we have to be careful –"
"We can't handle him like a child Maddie we can't manage him he's an adult and he's …Jesus he's a hero whether he can accept that or not he's very capable of taking care of himself."
"We know that but he doubts it Ethan, all the time."
Ethan sighed heavily.
"What are you saying Madison?"
"I …I'm not even sure Ethan."
He tasted the lie and knew what she was getting at and how much it would hurt.
"You think he needs to do this alone to…prove to himself that he can."
"I don't know. Maybe. Look…" She didn't finish the thought trailed off in to silence. Ethan held her and tried not to be angry. She might have a point but what would it cost? Would Jayden be stronger, healthier…happier? Would they?
"I can't Madison. I can't just…cut him off."
"I don't … I mean. No… no we can't can we…" She sighed and shook her head.
"Therapy…it helped didn't it?"
"It did..does but…only as much as you let it work. It's not…not a panacea."
They were silent for a few heartbeats.
"Who says we even get to make this call?" Ethan asked angrily.
"Forget it Ethan it…it was a stupid impulse obviously we love him and…forget it."
But he couldn't, even after Jayden returned to them, dirty, quiet and secretive but intact it nagged at him. By loving and supporting Jayden was he being overprotective? Was he somehow smothering him?
Two weeks passed and Jayden began to prepare for his meeting. Ethan quietly watched him book a flight rather than a rental car, watched him pick out a new suit when they went shopping with Shaun for winter clothes, watched Madison choose the perfect tie to compliment his eyes, watched him pack and double check the address and time of the meeting without spilling his secret worries.
The night before the flight Madison was at a late dinner with her editor and Shaun was staying with his mother. The two men had a small meal at home.
"Do you have everything you need?" Ethan asked.
"I should yes rental car, clothes.." Jayden trailed off as he studied Ethan's face.
"You're worried." Jayden said. Ethan glanced up almost guilty but smiled and sighed.
"Yes. I don't doubt you but I'm not sure this is a good idea. It's going to open a lot of old wounds."
"I can stay away from Tripto." But not liquor. A voice taunted in the back of his head.
Ethan smiled picked up Jayden's right hand with his own.
"Yeah I know you can. You will, you do every day. That's…not what I'm worried about. I love you Jay. Everything about you. Everything. I know you're stronger than you realize, I know you're so compassionate that the death of Scott Shelby, as evil as he was, still bothers you, I know you and I love you but I'm worried that this…this will hurt more than help."
"Ethan everything is a risk. I was a trained agent those skills are still there. I'll be fine."
Ethan had the grace to refrain from pointing out how badly Ethan had been beaten more than once while pursuing Shelby. One did not throw mud in one's rescuer's face.
"Just…call as often as you can, okay?"
"Are you worried that I'll take this job and lose you?"
Ethan blinked that had never honestly occurred to him.
Jayden frowned and pulled his hand free.
"Jay wait –"
"It's okay Ethan…I get it. This life is…well it's better than anything I ever expected. Look if it comes down to it…I can refuse to relocate. But…well, we're not there yet." He said the right things but the fact that Ethan had never even considered that Jayden could leave had hurt.
They all said their goodbyes, Madison teared up a bit which was touching. Shaun shook his hand then hugged him like the boy he would no longer be soon. Ethan had held him but there had been a stiffness in the embrace that left Jayden feeling unsettled.
The flight was unremarkable, no one noticed him or recognized him which was nice. Admittedly he had worn very generic clothing including sunglasses and kept his head down. Until security. He answered the basic questions, emptied his pockets, took off his shoes and waited.
"Mr…Jayden?"
"This isn't an international flight, why all the hassle?" He asked passively. The TSA agent gave him a lizard eyed look and Jayden sighed.
"You're on a list sir."
"Seriously? It's clearly not the do not fly list because here I am and I clearly flew. I'd like to see your supervisor, I'm a former federal agent I know when you're overstepping your bounds. "
"Yes, you clearly do Mr. Jayden." A calm cultured voice broke through the tense air and the TSA agent left the room. Jayden glared as the voice's owner emerged behind a privacy screen. An urbane middle aged white male, he seemed fit and was dressed in an expensive silk suit, his grooming was impeccable and his expression pure satisfaction.
"I'm waiting." Jayden said crisply.
"My name is Emmet Wake Mr. Jayden."
"If this is your idea of a job interview you can go fuck yourself I'm done. I don't play games."
"No, Mr. Jayden this isn't an interview it's a test. I wanted to know if you still have any backbone. You see rumor has it that you've gone soft, settled down, since you have a family you aren't able to do your job anymore."
"Which job is that Captain Mysterio?" Jayden snapped.
"Stopping depraved murderers Mr. Jayden. I have read your dossier with the F.B.I., the real one not the publicly released version. I know exactly how far you will go and have to stop evil. That is why I sent you that letter."
"Who the fuck are you?"
"Exactly who I say I am."
"I don't know if you noticed but I don't exactly travel in the same low oxygen venues you do pal, I'm a goddamn bodyguard I don't know you from any other random rich asshole so, Who. The. Fuck. Are. You. I'm sure you're one of your favorite fucking topics."
"Temper temper Mr. Jayden. I am a very powerful man with connections in your government. I can have your little family snuffed out in an accident or position you to be nearly as powerful and untouchable as I am. That's what you really want is it not? True safety for yourself and those you love, the ability to use your skills and knowledge to stop the spread of evil and pain?"
"Do you realize you're coming across like a B movie villain? What do you want from me? There are plenty of other people with experience using ARI. So why me?"
"You were the best Mr. Jayden. You managed to take ARI to new heights of efficacy and reliability. It cost you your health and sobriety but you took ARI past all expectations."
"Bullshit the new version they used a couple years ago –"
"Was a disaster. Shortly after your departure the program ran into worse side effects and health problems than the original. In the original program there were twenty-five volunteer subjects. Six were medically retired due to permanent health problems ranging from chronic headaches and fatigue to spasms and vision problems of those six five later died by their own hands or accidents that could not be conclusively shown to be suicide. Nine others suffered psychological side effects that were mitigated and eliminated with therapy and pharmaceuticals. Eight others voluntarily stepped down due to conflict of interest after watching their colleagues fall apart. That left two active capable agents. Yourself and one other." Wake recited while watching Jayden.
Jayden stood in his stocking feet glaring at Wake and unmoving.
"The second program was much smaller. A group of ten volunteers selected from an original pool of two hundred. One hundred ninety volunteers were tested and failed due to psychological or physical issues. Of the ten accepted you were an eleventh, intended as a control. The ten new subjects were admirable high functioning and very successful until the six month mark. The program officially ended two months ago when the last agent died of a massive aneurysm. The previous nine agents are also dead."
Jayden trembled slightly and closed his eyes, swallowed and opened his eyes slowly.
"Did it ever occur to you that ARI is a dead end?"
"No, because of you and your sole surviving healthy counterpart."
"Healthy?"
"Yes, she is the very picture of health. Unlike yourself, however, compared to your peers you are nearly a Hercules. So you see that if there is ever to be a viable program in place with minimal casualties, and there will be a program whether you and I like it or not, we require your assistance. I would prefer your voluntary assistance Mr. Jayden but I won't lie, you'll help us one way or another."
"Who is pushing this, obviously it's not just you, who is backing you?" Jayden snapped.
Wake flashed a brief expression of annoyance.
"That is not for you to know Mr. Jayden."
"Fine then fuck you and your X-Files bullshit. I know everything, now, or I'm gone. You can threaten us all you like it won't change the fact that you need me to cooperate and if you're talking medical tests it's a good bet that drugging me or freaking me out is going to fuck everything up. So you decide, how much is my voluntary help worth?"
"Very good Mr. Jayden, very very good. Only a few of us suspected you would be this bold. Most assumed you would cave. Name your price Mr. Jayden and it's yours. This program will proceed one way or another but with your help it will be achieved much more…cleanly."
"One thing first, how was this privatized? What access level do you have to secured databases?"
"All in due time Mr. Jayden you can't expect us to reveal proprietary information to a walk in."
"A walk in? Jesus you're unbelievable. Here are my starting criteria there will be more and the more you fuck with me the bitchier I'll get. One, I am not moving to this shithole city I'm happy where we are. Two, if you or anyone else so much as implies a threat to my family I'm gone and everything I know is public my best friend is an award winning reporter never forget that. Three, I want an untouchable trust fund of three million dollars set up for Shaun Mars to be accessible when he turns twenty-five with his father as trustee. Four, whatever surveillance you're running stops now and forever."
"That is all?"
"No one more question. Was Dylan yours?"
Wake looked startled but masked it quickly. "Good, that clears that up. He was intended to seduce me wasn't he? Was the woman yours too? Never mind I don't care. Those are my upfront requirements. I'd also like to take a look at your plan for the program and any personnel you've already designated to assist with the program or serve as subjects I get to veto anyone or everyone based on my own reasons."
"That will be difficult."
"Don't worry Wake you don't fuck with me pointlessly and this will be largely painless. I'm not unreasonable I have seen how useful ARI can be I also know how dangerous it is. You're a smart man my guess is you'd have me doing this either way, at least this way you can sell it to anyone that objects as my idea."
Wake looked annoyed again only this time he didn't try to hide it.
"Very well."
"I'm going home now you can call me with any details I'll expect the information I need in the next two days. Anything else?"
"It's been a pleasure Mr. Jayden."
"No it hasn't but it's been quick." Jayden snapped and Wake smiled. It was thin and satisfied.
Jayden walked out and made it to his airline's reservation desk, changed his ticket, claimed his luggage, checked it for the new flight then found a men's restroom. He washed his face and patted it dry with shaking hands then bolted into a stall and threw up. He kicked the door shut and locked it with a shaking hand and slumped onto the cool tile of the floor, leaned against the surprisingly clean toilet and closed his eyes.
What had he done? Had he just fucked up his life irrevocably or had he kept them all alive and free? He had to get home and sort this out, if nothing else he had to warn them.
"Something is wrong, he hasn't called." Ethan said staring out at the wet city. The rain started that morning when they returned from the airport. It hadn't slowed since.
"Dad?" Shaun asked looking up from his untouched dinner.
"Call him." Madison said and Shaun nodded. Ethan picked up his phone only to have it ring.
"Oh thank god its him."
"You're…the airport? Yeah – how- okay sure, I lo-" Ethan frowned at the phone.
"He's catching a cab at the airport he'll be home in half an hour."
"I guess he didn't get the job." Shaun suggested.
Madison frowned but didn't dismiss the boy's suggestion.
"Shaun you should –"
"Not go to bed because I'm not a baby anymore Dad, whatever is going on will affect all of us. "
"Smart kid." Madison said.
"Shaun there's a lot of stuff we haven't really talked about – "
"About how Jay was a drug addict? How he was nearly raped on a case? How his father abused the shit out of him and drove him out of the house only to let him back in to raise his little sister? Dad I'm not stupid I read the books, I looked at Madison's notes. I never said anything because I knew you would be angry and I didn't want to hurt him but …well I had a right to know. So…now I do can we get to the part where we deal with whatever is going on here?"
"Really smart kid." Madison said.
"Goddamnit Madison not helping." Ethan snapped.
"Sorry honey but he's right." Madison said wincing at Ethan's anger.
"Christ Shaun I…I didn't know if he would want you to know all…all of that." Ethan said shakily.
"I know, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't but…it's done." Shaun said roughly.
Jayden looked up at the building that held his fragile family and wondered if they would be his this time next year, wondered if they would trust him tomorrow as they did at this moment not knowing what he had done.
They engulfed him when he entered their home, Shaun took his bag and wet jacket, Madison shoved a glass of wine in his hand and Ethan dragged him to the table for dinner. He sat and set the glass down and looked at six eyes filled with questions.
"Let him eat." Madison chided and they moved all of a few feet away to the sitting area and tried mightily to ignore him while he ate. He didn't eat.
"Look…things, well I kind of took the job under duress. Uh, Shaun –" Jayden said.
"It's..it's okay Norman he knows…well, everything really." Madison sighed.
Jayden nodded, "Of course you do." He smiled at the boy and watched Shaun relax.
He explained what had happened from the moment the TSA agent had dragged him out of line until he changed his ticket.
"Jesus." Madison muttered, Jayden could see her investigator's gears clicking and churning. Ethan looked pale and angry. Shaun, surprisingly, appeared to be thinking.