Thank you to 69raggaetongirl for sharing that she wouldn't be surprised if Eileen broke out into song. And to follow that, she suggested Eileen tell Claudia something in binary code. And to prove that everyone is enjoying the posts, cdb55 provided the site that translates words into binary code (I could have done it in my head, but …. Yeah).
To see Helena's Rorschach dress - see picture on Twitter at ManhattaniteNYC.
I did have to rewrite part of Chapter 20 to give her a nickname for poor QuickLookBusy. "CJ" it is. And thanks to QLB for playing the bloody drinking game with me.
Codes
The five friends went to the outdoor art show in Washington Square Park and browsed the various booths. As dusk fell, they parted ways and headed back to their respective homes.
"You should come to dinner sometime," Eileen said to Claudia as they walked to the subway station.
"With your parents?" Claudia asked.
"Yes, in Brooklyn," Eileen answered.
"I don't know. I get weird around adults," Claudia confessed.
"What do you call the people we were just with?" Eileen wondered.
"Well, Myka is the only real adult. Maybe Detective Tierney," Claudia said.
"What about me?" Eileen asked.
"You? I don't know really know what your age is. Sometimes you're like a kid, like the most naïve person I know. And other times, you're the wisest person I ever met. It wouldn't shock me at all if you punched someone who looked at the boss the wrong way or broke out into song along Broadway about how great it is to work at Wells," Claudia said making herself laugh. Eileen did too.
"That would be funny," Eileen said of the singing. "I love to work at Wells," she sang with her hand on her heart and twirling around.
"You are freakishly cute in your devotion to that woman," Claudia said. Eileen smiled at her and touched her hand.
"She's not the only reason I like working there," the youth said going through the turnstile. "See you tomorrow," she said to a frozen in time Claudia who felt shivers up her arm after the woman touched her. She put her fingers on her hand where she felt the trace. Now that she didn't imagine.
"Mom?" Eileen said while helping her mother fold the laundry that night. "How do you tell someone you like them?"
"That can be hard. We all talk differently sometimes, you know? I would use the language they understand," the wise woman advised.
"Hmmm," Eileen pondered. "Got it."
Helena was in a relatively good mood when they returned to the townhouse on Central Park West. Myka waited to check her emails until she figured out how to tell Helena they had an appointment with the judge.
The dinner selection was made and the opted for chicken and pasta and Myka offered to cook it. Helena sat on one of the high stools at the island, watching Myka prepare the dinner.
"You are not only a skilled barrister, but you possess domestic skills as well!" Helena teased.
"Thank you, but I don't think I possess the pizza making skills that you do," Myka said as she coated the chicken with olive oil and seasonings. She put it in the oven and washed up and prepared the salad.
"What did I do but mix what was already prepared for me," Helena said honestly.
"I do remember you did very well making the whipped cream," Myka reminded her.
"Yes, indeed I did," Helena said remembering her favorite parts.
Later, the chicken was done and mixed with the vegetable bowtie pasta and served with the salad.
"I cooked, you do the dishes," Myka said taking the plates out to the kitchen.
"I believe you mean, you cooked, my staff will do the dishes," Helena said.
"You could put them in the dishwasher," Myka said.
"I could, but why would I do that when my hands could be on something else?" Helena asked moving into Myka's space and pulling her in.
"Must be tough to be you," Myka teased kissing her nose.
"Not really. I've been at it so long, I've actually gotten it down rather well," Helena retorted and made Myka laugh.
The dishes were washed off and placed in the dishwasher, something that Leena would notice the next morning. She really liked having Myka around. Helena prepared two cups of tea and they retired to the library. Helena had reports to read and emails to answer. Myka thought this would be a good time to check hers.
"How's your tea?" Myka asked innocently.
"Very good, and yours?" Helena asked.
"Very good, thanks. Uhm Helena?" Myka started.
"Yes dear?" Helena answered.
"It seems that Judge Matthews would like to meet with you tomorrow," Myka said reading the expected email.
"Sorry, tomorrow is rather tight. Another time perhaps. And what for, does he say?" Helena asked.
"I think it has to do with your community service….," and Myka left the rest hanging.
"I completed that," Helena said looking at her laptop.
"Yes, you did, but I think that incident in the park caught his attention," Myka said.
"What? Are you serious?" What interest does that man have with the psychotic food vendor?" Helena wondered.
"He's not really interested in him, sweetie. He's a little more interested in how it all happened," Myka said biting her lower lip.
Helena never took her eyes off the report she was reading. "How it all happened was the bloody fool lost his temper and attacked you."
Myka took a deep breath. She was hoping the more detail she gave; the more Helena might connect the dots. According to Helena, she simply wasn't one of the little circles in the equation.
"Yes, that's not what the press reported," Myka tried.
"Myka, I really do not see what I have to do with an insane food seller, nor the news about it, nor what the judge would hope I could add to the mystery," Helena said plainly.
Myka could see this was going to take a more direct approach. She closed her laptop and turned to face Helena.
"Helena, the news reported that you lost your temper with that man, and that is why the police were called. He gave you that community service for losing your temper in court, remember? So now that he's seen the news, he might think that the community service that he ordered didn't quite do the trick," Myka said slowly.
Helena looked like a deer in headlights.
"So I am never to lose my temper again? Or this man will use what power he has to punish me with community service?" Helena asked. She did have a point.
"Well, I don't think he expects you never to lose your temper, but I think he feels that you might want to keep in under wraps…. in public ….or in court," Myka explained.
"Oh he will see my temper if that is what he wishes," Helena said annoyed by it all.
"No, see Helena, he does not want to see it. Not in court, not in the park," Myka said and suddenly felt like Dr. Seuss and couldn't stop herself from thinking – 'not in the light, nor in the dark.'
"Does he not realize he's doing the very thing that will annoy me?" Helena asked.
"Funny thing about judges, sweetie. They don't really take a consensus on what people think," Myka said.
"So we have to go back tomorrow?" Helena asked.
"Yes, eleven o'clock," Myka answered.
"The CIA agents in the morning, then this asinine judge at eleven. I do hope we can enjoy lunch together," Helena said.
"Of course," Myka said relieved that went so calmly. Helena went back to her reports.
"Oh and one more thing," Myka said putting her hand on Helena's knee. "He saw Detective Tierney on the news, you know because you sent the press over to her and he called the good detective up," Myka said. She could see the storm forming in Helena's eyes.
"What the bloody hell does she have to do with this?" Helena asked.
"Well, she was there on the scene and she did help you know, calm that man down," Myka said almost laughing. "And then he saw her on the news when you sent the press there and he called her to ask her what happened," Myka said.
"And what did the good detective tell him?" Helena asked.
"She told him what happened, you know, just the facts and all, but there's a chance he could call her tomorrow….to say something," Myka said hurrying the last few words.
"This is bloody ridiculous," Helena protested. "Well, I am sure you can tell him he's wrong, and we can be done quickly," Helena summarized.
"I can do my best, but let me handle it, ok?" Myka said and held onto Helena's hand.
"You want me to remain silent, don't you?" Helena said aghast.
"Yes, yes I do," Myka said. "That's what you pay me for, right? To handle all of your legal issues?"
"Very well, Counselor. I will leave this debacle in your very capable hands. Just tell the judge he is sadly mistaken…," Helena tried.
"Helena, I can't tell him that. I can try to get him to consider all of the facts, the circumstances, and anything else, but it's his courtroom," Myka pointed out.
"I have every faith in you that justice will prevail," Helena said kissing Myka's hand.
If only it were that simple, Myka thought.
When Claudia arrived the next morning, the office buzz was about the CIA agents that were waiting downstairs. She shot out of her office and went upstairs to see how Eileen was doing. She no sooner got to the assistant's desk, when the three men got off the elevator. Claudia was just going to show her support when she saw the look of fear in her friend's eyes.
"What are you so nervous about?" Claudia asked.
"They're here because I sent them the papers. Ms. Wells does not have time for this. It's my fault," Eileen ruminated.
"Listen to me, Helena isn't mad. If she was, you'd know it. She's probably thrilled that she gets to show off how smart she is. Come to my office and I'll show you how blooming bright I really am," Claudia said in her terrible English accent. She was the only one who Eileen would allow to get away with that. It made the tensed up assistant laugh.
Helena waltzed in minutes later dressed in an Alexander McQueen deep blue stretch-knit dress with a black jacquard pattern that blossomed outward from the middle of the dress and accentuated her shape.
The black design reminded Myka of Rorschach Inkblot test and Helena loved the analogy. "I think we should conduct extensive testing later," Helena said salaciously because well – because Myka was talking. "I want to hear all about what you see later," Helena mused of the similarity between the design on her dress and the assessment tool used in psychological testing. "And you might want to get as close as possible before you answer." Helena couldn't wait
"Gentlemen," Helena said as she walked into her office. "Ms. Sullivan, will you join us please?"
Eileen's face went white – and Claudia looked at Helena. "What do you need her for?" she boldly asked.
"I want her to assist me," Helena said perturbed at the intrusion.
"Deep breaths okay?" Claudia said to Eileen, who shook her head adamantly.
Claudia paced the floor outside, wondering if she should make up an emergency to go in. Just then Irene appeared and Claudia rushed over to her.
"She's got Eileen ..in there…with the CIA agents. I don't think she's breathing," she said to the HR Director.
"It's okay, Claudia. I know, she told me," Irene said knowingly.
"She's not giving her up or anything, right?" Claudia worried.
"Did you see that woman's reaction when Eileen told her they were here the other day? She was one picnic basket short of being a Grizzly. Your friend is in good hands in there," Mrs. Frederic said.
"OK, okay. I'll go back to my office ….. you know ….and do work…cause that's what I do. I do work," Claudia rambled.
She did return to her office and tried to distract herself by reading her emails. There was an interoffice message flashing on her computer. Claudia looked down at the series on digits.
"What the frack?" she said out loud. She grabbed a pen and wrote down –
"0100100100100000011100100110010101100001011011000 11011000111100100100000011011000110100101101011011 0010100100000011110010110111101110101"
….and started her deciphering.
"I ….really….like…you" it read.
The message was from Eileen.
"Oh my God, she used binary code!" Claudia practically squealed.