Chapter 28: Alone Again, Part 2

"Hazel, I-"

"Miss Benton, I've been doing this since the Ford administration." Miss Bailey replied.

"But-"

Miss Bailey swiveled around.

"Jessica, I'll give it to you straight. I've seen all kinds of heartbreak- underfed kids, beaten kids, molested kids, lost kids, crying kids, homeless kids, sick kids, pregnant kids, dying kids, dead kids. I've done what I can for all of them, and I'm not backing down now."

"But-"

"Don't you think that this one's going to break me. I've had nearly forty years to get in the noggins of girls like her."

"But she was part of a cul-"

Miss Bailey sighed.

"Jessica, you want to know why kids like Laura turn to cults and gangs?"

"Tell me."

"Purpose, belonging, tribal identity- those aren't the only reasons. What I see is that cults and gangs offer something more tangible- a hot meal, reliable defense, human company, a warm bed of their own, a fix to stave off withdrawal, a chance to strike back at a world that's harmed them or a chance to get away from it all."

"You know, sometimes I wonder if this is-"

"It is. Now, let's go check on our newest addition."

"Hello, Laura." Jessica began.

"What do you want?"

Jessica turned her gaze to the lithe teenager sitting on the cot.

"I just wanted to ask y-"

"What?"

"I'm sorry about your-"

Laura turned around.

"Do you have any idea what it's like? Getting up at two in the morning and going to the city morgue and being asked to identify the people who raised you? Or having to leave your nearest relative's house because they can't afford to keep you? Or bouncing in and out of foster care because you're getting too old for the system? Or getting snookered into a cult that worships one of the same monsters that killed your parents just because they've got free room and board?" she whimpered.

"I've been through something a lot like what you're going through. Remember that you're not alone, Laura." came the reply.

Laura began to cry.

"Get some rest. You'll be needing it." Jessica whispered.


CHRYSANTHEMUM LOUNGE

LITTLE TOKYO:

"Miss Burns. It is a pleasure to meet with you again." a besuited man announced.

"Glad to see you too, Mister Miyamoto." Jetta replied.

The besuited man put a briefcase on the table.

"It's all high-quality." he assured.

Jetta's eyes drifted to some skin patches.

"The bloody 'ell?"

"They're called slappers. Put one on, and your preferred controlled substance goes through the skin thanks to DMSO. No more messing around with needles or pipes- just slap it on, and you're set."

Jetta smirked.

"What's on this batch?"

"Sister morphine, my Limey friend."

"Oyabun too cheap to get the good stuff?"

"He's too cheap for a turf war with the local derelicts or with the cartels."

"How much, you old Yak?"

"Half a grand. Gets you 20 patches, plus a couple syrettes."

Jetta handed over the money.

"Thank you for your business."