Chapter Three
"He's in there," said Nicky as he pointed towards the derelict, decaying building. "He's in the basement."
"Thanks," said Theora said as she pulled a fifty-credit tube out of her purse and offered it to Nicky.
Nicky waved the credit tube away. "Whole neighborhood's worried about him," he said. "He's seventeen. He shouldn't be living in that basement!
"It's not safe!"
"I'll talk to him," said Theora.
"Ol' Lady Morgan loves that kid," said Nicky solemnly. "So much so she's asked her own personal lawyer to defend HIM.
"Imagine that ... the victim's own lawyer defending the perp!"
"Where did you hear this?" Theora asked.
"I've got sources inside the department," said Nicky. "Friends of mine."
Mrs. Morgan wouldn't be doing this if she truly thought he was guilty, Theora thought.
"Ian! IAN!" Theora cried as she gingerly crept down the stairs that led into the basement.
She turned on the flashlight of her smartphone and shined it into the dark basement.
"Anyone here?" she asked the darkness.
"Go away!" Ian cried out from the darkness.
"I'm not going to hurt you," said Theora.
"Yeah … You'll just arrest me," Ian said with a snort.
"I'm not going to arrest you," said Theora. "I'm not a police officer." She then added, "Can we talk?"
"We have nothing to talk about."
"Why don't you tell me a little about yourself."
"What for?" Ian shot back.
"Humor me."
"We have nothing to talk about," said Ian. "Even if we did, you wouldn't have a damn clue."
Theora sat down at the foot of the stairs. "Try me," she said.
"You've got a nice house, nice car, nice clothes," said Ian. "You have NO idea what it's like."
"What are you talking about?" Theora asked.
"You ever been hungry? Scared?" Ian snapped. "You ever live on the streets, not knowing where your next meal's coming from?
"What do you know about me?"
Theora thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "To answer your question … I've been ALL of those things," she said. "I've dropped acid in Zurich, smoked hash in Berlin, and I've done ecstasy in Barcelona.
"I've been hungry and I've lived on the streets," Theora continued. "I've slept in some strange places and with people I'd just as soon forget about."
"I've done a LOT of things I regret," she concluded.
Ian stepped into the light. "You're kidding," he exclaimed. He stood six feet tall. Today, he was wearing a white tank top, dirty sneakers, and torn, dirty blue jeans.
Theora shook her head. "I wish I was," she said.
"Who are you?" Ian asked. "If you're not a cop ..."
Theora stood up and showed Ian her Network 23 ID badge. "My name is Theora Jones," she said. "I'm with Network 23. I work with Edison Carter."
"THE Edison Carter?" Ian exclaimed, wide-eyed. "You work for Edison Carter?"
"I work WITH Edison Carter," Theora corrected.
"You've done drugs?" Ian asked.
Theora grimaced and glanced nervously side-to-side. "I don't like talking about it … but Yes," she replied. "I haven't been that person in over ten years."
Ian pointed at Theora and exclaimed, "YOU?"
"Appearances can be deceiving," said Theora.
"What do you want with ME?" Ian asked.
"You need to turn yourself in," said Theora.
Ian turned his back to Theora. "No," he said.
"You can't stay here, it's not safe!" Theora exclaimed. "The building's condemned! It could fall any minute!"
Ian turned to face Theora. "So what if it does?" he snapped. "Not like anyone's gonna miss me!" He then added, "I'm a fucking Blank!"
"Mrs. Morgan misses you," said Theora. "So much so, she's asked her own personal lawyer to defend you."
Ian stared at Theora, thunderstruck. "She believes in me THAT much?"
"It would seem so," said Theora. She then added, "The longer you're on the run, the worse it'll be for you.
"They won't stop until they find you," she said. "This is not going away."
Theora paused. "Don't disappoint her," she added quietly. "She literally has money riding on you."
Theora then inquired, "DID you steal the egg?"
"Of course not!" Ian snapped. "She paid me to mow the lawn!"
"Who's 'she'?" Theora asked, framing the word "she" in air quotes.
" 'She' ... Ol' Lady Morgan," Ian replied. Thinking better of it, he added, "Mrs. Morgan."
"Tell it to the police," said Theora.
Back at Network 23, the phone rang on Murray's desk.
Murray picked up the receiver and barked, "Murray."
"It's Theora," Theora said on the other end of the line. "Ian Stewart turned himself in."
"WHAT?!"
"Ian Stewart turned himself in," Theora repeated.
"When did THIS happen?" Murray exclaimed.
"Call Edison," said Theora. "Tell him to come police headquarters."
"Will do," said Murray. "Thanks."
Murray pressed a button on the console, hanging up the phone. He then pressed another button on the phone.
"Studio ... It's Murray," he said. "We've got Breaking News. Ian Stewart has just turned himself in."