17 George Meets Conrad

There was a knocking at the door, a loud insistent knocking at the door, with a voice forcing its way in. "George. It's Reggie. Wake up." George woke up to bright light. She glanced around. She was alone.

She got up and opened the door. Reggie entered, already dressed. She asked, "Did you call Taylor?"

"I did." George looked over to the clock on the nightstand. It was just past 7 AM. "Conrad's reap went down more than an hour ago in some place called Oakland." She sat up and looked around for her top. She dropped it somewhere last night. Reggie found it on a chair and handed it to her.

Reggie frowned. "Why? Why didn't you go get him then?"

"Taylor agreed that Conrad just wants to talk to him and maybe convert him. He won't hurt him." She put her hands up. "But I will go looking for him and kick some saintly butt if that will make you feel better." She squinted, saw her black hoodie hanging over an arm rest of a chair. She reached for it and pulled it over head. She needed pants. Reggie tossed them to her from their resting place on the floor behind a chair. Nice sister. She looked for some socks…and then…

"We ordered breakfast. The hotel sent five people up to deliver. They brought a lot more than we ordered and spread everything out on carts next to the dining table."

"Great." She stood, ghosted, fading out in place to check. She could sense John and he was not far at all. She reappeared. Reggie was waiting. "Hold on that breakfast." Second thought. "OK. Let's do the coffee." She checked around the floor and found her shoes. "I know where he is…and…" She raised a hand to forestall the protest storm. "I will go get him…right after one cup of coffee."

Reggie smiled and turned to leave. She said, "Two sugars with a little cream."

George returned the smile. Her sister remembered. "Thank you."

Reggie walked out and down the hallway to get her coffee ready. George could go without eating…but…coffee? Pants on, she walked out to face the judgement of the holy trinity - her sister, sister-in-law, and mother. It was ironic in a way. She had been judged and condemned to Purgatory and here she still had to face her dear mother. There was no justice in life or death.

.

.

Since John was just a few blocks away, she walked over. After the outcry from the concerned citizens for John committee and she explained that it was so close and full on day time, she managed to get into the elevator alone. All three would have come with her. Somehow she had turned into the bad guy in this little drama. Seemed obvious what Conrad was up to.

She walked through the lobby with several pairs of eyes locked onto her. She exited the hotel onto the street and a cold morning fresh air. Christ. The doorman bowed and stayed bowed until she walked away. The cool air felt good and she took several extra deep breaths. Ghosting she would not be able to appreciate the fresh air, or the cool temps this morning, or the smells hitting her on this street. The few blocks walk and all the fresh air woke her up. Not ghosting she also felt hungry. She looked the building fronts over. Seemed a lot like Seattle. More tall buildings here but she could smell the salt on the air. She could sense John and headed his way. She stopped in front of a bar or maybe a restaurant, or both. Whatever, he was inside. She could smell eggs and bacon from an exhaust that diabolically was venting directly down onto the sidewalk. The air escaping made it very clear that inside some kind proprietor was serving hot breakfasts right now, and with coffee, too. John was inside there and he was with a reaper, probably Conrad himself. She couldn't dust the little shit here in public. Her temper did not improve on an empty stomach. Despite her inclinations she didn't have the go ahead for that anyway. And the Dark…well it wouldn't do to have him disappear in public either. She could sense several people, living witnesses in the place. There was a menu on the window. She scanned it and didn't see oatmeal. Eggs and bacon, crispy, worked for her. She entered.

John and a young man she took to be Conrad were sitting in a booth towards the back. The waitress saw her and George sent a smile her way. John saw her first. He looked relieved and said something to Conrad who turned and waved to her to come over. She was going over anyway, didn't need his fucking invitation. She sat down next to John. "Is the food here any good?"

John said, "As far as breakfasts go it's not bad. Conrad here is buying."

Conrad smiled. "You must be Georgia Lass." He extended his hand. "Glad to meet you."

She took it and said, "Destiny." He was brave or a fool. Or maybe he realized she wouldn't terminate him in public. She looked at John. "How'd the reap go this morning?"

John said, "The man walked away whole and very much alive."

She frowned. "Too bad."

Conrad still smiling radiated his saintly optimism and said, "I'd like to talk to you about our new approach."

She let that hang. She studied Conrad. He leaned toward fidgety despite his superficial confidence. Finally the waitress arrived. She took her eyes off the saint and smiled at the waitress. She ordered a big sturdy breakfast and more coffee. "And oatmeal. Do you have oatmeal?" They didn't. Oh well. Never hurt to ask.

She returned to Conrad's face and could see through his eyes into his soul and could see many things. She understood his intention to talk her ears off. She wasn't up for it. She wanted to enjoy breakfast and she would deal with this defective gear when the appropriate time came. She focused on Conrad and said, "Leave."

"What?"

"I said to leave. Now."

"I didn't hurt him. I just wanted to talk to him, and I just want to talk to you."

"Conrad. If you do not get up and leave now, I will dust you, here and now, and be done with you." She could feel something coming up from inside her, something dangerous. She knew her threat was not idle. "And then I will hunt down every one of your little merry band and dust them too." The threat was hers but it had backing that was rising to the occasion, adapting to her spontaneous threat. Conrad was close to facing the consequences, and unlike Maria, she didn't feel any hesitation about delivering full retribution his way here and now.

Conrad seemed to sense it too. He dropped that beatific smile, got up, and walked out.

John said, "Damn."

"What's wrong?"

"He left without paying."