Gathering Clouds Part II.
The sun poked over the horizon, burning off the morning fog that clung to the hills and streets of the city. Molly woke up, listening to the sound of the morning traffic as she threw the covers aside, and went to wash up and dress.
Rebecca was already up and dressed, fixing breakfast as Molly came over, yawning.
"Hi mom." The bearess said, sitting down at the table. Rebecca came over, putting a plate of food in front of Molly, and sitting down herself. Molly picked at the bacon and eggs for several minutes, then looked at her mother. "Mom?" Molly asked, "I have a question." Rebecca pushed back her plate and looked at her daughter, wiping her mouth.
"Yes sweetie?" Rebecca looked at Molly, waiting for her daughter to ask. Molly hesitated, trying to find the right words, which was almost never a problem for the bearess.
"Have you ever tried to help someone, and it doesn't work?" Molly asked. That sounded awful. She thought, wincing, but Rebecca didn't notice, looking seriously at her daughter.
"Yes." Becky paused. "It happens a lot more then we like to admit Molly." She paused, then continued. "You don't have to tell me... but this has something to do with your problems at school, doesn't it."
"Yes mom." Molly answered. "Remember Jereem?"
"Oh, the nice fellow who came to H&H a few times? Of course. Is his leg any better?"
"No, and some of the kids don't help. They make fun of him, and some of them beat him up!" Rebecca was outraged.
"Doesn't he tell the teachers?"
"No!" Molly said, frustrated. "He won't defend himself, and I don't know why. When Sam pushed him off the stairs during lunch I wanted to-" She put a hand over her mouth, too late.
"-use his head to break a desk?" Rebecca finished the sentence for her. Molly nodded mutely. Becky sighed. "Molly, you can't help someone if they won't help themselves. Remember Baloo and his health?" Molly nodded. "Nothing, and I mean nothing I could say made any difference to him. It wasn't until he had that heart attack and decided that he had to watch his health, for Kit's sake, that he changed." Becky got up and started putting away the dishes, before turning back to her daughter.
"Unless Jereem decides to do something about it, the only thing you're going to do is get yourself expelled, and that will leave him with no friends. Besides, you may be making things more difficult for him. Have you considered what having a girl for a protector might do to his reputation."
"That's not the point!" Molly protested.
"I know it's not sweetie, but some people, especially bullies don't miss any opportunity to hurt people." Rebecca looked at the frustration in Molly's face.
"Then what do I do?" The question was part snarl, part wail.
"Be there for Jereem." Rebecca said, "Listen to him, and wait and try to know when you can do something-- and when you shouldn't." Becky put one hand up to her chin. "Do you know why he hasn't gone to the teachers?"
"No. Some of the kids were making fun of him, telling him they would tell the school about his dad... I don't even know his dad's name." Rebecca looked at Molly seriously.
"Then be careful Molly. I don't know what it is about his father, but you could hurt him worse then anything the others have done if it does become known." Molly groaned.
"Mom, why couldn't you have just given me an easy answer?"
"Because they get a lot rarer as you get older, Molly." Becky bent down and gave her daughter a quick peck on the cheek. "Now hurry, or you'll be late for school." Molly got up.
"Mom?"
"hmmm?"
"I know I'm on restriction, but does that mean I have to walk home alone?"
"No, Molly..." Becky did a double take, "As long as you get home in a reasonable time... Don't take lessons from Baloo."
"Right, as if I'm going to walk to Louie's." Becky laughed.
"There were times when I thought he'd done just that, Molly. Now let's get started. The day isn't getting any younger."
***
When Molly got to school, she noticed that Dave's little circle of cronies seemed to be giving her a wide berth, which suited the bearess just fine. She was resolved to avoid any more problems, but how long that resolve would last in the face of the temptation of Dave's face, she didn't know. Molly looked around, but Jereem was nowhere to be seen.
She didn't have him for her second and third period, so she applied herself. The other girls complained about the amount of homework they had to do, and how they never had any free time, but Molly noticed that they tended to spend more time whining then working. Still... she definitely could do without third period Algebra, largely because Mr. Torkas, a large possum, had a tendency to put most of the class asleep in the process of lecturing to them.
Finally, after what seemed like years, the lunch bell rang. Molly headed out to the park next to the school, where the students were allowed to eat lunch. She opened up her pail, and laid everything out to eat. Dave came by with some of his cronies.
"Oh, so where's your boyfriend?" Dave singsonged. "Out looking for a real girl?" Molly looked up, and in a dead pan voice replied.
"Then he's probably with your girlfriend. I heard she was looking for a real boy." Dave purpled, and advanced, but one of his circle, noticing Ms. Thomson, urgently pulled him back and down the path. Molly continued to eat, smiling.
"May I join you?" Molly looked up at the new voice. Michael was standing next to her.
"I didn't- I mean of course!" the bearess said, flustered. The tiger sat down next to her pulling out a lunch of his own. Molly looked curiously at him. "I thought you people had your own cooks over there," She said, pointing at his school. Michael smiled.
"Sometimes I make my own. It helps me realize that I wouldn't necessarily starve without granduncles help." Molly looked at him, noticing the tiny edge to his voice.
"oh. I'm, well, sorry if I insulted you or something." Molly said. Michael shook his head.
"It's not that... It's just that sometimes I wonder if I'm Michael Khan, or an appendage of the great Shere Khan that walks around on its own two feet." He laughed, "every other person thinks that I'm their ticket to a job with the Khan corporation." Molly looked at him.
"And are you?" Molly started as Michael's claws emerged, involuntarily slashing at the air. Then he looked at her for a long moment, and laughed. "Do you know, that you are one of the only people who's ever bothered to ask that question?" He grinned, suddenly looking much younger. He brushed a forelock out of his eyes. "Well, to answer you, no. Mr. Khan prefers that I keep to my studies, and stay out of his way, or at least that's the way it seems. I doubt he's ever even thought of asking me for advice on who to hire." Molly laughed.
"Well, then I'll just have to ask you what it's like living in the dark tower of Cape Suzzette." Michael grinned back at her.
"Well, I've told you enough about me, what is it like living with the woman who employ's the best pilot in the city?" Molly laughed.
"Before, or after the screaming matches about pay, vacation, and late deliveries?"
"What about after the incredible flying exploits?"
"Those usually occur trying to cover for the late deliveries." The both laughed, then fell silent for a moment.
"I envy you." Michael said, "At Khan enterprises, I've seen workers whose names I'll never learn, and who I'll probably never see again. It must be nice, having a business where you know everyone." Molly put her hands under her chin.
"It is... but it can also be bad." She said, "When it's like a family... you can't just walk away from problems. Mom spent a lot of nights catnapping, to try to make things work."
"Is it still like that?"
"Not so bad now... except for all the problems." Molly waved out towards the harbor, and by extension, the world outside of Cape Suzzette. Following her arm, she saw the familiar, limping figure of Jereem. Molly lept up and waved him over.
"Jereem! I didn't think you were going to make it to school today." The coyote flinched at her words, then looked at Michael.
"I didn't get a chance to thank you yesterday."
"It was nothing." Michael said.
"I'll let you two talk." Jereem said, turning to leave. Molly stood up and pulled him over.
"Jereem, we were just talking. Sit down... besides, if you want to finish lunch before the bell, you don't have time to walk around." Jereem sat with difficulty, his crippled leg sticking straight out.
"By the way," Michael said, "do you two walk home?"
"Well, I do, except when it's raining, and so does Jereem. Why?" Molly asked,
"Well, if you don't mind, I'd like to accompany you home." Molly's face lit up, then the light died.
"You can walk me to home, but.... I'm grounded for a month... nobody can come over." Michael sighed.
"Well, then I'll just walk you home, then... If your mother asks, then you can just tell her I'm protecting you from enemy spies." Neither the tiger nor bear noticed Jereem's miserable expression as they laughed at Michael's joke. The bell rang, announcing the end of lunch. Michael got up, then extended his hands, pulling Molly and Jereem up easily. He nodded, then walked off towards his own school.
The rest of the day went by quickly for Molly, since all of her other classes were easy for her. The high point of the day, (other then Michael), came when Ms. Thomson had Dave stand up in class and give the report that had been assigned. His performance gained him the right to spend an hour after school in detention. Molly wanted to kiss her teacher. Without Dave, there would be no danger of any unpleasantness interfering with her afternoon.
When the final bell rang, Molly had to consciously restrain herself to keep from outrunning Jereem on the way out of the school. They turned the corner to Michael's school and found themselves confronted with several of Michael's schoolmates, all girls. The four girls were roughly Molly's age, a fox, lioness, raccoon, and bear roughly Molly's height.
"Well, look at the ragamuffins Michael has collected. You would think he has some standards." The fox sniffed. The bear turned to her and replied, ignoring Molly and Jereem completely.
"Well, there's no accounting for taste, Ceciela." she said, pointedly looking at their clothes, and Molly's overalls. "Maybe he's simply taking pity on them... you know about her... 'family's' reputation." Ceciela laughed.
"Oh, you mean the fat bear and her mother... I heard that she had to teach him not to eat with his fingers... and that he still hasn't got it." Molly was still standing, shocked more then angry at the completely unexpected assault. She finally got her mouth working.
"I don't know any of you." She said, trying to figure out why they were acting like this.
"Oh, of course not. We move in far higher circles then you do." Ceciela said, and her circle laughed with her. The black haired fox brushed some of her long tresses over her shoulder, and sniffed. "Maybe you should go home, now. Michael really doesn't need to be associated with someone like you." She said, turning around, as Molly got ready to perform murder. Jereem held her back.
"Molly, come on..." She pulled at his arm.
"Let me go!"
"Molly, shut up," He hissed in her ear. "They're trying to get you to do this... Their parents may have contracts with your mom... Think of that!" Molly closed her eye, biting the inside of her mouth. Then she opened them, glaring at the smirking faces in front of her.
"I'm sorry we've offended you." She said, the polite words a curse, "We'll leave now." Molly spun around and walked off, Jereem trailing after her. The bearess started walking faster, making it difficult for Jereem to keep up. Realizing what she was doing, she slowed down, letting Jereem catch up with her. "Those... self righteous, obnoxious..." He heard her snarl, then stop with a curious catch in her voice.
"Molly?" Jereem asked, then noticed that her eyes were bright as she turned to face him.
"It's, ah. nothing Jereem. It's just that every time mom or Baloo got involved with Shere, it seems that things don't go well. I should have realized that." She sniffed and pulled out a handkerchief, holding it to her muzzle. "Oh great, now I'm catching a cold."
"Of course," Jereem said, accepting the lie. He turned, hearing the sound of someone running down the road behind them. It was Michael.
"Molly, Jereem. Why did you two leave? I got held up back there." He said, panting slightly. "Is, something wrong?" He said, noticing the posture of the two.
"No." Molly said. "Well, you probably have somewhere important to be, so we'll be off." She said, grabbing Jereem by the arm and walking off. Michael looked confused, then hurried to follow.
"Pardon me for asking, but-- what happened?" He said, "Just three hours ago, things were going great."
"Some of your equals reminded me of some things." Molly said, her voice muffled and angry. "Maybe you should just go."
"Some of my equals? Oh for the love of-" He walked forward, getting in front of Molly and walking backwards, facing her. "If you're going to be angry at me, please do me the favor of being angry because of something I did, not one of those empty headed fluffbrains." He said. "Was if Buffy?"
"Ceciela." Jereem supplied.
"Oh.... a light begins to dawn. Molly, Ceciela is one of the worst clinging vines at the school. If you're on the way up, she's your eternal friend... until you're on the way down, that is." Molly paused, and looked at Michael. Still blinking rapidly, the young bearess nodded.
"I'm... sorry I snapped at you Michael. I just got so angry!" She slowed down just a little, as Michael fell back into the stride beside her. The tiger nodded.
"I know." He quietly said, "Ceciela... she doesn't see anyone as real. They're either trophies... or threats. I think she saw you as a threat. You should be proud." He smiled, "That's probably the biggest rise anyone's gotten out of Ceciela in the last month." Michael watched a brief smile play around Molly's muzzle. "Now, what's it like at a place like Higher For Hire?" He asked.
"Like I said, it's... Like a family." Molly said, as they walked down one of Cape Suzzete's winding streets, shops and office buildings gleaming in the light. "Sometimes everything's wonderful, and you never want it to end... and other times, all I want to do is hide in my room." She laughed, "Not so much anymore... Baloo and mom don't argue nearly as much as they used to."
"Who was in the right?" Jereem asked.
"If it was about flying... Baloo. If it was about business, Mom." Molly grinned at them, "And if it was some crazy money making or treasure scheme well... we're not rich yet." She looked at Michael. "What's life at SK like?" Michael's face darkened slightly, then he looked at her.
"Fair enough." He paused, "I told you about all the workers that I don't really know. And there isn't really any arguing... granduncle always has the last word, and he's always right."
"What's Shere Khan like?" Molly asked,
"I don't know." Michael said. Seeing their surprised faces, he continued. "He's always reserved and controlled. He never loses his temper... the most I've ever seen him do is shred the furniture." He looked Molly in the eye. "The most I've ever gotten out of him is a 'well done, Michael', in the exact same tone that he uses to have a factory closed." Molly tilted her head.
"Does he love you?" She asked, quietly.
"I don't know." Michael said, softly.
"What about your father?" Jereem asked.
"Dead, with mother."
"I'm sorry I asked." Jereem said, mortified.
"Don't be. I was very young, and from what I've been told, father was a miserable excuse for a Khan. He took his money, and used it to party, get drunk, party some more, and get stinking drunk. I hardly ever saw him and mom.... until I was five I thought that 'nanny' meant mom." Unnoticed by Michael, his claws had extended, slashing the air. Molly put her hand over his. Looking down, he retracted them. "He put himself and mother into a building at 90 miles an hour when I was five." He laughed softly. "I have to give Granduncle one thing. The first memory I have of him was him coming to take me away, the night father died. He told me what had happened to father and mother... and that's a hundred times the guts father ever had." Michael walked on, Jereem and Molly at his side for several minutes.
Shaking his head clear of the memories, Michael turned to Molly.
"If I were to ask if you and Jereem could visit, sometime over the weekend, do you think your mother could relax your grounding?" Molly laughed, happy to change the subject.
"I don't' know... it depends on how things go between now and Saturday." She said. Jereem paused, then turned off on another street.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Molly, Michael."
"Do you want us to come with you?" Michael asked, looking at the steep street stretching up before Jereem.
"No, I can make it." The coyote said, limping off.
"Jereem's never even let me go to his house." Molly softly said.
"Why?"
"I don't know.. but he has so few friends that I don't want to risk it by prying." Michael nodded, still looking up the road at Jereem's shrinking figure. After several minutes, they came to Rebecca and Molly's apartment. She smiled at Michael. "Here's where I have to go alone... sorry about that."
"Don't worry." Michael said, "I'd hate to get you in more trouble. Do this tomorrow?"
"Sure," Molly said. "Maybe if Kit's here, you can say hi to him." Michael grinned.
"That'd be great. Cya." Molly walked to the elevator, then turned, seeing Michael walking off down the street. Behind him, she noticed a car driving along slowly, a panther in the passenger seat.
That's right... he's watched all the time. I'd hate to live like that. Molly thought, as the doors opened and she entered the elevator.
***
Michael waited at the door to Khan's office. Normally, he had no problems just walking in, but then, he normally didn't ask favors of Shere Khan. Finally, he took a deep breath and walked into the office. Khan was alone, signing papers, part of the never ending stream of paperwork that kept the company running.
"Granduncle?" Khan looked up, surprised. Over the past several months he had been the one to initiate these meetings. He watched as Michael walked towards his desk and sat down in a chair by it.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if I could bring some friends over?" Michael said.
"I do not see any difficulty in that. What are their names?"
"Ahhh... Molly Cunningham and Jereem Kalin." Shere peered over the desk at his grandnephew. He had been expecting friends from the school, but given what the report had said about their meeting, Shere supposed he shouldn't be surprised.
"I have no objections, Michael. But..."
"Yes." Michael said, tensing up.
"I have had encounters with Molly Cunningham's parent... Rebecca Cunningham. They have not always been friendly ones."
"What does that have to do with me."
"In a perfect world, nothing. However, I just want to warn you that her mother may not be amiable to her daughters visit, and that it has nothing to do with you."
"So I'm paying for your deeds?"
"Possibly, yes." Khan said. That was how the boy would see it, and besides, it was true.
"Very well. I won't take anymore of your time, granduncle." Michael left the room, back stiff. Khan sighed, and wrote a note to himself to make a phone call tomorrow.
***
Jereem opened the front door of his house, and walked in. As usual, his mother was at work, and his father was in the front room, where he usually stayed between jail sentences. Only this time, there were three other men in the room with him. Two of them were some of his dad's friends... people he had met in jail. The third was a large otter, muscled and fit, who calmly sat in the room.
"Where have you been, boy?" His father demanded, slurring the words slightly. Jereem blanched. A beating was always worse when his dad was drunk. "I'm asking you a questi-"
"Mr. Kalin." The strangers voice was quiet, but it immediately silenced his father. Jereem saw his father look over at the stranger, fear on his puffy face. "We have other things to do. Send your son to his room."
"You heard him." Jereem needed no other prompting. He ran to his room, locking the door behind him. Finally, he flung himself on the bed. Not even out of jail a week, and dad was involved in a crime again... and he'd get caught again. Mom would make the pilgrimage down to the courthouse. Again. The coyote closed his eyes, feeling the hot tears spilling out of them. Molly and Michael, for all their posturing wanted a father... Jereem would give anything to have his father gone.
Outside, in the living room, Otto watched as Kalin and his associates boasted of their skills, with no little amount of liquid courage backing them up. He shook his head. They hadn't even thought about what would happen later... and Otto Skorzeny was not about to enlighten them. It wouldn't do to let the help know that they were also the smokescreen, now would it. Khan industries was the biggest company on the planet, and in helping Usland, had become a threat to his government... and Khan would pay for that...
***
Molly walked into the apartment after getting up from the elevator. She opened the door, noticing that her mom had already arrived. Puzzled, she wondered if there had been a problem at H&H.
"Mom? Why are you back so early?" She asked, walking into the living room.
"She had to drop me off, Buttonnose," a familiar voice spoke. Molly spun around.
"Kit!" She shouted, leaping up and hugging the 19 year old bear. Kit easily lifted her up. He had grown, from a young cub into a 6'3 tall bear. Easily letting Molly down, he grinned.
"It's been a while since I've seen you, Molly."
"At least 6 months... You didn't write as much as you said you would!" Molly accused.
"Well, they kept me busier in air commando training then I thought they would." Kit replied. "I thought knowing how to fly would move me through part of the training."
"And didn't it?" Rebecca asked, coming out of the back.
"Oh, it did." Kit said, "In fact, they rushed me through pilot, and right into the Underwater Demolitions Course."
"What's that?" Molly asked.
"Blowing up bridges, ships, stuff like that, and defusing the other fellows bombs when he tries to blow up your bridges." Kit looked over, and noticed that Rebecca's face had tightened. "But it's pretty boring, actually." He smiled, "Not nearly as exciting as your life... I heard that you've been grounded forever for chasing a classmate off the pier?"
"No! I just... Mommmmmm, you didn't!!" Molly's outraged protest was belayed by the laugh in her voice. Rebecca smiled at that. The door opened, and Baloo and Wildcat came in, carrying the cake they had bought for the occasion, setting it on the table.
Later, after dinner and the cake were memories, they talked. Kit, surprisingly, let the others do most of the talking. When they asked him, he told them of his training, but mostly begged off.
"It really is fairly boring to talk about actually. The biggest trauma I can tell you about is never getting enough sleep. There must be a rule somewhere that military personnel always get half the sleep they need."
"hmmmm..... Maybe I should institute that rule at H&H." Rebecca said, looking at Baloo.
"Now Becky... I always get the cargo done, so what's the problem?"
"Trying to work through your snoring!"
"I do not snore!"
"You know Baloo?" Wildcat said, "You're right, cause a snore is more like a sawing wood, and you don't sound like that at all... you're more like the sound a car makes when it needs a tune up... kinda like this." Wildcat started making a hideous screeching sound, that had Rebecca clap her hands over her ears, even as she doubled over laughing.
Later on, as Wildcat left, to go write some letters to Clementine, Molly found herself nodding off. Rebecca looked at her daughter.
"I think it's time you went to bed, Molly. It's past twelve." Molly sleepily nodded and got up.
"G'nite Baloo, g'nite, Kit."
"See you tomorrow, Molly." Kit said, as Baloo affectionately waved. Molly went to her room, closing the door. Later, when Rebecca checked on her, she sighed as she saw her daughter, sound asleep on top of the bed, her shoes still on. Rebecca took off the shoes, then opened the closet and pulled out another blanket to drape over Molly.
"Sweet dreams." She whispered, bending over to gently kiss her daughters forehead.
Becky walked back outside to where Baloo and Kit were still sitting.
"War's unavoidable?" The bearess said, looking at Kit.
"Ms. Cunningham...." Kit paused. "I'm just a air commando, and they don't exactly clue us in on what they're thinking at HQ."
"But?" Baloo said,.
"Well, papa bear... we lost five guys to training accidents this last month." Kit said, ignoring Rebecca's gasp. "We lost them because we're training with all live ammo now... I don't think they would do that unless they thought something was going to be happening... soon."
"Why can't they just make peace." Rebecca snarled. "I don't want my daughter to grow up in a war."
"It takes two to make peace, Ms. Cunningham." Kit said. "If one side doesn't want it you fight... or surrender."
"I know, Kit." Rebecca said, "But I wish... Anyway, lets not get everyone depressed. This is your leave... what do you want to do over the week?" Kit laughed.
"Ms. Cunningham... if Baloo has any cargo missions, well compared to the drill sergeant, an air pirate attack would be positively relaxing!"
***
The next day, in homeroom, Molly saw Jereem for the first time that day.
"Jereem! What happened?" She asked. The right side of the coyote's face was puffy and bruised.
"Ran into a door," He slurred. It wasn't a lie, since he had hit the door. "It's nothing."
"You're certain you don't want to go to the nurse?" Molly asked.
"Yes, I'm certain. Drop it." He said shortly.
"Sorry..." Molly said, surprised and a little hurt. After a moment, she continued. "Are you going to eat lunch with me and Michael today?"
"Are you certain I'm not... interrupting anything?" He asked.
"No, silly. It's not like he's my boyfriend, or anything."
"You certain?"
"Yes! Mom would ground me forever, and Shere Khan would probably disown him for dating outside of his income tax bracket." The homeroom teacher gave a warning cough, and Molly turned forward in her desk. She sighed as she prepared to endure the homeroom film on boating safety.
After the film, and before her next class, Molly stopped by Ms. Thomson's room.
"Ms. Thomson?"
"Yes, Molly?"
"I was wondering... Dave hasn't been, well...."
"As irritating of late?" Ms. Thomson said.
"Yes. Did you?" The fox smiled.
"Molly, I did nothing. However, it seems that after school a few day's ago, an unimpeachable source witnessed Dave and his cronies assaulting you." The fox looked at Molly. "Don't go repeating this, but later, I and the principal had a... discussion with Dave."
"Thanks." Molly said, thinking about the car following Michael.
"Just don't take advantage of it." Ms. Thomson warned.
"I wouldn't." Molly said, "I'm just happy that Jereem and I can go to school without them giving us grief."
"I know." Ms. Thomson replied. She looked up at the clock. "However, unless you want your next class to give you grief, I suggest you hurry." Molly looked at the clock and dove for the door, trying to make it across the school in the next 30 seconds. Thomson smiled. "That girl..." At least Dave would no longer be playing games with her. Molly Cunningham was psychologically incapable of backing down when she thought someone was being unfairly treated. The fox thought, turning to greet the next class of the day.
***
At lunch, Molly, Michael and Jereem staked out their bench in the park. Michael's eyes widened at Jereem's face, but he saw Molly shake her head, and covered it with his typical, reserved greeting.
"Being that today is Friday, I was wondering if you would like to come over tonight to spend a few hours." Michael said, "Granduncle will be off on a trip, so you don't have to worry about encountering him... Of course there are always people in the tower, it never stops." He said, seeing Molly's cocked head. Molly shook her head
"I'd like to, Michael. But... Mom is kinda strict about grounding me." She said regretfully. "I'll ask her, but..."
"I understand." Michael said, not mentioning the other reason that Rebecca might not let Molly come along. "Well," He continued. "I am sick of what I've had to eat.. does anyone want to trade for a ham sandwich?"
***
Rebecca was finishing up her last paperwork of the day. Baloo and Kit were off on a delivery, and probably catching up on lost time at Louie's. Becky shook her head. She was actually looking forward to whatever lame excuse Baloo came up with. The phone rang, interrupting her thoughts with its insistent call. Rebecca brushed back her hair and picked up the handset.
"H&H, how may I help you?" She said absently.
"Ah, Ms. Cunningham. A pleasure as always."
"Mr. Khan?" Rebecca said in surprise, and more then a little worry. She could think of many reasons why Khan would call her personally-- few of them good.
"The same." Khan replied. "Ms. Cunningham, my ward Michael Khan has made the acquaintance of your daughter. He attends the school near hers." Khan paused. "He asked me if it was permitted that he invite her and her friend, ah, Jereem, over for a few hours this afternoon." Rebecca paused, thinking.
"I don't know, Mr. Khan." She said, "My daughter is grounded, and I'd hate to let her get into the habit of dodging a punishment."
"I understand." Khan paused for a moment. "Ms. Cunningham, Michael has few friends his age... and all too many of those associate with him because he is rich, or his relation to me. I would consider it a... personal favor if you would relax your punishment this once."
Khan's asking me for a favor? Rebecca thought.
"Well, very well." Becky said, "I can imagine how difficult that would be for Michael." She could have sworn she heard a relieved exhalation over the phone, but when Shere continued, his voice was as calm as always.
"Thank you, Ms. Cunningham. I'll inform Michael. Would returning your daughter at.... 10:00pm be acceptable?" Rebecca unconsciously nodded.
"Yes. Will you be there?"
"No, although there will be people about. I've noticed that sometimes my presence... puts a damper on Michael's enjoyment, so I will absent myself for the evening." With that, he finished. "Thank you, and good day, Ms. Cunningham."
Rebecca put up the phone. That hadn't sounded at all like the Shere she had encountered before.
***
Otto walked into Jereem's house, the living room already taking on the appearance of a filthy bears den. He frowned.
"Hey, Hank!" Jereem's father bellowed at him. Otto smiled. His cover identity would defend against far more inquisitive minds then Jereem's father.
"Mr. Kalin" He said, nodding at the other two. He handed out several packets. "Here are your cards and documents. They will get you into the SK tower." He paused, looking at them. "Get both the transport and attack craft, and fly them to the destination we discussed. There will be a ship there for you."
"And the money?" Kalin asked. Otto handed him several packets.
"5000 dollars in bearer bonds and small bills" He paused. "The other 50,000 dollars, for each of you, is in the form of gold coins. When you deliver the craft, the keys to the deposit boxes will be given you."
"Why should we trust you?" Kalin said.
"Because if it becomes known that we airpirates betray our operatives, nobody will ever work for us again." Otto said. Kalin dropped his gave, unable to meet the otters flat gaze.
"Hey, just askin... you can't blame a man for being careful."
"Of course not, Mr. Kalin." Just as I cannot blame a man for being stupid, but that doesn't mean I will not use him. "Where is your son?"
"That waste? Who cares."
"That is your business, of course." Otto said, realizing that he would not regret the outcome of this mission in the least. "Still, you should be on your way.. the ship will not wait past 10:00." The men nodded, leaving the dingy room. Otto waited a moment, running a hand over the stained table top. Then, he got up, pulling out his own packet of material, and left, heading off in a different direction.
END OF PART II
Part III-- Someone dies.
