Chapter 6: Blind Man's Bluff

*Riley was a little uneasy about the way that Owen seems to be acting as he opens the door. She gulps as if they were about to fight a Cuban army. Her hands become clammy and her heart is pounding. She couldn't read Owen's face and felt like something was going on. She didn't know what to expect especially since she had no information about anything that had happened when she was away. Everything to her became slow and foggy. Owen slowly turned the doorknob. The room that lay before her was dark and empty all she could hear was some rustling and a few noises that faintly resembled people's voices. Abruptly the lights came up as a massive group of people yelled "SURPRISE!" Balloons and banners with "Welcome Home" written on them were scattered all over the ceiling of the vast living room. Taken aback and a little shocked her face reflected everything she was feeling and thinking.*

Riley: What the hell?

(Everyone laughed as a person swerved in and out of the group of people to get to Riley)

Riley: DADDY! *Riley ran up to him as she gives him a tight hug*

Mr. McKayden: We're glad you're back.

Riley: Me too daddy, me too. Where's mom?

Mr. McKay (Short for McKayden): Oh, she's some where in here. *Whispering* Though, she's probably fixing some snacks or trying to evade some of those other old chit chatters. *He winks*

Riley: (laughs) Okay. I'll go help her out.

*As Riley maneuvered through the ocean of people to find the kitchen, some patted her on her back and said "Welcome back." As other who had to stop her and give her a hug*

*Finally not only finding the kitchen but reaching it as well she felt a little sore and unsociable. Though, when she saw her mom trying to talk to some of the guest that were more of her mom's age than Riley's age, she forgot all about herself*

Riley: Mom! *Extending her arms for a hug, which she got*

Mrs. McKay: Hunny! How are you? You look like your hungry. Here. (Handing her a piece of cake)

Riley: Oh, mom you really didn't need to… you know that right?

Mrs. McKay: Yeah, it wasn't my idea. It was his (motioning with her thumb pointed in the direction of Mr. McKay) idea.

Riley: Uh, huh sure it was. (She winks)  

Mrs. McKay: He said (in a low tone)'My, baby girls coming home and since it seems like forever since she's been back we're going to have one of those parties that she would mostly likely have.'

Riley: I don't know if I would have the balloons or the banners. (She laughs again) 

Mrs. McKay: Well, you know us old folks.

Riley: Mom. (at the same time the old ladies that she was talking to say "Rose")

One of the ladies Mrs. McKay was talking to: Rose, I think people ought to speak for themselves.

Mrs. McKay: Stop kidding yourself Rachel, you're just as old as me.

Rachel: But I don't admit it. I still got some young bones in me.

Mrs. McKay: (She mumbles under her breath, to the point that it is inaudible to everyone except Riley and herself) Yeah tell that to your doctor who diagnosed you with osteoporosis.

Riley: Mother.

Mrs. McKay: What?! She didn't hear me. She would have to have two times the bionic ears to do that.

Rachel: Did you say you have pears?

Mrs. McKay: Yes, here, let me go get them.

*Still in the also large kitchen Riley follows her mom to the refrigerator* At the refrigerator*

Riley: So…?

Mrs. McKay: So what?

Riley: Whose place is this?

Mrs. McKay: Yours.

Riley: Whoa Whoa Whoa. Hold on here. You expect me to live in this place that might as well be those chain of caves that Osama Bin Laden was found in? As well as pay the rent? Which by the way probably would be twice my paycheck that I would get at the CEN if and if I were still working there.

Mrs. McKay: It's already been paid for.

Riley: By who? Charlie Gates?

Mrs. McKay: No. But that would be something I mean you did in an indirect save his multibillion-dollar dynasty company.

Riley: OK. So not Mr. Gates. Well, I know for sure that it wasn't you and dad.

Mrs. McKay: And why not?

Riley: Uh, cause I know you wouldn't spoil me like this.

Mrs. McKay: Yes. You're right about that part, but its not like we couldn't afford this kind of place, mind you.

Riley: Oh… of course you could. So… then who is it?

Mrs. McKay: What if I said it was a secret?

Riley: Mother, what did I tell you about robbing credit banks?

Mrs. McKay: (laughs) I didn't rob a credit bank darling.

Riley: Uh, ok then. It's a from dead Russian mafia's house, whom you use to date way way way ago when cell phones were as big as your hand?

Mrs. McKay: You never told your father about that did you?

Riley: (pretending to zip her mouth shut) No, of course not, because we all know that there I was no Russian mafia boyfriend.

Mrs. McKay: Ruin an old lady's fun. (Waving her finger at Riley) Don't think that just because you're young and have a job that allows you to lie all the time, that it means you can have all the fun.

Riley. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Name now! Don't force me to use those torturing methods I've been taught that aren't physically visible.

Mrs. McKay: You wouldn't.

Riley: I bet Ms. Princess on it.

Mrs. McKay: I guess you'll have to find out over my dead body.

(Rachel the old lady a little annoyed and curious as to the whereabouts of her pears… and Rose, walks up to Riley and Mrs. McKay with a walker in her hands)

Rachel: Where are those pears of mine? I don't want any of that condensed pill stuff I want the organic matter, you hear me?

Mrs. McKay: (Rolls her eyes and sticks her head in the fridge. Pulling out an airtight bag.) Ah, here they are. Happy now?

Rachel: Why yes. Yes, I am. (talking to herself) Now where are those teeth fixers when I need them? Ah ha. Riley, be a dear and fetch me my purse would you it should be on a table near the coat closet.

Riley: Of course. (Pointing to her mom and then her) Me and you, we'll have a talk later.

*Inadvertently thrusted into the swarm of people again. No matter how fast Riley walked, or how skinny, or how she moved to dodge people, she would always either rub against someone or be stopped by someone that she may have known but didn't remember who wanted to know how she was. Catching a small glimpse of Owen's face she abruptly tries to end her conversation with some guy she supposedly dated a few days. Ending her conversation she tries to quickly reach Owen before she's halted again. Finally near Owen, she taps his back*

Riley: Thank god. I don't know if people are more interested in how I am or what it was like in a high security jail.

Owen: (laughs) I think it's the latter.

Riley: So there was no Mr. Courvogner?

Owen: Of course not. It's like those code names you guys use at the CEN.

Riley: You know too much. I don't understand why they didn't empty out your memory when they had the chance.

Owen: Maybe cause they didn't see me as a threat.

Riley: (chuckles) They see everyone as a threat even their own agents.

Owen: Well, its not like you don't know why they spared me.

Riley: Yeah yeah. It's cause of that time in Deli when you had to "fill in."

Owen: Yup. That's right and you better not forget either.

Riley: Right, like those countless times when I had to save your pale ass before you were shot because you were so nosy you might as well have been Pinocchio's nose.

Owen:…

Riley: Yeah. (laughs) Really now. I can't get it out of my mother and my father I know it would literally have to be over his dead body before he tells anyone a secret, who paid for this?

Owen: Well, the balloons were from that floral shop that you use to like and most of the food your mom either made or had a caterer make and…

Riley: You know that's not what I mean.

Owen: Ok. Then Ms. Former CEN agent. If you can crack codes that would take years to crack for a normal human being then you should have been the first person well besides the person who paid for it and your parents and me and…

Riley: Please is there a point to this babbling?

Owen: Then why haven't you figured it out?

Riley: I didn't have…any evidence that's why.

Owen: Right. Right.

Riley: Look I don't get why it's so hush hush.

Owen: It's not we just like to do this to you.

Riley: Oh, I see. It's just some sick joke.

Owen: Why? Are you getting a stomachache?

Riley: Ha ha very funny. (Riley puts on her sad eyes face and pouting lips face)

Owen: Alright alirght I'll tell you just stop the cheap acting.

Riley: That hurt.

Owen: Vance.

Riley: VANCE?!

Owen: Yeah Vance. Or maybe it was Brad…no, no I think it was Vance.

Riley: Sick jokes, sick jokes I tell ya.

Owen: Fine, fine. It was Vance.

Riley: You sure this time.

Owen: Yeah pretty sure.

Riley: What do you mean pretty sure?

Owen: Okay, geez calm down I'm just joking around don't be so stiff.

Riley: Great.

Owen: Yeah I know.

Riley: Owen, I mean great as in gee great not oh, my gosh great I love it great.

Owen. Right.

Riley: I mean not only do I owe you for the clothes, but I owe Vance for the house.

Owen: Look don't mention it.

Riley: I can't let you guys do this really. I mean treating me like a damsel in distress. It's just not right.

Owen: Turning the tables now are we.

Riley: Well, I did beat you at poker.

Owen: What does that have to do with anything?

Riley: You're right it has to do with nothing. So, I'm going to just go over to mom and dad; tell them it's late and I'm tired try the pouting thing again and…

Owen: I'm telling you, you better work on your acting skills.

Riley: Hey I fooled a whole army to thing that I was a diplomat's wife. I fooled the Russian space control that I was in fact a Russian astronaut and that time when I faked being dead and that…

Owen: Ok I get it your good at acting just not at pretending.

Riley: Aren't they the same thing.

Owen: …Yeah, anyways what did you say about being tired?

Riley: You know I always win in the end that's just how relationship works I'm the brawn and the brains and you're just the humor.

Owen: Well, don't I feel loved.

Riley: And you should.

(They both laugh and give each other a hug. Then Riley moves towards her mom and dad who are sitting on a plush cough in front of a flat screen TV half the size of the wall.)

Riley: Uh, yeah (scratching her head) I'm kind of tired.

Mr. McKay: Yeah so are we.

Mrs. McKay: I wish we could just push a button and everyone would leave, but oh no, we have politely ask them to leave yadda yadda.

Riley: HA, and dad wonders who I got my social skills from.

Mr. McKay: Damn right you got it from your mother (waving his fragile wrinkly finger in the air)

Mrs. McKay: Xavier, what did I tell you about watching your language?

Mr. McKay: I only cussed a few times tonight. It wasn't that bad.

Riley: And mother wonders whom I got my speaking skills from. Here, I'll come up with the strategy you, mom you just go talk to those people by the kitchen, since I know that you love them so much. Dad, you will take these people over here since I know you wouldn't want to move anyway. Then I'll just get everyone else. How about that?

Mr. McKay: Sounds like a plan to me.

(They all put their hands together one on top of the other and they life it up and down and Mr. McKay softly whispers, "Let's roll")

*As Riley walks away she whispers to herself*

Riley: And everyone else wonders where I learned to be so funny.

*The night continues on as Riley, her father, and her mother, as well as Owen (even without verbal instructions) politely asked people to leave. Well, maybe her mother slipped up a few times with her friends and just told them to get the hell out of her daughter's house, but the rest was pretty ok. After everyone filed out the door and Riley, her mother, her father, and Owen were left sitting on the couch* Mr. McKayden and Owen both had old fashion beers in their hand, while Mrs. McKay had a glass of water and Riley had nothing*

Owen and Mr. McKay in unison: Well, wasn't that eventful.

*Everyone looks at each other and laughs*

A boxer dog walks up to Riley*

Riley:  (Talking baby talk) Hey, Skyler and where have you been this whole time?

Mrs. McKay:  Oh did I mention you have a little bit of what's that called again hunny?

Mr. McKay:  Grass?

(They all laugh again)