"I don't see him. Tessa I don't see him. Tessa, where is he? Tessa, I don't see him!"
Tess held Virgil's hand tight. She looked in his eyes. "Virgil, be reasonable. He's not going to be waiting for us. He's a dangerous man, and they only let him out when I check in, and ask to see him." She lead him to a desk.
"Highlander. I'm here to see my father." She smiled up at the lady.
The lady smiled back. "Of course. I'll go get him, Tessa."
Virgil was surprised. "They know you here? Wow, it must be amazing to have the entire high-security ward as your friends."
Tess ignored him, her face lighting up. "Dad!" She ran to her father. He hugged her.
"Excuse me, Miss. Highlander, but you know the rules," the security guard reminded her. Tess blushed, and let go of her father.
"Let's sit down." Tess lead him to the table. She sat across from him, Virgil stood off a few metres. "Dad, you remember Virgil?"she asked, gesturing to her boyfriend.
The Hood smiled falsely, his eyes burning with hatred. "Yes, I remember him. Jeff Tracy's middle son - correct?"
Tess ignored his hatred. She turned to Virgil. "Virgil, honey, could you please wait outside for a little while? I would like to speak to my father alone." Her tone told him to get moving fast. He complied.
She turned back. "How are you?"
"It's maximum security prison. I don't have any visitors except for you. I feel depressed. How are you?"
She smiled. "Worried."
"Why?"
"Virgil. I love him, and I think he's going to break up with me."
The Hood was taken aback. "You what?"
"I think he's going to break-"
The Hood shook his head. "No, no, no - before that."
Tessa blushed. "Oh. I love him?"
The Hood cringed and shuddered.
"Dad. Please. I know you don't approve of him, but that's only because of his father. Dad, I really do love him."
The Hood opened one eye. "Please don't say that anymore."
She stood up, her hands on the table. "Dad! I've never been happier than when I've been with him. This is a big deal."
The Hood softened slightly. "Okay. Fine. I can accept that . . . if I have to . . . I guess."
"Finished." Lana slapped down a stack of about thirty sheets on Jeff's desk. "I highlighted the ones that have been hit in green, and the possible suspects in pink. Everything is there. And, don't worry - I included pictures." She smiled jokingly.
Jeff flipped through the small booklet. "Wow - you did all this detail in 3 days?"
"Three and a half." She smiled at him. She flipped her hair back. "I still got it."
Jeff nodded. "You do. You mind running over who these people are with me?"
"After dinner, Jeff. Right now, I want a nap." She made a show of stretching and walking away.
Jeff waved her away, as if she were dismissed. Once she was in the hall he laughed, "Yup, she's still got it."
"WHAT!"
"I said-"
"I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID!"
"THEN WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME TO REPEAT IT!"
"Because I don't know how you could possibly not know that the answer is no!"
Tess listened from the other room, praying that the two men she loved wouldn't kill each other.
Crash.
There goes the new lamp, she thought, taking a sip of her coffee, acting as though this was all routine, and also that she didn't know them.
"Excuse me! If you two gentleman cannot control yourselves, I'm afraid you'll have to leave, and your visiting privileges will be suspended!" the security guard yelled.
"Thank you," breathed Tessa. Tess hadn't heard what exactly they were talking about, but she knew it must be something to do with her . . . the only thing they had in common.
"Okay, maybe if someone will calm down, we can discuss this like civilized people," Virgil spat, hatred in his eyes.
"Who's not being calm!" The Hood countered.
This is why I hate it when Virgil comes, thought Tessa.
"That is not the matter at hand. Now . . ." Virgil lowered his voice, presumably so that Tessa would not hear him.
"Look, Mr. Tracy-"
"No! You look here! She's a grown woman!"
Tessa shook her head. It was a record, she had to admit. They had go a whole 7 seconds on her watch without yelling.
"She's my daughter! I brought her into this world! I have a right to protect her!"
"She's my girlfriend!"
"Exactly!"
"I'm not going to hurt her!"
The security lady spoke up again. "Will you two please act civilized!"
Tessa wondered why the security lady wasn't getting more involved.
Something else smashed.
Oh, thought Tess, again sipping her coffee.
"Fine, but can we please think of Tess for a moment?" Virgil reasoned.
"No," replied the Hood.
"Who does this involve!"
"May I remind you two, we have insomniacs trying to sleep!" yelled the security guard. Only Tess seemed to get that one, as she snorted her coffee.
She could hear Virgil whispering something to her father. From her father's silence she could tell he was uncomfortable with this decision.
"Fine, but . . ." her father's voice was barely a whisper, rare in the presence of Virgil. "I know . . . don't . . . her."
"So, is that a 'yes'?" Virgil asked cautiously.
Her father said nothing. Virgil's voice was bright now. "Okay, great . . ."
Tess stared at her watch. Holy. Crap. They went two whole minutes without yelling.
"Tess!" called her father and Virgil at the same time.
Virgil looked at her, a victorious and loving expression on his face. He kissed her on the cheek, before leaving the room.
The Hood looked genuinely depressed. "Tess, darling . . . sit. There are some important, unhappy matters we must discuss . . ."
Lana placed a piece of steak in her mouth, savouring the rich flavour of the Alberta beef Jeff had flown in special to celebrate. She swallowed, and took a large gulp of root beer.
"I wonder how Tessa and Virgil are . . ." pondered Gordon aloud.
Lana let out a large belch. "Sorry." She blushed.
Gordon elbowed Alan. "What a woman," he whispered in awe. Alan nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure they're fine . . . this sort of thing is routine for Tessa." Jeff placed a hearty piece of meat in his mouth.
"Yeah, but Vigil and her father aren't exactly best buddies," Scott pointed out.
"Trust me, they should be fine. I haven't had a phone call telling me I'll have to identify a body yet, so I think they'll be fine." The boys laughed.
Lana just looked confused. "Why do you say that?"
Alan smiled. "Miss. Fitzy - when Virgil comes in with a large band-aid on his forehead, a broken arm, and a limp, you'll understand." He bit off the piece of meat on the end of his fork.
"Virgil, where are you going?" Tess asked.
Virgil looked at her from where she stood in his hotel room's doorway, her's being across the hall. "Out."
"Out where?"
"Out shopping. For father's day." He turned to face her. "All our mail, Dad'll see right? So, the guys make one of us, every year, do the shopping for everyone. So, see, I have a list. And, I have to gift wrap them." He presented her with a sheet of paper, scribbled on it things like:
Watch - Alan (£25-75)
Hammock - Gordon (£50-100)
"Wow. Nice. Can I come?" Tessa handed the list back to him.
Virgil shrugged. "I guess . . ."
Tess just stared at him. "Well, why not?"
"No, you can come. I just want to leave in five minutes. I know you won't be ready."
She smiled at him. "I'll be ready." She walked across the hall back to her room, a lot more spring in her step now that she was sure of what he was up to.
"Okay, each of these fine companies operates differently. Which is strange, because there is usually a pattern between companies that have been hit." Lana was rapidly pointing things out to Jeff on those papers.
"Interesting . . . yes." Jeff nodded, not really understanding her, as she was talking so fast.
"It's highly unlikely that a criminal would just randomly hit power plants. If he's just picking them off with no real plan, then he's bound to screw up."
Jeff tried to say something, but Lana was on a roll. "The first hit was in Quebec, and it was a Wind power plant called Gatineau Alternative. Next, was a plant called Manitoba Electric Resources - three guesses where it was located. The third was a new plant in Saskatchewan called Solartations. And, finally, when you called me, a large firm called Ontario Nuclear was blown to bits."
Jeff stared at the many papers outlining various logos, and company outlets. "There's no connection at all between these plants?"
"Not that I can find, sir. There has to be something we're not seeing, though."
Gordon spoke up. "Well, who are our suspects?"
She looked at him, trying to directly answer his question. "It's difficult to say. I have some here, but I'm making guesses. What we need is a motive." Lana shook her head at the small list.
Alan thought for a moment. "Well, there's environmentalists . . ."
Gordon smacked him. "Then how do you account for the solar and wind plants!"
Alan stared at his brother. "It was just a suggestion. Besides, by putting up the wind thingys, and solar panels, they might be destroying a valuable piece of land."
Lana thought. "I'll keep it in mind. But, I seriously doubt it, Alan. Sorry."
There was silence for a moment.
"Jealousy," Scott spoke up, after being so quiet, "the ultimate motive."
Lana was puzzled. "How do you mean, Scott?"
He folded his arms. "Look at it this way: one company wants a piece of land, and another company has it already. Or, one company works the market that another wants. Catch my drift?"
Lana thought. "Of course . . . makes perfect sense."
Jeff turned to her, excited. "Lana, do you have a list of companies that haven't been hit!"
She ruffled through some papers. "Here - a list of some I thought may be in danger."
"Who's on it?" Tin-tin asked.
"Redwork Energy Services, owned by Anthony Henderson, and it specializes in hydro; Nuclear Solutions, owned by John T. Scalps; Solaration, which is owned by Richard Nelson; and Gamerson's Electric, operated by Peter Williams."
Scott thought a moment. "There has to be a connection or a clue or something somewhere . . ."
Lana looked down. "There isn't. Our next clue might be the fatal one."
"So, what're you getting your father?"
Tess smiled at Virgil. "Nothing. I gave him a hug when I came in, right? That's what I gave him."
Virgil knit his brow. "Well, yes, but why don't you give him something that he can hang onto and can remember you by when you leave? Like a picture or something?"
Tess stopped in the mall, clutching John and Alan's bags. "Okay, first of all, any picture I have of myself will have been taken on Tracy Island right? Yeah . . . I don't think he'd appreciate that. Even if I could find a picture that didn't have one of you boys in it. And, secondly, most importantly, he's in maximum security. He's not allowed to have personal things. Remember the fight I had to put up to even be allowed to see him? Yeah, he gave up his rights to own much of anything." She looked at him dead seriously. "He's had his toothbrush personalized for lack of objects."
Virgil's eyebrows shot up. "Oh." He continued walking, and she followed. They rounded a corner and stopped again.
Virgil looked apologetic. "Listen, I got to go answer a phone call . . ."
She looked confused. "From who?"
He tilted his head and stared.
She blushed and laughed. "Oh. Okay . . . um, meet me in the bookstore, alright? I need a couple new novels anyway."
He smiled, and kissed her. "Okay, meet you there in a fifteen minutes."
"Fifteen?"
He shrugged. "Hey, I gotta find the phones first." He backed away, waving apologetically.
She shook her head, and turned into the large bookstore.
Virgil smiled from down the hall at her, feeling on top of the world. He turned back around, and walked right past the huge sign reading "Washrooms".
Scott lay almost asleep by the pool, appearing to be sunbathing, while he was really thinking about the case.
Scott sat up with a start at the sound of a large splash.
He watched as a slender figure swam beneath the surface of the water, as graceful as a dolphin. He was mesmerized by them.
Lana broke through the water's surface. She swept her hair back with one hand, while the other grabbed a towel at the water's edge, and dabbed at her face.
Scott broke from her spell. Sure, he'd been wrong about a couple of things. Lana did not have dark red hair, she was more of a brunette. Anyone could have missed that. And, sure, her nails weren't manicured, but he was sure she'd had them done at some point. So maybe she was more of a tomboy than he first thought - big deal.
What he could not get over was her ferocious reaction to when he'd called her a 'farmer'. She was a farmer . . . what was the big deal? Did she have issues with herself? Was there as story?
He wanted to ask her so bad. He tried to hold himself back, but couldn't help it. "Why don't you want to be a farmer?" he found himself asking.
Lana jumped, and turned to face him. When she realized who it was, her dark eyes narrowed. "Why would you care?"
"Because I want to know what kind of nerve I hit so I don't hit it again."
Lana laughed, using her arms to push herself up onto the edge of the pool opposite to the edge Scott was laying near. She took the towel, and began dabbing her hair. She thought for a moment. "I guess that's just not who I am . . . it's complicated, Scott. Let's just leave it at that."
Scott stared at the ground for a moment. "If you don't want to be a farmer, then why are you one?"
"Look, I told you to drop it, okay!" she snapped, standing up.
Scott stood up as well, staring daggers at her from across the pool. "I've tried to be civil with you, I've tried to understand you; what more do you want from me!"
"To leave me alone!" Lana ran off, practically in tears.
Scott stood there for a moment, staring after her, thinking. After a few seconds, he threw up his hands in the air, turning around, and proclaimed loudly, "Women!"
"So, exactly, how do we smuggle this stuff back in without Jeff-"Tess checked to make sure no one in the cockpit was listening, "or Kyrano noticing?"
They were on the private jet, on their way home from London. Kyrano was driving, but Tin-tin had asked them to pick something up for her for her father. Tessa was perched on her comfortable, armchair, facing Virgil. Carrying bags that they hadn't had time to pack surrounded their feet.
Virgil leaned closer to her. "What we do, is we stuff our suitcases full until they're bursting with father's day crap, and we tell them we went on a shopping spree."
She leaned back, and crossed her arms against her sleeveless turtleneck. "A shopping spree? Don't you think he'll want to see what we bought?"
Virgil laughed. "Tess, my father hates shopping. He hates everything about the topic, especially girly stuff. So, if we just claim that you did a little clothes shopping, we're good."
"Then why would my clothes be in your suitcase?"
"You ran out of room." He grinned from ear to ear. "C'mon, let's start shoving stuff in suitcases."
They got up from their chairs, and began to pick up various bags and shove them into suitcases.
"So, Tessa, how did your father take the news?" Virgil asked.
"Hmm . . . what news?" Tess seemed distracted by Scott's gift, which at first looked to be ladies undergarments. Virgil must have bought these . . . she thought.
"Didn't he tell you after I came out?" Virgil seemed perplexed at Gordon's hammock.
Realization dawned on Tessa's face. She dropped the boxers in disgust. "Oh. Right . . .he didn't take the idea well. Frankly, I'm surprised you had the nerve to ask him if we could go for a weekend-long vacation together . . . alone." She blushed.
He gave her a smile that told her of his love. "I'm surprised too. But, I love you, so it was worth it. Frankly, I'm surprised he didn't try to kill me . . . hey, Tess, did you pick out this pattern?" He held the hammock up high.
She turned around and stared at it. "Yes, I did. I thought he might like green and blue as opposed to that brown thing he used to have . . . disgusting thing,"she added to herself
Virgil folded it, and placed it over his gift in his suitcase. "So, what exactly did your father say?"
She picked up Alan's watch and placed the gift-wrapped package next to her nightdress. She laughed. "You sure you want to know? There was an awful lot of swearing directed at you." She turned, and smiled at him over her shoulder. "But, I'm sure he loves you deep down."
He smiled sarcastically. "I'm so sure."
She shrugged in response, folding Tin-tin's gift up, and making doubly sure Kyrano wasn't paying attention to anything but the sky.
Virgil zipped up his bag, and turned to face her. "All done?"
A zip sounded, and she turned, making a show of wiping her hands together. "Done."
Kyrano's voice carried from the cockpit. "We'll be landing in a few minutes, Mr. Tracy, Miss. Highlander."
Jeff and Lana ran outside to greet Virgil and Tessa as they descended from the plane.
"Jeff?" Lana asked, as they approached the plane.
Jeff waved at his son and "adoptive" daughter, who were carrying their luggage from the plane. "Yes, Lana?"
Lana waved as well, keeping her voice loud enough for only Jeff to hear. "It may be my imagination, but Tessa seems to wear a lot of turtlenecks, and her hair down . . ."
Jeff continued smiling, not really sure where this was going. "Yes, and . . .?"
"Well, I get the feeling she doesn't do that for a fashion trend."
Jeff put his hand down and began to walk towards the plane again. "Unfortunately, there are some things about Tessa that I believe only Tessa herself would tell. But, I will say you guessed right."
Before Lana could add anything more, Virgil and Tess were in earshot. Jeff was excited. "Virgil! Tess! How'd it go?"
Tess smiled at Virgil behind her. "He might never be allowed back."
Jeff laughed. "That a boy, son. I knew if you tried you could control your temper. C'mon, let's get inside; I think it's going to rain."
He picked up Tessa's suitcase, and placed his hand on her back, coaxing her along, ahead of the other three.
She continued to smile happily, until he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "So, did they get me anything good this year?"
She tried to pretend that she didn't know what he was taking about. "I'm sorry, Mr. Tracy? I don't think I quite follow."
Jeff smiled. "Tess, I like to think of myself as being halfway intelligent. I was an astronaut, for crying out loud. Every year, a week or so before Father's Day, one of my sons goes missing. And then, on Father's Day, I see all of these gorgeous presents. But nothing has come in the mail. Now, how did that happen?"
She smiled. "Okay. Fine . . .but that doesn't mean we went shopping for a Father's Day present or two."
"Well, see, I noticed your bags were both considerably lighter when you left. And, up until now, none of my boys have left the island, except on missions."
Tess shrugged. "So, talk to Penny. I'm sure she's been shopping in the past while."
Jeff smiled a secret, knowing smile as they climbed the steps. "Okay, but if I know my son, he'll try to cover it with a lie like 'Tessa went on a clothes-shopping spree, and ran out of room in her suitcase.'" He released her back, and opened the door for her. "But, hey, I'm sure he wouldn't try and pull something like that." He offered Tess her suitcase.
Tess smiled at him, but was failing inside. She took back the duffle bag.
Virgil soon caught up to her, and they entered the living room, passing a few of his brothers on the way to their individual bedrooms. Mr. Tracy and Lana followed them into the living room.
"Hey Virg," Gordon smiled, trying to make life miserable, "what's in the bag? It seems quite a bit fuller than when you left."
Virgil smiled like this was one of the stupidest issues ever. "There was a sale in the mall, and Tess bought more than could fit in her bag." He rolled his eyes.
Jeff smiled directly at Tess.
Tess kept on walking, only now her head was buried in her hand, and was shaking.
Virgil saw her on his way to his room. "What?" he called after her.
When they disappeared down the hall, Jeff turned to his boys. Shaking his head, he said simply, "You guys have to stop being so obvious." He patted Alan on the shoulder as he walked away.
Scott was sitting at his father's desk, with a few blank sheets of paper and a cup of coffee. He couldn't sleep, so he decided to make use of his time. He was going to try and figure out what was going on with these power plants.
He knew there had to be a connection. There just had to. No competent arsonist would go around starting these fires for no reason.
Perhaps there was no logic in their striking, Scott explored, crumpling his second sheet of paper, and playing basketball with his father's wastebasket. He thought for a moment. There had to be some logic in their striking, he decided. He picked up his coffee.
He stared at the sheet of paper Lana had left with the names of all companies hit on it. He thought for a moment. There had to be something that this person - or persons - didn't like about these plants.
He picked up his pen, and pulled a fresh sheet of paper over near him. He ignored the lines as he wrote.
Wind
Wind
Solar
Nuclear
He stared at the list. None of these really damaged the environment - apart from hazardous waste. Somehow, though, he strongly doubted that this was the motive the arsonist was using. He threw the paper in the trash.
He thought for a moment, placing one foot on top of the other under the desk. Scott sipped his coffee. He picked up the pen, and began to absent-mindedly write the names of the companies on the final sheet of paper.
Gatineau
Alternative
Manitoba
Energy
Resources
Solartations
Ontario
Nuclear
He stared at the sheet, as he fingered a rim stain of coffee left on a coaster. He puzzled and puzzled about this mystery, until his puzzler was sore. He picked up his empty coffee cup, and carried it to the kitchen, for Kyrano or whomever to wash in the morning.
On his way to bed though, he stopped at the desk. He picked up the paper, and stared at it for a moment. Abruptly, he violently crumpled the paper, and threw it at the trash, missing by forever. He stared at it with murder in his eyes, more from being tired than frustrated.
If only there were a single clue, he thought.
He was soon inside the four walls of his room, sleeping, dreaming of saving the lives of the next fire, not realizing that his biggest clue was the one he'd almost thrown out.
Tess smiled as she continued wiping Jeff's desk with a moist cloth, her boyfriend following her with a dry one. She grinned up at him with a gleam in her eyes. "Dare."
He thought for a moment. Then he smiled a devious smile. He dropped the cloth as she continued to scrub, and pulled her close. He whispered something in her ear.
"No way!" Tess explained.
"What's the matter? Hey, I took the one where you dared me to drink an open can of soda in the refrigerator!" Virgil let her go, his arms in the air.
She smiled at him, her smile even more devious. She dropped the cloth. "I just said 'no way'. As in, nice. I never said I wouldn't do it." She ran a finger over his shoulder as she walked towards the hallway.
There was silence for a few minutes. He saw her run quickly out the back door, something clutched in her hands.
Virgil wiped the rest of the table, and threw the rags into the kitchen quickly.
Suddenly a yell came. "Hey! What the - oh, you're so dead, Highlander!"
Virgil bit his tongue with excitement. Tess came barrelling through the back door at him. "C'mon, Virgil! You have to see it!" She grabbed his hand, and pulled him outside at top speed.
They ran along the beach until they could get a good view.
Virgil searched the sky, and Tess pointed it out to him.
There, where the American and United Kingdom flags should have flapped proudly, waved a pair of boxer shorts with a clearly written message of "Monday" on them. Beneath them, a large, crudely drawn sign read, "What day is it, Scott?".
Virgil knelt over with laughter.
Tess smiled proudly at her work, her hands on her hips. "You owe me Prada for this one, buddy."
Virgil got up, wiping a tear from his eye. He looked her happily. "This, I can do better than Prada for." He pulled her into an embrace, and kissed her softly. "Now, c'mon. We have to find the digital camera - I highly doubt this is something John would want to miss."
Jeff sat at his desk, his hands folded. He stared at them as though they were ten years old. "That was very wrong. Now, can you tell me why it was wrong to run Scott's underwear up the flagpole?"
Tess leaned towards Virgil. "Because we didn't find the ones with skid marks."
Virgil tried to maintain his composure. "Because Scott doesn't want anyone to know what his underwear looks like?"
Jeff looked at his son seriously. "Exactly. Now, what are we going to do next time we have the desire to hang his underwear from the flagpole?"
Virgil leaned toward Tessa. "Go for the briefs."
Tess bit her lip. "Remain calm, and hold back the urge, sir?"
Jeff leaned back in his seat. "Very good. Now, I don't expect this to happen again, understand?"
"Yes . . ." they said together, in a monotone voice.
"I want you to apologize to Scott for all of this."
Tess and Virgil stared at Jeff. "But-"
"We were just-"
"That's not fair!"
Jeff held up his hand to silence them. "I want no more of this, understand? This is very childish behaviour. I expect more from you. Especially you, Virgil."
Virgil had the same look as someone who knew they were being blackmailed, and also that there was no way out of it. "Okay, fine, I'll go and give Scott my sincerest apologies."
He turned and left his father. Tess stared at him as he left as though he were handing over power of attorney.
Once they were gone, Jeff smiled. He shook his head and laughed very loudly. Even he enjoyed a good joke now and then.
Lana was sitting in the living room on an armchair. It was only her and Tessa in the room. Tess was sitting on another chair, painting her toenails.
"Tess," Lana began, "can I ask you a question? I can understand if you won't want to answer it."
Tessa capped her nail polish. "Sure . . . what did you want to ask?"
Lana eyed her shirt. "I was wondering . . . why do you enjoy wearing collars so much?"
Tess looked deflated. "I don't suppose it would hurt to let you know. They cover up an unpleasantness."
Lana looked confused.
Tess grabbed the back of the thick choker necklace she was wearing and pulled it off.
There, at the base of her neck, was a thick, twisted scar that seemed like it had only just healed. Lana stared for a moment, before averting her eyes.
Tess put the collar back on. "I don't like to see it. I don't like anyone to see it. My father gave it to me. He was taking me as a hostage, and, well, he needed something for the cameras."
Lana looked down,. "I'm sorry, Tessa . . ."
Tess shrugged. "It's not your fault." She went back to her toes, oblivious to much of anything else.
It was two a.m. Only 4 hours to go until Operation Father's Day was put into production, and there were still plenty of things to be done.
The five boys met in the foyer. Scott smiled, "Ready?"
Alan smiled, "You bet."
"Virgil, presents?" Scott called, clipboard in hand.
He held up a huge trash bag. "Check."
"Gift wrap?"
Gordon snipped the scissors in mid-air. "Check!"
"Ribbons, bows, and everything cheesy?"
Alan held up a large box. "Check."
"Massive e-card spamming on standby?"
John's picture on the wall held up it's hands in a meaningful gesture. "Check."
Scott made a few marks on his paper. "And I have the stolen cake. Looks like we're good to go, boys." He looked up, smiling. "Let's go; Virgil, you and Gordon gift wrap; Alan, you and I'll work on those decorations; John, you hack into the computer system. All right, gang, let's hustle!"
Virgil and Gordon were on their knees in minutes, sorting out how to get these presents wrapped. Scott and Alan disappeared into the kitchen.
"Let's start with ours." Virgil took out the hammock and handed it to his brother. He pulled out his own gift - a medium-sized wooden box, specially prepared for the day ahead.
Gordon took out a pink floral print tube of wrapping paper, and stretched it on the floor. "You ever wonder why we don't do any of this sooner? Or, like, not at two in the morning?"
Virgil shrugged, making sure the green wrapping paper was perfectly tight on the box. "I guess it's like a double-cover-up. We can leave stuff like this out in the wide open, and he wouldn't suspect a thing; but the second we wrap it up . . ."
Gordon nodded in understanding, pulling another gift from the bag.
"Little farther, little farther . . ." Alan called to Scott in an old ladyish voice, holding one end of the ribbon. He was going for the easy method of wrapping the whole house with one strand.
"Virgil! I need your finger, and your tape!" Alan called. His brother rushed over, and held the ribbon while Alan used a half a foot worth of tape.
Gordon was eyeing the ribbon. "Um, Alan, did you pick out this ribbon yourself?"
Alan raised an eyebrow. "Well, I found it in the basement . . ."
Gordon was still staring at the ribbon. "Are you sure . . .? Never mind, I'm sure dad will love it." He went back to the gifts, laughing.
Alan taped another part of it up. "Well, what's wrong with it?"
Virgil bit his lip. "Alan, are you aware it says 'Congratulations! It's a boy!' on it?"
Alan turned. "It says what!"
Scott came out from the kitchen, tons of ribbon following him. "What's going on?"
Gordon was laughing. "The ribbon."
"What about it!"
Virgil chuckled. "It's a little too literal."
Scott stared at it. He shook his head. "Geez, Alan! Oh, well . . . too late now. We'll just hope no one notices."
Scott sat at the barbeque. The family was very excited. Although, only the Tracys plus Tess and Lana were there. Kyrano's family had taken him to London for the next two days, and Brains had gone to visit Fermat at Fermat's place of occupation.
"Hey, Scott, what's on the grill?" Lana called.
Scott turned, staring at her. He said in a flat, monotone voice, "We're having chicken." A camera flashed.
Lana laughed. Not at the statement; the only reason she had asked him to turn around and pose for the camera. She (with the help of his more than willing brothers) had forced him to wear a chef's puffy hat, and an apron that said "Kiss me, I'm Canadian". Needless to say, Scott was not impressed.
They were in a circle, waiting for the grub. The group just sat around joking.
"So," Tessa asked, sipping her ice tea, "who should we congratulate on that bouncing baby boy?" Lana snorted her drink.
"Alan!" Gordon and Virgil said at once.
Lana smiled, wiping her nose. "Alan, is there something you're not telling us?"
Alan gave her the evil eye from the corner. "I found them in the basement! There was a ton of it! How was I supposed to know what it said?"
"Read it?" Jeff suggested.
Tess gave him a serious look. "Oh, Jeff, I don't know if Alan's up to that. I mean, 'Congratulations' alone has 15 letters." She smiled at poor Alan.
"Okay, we need to do something while we wait for that chicken," Alan suggested, standing up.
"Hey, it's not my fault if the baby boy forgot to thaw it out last night." Scott rolled his eyes.
Jeff smiled and rubbed his hands together. "Let's open presents." He smiled at Virgil.
Virgil smiled back from where he bobbed in the pool. "I guess we could do that . . . any objections, Scott?"
"You can do whatever you want so long as it doesn't include my underwear up a flagpole. Again."
Tess smiled, glancing at Virgil, who bobbed in the pool near the edge she sat on. "Well, I can't make any guarantees there, Scott. But, I'll do my best."
"Which one should I start with?" Jeff asked, eyeing the pile of gifts stacked neatly on one side.
"Open mine!" Alan yelled.
"No! Mine!" Gordon countered, trying to be as childish as possible.
"John's!" Tess yelled grinning.
"Tess's!" Lana suggested.
Jeff laughed. "Pass me Alan's . . . he yelled first."
Lana passed him the gift, which was on top of the pile next to her. It was wrapped in bright blue snowflake paper.
Jeff carefully ripped the paper where the tape connected it. "Wow! A watch!"
"It's water proof this time," Alan said, nodding as if it were the best thing he'd ever done.
Gordon pulled a sarcastically impressed face. "Ooh, fancy-shmansy . . . you'll need that, Dad."
Alan stuck his tongue out. Jeff just laughed, and passed the watch to Virgil for inspection.
"Open mine!" Scott called, flipping the chicken.
Lana passed Jeff a bright pink floppy package from where she sat beside him. Jeff tore it open (hoping to not ever see that paper again). "Boxers! Wow, Scott." Jeff laughed, as he held them up. In fact, he laughed rather hard. Tess and the others looked at him rather peculiarly until he turned them around to reveal the word "Sunday".
They continued on in their Father's Day gifts, laughing at the fuzzy duck that sang "Thexy Thing", wondering who in the world sent him such a gift (no card). There were other gifts too that were very touching. Tess had given him a rather simple, but heartfelt gift. As he opened her package, he found a simply framed picture of the two of them, with an inscription on the bottom of the frame. "I Love You, Dad."
Jeff smiled at her. She looked away, blushing. "You've been better to me than my own father." Jeff passed the frame back to Lana, and went over to hug Tess (an unusual thing for Jeff). This was followed by a chorus of "Aw" from the boys.
"One gift left," Lana proclaimed, handing the package to Jeff as he sat back down.
Jeff took the package. "From Virgil." He opened the green wrapping paper as carefully as he could.
Inside of it, was a painted wooden keepsake box. Mr. Tracy opened it, making a show of being surprised.
There was a small splash as Virgil hopped out of the pool. "It's for you to store pictures of us and mom, or other mementoes."
Mr. Tracy smiled as he felt the silk interior. Lana smiled, touched, at the interior - or perhaps, everything about the gift. One will never know.
Jeff closed the box, and handed it to Tess. He'd made a point of letting everyone see the different gifts. The boys began talking amongst themselves, including Lana and Jeff.
Tess smiled at Virgil, as if to tell him that she thought it was a very sweet present. She studied the pattern of the outside for a moment. Then she opened the box. Virgil, Jeff, and Lana held their breath.
For a moment Tess said nothing. She stared at the box, wondering whether she should pinch herself to wake up or scream at this. She didn't wake up though. The other brothers stared, confused, at her as her breathing came out in long, shaky breaths. She set the box down in the middle of the circle, so that everyone could see. She stood back, still in awe.
Inside of this box was a small, opened box, and a diamond ring. Next to it was a handwritten note that asked, "Will you marry me, Tessa?" Her hand went to her mouth.
Virgil smiled at her. "Tess, I love you. I love you more than you will probably ever know. The only thing that could make me any happier right now would be if you said yes." He pulled the ring from the keepsake box. He knelt down next to her, dripping wet. "Tessa Highlander, will you agree to marry me?"
A tear rolled down her cheek. She dropped down to his level and pulled him into her arms in one rapid motion. As she sobbed, one word was audible.
"Yes."
A cheer erupted from the others as Virgil hugged her, then pulled her back, slipping the diamond on her finger.
Even Scott clapped as he pulled her in for the kiss.
"So, let me get this straight - everyone was in on this except me?" Scott quietly asked Lana.
Lana wasn't even making eye contact. "Yes. In a way. We all saw it coming, but only Jeff knew when it was actually going to happen."
Scott continued to follow Lana inside. "But . . . how did you know?"
"It should have been obvious, Scott. He was always slipping around her . . . acting a little nervous . . . and then there was that fight her father and him had that Tess described for us. I highly doubt her father would have taken the idea of them being alone together for a whole weekend that well. And, besides that, your father considers her a daughter. Do you really think he'd let his son take her out in that type of setting? Now, Scott, if you don't mind me asking you a question, howdid you miss it?" She stared right at him.
Scott raised his hand, and pointed to her. "My relationship with my family - or future family, as the case may be - is none of your concern, Miss. Fitzgerald. And, I did not miss it. I had other concerns on my hands besides those of my brother."
Lana raised a carefully plucked eyebrow as she picked up a watering can to feed the plants. "You've no need to take that tone with me. Wasn't like it was my fault, eh. All I did was ask a simple question; if you can't create a simple answer to that, that's your problem. Not mine."
Scott stared at her. "Oh, yeah, that's such a simple question. I'm sure. Geez, if it were any simpler, it'd be for special ed."
Lana turned on him. "Scott, why are you attacking me over an issue that doesn't concern either of us?"
He was yelling at her now. "Because you're making it concern the both of us!"
Lana placed the watering can back on the table with such force, the room may as well have shaken. "I'm making this a big deal! Who's the person who started this!"
"Does it really matter!"
"Not as long as someone finishes it before Jeff comes in behind us!"
Scott's eyes burned. "Then let's finish it!"
"Okay!" Lana's eyes burned right back as she slapped him as hard as she could straight across the face. She turned, and started to finish the journey up the steps to the house. She turned back to him, bitterness burning through her voice. "I take lessons from Tessa." Scott's hand was practically glued to his face, which was contorted with pain.
The next time Lana saw Scott, it was late into the evening. Tess was at Virgil's side (as she had been for practically every moment since "Yes"). Gordon and Alan were no where to be found, and Jeff was - surprise, surprise - at his desk trying, as so many had failed, to figure out what was going on with these fires, or at the very least, who was going to be next.
"Hello, Scott." Lana was staring hard at the back of his head. Scott turned, and she burst out laughing.
"It is so not funny." Scott rolled his eyes, turning back around.
She wiped a tear from her eye. "No regular band-aids, eh?"
Scott squinted at the wall. His voice was very sarcastic. "No, I just like hot pink."
Tess smiled, still staring at Virgil. "You wacked him pretty good. He had to borrow one of my overly- large band-aids that Virgil bought me for my neck. Scott wasn't amused, though."
Lana smiled. "I'd put money on that, eh." She headed towards the other room for a glass of milk.
"What is with that word!" Scott demanded.
"What word?" Lana asked, looking confused.
"Eh." Scott's eyes rolled again.
Lana raised an eyebrow. "I have no idea what you're talking about, eh."
"See what I mean!" he yelled.
Lana laughed, a little nervously. "Scott, I haven't once used the word 'eh' while I was here."
"Fitzy, you use it in every sentence . . ." Tess pointed out.
"Do I?" Lana asked.
Scott stared at the ceiling. "This is ridiculous!" he proclaimed.
Lana picked up her glass and edged away. "Yes, it is." Scott ran off to do heaven knows what.
Virgil gave her the thumbs-up sign. "Way to go, Lana. You've successfully confused Scott."
Lana took a gulp of her milk. "I've confused myself, eh?"
Scott was up late again. It had been a few days since Tessa and Virgil had become engaged. He had to admit it, he'd never seen Tess or Virgil quite as happy. Not even when Tessa was dating him was she this happy. He was glad that they were together, but he was also depressed. He had loved Tessa very much, and that was the only reason he hadn't seen the proposal coming. Only recently had he gotten over her.
Actually, truth be told, he still wasn't fully over her. That made him feel pathetic.
Scott just sat there at his father's desk, trying to push his thoughts back towards this mystery. If he could just focus, he was sure he could figure out what was going on here.
He picked up the sheet with all the possible suspects on it, and also those who were at risk. He needed to pick out who was to blame, or who was next. Fast. His gut was telling him that the guilty party was going to strike again soon.
He picked up his coffee cup, and brought it halfway to his lips. He stopped for a moment, thinking for a long while. He didn't really have one particular thought that stuck out from the others, he was just lost in a trance.
He snapped out of it after a few moments, wondering why he was still up. He turned to see Lana in the kitchen.
Why don't I get along with her? Scott questioned himself. How is it that every time we're together, an argument breaks out?
He wondered why she was so touchy about farming. She was a farmer, after all. She should be able to take the fact that she looked the was she was "supposed to". There was something wrong here, and he knew it.
She's just such an awful person . . . he thought to himself.
He watched as she reached up to grab something from the top shelf, which in turn pulled her short housecoat up to reveal her tight pyjama shorts.
Scott leaned back, his eyebrows up. She's not that bad, I guess. He quickly got up from the chair, and walked towards his room.
Tessa stared over her cards at Alan, an intense look on her face, as she checked back at her jack, queen, king and ace, all of the hearts suite. Alan returned the intense look. Tess shot a glance at fiancé, whose eyebrow shot up. She licked her lips, and eyed the fair sized pile of poker chips in the middle of the table. A grin pulled at the corner of her mouth, and her face looked seductive to young Alan as she spoke.
"Go. Fish."
Alan jumped up from his chair, throwing his cards down on the table. "Confound it!"
She laughed, leaning back in her chair. Virgil grinned right along with her. She pulled the pile of chips close to her. "I win. Let's see . . ." she began to add numbers onto a scrap piece of paper, "that'll be . . . 17 snickers, 3 Milky Ways, 12 Caramilks and an O Henry that you owe me, Sprout. When shall I expect payment?"
Alan sat back down. "Next week, sometime. I'll have to do some, er, 'borrowing'."
Virgil smiled. "Now that this has been settled, where do we stand on our bets?"
Tess bent down, and picked up a small stenography pad.
Alan turned his chair around, and sat back down. "You know, we really should stop gambling like this . . . or at least, let Gordon in on it."
Tess began flipping pages. "Yeah, Gordon can be let in on it as soon as he pays me back the five bucks he owes me from Christmas. Besides, Gordon would want to use money, and we have our very strict rule of candy or higher - aw, here we go." She handed the book to Virgil.
He took it, and kissed her softly on the cheek. "Now, let's see . . . this is how the betting stands for this week: Alan, you've bid a Kit Kat on Dad tripping over his shoelace while in the kitchen getting a tuna sandwich for lunch because Kyrano is away. Wow, that was specific. Tessa, you bid against it."
Tess shrugged. "It hasn't happened yet, though, so, Alan, pay up."
Alan held a finger up. "Three . . . two . . ."
Plunk . . . crash, crash, crash. "Dait!"
Alan smiled smugly, as he placed his hand out. Tess rolled her eyes, and reluctantly placed the Kit Kat in his greedy little hands.
Virgil shook his head. "Okay, now, for the biggy. Tess, you bet Scott kisses Lana within the next-"he checked his watch, "-48 hours, I bet within the next 48-96 hours, and Alan, you bid he never kisses her. All of us have bid . . ." he checked the papers, and pulled a face, "a king-sized Mars bar. Whoa. High stakes here, guys."
Alan's mouth dropped. "A whole king-sized one!"
Tessa checked the paper. "Yup. A whole king-sized one. Wow." She stared at Alan. "The heat is on. And this time, I want no interference. These are high stakes."
Virgil smiled at her. "You do realize that in saying this, Alan is going to do everything in his power to make sure that those two never get together?"
Tess looked from her future husband to her future brother-in-law. "He better not. This isn't a bruise we're talking about; this is human affection. Technically, it's bad enough we're betting on it. But since there's not much else to do until the next rescue-"
Virgil placed a finger to her lips, and they sat silent for a minute.
"Alan! You get your hide over here right now you little #&!"
As Alan turned back around, he realized that Tessa and Virgil had already abandoned him to face his father alone. Alan decided he'd be better off following in their tracks for this one.
Scott sipped at his coffee, once again, giving this mystery a go. Tonight he was copying logos from the various companies to see if, perhaps, there was a connection in that field. There seemed to be no such connection, though, as he crumpled his third sheet of paper.
He turned his head in frustration, and threw the ball towards nowhere in particular, letting it land wherever it wished. It landed at the feet of Lana, and she bent to pick it up, never spilling a drop of coffee in doing so.
"Can't sleep?" she asked casually.
Scott was startled. He stood up, drawing himself to his full height, several inches taller than her. "What business is it of yours?"
She raised an eyebrow, and took a sip of coffee before sitting down. "Wow, aren't we the little barrel of affection."
"Well, you started it," he said defensively, coming out from behind the desk, and taking a seat across from her.
She smiled, and shook her head. "All I asked was a simple question that didn't even need to be answered."
He shook her a bitter glance. "You always try to pry."
She set her coffee down. "What is it with you!" she asked, standing up. "All you ever do is twist my words into something that's hateful, not something I've actually said."
He stood up. "There's something wrong with me! I'm not the one who's a farmer, but gets all moody if one dares call me that."
Her eyes narrowed. Her hands went to her sides. "How dare you. You know nothing of my life, and here you are, ready to judge me!"
He rolled his eyes. "There you go again! Even mentioning this makes you flip out."
Her hand went to her forehead. She let out a small laugh. "Scott, I think I actually hate you."
His eye twitched. He leaned towards her. "Yeah? Well, here's a newsflash, Princess Dairy, I hate you too!"
Her eyes shot to his face, staring daggers into him. Her eyes locked his, and for a moment, the only sound heard was their breathing.
Scott's eyes darted towards her mouth, then in a rapid movement back towards her eyes. He tried to remain focussed. He'd just professed absolute hatred towards this women, after all.
But in her eyes he could see that something was deeply wrong with her. And, it didn't seem to have anything to do with their hatred.
Scott's mind failed him. Without thinking, he closed the gap between them, and their lips met.
At first it was nothing more. Then, his hand slipped around her waist.
The strange part of this was not the fact that he had kissed her, but rather the fact that she had not stopped him.
Lana's mind raced. One part of her wanted to push him off, and slap him so hard that this would be his last kiss. But, somehow, her hand managed to slip behind his neck, and the kiss deepened even more.
Scott didn't know what to think. Part of him was still in shock over the fact that he had started this. The other wanted the first part to shut up and enjoy himself. He traced her lips with his.
Lana smiled. It had been ages since she'd smiled and been genuinely happy altogether.
Suddenly, it was as though the real Lana snapped back. Her eyes opened in a second, and she pulled herself out of his arms.
Scott backed away. He looked towards the opposite wall. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have done that . . ."
She clutched the inside of her elbow, and she stared at him, surprising even herself. "Please, don't be. It's not what you've done, it's what I've done."
He turned back towards her, causing her to look away. "How can that be?"
She sighed softly. "Scott, I've always made it a rule never to mix business with pleasure. It just causes trouble. In fact, I try to cover myself up with business-" She cut herself off, not wanting him to know the truth.
He took a few steps towards her. "Please. I swear, any office romances you've had before, I won't make this like them. I promise."
She wiped a tear from her eye. Here she was, a wreak, while he stood there like a rock. She smiled, but bit her lip to keep it from trembling. "Scott, if only you knew what I meant."
He turned her to face him. "Tell me, Lana. Please."
Lana tried to look away, but he seemed to follow her eyes wherever they went. "Lana, when I looked at you a few minutes ago, I thought what I felt was sheer hatred towards you. It's not. I've only been civil with you for a few minutes, but I can already tell that what I feel about you runs deeper than hatred." His hand grabbed hers. It was amazing. For some people, love took years maybe even decades to become this powerful. But for others, it could be as simple as a stray pair of lips wandering in the night.
She clenched his hand, and her watery eyes gazed into his. She let go, and sat down. He did the same, this time sitting next to her. She smiled at him. "You know how funny it is? Some people dread the day they leave their family. They've grown up with them, and now that they're on their own, they don't know what to do. Sometimes, they just stay near home, and work with the family. Me, I was the opposite. I was the rebel. I couldn't wait to leave. I hated being the 'farmer's daughter', and I hated cows, and I hated smelling bad all the time. But, I guess I hated my family most. Not because they were abusive - they were some of the sweetest people that way. But, they always had this idea in their head that I was always going to be there. That I was the next generation.
"I didn't want someone to plan my future for me. So, after high school, I moved away. I wanted to be an agent for CSIS, and that was that. I studied hard, and after years, I graduated. Your father says I was one of the best agents. I hate boasting, but if he picked me, there must have been something powerful there.
"Anyway, I was on the bureau for close to three years. I was so resentful towards my family that I failed to keep in contact with them. All they knew was that I had a successful job in Ottawa that paid well. None of them really knew that I was an agent. I never wanted them to come up to me and ask me to take over the farm for the weekend, or anything like that. I guess, deep down, buried somewhere though, I missed them."
Lana sighed heavily. She had not told this story often, but she hated this part anyway. "Then, one day, I got a letter. It told me that both my parents had died in a car crash. I was devastated. I mean, I didn't get to say goodbye - not that I deserved to. I mean, I lost my entire family. I never had any brothers or sisters, and my only real family members left were my cousins. Frankly, I didn't know what to do. I flew back home for the funeral. When I got there, I learned that my parents had left the farm to me to 'do with as I pleased'." She looked deep into his eyes. She barely felt the tear staining her cheek. "I'd already put them through enough. I quit CSIS. I quit my dream for them. I got a letter from Jeff one day, and I accepted, figuring this would be a consolation. But now, I don't know anymore . . ."
Scott looked down, understanding now why she hated everything representing farmers. Her parents were killed, and now she had to live out her life the way they would have wanted. He couldn't blame her; after what happened to his mom, he had issues with snow. When his brothers teased him, he'd blow up.
He turned back to her, and kissed her softly on the forehead, his way of telling her that he understood. She smiled, thankful that they had finally reached an understanding.
He smiled for a more selfish reason. He finally realized that Tessa was over for him.
Lana creased her brow slightly, and pulled back a little. Scott was puzzled. She got up, and walked around the desk. He turned his head, and watched her move.
"What are you doing?" he asked her.
She bent down, then came back up. She held up a paper ball in her hand. "What's this?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I've been working on the case for awhile at night. It's just a failed attempt."
She walked back to him. She sat down, her fingers feeling subliminally warm around the crumpled paper. She shrugged, her face relaxing. "Oh."
But her eyes were sharp. Some small feeling at the back of her head was gnawing at her to open it up. She did so, completely confusing Scott. The ink was a little smudged, but was still legible.
Gatineau
Alternative
Manitoba
Energy
Resources
Solartations
Ontario
Nuclear
At first she crumpled the paper back up. Then, all of the sudden, gears in her brain began to turn. Her world seemed to unravel at this. She uncrumpled the paper, to check her idea. She set it down meticulously on the table, and ran to the desk to grab papers. The look on her face was as big as when Scott kissed her. He walked towards her.
She smiled at him, expecting him to understand right away. She grabbed him by the back of the neck, and brought him in for a kiss.
When he broke away, both of them were laughing.
"What's all this for?" he asked, grinning broader than ever.
"Don't you see?" she questioned, her brightness never faltering, as she placed the sheets in front of him, as if to make it completely obvious. Her voice was excited, yet modest. It was tiny though, overwhelmed with excitement. "I've cracked the code. I know who did it, and who'll they'll strike next."
