Chapter 10: Revelations
Author's note: Some of the conversation between Parkson and Cortez is in Spanish. I know not many know the language, so…if you find some text in parenthesis, it's the translation. And in future stories, the Mexican's name and group will be further elaborated on.
Early one morning, just before dawn, Devon awoke, a little earlier than usual. As per usual, he had gotten dressed and had put on a pot of tea. What wasn't quite as usual was that after the water was being heated, he went into an area that, before the trip to Helena, was a spare room.
The room had been gradually changed into a bedroom for Marissa. Against one wall was a dresser, which already happened to be low enough that the young girl could reach the drawers. To the right of it was a full-length mirror that had been put in during the trip back from Montana in the semi. Close to the window was a bed. Originally, it had been full-sized, but during the semi trip, the mattresses, springs and frame had been switched out for child-sized versions. Next to the bed was a nightstand, complete with a lamp that gave off good light.
Against one of the rear walls was a bookshelf, which had been there originally. What was different about it, though, was that the books had been moved to Devon's own room. In time, Marissa would have some of her own to put on the shelf.
"Good morning, my de—" Devon started to say when he noticed something.
The bed was empty.
Frowning, he quickly felt the mattress and the pillows. They were still rather warm, meaning that she had been out of bed only a few minutes.
He sighed and glanced out of the window, which gave a nice view of one of the gardens…and his breath caught on what he saw.
Marissa was standing outside, facing the direction where the sun would be rising.
"Rissie…?" he asked himself quietly and hurried out of the apartments, heading for where she was.
When he arrived, he could see that the young girl was still in her nightgown and still for a moment, her head tilted to the side as if she were listening for something.
Feeling alarmed as well as irritated, Devon was about to call out to her when the first rays of the sun appeared. When they did, she began to nod and move.
The older man watched quietly, wondering just what was going on. After all, it seemed as she was hearing something. He had no idea what it was, because…
I don't hear anything, he thought, then saw as her movements changed as though she were stepping to a certain beat.
Dancing…dancing to unheard music at sunrise, he realized.
Right at that moment, something flashed into existence in the corner of his mind, a type of memory. He was aware of it being there, yet he couldn't bring it to the forefront.
Something seems familiar here, but I just can't remember what it is.
A moment later, the semi-memory faded back into nothingness.
After a long few moments, Marissa's movements slowed, then stopped. By then, Devon realized that the sun had fully risen.
She turned to go back inside, then when she saw her uncle, she gasped, startled.
"Umm…umm," she said, trying to think of a way to explain herself.
"Just how often have you been doing this?" he asked her.
"Since the morning after we got here, almost 4 weeks ago," she replied, "I don't know why, but I can really hear music coming from the air itself. When I move like that, it just…well, I feel better afterwards. Some of the aches from punishments are almost all gone now, and I actually feel a bit stronger." She peered at him and asked, "You mean you can't hear it?"
"No, I'm afraid I can't. I know your mother said something about it when she was younger. But Rissie," he said, voice becoming firmer, "Don't worry me like that. I didn't know you came out here this early, but if I had, I wouldn't have thought that something had happened to you."
She winced and looked a bit downcast. "I'm sorry, uncle."
He smiled a little and ruffled her hair, saying, "Well, no harm done…this time. Plus, now I know something more than I did when I got up this morning. Now, let's head back, then after you get changed we can have breakfast, all right?"
"Okay."
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A couple of hours later, Michael headed from his apartment to the main dining area. While everyone was waiting for first news about the body being exhumed for DNA testing (and then later the results), Devon had assigned Michael to handle a few cases. After all, just because an ongoing case had new information didn't mean that the other assignments could back up. Every time that Michael had returned, Marissa would head over to either the garage or other places, just to catch up on things with Kitt.
Also, during the times that Michael was at the mansion, he helped with teaching the little girl self-defense, having agreed with Devon that it would be better for someone as trained as he was to instruct her than it would be for a fourteen year old girl that was still learning karate to do it.
Now, he looked around the dining hall and saw that the ones he was looking for were using one of the outdoor tables. He smiled and walked outside.
One of the table occupants, Devon, looked up from his meal and smiled warmly. "Good morning, Michael."
"Yo, Devon," was the reply before Michael turned to the other occupant and grinned. "Hey, Marissa."
"Hi, Michael," she replied, "You hungry?"
The younger man looked at first the Englishman's breakfast, then the little girl's before replying, "Yeah, think I'll get something—" His eyes widened as he saw that she was eating pancakes with syrup, scrambled eggs and sausage.
"And you say I eat greasy stuff?"
Devon shook his head, "Ah, but these aren't regular sausages. They're made from soy. Doctor Alpert that she needs nourishment and to put on weight."
"They're pretty good, too!"
Michael chuckled, "Lucky you," then tapped her on the nose lightly.
"Hey, what time did you get in? Don't think I saw you or Kitty."
"Late last night. Got finished with the latest case. That band of weapons merchants is going to be spending the rest of their lives behind bars."
Devon thought for a moment of telling him to wait on the report until later, but only for a moment. By choice, he didn't keep many secrets from his niece, but there were a few times, like things involving confidential or classified information, where he would take the conversation elsewhere.
"Good. No extraordinary mishaps, I take it?"
"A couple, but nothing serious." He paused a moment before asking, "Any word from Doctor Rayes?"
Devon shook his head, "The body was exhumed a few days after we got back, as you know. I'm told that the results should be in later today."
"Good," was the reply, "The sooner we can find out, the sooner we can move against that jackal…and the sooner you two can get on with a new life."
The older man nodded, then looked at Marissa. "My dear…there's something that I want to ask you when the—"
Cathy quickly walked in, breathing a bit heavily while she gripped a piece of paper.
"You okay?" the little girl asked, "You don't look too good."
"I'm…I'm fine…Marissa. Doctor Rayes just…called. The results are in."
Michael walked over and said something quietly to the secretary, who nodded and handed him the paper while she sat down at another table.
"What does it say?" Devon asked as the younger man read it.
"Yeah, Michael!"
He read and re-read it, then said first to Devon, "Positive," then to the girl, "It's official. Your mother is Verona Medine Miles, deceased."
The young child grinned and looked over to her uncle, who whispered a grateful prayer then squeezed her hand.
"Can I tell him?" she asked.
Devon nodded, "I don't see why not."
Michael chuckled and touched a button on his comlink. "Hey buddy, got some news."
"Have the DNA results come in?"
"That they have, and they're positive."
"That's wonderful news! Now we can finally take steps on both matters."
"Um, both matters? What's the second one?" Marissa asked.
Devon replied, "Rissie, after we see to putting Parkson away, how would you like to live here?"
She blinked and asked, "You mean…for good? With you, Kitty, Michael and Bonnie?"
"That's precisely what I mean, my dear."
"Would I!" she exclaimed, which got light chuckles from the others.
"I'd say that's a yes," Michael stated.
"How're you gonna do that? Bonnie said something about custody…"
"I'm not planning on merely attaining custody of you," the Englishman replied, "But to ask you something else."
"Like what?"
He took a deep mental breath and asked, "Rissie…what would you say if I told you that I want to adopt you?"
She peered at him for a long moment before replying, "This: I'd love to!"
Devon smiled warmly and reached over to hug her, which she returned with a grin.
Michael shook his head, bemused, then said, "Instead of raising a niece, you'll be raising a daughter."
"Something I don't mind at all."
"Now this calls for celebration…once Parkson is behind bars, that is," Kitt put in over the comlink.
There was the sound of footsteps behind the group. Marissa turned and waved with a smile. "Hi, Bonnie!"
The technician grinned and waved back, "You're looking healthier every time that I see you. I heard the good news. You bringing up the subject of adoption means that Marissa's relation has been confirmed?"
"Exactly," Devon replied.
"Then I have some news that'll make the day even better. Marissa, would you push up your left sleeve, please?"
"S-sure!" she replied and carefully did as she was asked until her wrist was bare.
Bonnie then came over to the table, sat in a chair and fitted a familiar, black object around her wrist, then buckled it into place.
Michael peeked, surprised when he saw just what the technician had put on.
"That's a comlink," he said, "Whose idea was that?"
"Kitt's. He asked me to make one, primarily so that he can better communicate with and keep tabs on her. Remember what I said, though, Marissa; it's not a toy."
"I'll remember that," she said, then peered at it closely before she touched one of the buttons. "Test, 1, 2, 3…Kitty, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear, Rissie…" There was a pause before he added, "You finished the comlink, Bonnie! Thank you."
"No problem, Kitt."
"I'd better get going…I know someone that's needing a full wash and a wax…right, Kitty?"
Four sets of eyes had identical piercing glares aimed right at Michael…and he had a feeling that if Kitt had eyes in the conventional sense, it'd be five.
"That's…an inside joke only between Marissa and I, thank you."
"Ok, ok, I'm sorry, alright? Forgiven?"
"I suppose so. After all, to err is human."
"Don't push it," was the reply while the sound of the front scanner swished in a way that seemed like laughter to Marissa.
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Far away, a public phone rang, startling everyone that had been near it…except for one.
Doug Parkson had been expecting it ever since that morning, when one of the local contacts had said, "Go to the pay phone contact point at 11 AM. Jefe will call you then."
Now, he walked smoothly into the booth, closed the door, and picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Buenos dias," the Mexican voice from before answered.
"Morning to you too, boss. Did something come up?"
"Si. One of the informants saw her and passed on some pertinent information."
"What was said, if I may ask, sir?"
"She's currently at someplace called the Foundation for Law and Government headquarters, for one thing…and for another, the Executive Director is her uncle, Devon Miles. This is one big mess you've gotten us all into, Parkson."
"Lo siento, lo siento! (I'm sorry, I'm sorry!)" he quickly said.
"These are your orders: Since this is your fault, you will go to Los Angeles by air as soon as you hang up. When you arrive, meet with the local outfitter and eliminate the little senorita and her tio. Quietly. If you happen to find the black car, take it out, too."
"With pleasure, boss," he grunted.
"Ese es todo, (That is all,)" the man on the other end snapped, then cut the connection.
