Chapter 6: Facades

Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of children.
-William M.Thackeray

Crawford felt at home as he sat across from his mother. Like his mother and his grandfather, he had nearly grown up in Jacob Wirth's. The Hallibourne family was as much an institution in Boston as Jake's, and the two had seen much of each other. It wouldn't have surprised him if one of his Hallibourne ancestors had provided the money to open Jacob Wirth's back in 1868. Even back then, and even before that, the Hallibournes had been wealthy, a prominent family since the founding of this nation.

His mother was dressed more casually today, but not by much. She had an image to maintain as a highly placed and respected member of Boston society and as a powerful senator's wife. She smiled at him, genuinely happy. Crawford reluctantly smiled back. He really didn't want to be here, even though he knew that his very presence made his mother happy.

He didn't like meeting her while on assignment. He didn't want her to be so close to what he did, who he really was. To her, he was still the headstrong yet cool-headed boy that clashed frequently with his father. She thought that he worked in 'international security,' which wasn't far from the truth. At the same time, it was further from any truth she could ever know. She knew nothing about Esset, about psis and subterfuge, about the power games played over such powerful pieces.

Psi talents were the new super weapons, the new tools of destruction. Esset had the edge on that particular market, and they would be ruthless in keeping it that way. To be honest, it was the only way that they, and the people that worked for them, could survive. It was kill or be killed, in the highest form.

Claire Hallibourne Crawford was a cipher, yes. But she believed herself to be normal. And to most, including Crawford and Esset, she was. It was the only thing that kept her safe. Normals didn't know about the war that was going on, and there was no reason to enlighten them on affairs that were none of their business.

His mother wasn't even aware that her son was a powerful psi talent, that he was anything other than normal, much less about the things he had to do. She knew even less about his ultimate plan, the one that reached beyond even Esset's world-wide scope. Still, despite what went on in his life, the shadowy double life he led, he was still a son. Her son.

"Brad, you look so well," she said, casting a critical mother's eye over him and finding to her satisfaction nothing to disapprove of. "It's too bad that your business associate couldn't join us."

"A lead came up, that he had no choice but to follow. He sends his regrets." Crawford waved away the menu. He had eaten here often enough to know it by heart, as did his mother. After they had placed their orders, a not-uncomfortable silence fell. They didn't see each other very often, but they never felt the need to fill the silences between them with words, either. They were perfectly happy to be in the other's company. Besides, conversation between the two could be fraught with unseen hazards, landmines lying dormant that the careless word would trigger.

"How's grandfather?" Crawford finally asked. That was one topic that was usually safe. Ellery Carson Hallibourne had been a lion as a young man, a tyrant. But as he had gotten older, he had mellowed into a pussycat. He was enjoying retirement, with the help of a beautiful new wife thirty years his junior.

"He's fine," Claire said. "He's taken the new wife to Greece for the summer. From his last phone call, it seems that he's having a wonderful time." She played with a corner of her napkin. "He wishes that he could see you. You are his oldest grandson."

"Hmm," Crawford replied. "I don't think I'll be in Greece anytime soon, I'm afraid."

"How long are you staying in town, Brad?"

"Just until we can tie up a few more loose ends. Rudiger is taking care of one right now."

Claire smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Business, I presume."

"Yes. After we finish here, we return to Japan."

"So soon?"

"I'm afraid so." Crawford shook his napkin out of its neat folds.

She gave him a brittle, forced laugh. "Oh dear me. It must be nice, traveling all over the world." She shook out her own napkin. "Do you think that you will ever be given a more permanent assignment in the States?"

"No," Crawford replied. What he didn't tell her was that Esset would love to assign him Stateside, but that he had refused. His contacts, built of the Hallibourne business empire and the Crawford political clout, made Esset salivate. But Crawford had steadfastly refused every time it was even brought up.

He had enough pull in the organization that they backed down when they realized he was adamant. And all because of this broken, fragile woman sitting with him. He didn't want the shadow of Esset to fall on her. She had suffered enough because of her family. He didn't want to be another in the long line.

"I see," she said.

Crawford wished that she really could. Even this caused her pain, but it was better than the pain that Esset could cause. Esset didn't care about anyone. Ruthless was a credo they lived and died by. And made others die by, too.

"So what are doing with yourself nowadays, Mother?" Crawford asked. She always had a whirl of committees and social functions she was involved in.

"I'm currently doing some charity work for disadvantaged and displaced persons," she told him happily. Crawford was surprised at the animation that entered her voice, the sparkle in her eye. "And it's because of you, Brad," she continued.

"Me?" Crawford blinked at this, nonplussed.

"Yes. I thought to myself, what if it was my son that was homeless, friendless, because of a perceived disability or defect? Because he was different? So I decided to do something about it." She reached out and put her hand over Crawford's. "I haven't felt this good in years, Brad. It feels so good to help out others."

Crawford patted her hand. "I'm glad, Mother. It's good to see you so happy." And I will do what I have to do to keep it that way, he thought as he squeezed her hand.

----

"So, how did it go with your mother?" Schuldig asked. Crawford looked surprised, off-balance at the unexpected question. "Fine," he finally said. "Report."

"The kid was a dead end. All the way around." Schuldig leaned back in his chair, balancing it on two legs. "So I guess we'd better do some sniffing around at the university. The kid had a pass there. He obviously used to live on campus while he was participating in this study."

"Him and Rochelle both." Crawford studied the files in front of him. "It would be safe to assume that the others did, too. We'll have to see if we can find out more there."

"Wonderful," Schuldig said sarcastically. "I always wanted to go back to school."

"Good. Because that's exactly what you'll be doing." Crawford began to type up an email on his laptop.

Schuldig's chair came down on all four legs with a bang. "Excuse me?"

"I can't go," Crawford explained reasonably. "It's well known by too many people around here that I went to school overseas." Crawford pointed to Schuldig with a pen. "You, on the other hand, are an unknown face. If we enroll you, it isn't going to raise any suspicions." Crawford pressed the send button. "I've requisitioned a cover identity for you with a suitable academic record."

"Any academic record would be more suitable than the one I have," Schuldig muttered. "Come on, Brad. Why don't we just break in tonight and do some poking around?"

"It's Crawford. And this is a big campus, Schuldig. Where do you propose we start?" At Schuldig's silence, Crawford continued. "It won't be for long. The faster you work, the faster you get out."

"I'm not going to class," Schuldig warned.

"Yes you are," Crawford countered. "You never know where the information you might need will be. The more you're on campus, the more likely it will be that you'll come across the information we need. And what more legitimate reason than to be in class?"

"Damn it."

----

A/N: Thanks to-
The Masked Instigator – We'll be seeing more of Claire here and there as the story goes on, as well as Brad's relationship with her.
Yanagi-sen – Hmm. I don't think it was kindness that motivated Schuldig, more a wish to get it done as efficiently as possible.
Lily - Thank you. The contrasts are fun for me. Hell, Schu is fun for me. I wouldn't mind being a telepath. I'd probably be a little evil, too.
Lestat197 – Patience is rewarded, here's another chapter. Chapter 7 will be posted in the next day or two.
TrenchcoatMan – Oh, GOD. Would you believe I didn't even think of the X-Men when I came up with Xavier's name? And I'm a big fan, too. Or I was, before the comic books got out of hand.
Precognition74 – Thank you for your interest. I'll answer as best I can. It's because Schwarz still works for Esset, even if it's just superficially, and Esset wants the talents dead. Because they want to make examples of them, don't want them to become competition, or etc, take your pick out of the possible reasons.
Lyra Stormrider – The translations are a huge help. My gratitude for providing them! Now my future fics don't have to be quite so AU, unless I want them to be, that is. The whole Farf/Sally thing. . . And you're spot on. It should have been 'wasn't.' Thanks for catching that. I'll need to have a word with my beta about that one and get it fixed, ASAP.
Hisoka – I had wondered where you went. Good to see you back. Sorry to hear about your computer troubles. They can be frustrating. Your little sister must be nicer than mine was. My little sister was a girl scout years ago, and she never gave me a free box of anything. Lucky!