"What are you saying?" I asked with annoyance. "Don't you realize that this is a person who believes in auras, magic, and crap like that? Did I mention that she's a teenager under the influence of a manipulative cult leader? " Couldn't he see the necessity of this plan?
"I uh...don't see Rick having those kinda visions" he lied badly, trying to sound like some veteran actor. Talk about a lame excuse!
"Rick is my creation, Charlie!" I reminded him. It was true. Who came up with the character? Who decided his background and abilities? Me!
"Which I made a reality!" he countered awkwardly. "My interpretation of him makes me know him more than you"
"Now I know what the Cohen brothers' parents feel like" Dad remarked drolly, but decided to play peacemaker. "Okay boys, That's it. let's step back for a minute. 'Rick' belongs to the both of you."
"Listen! I've done a little more undercover work than you" I said firmly to my brother. "This is the way we gotta play it."
"Don..."
"Let's practice!" I cut him off. "Do it the way I just showed you" I didn't wanna act this way towards him, but there was a young girl to think about.
He sulked at me.
"Look, Buddy, you gotta trust me on this!" I quickly and with some effort put on a gentler tone. This wasn't gonna work if he did his part half heartedly. "This is the push Elizabeth needs to get out of that environment. Believe me!"
"I don't know..." he repeated.
"How many times did I trust your theories without really understanding them?" I asked.
"Quite a few" he admitted.
"How about returning the favor?" I asked in a teasing voice and with a smile.
"Okay..." Charlie finally agreed.
Finally, we practiced, practiced, and practiced. Charlie eventually did it well enough, but not to the point of looking like a ham. Dad, after some complaining went to crash at the house of a friend.
"Here buddy" I began after sorting bills by denomination, and paper clipping the various ones. After all Rick was blind. Charlie graded papers. "This should be enough for the cab." I had taken out money before going to the bar.
"I got it, man!" he shook his head.
"I'm getting reimbursed anyway" I insisted. It was true. Besides, I didn't want him, on top of everything to pay for my case related expenses. "And they're already fixed"
"Don't worry about it" he wouldn't take the money.
After some more arguing, he accepted the money. However, it was on the on the condition that I allow a month before doing anything about the office.
He fell asleep on the couch, while I went to bed late. Around three, the alarm rang, and gingerly I got up. After putting cold water on my face, I went to the living room to wake up Charlie. I could barely keep from yelping as I stepped on a pen.
"It's time buddy!"
Charlie got up with a moan, showered as I made coffee for us, and dressed in his costume. Then, I called the cab. After a while, we heard a 'beep beep!'
"That's my cue!" he said nervously.
"I've got faith in you buddy!" I encouraged him. With a weak smile, he got the cane, and left.
TBC