Orphans Beloved: "Beth Rhymes With Death…"
Summary: Like my Immortal Beloved and Sheldon Swifties bits in my Buffyverse and Sheldonverse, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later.
(Note-We'll see how this goes. Art gets an unexpected visit, creating unexpected complications.)
Disclaimer: No copy write infringement intended…
Part III…
Toronto Metro Police HQ…
Where a frowning Lieutenant Hardcastle was giving Sarah Manning, seated by Art Bell in his cubicle, a grim stare…
"She's just here to help out, Lieutenant." Art noted, putting up hands. "She wants to clear things regards Beth's death."
Sarah, catching from Art's gestures her best policy was silent contrition remaining still with slight but not overly so contrite expression…
"She belongs in jail for impersonating an officer." Hardcastle coldly. "Is she of any use to you in this?"
"Absolutely." Art nodded.
"I don't know she's here. I don't want to see her around here again unless you can give me ironclad proof she's vital to your investigation."
"Yes, sir." Art nodded. Sarah, carefully silent and subdued.
"All right." Hardcastle paused. "It's good to see you again, Beth." He eyed Sarah sadly and headed back to his office, slamming door.
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have come." Sarah noted, sadly. "I don't mind angry but I see I'm hurtin' everybody here."
"Not everybody…" Art gave her an even look. "Beth could be a bit of a princess bitch at times." Grin.
Sheepish grin… "I did get that from a few folks…" Sarah nodded.
"Well, I mainly wanted to see if I could get you in…So now we know no one will arrest you on sight and if things do south badly you might be able to run here, for a breather." Smile. "At least Dyad's or the Proleithians' goons would take a little time before chargin' in here."
"Thanks…Art…You've been the best friend a clone of your best friend could have…" wan smile.
"I guess I like to see Beth again too." He noted, turning to the computer to avoid Sarah's tearing-up…
"And I did want to see if Helena's stirred up any trouble as herself or any one of you…" he eyed the computer.
…..
"Any chance you could tell me what this is about…? I got a schedule to keep." the oil tank trucker in heavy coat and flap-eared hat eyed the Mark clone sergeant and his four men, the men now swarming over his large tank truck on the snow-slick road.
"Matter of national security, sir. I can't tell you any more. Could we take a walk?" clearly not meaning it as a request…
The trucker eyed the tall, well-built, and well-armed soldier…Hmmn.
"Uh…I guess." he followed Mark.
"I'm not gonna be shot, am I?" he asked as they moved into a small grove, trees covered in snow.
"Only if you're lying to me without duress." Cool reply. "Are you being compelled by anyone, sir?"
"What?"
"Is a female forcibly riding with you, holding your family or a friend, or threatening you in any way?"
"A female? A woman? No…" the trucker in consternation… "Why do you think…?"
"Can't answer that, sir. I had to check if you were under duress. For your own safety and anyone the woman might be endangering if you have anything to tell me, say so now."
"No…" the trucker shook head. "No one's got me 'under duress' or whatever…There's no one with me."
The soldier eyed him calmly, considering. Then looked over to where the squad had completed its search…
Nothing…A private mouthed.
"All right, sir. You may proceed. And the government of Canada thanks you for your support here." the soldier nodded, offering hand which the trucker shook, a bit stunned.
"Expect that you may be stopped again. I assure you, it's nothing personal."
"Uh…Right…Well, thanks. I'll be on my way." Nod.
The soldier and his squad, collected by him now watched the tanker head off.
"See he's stopped again in twenty miles. If she did evade us somehow, she may relax." He told one of the men who pulled radio and began speaking…
"She couldn't be…" the private who'd waved all clear stared at him as the one on radio gave the order to stop the tanker further down the highway. "…we searched every nook and cranny on that thing."
"Maybe so…But my orders are to assume she can do the impossible. And I've seen proof of it." Grim sigh.
From a snowbank, up the side of the steep hill from the highway, Helena peered a bit.
Just got off in time…Hmmn…Well, what's to do now…?
Not exactly a good place to hitch-hike. She watched as three of the squad drove off in one enclosed jeep, the other and the sergeant waiting behind at their own vehicle.
Well…They wants so much to find me…She reflected.
….
"So how are we feeling?" cheery tone from the tall figure Beth could now recognize as the "Dr. Nealon" who seemed to be in charge of her…Rachel's…Care. And a reasonably "big" fellow at Dyad. Though clearly her subordinate…
"Better, thanks." She nodded slightly, trying to avoid much talk as she was uncertain how she sounded and willing to bet from the attitude of those coming into her presence that her sister Rachel was not much on socializing with inferiors.
"Good. Well, your tests are showing steady improvement and I see you've been eating. Excellent." Nealon closed the chart he'd placed on the bed. "I can also tell you, if you feel able to bear some work-related news…" She nodded… "Good…That so far no attempt's been made by Manning or her people to come after you or Dyad with charges. We seem to be in the clear, so far."
"Great." She looked away.
"It won't be long, Rachel…" he eyed her. "I will replace that eye…Whatever must be done…And we will get Manning back…And her daughter."
"I think…" she paused…
"Yes?"
"I think we should go slow there, Doctor. You understand…I'd say I'd been taught something of a lesson."
"Such as? More firepower, perhaps…?"
Hmmn…
I don't think he's joking…She eyed him.
"Amusing, doctor, but I think it's best if we assume a lower profile with Sarah Manning and the others. I mean, if we want her here with us…Voluntarily."
Nealon stared. "I hardly think she'd volunteer for the oophorectomy, Rachel."
She blinked…Oophor…?
"Well, I simply mean…In light of recent events…"
"Of course…" he nodded. "Topside is apparently edgy about things. It's best to back off a bit…I don't mean to criticize your strategy."
"Good." Curt reply…Sensing it was what he expected. "But I am grateful to you, doctor. I know I owe you my life."
"To some extent." He nodded calmly. "But you were lucky that Manning's aim while good was imperfect."
"She may not have wanted to kill me…" Beth noted. "In any case she had cause to be angry."
Hmmn…From the look on his face, I'd say I'm going a little too…
"Anyway, that's the line we'll take…No further action against my sister, for now."
"Probably unavoidable in any case until we identify who arranged Manning's release and is working against you at Topside." Nealon, thoughtfully.
Hmmn…Reasonable and good strategy…But…
Hardly Rachel Duncan's style at the best of times…And these are not the best of times…And not only is her position in jeopardy, thanks to Sarah, something she can't be unaware of
The woman is missing an eye, damnit…Again, thanks to Manning.
She kept talking about Beth while weak…Beth Childs, our deceased clone whose life Manning took over?
Ah…Ridiculous. Just some odd obsession…Perhaps because Beth is the only one who hadn't confronted her or broken formally with us? And was in a position of power though her own efforts? The one of them she admired, a bit at least? And there was that foolishness with Beth's ex-monitor, Dierden. Yes…Clearly she's obsessed with Childs, or was, given she seems to be free of that now.
Still, no harm in monitoring her…A duty, to the project, really…