CHAPTER THREE
Mega stared blankly, the name having no affect on him.
"May." Lex repeated. "She was a Mallrat."
Mega continued to stare blankly. It was the following day and the finding of May had left Lex uneasy. He had another sleepless night sitting up and smoking in the dark as he stared out at the city. May disappeared nine months before without a trace. She used to dance in several different clubs including The Palace at one time or other. Before that she made an honest living and lived in a nice flat. She'd gotten mixed up with a new drug being manufactured somewhere in the Badlands which was somehow being smuggled into the New City.
The drug issue didn't matter to Mega who argued that the people had to have their fun. As long as it was kept on the sly. Once May went way of addiction, she couldn't hold it together. She was arrested and almost thrown out of the city but was placed on probation instead. Then she disappeared on her own. No scanning records indicated that she'd left the city suggesting she'd found a way over the wall. This seemed highly unlikely. Though the walls had access ladders placed there for repairs, the tops were covered in barbed wire and other nasty metals. A person trying to get in or out could literally be shredded.
"I still don't see why this matters." Mega finally spoke. "She left and got herself killed. From her records she was scraping bottom anyway so consider it suicide. Case closed."
Lex nodded from his position near the door. "I agree and it's not that I even care about her really... it's just," He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Doesn't it seem odd that someone would kill her and then drag her to the gate? As if they wanted her to be discovered. To make a point. And on top of that none of the border guards saw anything. I read the paper this morning and if I was a typical civilian I'd be afraid to travel the main road. That sort of press could kill our trades with the farms."
Mega ground his teeth together as he thought about Lex's logic. The success of the city required people to feel safe. He couldn't have some sand flea from the dark side threatening the illusion of safety he worked so hard to maintain.
"I just want permission to ask a few questions. It's most likely drug related and she didn't pay up. I just want to be sure."
"What about the surveillance tapes?"
Lex shook his head. "Somehow an entire five minutes is missing from the footage. The guard claims it was clicked off accidentally. Careless but I have no reason to think he's lying."
The door to Mega's office opened and a lovely Goddess of a woman stepped in. Her dark hair fell down her back in silky waves that swayed as she moved. She wore a hand sewn velvet maternity dress that came down to her leather boots. Her jewelry was tasteful and her makeup flawless. She smiled at both men before walking to Mega's desk.
Mega stood up and kissed her cheek. "Where are you going?"
"Shopping. And then I thought I'd stop by the school for story hour. I adore the little ones." She beamed.
Mega smiled back lost in her eyes. "Want me to call down so you'll have a buggy waiting?"
She shook her head gently. "I think I'll walk. It's not far and exercise is good for the baby."
"You're not going alone are you?" Concern in his voice.
"Connie is waiting for me in the lobby." She referred to her servant.
Lex looked down to hide the amusement on his face. Getting married to Chiava was the best thing to happen for Mega. Since their nuptials a year ago, he seemed almost human. She had to be the only person capable of bringing out the man behind the stony expression he always wore. His mechanical nature melted away every time he looked at her.
"Are you boys almost done?" She asked as Mega helped her with her chenille wrap.
"Yes." Mega nodded.
"Then perhaps Lex can walk me out." She looked at both men for their approval.
Lex waited for Mega to nod before he too nodded in agreement.
"Good." She met Mega's lips with her own. "I'll be in the hall" She smiled at Lex before slipping out the door.
Mega smiled at the door before catching himself and reclaiming his usual expression of disinterest.
"Alright Lex. Ask your questions. Just don't alarm anyone and don't let it affect your work."
"Thank you." Lex nodded before letting himself out.
Chiava met him with a smile as she waited for the elevator. Lex stood beside her in silence as the elevator dinged and then opened. Inside he pushed the button for the lobby and continued his silence. Mega and Chiava lived in sector one in the Shorefront which boasted the largest and finest apartments in the city. It had been a luxury hotel in the old world with perfect views of the ocean. During reconstruction, Mega's people renovated the suites creating large family apartments. Only the highest city officials were granted access to live in the Shorefront. Jay being a judge lived with Amber and their kids on the third floor though Lex never had any reason to visit them. Lex could live there if he wanted but he felt more comfortable in sector six with the common folk.
"I read about your friend." Chiava said softly. "The Mallrat. I'm sorry she's dead."
Lex stared at the numbers as they made their way down from the sixth floor. "She wasn't exactly my friend."
"I know but you did share a tribe once. She's part of your history. Something that should be remembered and respected."
Nodding, Lex gave her a small smile. "Thanks."
In the lobby Chiava gave him a slight hug. Lex made sure to keep his hands to himself aware of the cameras.
"Take care of yourself Lex." She waved before joining her servant out front.
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Lex knew he was late as he rang the doorbell, flowers in one hand. He began to blurt his apology as soon as the door opened.
"I'm sorry. I got caught up at work..."
The blond laughed. "Hey you!"
They greeted one another with cheek kisses as she let him in and took his coat.
"So like I said it was work..."
She waved him off. "Don't worry about it. We had a kitchen emergency so looks like we'll be ordering out. Come get comfortable but watch your step."
Lex followed careful not to step on one of the zillion toys that littered the hardwood floor. He could hear running footsteps upstairs and a toddler's laughter. The kitchen looked as though a blender had lost it's top while on frappe'. Stewed veggies and red sauce had splattered onto every surface of the usually pristine kitchen, including the ceiling. He chuckled as he sat on a bar stool careful not to touch any of the goo.
"Looks like a war went on."
"Yeah and Jeremiah won." The girl laughed and picked up the wash cloth she'd been using when Lex first knocked.
"Jenny?" A voice called down the stairs. "Who's here?"
"It's just Lex!" Jenny called back.
"Sorry Lex! I'll be right down!" There was laughter and fumbling in the hallway. "Jeremiah!" More running.
"You thirsty?" Jenny pointed towards the bar.
Lex shrugged. "Just a little."
Just as Jenny finished pouring the drinks Lex turned to see Salene coming down the stairs with a bouncing Vietnamese boy on her hip. She was soaked from chest to knee from trying to fight him in the tub.
"Hey you." She greeted him with a kiss to the cheek.
Lex held up the flowers and smirked. "We could always wrap them in your shirt. It's certainly wet enough."
Salene laughed as she took the flowers with her free hand. "Very funny. You just wait until you settle down. I can't wait to see you give one of these a bath."
Jeremiah giggled as he plucked off the head of one of the daisies. "F'ower." He pointed and sniffed dramatically.
Jenny and Lex laughed as Salene told the daisy head. "Miah," She scolded gently. "Don't ruin the nice flowers Lexy wexy brought for Mommy."
"Down." Jeremiah demanded sternly and raced off to the living room as soon as his bare toes touched the floor.
"He's growing fast." Lex remarked watching the strong little boy play with a dump truck. "He'll be taller than me any day now."
Salene caught the flicker of sadness cloud Lex's gray eyes momentarily and she knew he was thinking of the child he lost. Having lost her own baby once she understood it was a longing that never faded completely. She reached over and gently squeezed his arm and gave him a small smile.
"Let me help Jenny sort this mess out and we'll have dinner."
After a good scrubbing, in which Lex rolled up and his sleeves and helped, two bedtime stories and a quick run to the Fry-up Hut down the street, the three friends sat around the living room rubbing their full stomachs. Since coming to the New City Lex and Salene had made it a tradition to have dinner once a week. In the beginning Salene had tried to involve other Mallrats but their new lives interceded and it never caught on. She was now the only former Mallrat Lex ever saw on a regular friendly basis and they'd grown quite close.
Salene worked as a teacher and was chairman at the Children's Home. She worked with unwanted and orphaned children both from the Badlands and the New City. Finding them homes when possible and helping them find their own way when it wasn't possible. That was how she came across Jeremiah. A routine sweep through the dark side turned up a week old baby in a dumpster. Lex himself chose to bring the struggling infant to Salene knowing that if he wasn't going to make it, she'd love him enough for a lifetime. But Miah defied the odds and flourished under her care. A month later they were officially mother and son. Seven months ago she met Jenny who was a new volunteer. Jenny was about four years younger but the two of them hit it off from the start. Within a couple months Jenny had moved in and they were playing "My Two Moms" with Miah.
"Aw man," Jenny moaned. " I have to get to bed."
Lex glanced at the clock. "It's not even nine."
"She has to be at the paper by four." Salene gazed softly into space.
"Yup. Poor me." Jenny rolled off the couch and sprawled onto the floor making the three of them laugh loudly. "Shhhhh!" She stifled her laughter with a finger to her lips. "Don't you dare wake up that boy!"
"Drink much?" Lex teased and Salene hid her laughter behind a pillow.
Jenny smacked him with another throw pillow before kissing Salene goodnight and stumbling upstairs. After they were left alone Lex and Salene sat silently. Finally Salene kicked Lex's leg forcing him out of his revere'. He looked over at her.
"You're thinking about May aren't you?" She asked knowingly. "And the others."
He didn't answer. Not that he needed to. They'd talked about this every year around the anniversary of their leaving the mall. The last day they were Mallrats. It haunted Lex and put him in a dark mood all season. The separation had left a large open gash within his soul that never seemed to heal properly and was reopened every fall.
"I understand Lex." Salene said gently. "We were all orphans forced together by fate and eventually became a family. We went through so much together and for the most part managed to survive it. And everything we hoped for and fought for, we finally got it with this city. And ironically this is the one thing that finally ripped us apart. Almost like being orphaned all over again."
Lex swallowed at the truth of her words.
"But you can't let it ruin you." Salene continued. "Remember the good times with a smile and forget the sad times. I know it will always hurt a little but you have to move on."
"I've moved on." Lex said unconvincingly.
"Have you?" Sitting up Salene tossed a pillow at him. "What other close friends do you spend time with besides Jen and me? When was the last time you went out socially? The last time you had a date?" She nudged his stiff knee. "The last time you had a girlfriend Lex."
He held the pillow tightly using it as a shield against her words. As though silence would make them less true.
Salene knelt beside him and stroked his cheek. "We've all been hurt hun but you can't keep blocking people out because your scared. Let someone in Lex."
Though he didn't want to hear them, he appreciated the kindness of her words and gave her a slight smile.
"I'll try."