"Alex" The boss greeted, still hiding in the darkness, as Nelson promptly left "I trust you managed to say your farewells"
"Yes" I nodded "I did"
"Good. Now." He began "Any thoughts on your second request?"
"I think I want to see my parents" I told him
"Are you certain?" He asked "There will only be one more request left"
"I'm sure" I decided "But, tell me...they are dead, too. Where are they?"
"They are under a different establishment" He explained "Officers death's that are somehow involved with their duty come to me. I have no knowledge of what happens elsewhere"
"Shouldn't families be together?" I questioned
"The way heaven is organised is under inspections and investigation. It will go through some changes I expect" He said, gloomily
"Well, that's good isn't it?" I wondered, both asking the boss and myself
"If changes occur, perhaps there will be no place for me" He sighed
"This place should be kept up to date with the modern times" I decided "It still seems like it's very literally stuck in the eighties"
"So it would seem" He frowned "I'm sure I could run the discipline and complaints unit if things made a turn for the worse"
"I wouldn't suggest it!" I laughed "You'd end up like Jim Keats"
"Pah!" He coughed rudely "That man's name isn't even worthy of being spoken. He should rot like everyone he has persuaded to become injurious"
"I can't say I don't agree, sir" I smiled
"Oh, Alex" He said "Enough of the formalities. Let's get down to business. Your parents?"
"Yes" I answered, bringing myself back to the matter at hand "Seeing them again would be my second request"
"Of course" He granted, in a pleasant tone which gave the impression he was smiling in the darkness "Nelson!"
"It's just through there" He said, pointing to a large, heavy door "I can't take you any further. I have a bar to run"
Nelson disappeared once more, and left me standing in the darkness alone. I pushed the door open, at was at once greeted by a scarily tall man.
"I am here to see Tim and Caroline Price" I stated, as confidently as I could possibly manage
"Name?" He ordered, briefly looking down at the clipboard he was holding, and holding his pen over a box that read 'T and C Price'
"Alex Drake" She told him, and he crossed out the appointment sheet as she did so
"Go ahead" He nodded towards the door, "They will be waiting in Room Three"
"Your parents?" Gene asked, just to clarify
"Yeah" Alex said, sitting up, "Don't worry, I've nearly finished"
"Mum? Dad?" I called, walking into Room Three. I was amazed at the resemblance between the room and the interview room in the station. It was then that is suddenly dawned on me, that they were solicitors. Of course their heaven would be much like the process of prosecuting both criminals and the innocent wherever they saw fit. I had always has a decent opinion of them, but since working with you, Gene, I realised I was copying your mannerisms and becoming a little bitter. So bitter, in fact, that it almost didn't seem right in calling them 'Mum' and 'Dad.'
"Alex?" Caroline frowned, as she saw me, "Is it really you?"
"I'm sorry" Tim apologised "We didn't know who you were before...that you were our daughter...our beautiful grown up daughter"
"Its fine" I smiled "You thought I was still eight years old"
"What are you doing here, anyway?" Caroline asked "You should be enjoying yourself"
"It's hard to enjoy myself, when everything I love isn't with me" I told them, sadly
"Your daughter?" Tim wondered "Molly isn't it?"
"Yeah" I nodded "I have my friends...but I want to be back with..."
"Hunt?" Caroline said sourly
"Now that you mention it" I gradually got onto the topic I had really wanted to discuss. But, I was treading on thin ground already, "I've been meaning to ask you something"
"What's that?" Asked Tim, blissfully unaware
"Why did you try to kill me?" I asked, as innocently as I could, though inside I was burning with rage and questions "How did you decide, that it was right for your eight year old daughter to perish as a result of a car bomb because of her mother's affair? Because, I am struggling to understand your position of thought, here"
"W...Well, A...A...Alex..." He began, stammering as he became nervous and uncomfortable "I thought we should be together
"Oh" I said, simply "It doesn't matter you tried to murder your innocent child, as long as you were all dead together, and to let someone else take the blame further down the line. I ask you, do you have any idea what it was like? Growing up? Being a teenager without a mum? Because I tell you, it wasn't pleasant"
"Alex!" He exclaimed "Don't you see? That's why I did it! I wanted you not to have to suffer for your mothers doings"
"And may I ask..." I interrupted, ignoring him completely "How the hell did you get into heaven?"
"Alex!" Caroline shouted "No matter at your he did, he is still your father!"
"Father?" I mocked "Perhaps. But he isn't my dad. Dad's don't try and kill their child. So father, he may well be, but he will never be my dad"
"If that's how you feel, Alex" Caroline said softly
"I hate myself for leaving Molly alone" I spat "You you can show no remorse, and nothing but selfishness"
"Is that what this is all about?" Tim asked "You leaving Molly?"
"Yes" I nodded "And about being lie to. I went through my whole life, thinking my parents were some marvellous people, influencing the judges and the jury in the courtrooms. But they weren't, were they? My mother? Well, she had an affair with my godfather. My father? He blew himself and his wife to bits. If anything, I'm thankful to fate for bringing me here, and opening my eyes. I wish I could of seen it before"
"DRAKE!" The scary tall man shouted, storming into the room "You are causing too much disruption in our tranquillity. Please leave and return to The Railway Arms. The boss wants to see you"
"Of course he does" I sighed "Request number three"
"Alex!" He bellowed, as I stepped in front of the desk "Vernon tells me you made quite a LOUD impression"
"You could say that" I said "I just wanted to tell them. Let them know what I thought"
"You could have made your last conversation with your parents a little less heated and a bit more considerate, sympathetic and pleasant"
"At least it was memorable" I smiled, embarrassingly, "They never really cared much for me"
"I'm sure that's not true" He protested
"Perhaps" I agreed "But, selfishness is a definite trate they both share equally"
"I won't deny that, Alex" He told me honestly, "But, let's get on with what we are both here for"
"Ah" I said simply "The last request"
"Indeed. This will be the last time we shall speak. I must say, you have been much more enjoyable in company than any others I've had the displeasure to satisfy in their revolt"
"Thank you" I grinned "I should also mention, for the boss, you are very considerate. I will miss your honesty"
"Alex, Alex, let's not get too emotional" He laughed "Because of your excellence, I will give you this final request with much more freedom and I'm sure I could make a few exceptions"
"That's the thing, really" I admitted "I want to be an exception to the rule"
"I don't think I follow..." He said "But, do carry on"
"Well" I began "I'm not sure you're going to like what I have to say, but..."
