Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Apologies for the long delay!
Arthur swallowed and sat up. Rubbing his forehead, he scanned the briefly unfamiliar surroundings. Where was he? What had happened?
Suddenly, as if in unspoken answer to his thoughts, Mal Cobb appeared. She was holding a steaming cup, and handed it to him. "Here."
"Thank you." As he took the ceramic mug, filled nearly to the brim with black coffee, she sat down next to him. "Thanks for letting me stay here."
She shook her head. "Its no problem. You know we consider you family, not company." She looked at her hands. "Dom called the hospital first thing this morning. We can visit Eames later today."
Arthur took a sip. "Good." He began to stand up. "Where's Ariadne?"
Mal pointed down the hallway. "In the spare room." She began to get up herself. "Dom has a meeting with the Superintendent of the school district today." He caught her eyes: there was an unease in them which unnerved him. "I'm driving over there myself – we can see Eames this afternoon."
Arthur nodded. "Good, I'll call you." He rubbed his face. "I'd better go home and take a shower." He took another swallow of the scalding coffee, and sert the cup on the side. "See you later."
Mal looked at him, frowning slightly. "You can shower here."
"No clean clothes." Arthur said, smiling. Leaning over, he kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, anyway."
She nodded. Shrugging into his jacket, he grabbed his car keys, and headed for the door.
Dom swallowed as he sat outside the Superintendent's office. His palms were clammy, and he bit his lip. Did he have time to go the washroom and get tissue? Walking into the other man's office, with sweaty palms, was not professional.
After what seemed an eternity, the door to the office opened. "Mr Cobb?" A young woman, dressed in a nondescript blouse, poked her head round the door.
Cobb stood up, adjusting his tie. "Yes?"
"The superintendent will see you now."
Arthur drove, the radio tuned to a rock station, hoping the music might help to clear his head. His mind raked over the events of the previous evening. He and Arthur had driven back to the school site, to be greeted by forensics and a police team. The site, he noted, was being combed thoroughly.
"What do you conclude?" Cobb remembered Arthur asking one of the detectives. The young man shook his head.
"At the moment, I'm not sure," he'd said, carefully. "Forensics are still searching." He flipped open his notebook, and his face assumed a puzzled expression. "Are you Dominic Cobb?"
"No. Arthur Ogilvie. Vice Principal." Arthur looked at him. "What are you searching for?"
"Human remains." The young man's eyes didn't flinch as he looked directly at Arthur. "If someone was in the premises at the time, and the fire was started deliberately, then its arson – and murder."
Arthur shuddered. "I-"
"Mr Ogilvie," the detective broke in, his tone not devoid of kindness, "May I suggest you go home, and get some sleep? You and Mr Cobb will be contacted." He handed him his card. "If anything turns up, I will call you. Ok?"
Arthur nodded. The trustworthiness of the young detective had to be genuine, he thought. "Thank you, Detective Blake."
Blake smiled. "No problem." Shrugging further into his dark jacket, he moved into the shadows, joining the forensics squad. Arthur shivered. Where they were standing had been the music room. He swallowed, his memories jostling.
"Arthur?" Cobb spoke at his elbow. "Come on. Let's go back to my place. I told Ariadne to take a cab there." Putting his hand on his Vice Principal's arm, the two men moved silently towards their cars.
Mal had greeted them with kisses, and expressions of concern "What's happened?"
Cobb rubbed his face. "Its a long story." Smiling tiredly, they allowed her to usher them into the kitchen, where, Arthur saw, soup and coffee were waiting for them.
"Eat," she commanded, patting Cobb on the shoulder. "You too, Arthur."
He'd accepted the bowl of hot tomato soup, and then focused on eating whilst Cobb explained, as carefully as he could, the situation at the school. Mal had said nothing, simply got up to refill their quickly drained coffee cups.
"So, what happens next?"
Cobb shook his head, dully. "I don't know." Suddenly, his cell phone rang. He pulled it out, frowning. "Hello?" His face tightened, and he got up. Mal looked at Arthur and smiled, sympathetically.
"More soup?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine."
She tutted. "You'll waste away." She picked up his bowl and carried it to the sink, then proceeded to pour herself a glass of water, and sat down at the table. Suddenly, Cobb walked back in, his expression tense. Mal looked up.
"What's wrong?"
"Superintendent." He tossed the cell phone on the table, scowling as thought it had bitten him. "He wants to see me tomorrow. About this." He shook his head. "God knows what's going to happen."
His shoulders slumping, he turned and left the room, Mal hurrying after him.
Arthur shook his head, gripping the wheel tightly. He needed to get to the bottom of it, he decided. Maybe I should have mentioned this to Blake. Then he stopped himself. Blake was an outsider – this, he argued internally, was coming from the inside.
He stopped in front of an expensive looking apartment block, carefully locking his car door as he got out. Straightening his shoulders, he opened the lobby, and headed for the elevators. He knew which floor he needed.
He rode the elevator to the penthouse, and waited for the metal doors to slide open. Squaring himself, he walked to apartment 312, and rang the doorbell.
After a few minutes, the door opened. Arthur turned, and smiled. Robert Fischer stood in the doorway, dressed relatively casually – black designer jeans, a white shirt, and light jacket. His eyes narrowed as he observed Arthur.
Suddenly, Arthur noticed two expensive pieces of luggage in the hallway – packed and strapped up.
"Robert," he said, his voice casual. "Can I come in?"
Robert shook his head. "No," he said, almost curtly. "Not for coffee, tea, or water. I'm going away."
Arthur smiled tightly. "No. No, you're not."
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