I'd just found her...and now she's disappeared again. I knew that she'd most likely wandered off to go and talk to someone. Maybe there was press here?

Could they be interviewing her?

She might know some things about sighted guide, but I'd have to talk to her about ghosting on a blind person. This is the second time it's happened. The first time was when we'd met. She just left without saying she was going to. Then today, she just wandered off. I might have to talk to her about it. I really would hate to have to bring attention to it. I don't want to come across clingy or desperate. However, it makes life easier and safer if I know where someone is if we are out together.

It's okay for her to go on without me if she needs to. Still, the verbal confirmation of her leaving, where she'll be, and how to get there in some situations is extremely important.

I can't be too hard on her though. She just went through being kidnapped. That's traumatic in its own right. She wasn't just kidnapped by some random thug, but her own father's murderer. I'm sure that memories of the pain of losing Lionel were fresh on her mind.

Well, if it continues after today, then I'll say something to her. Hopefully, she'll catch on and I won't have to say anything.

So focused was I on my thoughts of Kayley, I waa caught completely off guard when Arthur approached me. Laying his hand on my shoulder, he boomed in admiration, "That was really great what you did. I couldn't have detained him if you hadn't disoriented him with that strike."

I jumped when he laid his hand on my shoulder. Not because it bothered me this time, but rather, he'd just started me.

"Oh, I apologise. I didn't mean to give you a fright." he chuckled.

"It's alright, Agent Pen. I was lost in thought and didn't hear you approach me. Downside to there being lots of commotion, I'm afraid." I replied.

"I would think so." he said.

"Are there any press here?" I asked.

"Yes, actually. They're outside interviewing Julianna and Kayley. It was a big thing in the news when Lionel died. He was very active in the city. His death took a toll on everyone." Arthur informed me.

That took me by surprise. I'm not sure why it did, I knew that Lionel was one of the heads in the London Police Department. I guess I just never thought of him outside the roles of my friend and mentor, and him being a husband and dad. Speaking of which, it was time for me to get back to Kayley. I know all too well how shaken up a person can become after something crazy happens.

"It really did. Are they outside in the front or the back?" I asked him.

"I believe that they're out front. The police are still looking over where Ruber broke in to this place." he stated.

"Great. Well, would you mind taking me to them?" I questioned.

"Not at all." he replied.

"Thanks. I'm going to place my hand on your shoulder. You just let me know when we approach steps, obstacles, and doorways. Alright?" I let him know.

"Very well. Let's be off." he said.

Arthur proved to be an exceptional guide. He was prompt and courteous for our walk from the second story to the front entrance of the main level.

I could tell when we got to the main entry. Although, I'd lost my sight, I still maintained light perception. It is very odd for a blind person to "see" absolutely nothing. Blindness isn't a solidity, but rather a spectrum. Only an extremely small percentage of blind people experience absolute nothingness. Others, can see some things, yet their vision is so low that they fall into the "legally blind" category.

For those who do "see" nothing, some describe it as trying to see out of your elbow. It's just nothing.

My accident in the car was so severe that it placed me into the "almost nothing" category. I can't make out shapes, images, or colors. I slowly went from blurriness to almost nothing. What I mean by "almost nothing" is that I still maintain light perception. Aside from that though, everything is like a empty fog.

I'm grateful I've still got light perception. It has been quite useful.

Arthur's voice cut in, "Door straight ahead."

He leaned forward and pushed the old door open. It moaned and groaned as we walked through.

There seemed to be a good sized crowd out here. All the voices combined created a buzzing, mumbling effect. If you could imagine being stuck inside of a beehive, it was similar to that.

I couldn't pick out Julianna's or Kayley's voices amongst the thrall of reporters and photographers.

Arthur had caught the memo of not ghosting the blind dude. He set a hand on my shoulder and raised his voice so I could hear him over all the chaos, "My boss is waving me over. I have to go and inform her of everything that happened. I'm leaving you here. We're at the top staircase that leads down to a very uneven sidewalk. If you decide to leave here, be careful when you go down. The edge of the top is about three feet in front of you. There's five steps down. I've got to go." He gave me a friendly slap on the back and proceeded.

Should I stay put? Or, should I go ahead and traverse the crowd?

Ugh. These are the kinds of situations that I always dreaded. However, realistically, these types of situations don't happen to regular Joe's. Nothing like this had happened to me before.

I was even more so realizing how much I had given in to paranoia in my past. It won't be easy and it will take a lot of work, prayer, and support. I am ready to fight back. Not just in dire situations to rescue loved ones, but in everyday circumstances. Lionel used to tell me that I was like family to him. A couple days before he died, he called my mum and asked for permission to pick me up that weekend to be able to meet his family. It didn't happen then, yet somehow, ten years later, it did.

Suddenly, a man, who was then joined by a few more voices around him began chanting in unison:

"Are you the one that rescued Ms. Reeves? Sir?! Sir?! Could we get your name and some comments?!?!"

Shock, nausea, and anxiety took over me. I didn't which direction these people were coming from. Now, I was stuck here on these steps.

Dear God, please send one of the Reeves ladies over here...QUICKLY.

Kayley was glad she was able to give some information on what had happened to the media. It was time that the city knew Lionel Reeves' family could finally, and completely be at rest. Now, she just had to find Garrett. Where could he be?

It was these kinds of times that made her wish she had a button to make herself taller. She was about five foot six. She wasn't short by any means, but not tall either. Her mother on the other hand, was five foot nine. If she were with her, Kayley would have asked her mum to use her height to scan the crowd to spot Garrett. Unfortunately, her mother was being held up by her own media entourage.

Looking around, she found a large rock in the old, overgrown flowerbed next to the curb. She hopped on top of it and slowly turned in a circle. Her mother was over to the far right of the parking lot. She'd be no help. There were at least ten to fifteen people surrounding her. If I don't get off here soon, I'll be swarmed again! I still need to find Garrett. There he is! Oh my! He's still at the building...well, the steps outside at least. Where did Arthur go? I know Arthur was still around him when I went ouside earlier. I just needed a break from being in that old, dreary place. I was greeted by the media mob, though, it kept me longer than I preferred. I'd better get over there and get him away from those goons. He looks like he's about to have breakdown!

With that, she jumped off the rock, and zigzagged her way around and through the press. Once at the bottom of the staircase, she yelled, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I already gave you all the information you need. Now, please, leave us alone! We've had a very eventful day!"

Please listen and please go away!

"Ms. Reeves! Could we get some more commentary from you?" called a man in a blue suit.

"How did it feel to be captured by your father's murderer?" came from a blonde woman in a red dress that looked more like a night shirt.

"Please, fellows. That's enough! You heard the lady!" Kayley looked up to see who'd given the order. She smiled a grin of gratitude when she saw it came from Arthur.

"We just need to get some more questions in, Sir!" Blue Suit argued.

"Look, I have the captain of the police department on speed dial. Don't make me call him to take you in for harassment. Leave them alone." Arthur spoke firmly.

"Very well. Let's go, everyone." came Blue Suit.

With a deep breath, Kayley exhaled her stress. She jogged up the five steps facing her.

Garrett's face was quite pale. His right hand clung to the handrail. His knuckles were even whiter than his face. He seemed spaced out.

Concern creased her perfectly arched brows. Laying a hand on his left arm, she whispered his name.

I thought I heard Kayley and Arthur trying to get the media mob to go away. But, I was frozen in place. This was one of the worst anxiety attacks I have had in years.

I knew getting back out in the world would be tough...I just wasn't expecting it to be this soon. However, I've already determined that I am going to beat this; it won't control my life anymore.

Lifting my head in surprise, I realized someone had touched my arm.

"Garrett. It's Kayley. Are you alright?" she asked softly.

I tried getting my mouth to work, but I was still frozen.

She wrapped her arm around my back. With her other hand she rubbed the back of my hand that I'd gripped around the handrail.

"Hey. Everything is okay now, Garrett. Come on, let's go." she encouraged.

Focusing on my right hand, I willed it to let go. She grabbed my it and held it as she whispered, "Thank you."

I nodded, finally able to get the words out, "I'm just glad you're safe. Let's get out of here."

"I totally agree with you. Let's beat it. You want to take my shoulder like we did earlier?" she asked me.

Smiling, I whispered, "No, I'd prefer your hand."

She giggled, "I like that arrangement."

Very late that night, I tucked myself into bed. All I'd wanted to do was meet up with Kayley under the oak tree. Instead, I'd met up with her in a creepy basement. My goal was to tell her of my connection to her father. That goal would have to be accomplished some other time.

"Mum, I will be alright in my own apartment tonight. You go back home and get some sleep." Kayley urged her mother.

Julianna wasn't amused in the slightest.

"Kayley, you can go back home tomorrow night. I just almost lost you! You are staying at my place. Besides, I'll make you a nice breakfast tomorrow."

When her mother invited you to eat a meal, there was no refusing her. Anyway, her mother could cook and bake better than anyone she knew.

Smiling, she replied, "Oh, alright. Now the question is this: what will you whip up?"

"You'll just have to wait and see tomorrow morning, Dear." Her mother said as she booped her daughter's nose.

~Kayley's Apartment~

They'd stopped by Kayley's apartment to pick up her overnight things. Plus, she wanted to see if her phone might still be there. Ruber hadn't taken it from her... surprisingly. He'd given her such a fright that she'd dropped it. Had she been the villain, she would have made sure to disable her victim's phone. Ruber didn't even make sense for what a normal villain would do. Now, there's a thought! A "normal" villain. She laughed to herself. If someone could hear her thoughts they'd be inspired to write a book on how they discovered the world's worst jokes.

"Do you see it?" Mum called from the living room.

"Still looking!" she answered.

Julianna stepped out onto the balcony.

"Isn't your mobile case lavender?"

"It is." she replied. She went back to the chair she'd been sitting in when Ruber nabbed her.

Squatting down, she looked below the chair. UGH, not there either. She turned her head to the left where she kept a small side table. Sure enough, it was there. "Mum, I found it!"

"That's great! I was hoping you would! I really wasn't looking forward to having to get a replacement." she sighed.

"I can't blame ya there. I really like this one. I'm also hoping the screen didn't get messed up." she stated.

"It shouldn't have. The other day when you went to go and grab coffee at the office, I put on a glass screen protector for you." Julianna replied.

"Oh, that's great! Thank you! I really appreciate it!" she smiled.

The mother returned a smile to her daughter, "Someone had to. As...talented as you are when it comes to tripping or running into things, who knows what consequences your poor phone would have had to pay on your behalf?"

"Very funny, Professor." Kayley huffed.

"Does it even have any battery left?" her mum asked.

"About twenty percent. It had ninety percent when Ruber dropped by for a visit yesterday." Kayley answered before continuing, "I had just finished reading a warning email from M'nM. I was getting ready to send it to you and Arthur. Before that fiasco, I'd been really excited about Garrett inviting me to go to the park with him again."

They walked back into the living room together. Kayley went into her bedroom closet and grabbed an overnight bag she always had ready. Uoon entering the living room, she noticed her mother was scrolling on her phone.

"What are you doing?" she asked Julianna.

"Saving Garrett's phone number and flat address in my contact list." she answered.

"How did he get in touch with you anyway?" Kayley asked.

"Let's go back to my car and then I'll answer your question."

Julianna pulled out and began the short drive back to her townhouse. Glancing at Kayley, she answered:

"He looked me up on Snapgram and messaged me. He sent his phone number. I called him and he gave me his address. He said I had to get Arthur over to his flat as soon as possible. We were there not long after the phone conversation." Julianna answered.

"That was quick thinking on his part to get in touch with you." Kayley thoughtfully commented.

"Yes, but there are quite a few women that share my name on Snapgram. I wonder how he found me so quickly?" pondered her mum.

"I told him about your job. He probably read about your work in your bio." Kayley informed her mother as they parked in front of Julianna's house.

~The Next Morning~

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing and saying, "Julianna Reeves."

Grabbing it off of my nightstand, I answered:

"Hello?"

"Yes, good morning, Garrett. How does a homecooked breakfast sound?" Julianna answered.

"That sounds quite nice, Professor." I replied.

"Did I wake you?" she asked me a bit sheepishly.

"Yes, but it is alright. I overslept anyway. Yesterday wore me out."

"It did the same to us. Kayley and I took the day off. She spent the night at my place last night. Anyway, I want you to come over and eat with us. Now, it's your turn to get my address." she ordered.

This might be my opportunity to talk to Kayley. It had also been a long time since I'd actually shared a meal with others. That would be nice.

"Sure. Thank you, I appreciate that. I'm ready when you are." I told her.

I took a mental note of her address and plugged it into my GPS. It had been a long time since I'd gone exploring outside my neighborhood. I planned on stretching my legs to other parts of town, but I didn't have time for that now. To my relief, her house wasn't that far. It was about a fifteen minute walk from my apartment to her house.

After finishing up my morning routine, I plugged my earbuds into my phone. I left one bud in and the other out. I would still need to listen for traffic. Once outside of my complex, the GPS gave me verbal directions of how to get to Julianna's.

I enjoyed the walk. The sun was nice and warm out. The kind of warm that is pleasant. I don't really care for the extremely hot, sticky ones though. Then again, who does?

Songbirds were out carrying on conversations in bird language. Someone had just finished cutting their grass. Their lawn's freshcut scent wafted my way.

A little while later, the automated voice of my GPS said, "You've reached your destination."

Just to be sure that I was at the right house, I called Julianna. I'd hate to knock on the wrong person's door. I'd heard too many stories about someone's GPS giving faulty directions.

She picked up quickly, "Hello, Garrett. What can I do for you?"

"I am in your neighborhood, but not positive if I am at your house in particular." I answered.

"Take about five more steps straight ahead, and then turn left." she directed.

I did as she said.

"Marco?" I said.

"Polo." she answered as she hung up the phone.

A moment later, I heard a door open and fast paced footsteps descending off of a wooden porch onto a short staircase.

"Mrs. Reeves?" I asked.

"Yes, come on in. Three steps up to the porch, then about six steps to the front door." she told me.

"Thanks." I responded.

"No problem." she said warmly.

Swinging the cane back and forth, I made my way into the house.

She closed the door behind me.

"Listen, I have to go and work on some finshing touches in the kitchen. You go ahead and get Kayley up. She doesn't know you're here. Her room is the last door on the left down the hallway to your right. She isn't the most gracious human being in the morning, so tread carefully." she warned with a soft laugh.

"Thank you. Hopefully, I'll survive this mission."

I got there in a few seconds. It was easy to find thanks to Julianna's directions. I wasn't sure on how to best wake Kayley. I didn't have her phone number...yet. That put calling her out of the question. And her mum wanted my being here to be a surprise...so there wouldn't be any yelling.

I know I'd go crazy if someone woke me up the way I was about to do to Kayley. Sadly, I couldn't think of anything more creative.

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

"Mum? Really...I thought I talked to you about the door knocking twelve years ago! With all due respect, why knock to wake me up? I have an alarm...that I forgot to set." Kayley griped.

She threw off her thick comforter and pulled the cuffs of her pajama pants off her feet. She tossed and turned so much, that her loose pant leg cuffs always got tangled around her feet. She'd tripped one too many times.

The morning light hurt her eyes. Especially when she slept over in her old bedroom at her mum's. She had offered to paint it a warmer color. White walls reflected bright morning light much more than she cared for. However, she still visited overnight at her mum's once a month. She was very familiar with the room. She could safely walk from her bed to the door with her eyes grumpily closed.

Groggily, she opened the bedroom door.

"What time is it anyway? I know I overslept." she yawned.

Her mother was not joking when she said Kayley wasn't a morning person. I tried not to laugh. It appeared that I wasn't the only blind one in the vicinity. Her eyes still must be closed, because I know for certain that her mother and I look quite different.

Running, my fingertips over my watchface, I answered, "It's close to 9:30 in the morning.

"Oh, well, at least it's not noon. I don't know what I would have done with mysel-

Wait a second...Garrett?" she asked through another yawn.

"Good morning to you too." I chuckled.

"Don't say that." she whined.

"Say what?" I was slightly perplexed now.

" 'Good morning.' You can say 'morning', but don't add the 'good' part. It's not really a good morning until it's noon." she explained.

"But that's no longer morning." I stated.

"Exactly." she replied.

I shook my head at her. She was a handful even when she was perfectly safe.

"Now, O bearer of morningtide arrival, might I have passage of the exit way. I really must go and brush my teeth." she sighed.

"Most assuredly, O Lady Fair of the morning grumps. May thine journey to the watercloset be splendid." I returned as I stepped out of her way.

She walked past me and opened another door. She left it open. I heard her bustling around in there.

A minute or so later, she came back out.

"I just now realized that you are probably here to eat breakfast with us." she giggled.

"Yes, I am. Your mother invited me earlier this morning. Speaking of mornings, brushing your teeth must be the cure all to vanquishing the grumps?" I asked.

"No. Not really. The cure all is usually a cup of peppermint tea. And, on really rough wake-up days that's followed with large cup of coffee. However, I do feel a bit more like a civilized human after brushing my teeth. Helps to tame the beast. Sorry about how I woke up. I am pretty dangerous when I wake." She apologized.

"No, worries." I answered.

"Would you like to go and sit out on the back patio?" Kayley asked.

"When I got here, your mum mentioned that she had a few finishing touches to do in the kitchen. She might be done by now." I informed.

"Well, let's go investigate, shall we?" she said as she slipped a hand into one of mine.

Smiling, I said, "Sounds good to me."

As we left the hallway, she gave me a quick description of what the house looked like. It seemed very warm and welcoming. Just the kind of place Lionel and his family would make a home.

He was that way- warm and welcoming. Thinking about him reminded me of the long conversation I needed to have with Kayley.

"We're going into the kitchen now." Kayley said as we walked in.

"Yes, I thought so." I chuckled.

"How did you know?" she asked.

Although she might know some things about sighted guide, there were some practical things she still had to learn. I laughed as I answered, "Well, the sound of your mother putting dishes into the sink amongst other hints kind of gave it away."

Sounding slightly embarrassed, she laughed as she replied, "Yes, I see why that would be a give away."

"Hello, Sleeping Beauty. You and your escort may take a seat." Julianna said.

Julianna had prepared a wonderful, traditional English breakfast. No wonder it had taken her so long! A traditional English breakfast consisted of bacon, sausages, eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes, buttered toast with jam, tea, and coffee. The only things that was different is that the bacon was turkey,the sausages were beef, and there wasn't any black pudding. Julianna said that she couldn't stand pork... especially pork blood.

I don't typically eat meat very often, so I didn't care, really. It was just nice to sit down and share a meal with others.

After the meal, Kayley and I helped Julianna clean the kitchen. We put on another pot of coffee. Julianna said she had some things to handle and for the two of us to find someplace to visit.

We refilled our mugs and went out to the back patio. Kayley carried the mugs while I followed. My job was to play doorman.

Once outside, she directed me to a whicker settee. The table she set the coffee mugs down on must've had a glass top. They clinked when she set them down.

I folded my sidekick up and laid it at my feet. I was a little surprised when she seated herself beside me, however, it felt right.

Now, its time to talk to her about Lionel. It's time to completely open up about how I knew him, what I've gone through, and how I feel about her. It is time to move on.