"I met him. And when I see the show, I have to laugh. They have him as ruthless and determined and in charge. I would have LOVED to have him that way. Instead, he was melancholy and thoughtful and lost in his memories…. Later they would show him that way. But I almost had to hit him to make him understand what was happening"
"And what was happening?"
"That one of Midler's experiments had gotten loose and was running around scaring the townspeople. He raided chicken coops, stole food broke into locked sheds and chased people around."
-0-
"But why are you coming to me?"
"Because if they catch him, they will ask about other Midler's experiments. Including vampires. And maybe your name will show up. "
"But it hasn't yet."
"Because we got the special files when we invaded. That is Wendy got them. She is trying to crack them open in her computer and if she sees anything relevant."
"And how do you know this is a Midler experiment?"
"Because I saw him, and I had seen him before as one of Midler's "patients"'.
"So..."
"So, we have to catch him before the authorities do."
"And you come to me because…"
"Because you can fly and cover more ground. You may be able to track him down."
"I do not know what he looks like"
"I will give you a sketch."
-0-
"I did give him the sketch and he promised to do as I asked… And I did convince him to let me stay with him. I needed a place to stay, rent free and I would be able to keep on studying his conditions and test any cures."
"Good think that you did not try them on me. Kisasi would have killed you quickly for interfering."
"Yes. But there would be others more willing. You'd be a nice source of samples."
"So, you think of me that way?" Amos sounded hurt.
"I was quite ruthless then… I had been with Midler too long. Or maybe that's why I was willing to go with him. I learned though…"
"In the meantime, I was approached by one of the guys who tried to kill us" Frank Carruthers said, a bit abashed"
-0-
"No hard feelings, kid. It was just business. And that friend of yours, he is something else, isn't he?" Owen Raft said
"He saved us."
"And can kill me if I do you wrong, of course. But that is all past. Got a new boss. And new job for you."
"What do you want me to take in my ship?"
"A special package. To be delivered in Collinsport."
"To whom"
"You will find out when it gets there. He will be there don't worry. And you'll get paid."
"How much?'
"More than your regular runs, for sure."
"So, what is it?'
"You do not need to know, kid. Just that it must be delivered."
-0-
"And at that time, I decided that I had been watching and waiting too long" Beverly said. "Watching the drama of the family. waiting for Flynn to come back. He wrote to me again and again but he was still on probation and was not allowed back. After the last letter I lost patience with myself. I had to do SOMETHING. I knew what was going on, not only in the family but in the town, and more than that what was going on in the cannery. Leonore ran it in a feudal fashion and people grumbled but accepted it because after all the place was well run and they got paid regularly. But Leonore had left and had left no instructions. Louis was supposed to run it the way she did… Of course, Louis never cared to run any business and it showed. There were labor troubles and Louis shrugged them off at first and then tried bluster. Louis was a victim of the Peter Principle but neither he nor Dinah would accept it. It was time to DO something."
-0-
"I want a power of attorney to run the cannery." Beverly told Dinah.
"You'd want that… let me guess why."
"Because Louis is going to destroy it the way he is running things. And because someone should care.
"And because you want power."
Beverly shrugged. "Let's say I want a more stable position. A job where the people I work with do not try to murder me. And I do not want to see the whole place crash. Your mother should have made a better arrangement but she left without caring. So, I guess it is up to me. "
"And you care for our money that much?"
"I care for the townspeople. I care that they should have their jobs and steady paychecks. This is a one industry town and until it changes you and Louis are responsible for their well-being. And if you cannot do it, let someone else do it.
-0-
"Dinah could see the sense of it, and Louis was happy not to have the responsibility so I took charge. I did my best to smooth the labor troubles and started looking for managers who were not beholder body and soul to Leonore."
"So, you promoted yourself to run the cannery while teaching Charlie."
"Yes. And good thing that I did. Leonore ran it as the lady of the manor, gracious and generous, but whose word was law. She could get away with it, but it was time that the townspeople were treated as adults and equals. a system like Leonore's can only work when there is a Leonore without her it falls apart."
"Good thing you were here, then"
"But let Amos keep telling us how he and Heather got along."
"Not well… but I needed her."
-0-
Genevieve was waiting. He had flown all over the place and seen no trace of his quarry. The blood he had taken gave him strength and he thought of taking her in his arms again."
He saw her and ran to her. But when he put his arms out, she drifted away. He searched for the door to the secret room where they met and found it locked."
"I have come to say goodbye" Genevieve said, sadly. "I am released from my bond I am no longer the Benchley protector…. You are."
"Wait!"
"You do not need me now. You are strong enough to face the world"
"But I love you!"
"I love you too, Amos, but my time here is done. When you needed me, I was here and now…now I must go."
"It is cruel "
"It is what it is…Dear Amos, you are now strong enough. I can do no more for you.'
"Wait!"
But she vanished leaving him alone on the cliff. Where she had been was a small wooden box.
"Take this box, Amos" he still heard her voice. "You will need it soon."
Amos took the box and felt the emotions swirling in him. Loss, pain. And a sudden clarity of mind.
He flew back to his home, where Heather Mattox was setting up a laboratory.
"Miss Mattox what did you propose I do when I found this 'experiment' of Midler? Were you expecting that I kill him?"