Out Of The Past
Part XVIII - Melanie
Working off of Audrey's suggestion, Layton began making a list of people he knew Melanie knew on more than just a passing level. Not too surprisingly, that list brought him straight to the engine room, where he tried to make his questions just seem like polite conversation. But what surprised him the most, was neither Bennett nor Javi seemed overly concerned with their fellow engineer's absence over the past few days. While pinning Javi down was like trying to hit a moving target as the Third Engineer carefully evaded him by constantly moving from one instrument panel to another, Bennett seemed utterly uninterested in the man's presence in the engine room as he sat at the helm, answering his questions in mostly single worded answers. The problem was, while to Javi he may seem just an annoyance, Bennett knew what was going on, but seemed completely unconcerned by the matter any longer.
Stepping up to him, Layton first carefully checked as to where Javi was before speaking to Bennett.
Turning with his back to the helm, Layton set a hard stare on the man. "What's going on?"
Bennett barely bothered raising his eyes to him. "Right now all systems seem to be functioning within acceptable levels." He stated, leaning back in the chair for a moment as he turned partially to the man behind him. "Javi, did you check the hydraulics on car 134 yet? I need those reports."
"Have them in a second." Came the quick reply.
Layton grabbed the arm of the chair and pulled it around to face him.
"You know what I mean!" Came the question in a hissed whisper.
Bennett faced the man with a bored expression at the display. "And be sure to check the pressure in the pipes leading to the car, Javi. We wouldn't want to suffer another beech back there."
Another quick conformation came from the Third Engineer.
"You know something." Layton hissed at him again. "You wouldn't be this composed unless you knew something."
Bennett studied the man for several seconds before answering him. "I haven't seen her since the last time you did."
"That was several days ago. You haven't been concerned she hasn't shown up for her shifts? Hasn't given an explanation? Simply told you she was all right?""
"And this is where our relationships with her differ."
"Meaning?"
"I've known her a lot longer than you." Came the steady, cool reply. "I know her moods and when she just needs time to herself."
"It's been nearly a week and no one has heard from her!"
"Before the train was completed, Melanie went to Wilford with a request to make an adjustment in the engine schematics." He stated in the same infuriatingly calm manner. "It would have helped the engine run in an overall more efficient manner, but it would have meant scraping the previous work, which had taken considerable time on Wilford's part. He refused."
"So?"
"We didn't see her for 12 days. She completely left the compound and wouldn't answer any of his calls." Bennett gave a small smile at the memory. "Wilford was livid."
"So when things don't go her way, she sulks?"
"And again, this is where you don't know her as well as you think. This isn't 'sulking'. This is her way of taking time to accept something she knows she can't change. To come to terms with it and perhaps move forward past it."
"Perhaps?" Layton questioned. "What does 'perhaps' mean?"
"It means she doesn't find a resolution to the problem."
"And then?"
Bennett shrugged, then lowered his tone. "I suppose that would likely spell the end of your relationship with her, Mr. Layton."
By now Javi had gotten interested in what was going on at the helm. Walking up to the Second Engineer, he never let his gaze leave the train's Chancellor.
"¿Hay algún problema, mi amigo?" He asked in a level tone.
Bennett kept his stare locked with Layton's. "No, Javi. No problem." He replied. "Mr. Layton was just leaving."
Taking one last shot, Layton turned his attention to the smaller engineer.
"What about you, Javi? Do you have any idea where Melanie is?"
The stare he met with was as friendly as Bennett's.
"Incluso si lo supiera, no te lo diría." Came the sharp, short answer.
Layton paused, then turned to Bennett, who just favored him with a small smile at his predicament.
A sharp tap on the shoulder got his attention as he turned back to Javi.
"No lo se." He answered in shorter terms before returning to his work at the back console.
Better understanding the shorter, more concise answer, and realizing he wasn't going to get any answers from either engineer, Layton left the engine room more or less empty handed. Whatever they may or may not know about the situation, one thing was undeniably clear. At the moment, the engineers backed Melanie in the situation and viewed him as the enemy.
Returning to his original plan, Layton returned to his list of people to talk to. Asking questions while not giving any clear reason for them was a well honed skill he had developed walking the streets. Most of the people on his beat were suspicious by nature. It gave him a slight edge that he had grown up in the area, but it didn't give him a clear pass. But each supposed lead simply led to a brick wall. Some people did report talking to her that day before he had met her in the cabin, but she had apparently given no indication whatsoever anything was wrong. She had gone about her duties that day just as any other. Even another meeting with Jackson had not revealed anything out of the ordinary that day that tipped him off she was distressed or upset.
In the end, Layton decided that seven years of hiding one's emotions had finally paid off for her.
Heading back to his room in the Night Car after a third day of fruitless questions to a dozen or more people, Layton was suddenly stopped in the corridor by someone calling his name from behind.
Turning, Layton recognized one of his old friends from the Tail rushing up as best as the man could to catch up to him.
"Slow down, Nate. You gotta be careful on that leg."
The man gave it a quick pat. "Oh, it's doing better. Doctors look after it now. Had it in a cast for a while after they worked on it. Doin' a lot better now though."
"Glad to hear it. So what can I do for you?"
"Well, it's about some supplies the Tail needs, Layton."
"What sort of supplies?"
The man hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Look, I'm not trying to make no trouble for her. I know she won't like me coming to you, since she asked us not to, but..."
Layton wasn't even remotely following what the man was saying. "She?"
The Tallie gave a soft chuckle. "You know, that crazy engineer of yours. She got a really good idea, but you can't..."
Layton suddenly grabbed the man by the arms as he realized what he had just said. "Melanie!?"
The man looked utterly startled. "Ummmmm..., yeah. Like I said, I'm not trying to make trouble for her. She said what she was doing was approved by you and it's a really good idea and all. But you can't build something without the needed parts, right? And she's just wearing herself out down there. I mean, we try to help as best we can, but..."
Layton cut the man off. "Where is she?!"
The man gave him a confused look in return. "Car 950. In the Tail."
Layton suddenly stopped talking as the realization of what the man said hit him. "Melanie's...in the Tail?"
The man gave a quick nod. "Look, she said it was all right. She said you sent her. That's why everyone sort of...let her be. Course, those guards didn't hurt none either. But they've been real helpful, too. Seem to enjoy the work. And after she explained what you wanted done, well, everyone agreed it was a real good idea. And like I said, we pitch in to help. Why, she's even got the kids involved. They're having a lot of fun with it."
Layton simply stood still holding the man by the arms with a confused look. "Nate, what are you talking about?" He finally asked.
The man returned an equally confused look. "Well, the school you approved for the Tail section. You remember."
The last part to Layton sounded more like a question than anything else.
Layton congratulated himself for managing a small smile for the man as he released his hold on him. But underneath the smile a wave of relief was running through him with only one thought attached to it.
She was safe.
He knew where she was and she was safe.
"Of course." He managed with a bigger smile this time. "The school."
"It's coming along nicely. The man replied, though still carefully watching Layton's reactions. "Like I said, she's even got the kids involved. Said it was their first lesson. Learning to build something."
"You know, Nate," Layton replied, "I haven't been down there since she started. I'd really like to see how the project is coming along."
The Tallie seemed to consider the request. "I guess that would be OK." He finally replied. "She was kind of strict though about not wanting you to see it until it was done."
Layton already had the man turned around and headed for a subtrain hatch. "I'll be sure to be quiet." He answered.