Part 105
René fell asleep with the gentle hum of the chopper. Nooshy watched over the little girl, just in case.
Chelsea looked at Porsha. "Now are you sure that you want me. I'd just be grateful for any job that meant I didn't need him."
Porsha nodded. "I am. You understand the problems the employees have. You can bring real life back into the equation. No one should ever have to make their career their whole lives. Everyone needs balance. From the CEO on down to the janitors. No employee of Crystal Entertainment should wonder where their next meal is coming from or how they're going to pay their bills. And… they shouldn't worry about their spouses or their parents hurting them. And if they are… they should be able to come to you. That's what I want for this company."
"I can respect that. Your mother says everyone here has a story. I don't know yours but I can feel your pain," the leopardess met her eyes. "I will do my best for you and your company until you sell. If you choose to sell."
She sighed. "I don't know. Everyone who is even remotely interested is only interested in Out of This World. And I will not allow that contact to be renewed." She said sharply.
Chelsea nodded. "Why not? Can I ask?"
Porsha bit her lip and Nooshy touched her shoulder. "It's only fair to fill her in. She's part of the family now."
The wolf nodded. "Yeah… I suppose so… it's just hard to talk about… but… Last May…"
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With the drama done, Marcus was able to sit down with his plate of hot dogs. He was pleased to see Ryan and his father reconnecting. Johnny was really enjoying being a dad, watching Neo play.
"Mr Green?" A voice interrupted his lunch and he looked up. The pastor of that church was approaching fast.
Marcus stood up. "What is it?" He asked. "It hasn't been two hours."
"No. I was stupid. I let him go to the bathroom. I followed him, but he just climbed out the window," Elliot explained. "I'm sure he went looking for Chelsea."
He groaned. "Don't worry too much. I planned for this contingency. She's well out of reach and he has no way of knowing where. And those friends I was talking about will keep us informed on his movements." He ate one of the hot dogs. "We will protect them both… I will not fail again…"
The chimpanzee eyed the gorilla. "Again?" Marcus turned his eyes away. "You know, any preacher worth his salt can tell when someone has the weight of the world on their shoulders. Would you like to talk?"
The gorilla sighed. "The last time I was asked to protect someone… I failed… because of my failure, he died."
Pastor Elliot bit his lip. "That's terrible…"
Marcus sighed. "My son is with the New Moon Theater and last May… they were in Redshore City…"
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Marcus stood with his family, watching out for more security punks. The lobby was already littered with unconscious personnel. The only real danger was the wolf himself and he was safely locked away. So, now, they were simply watching the show and doing basic security detail.
He watched the stage as a huge spaceship was lowered. "Captain, we cannot land on ze last planet, zere is, like, a huge wormhole! The ship will never make it."
"No, it won't make it. But I will," Captain Rosita promised. "If you want it, take it. I should have said it before. Tried to hide it, fake it, I can't pretend anymore…"
The gorilla marveled at the stage work. The ship looked like it could be real. He was just wondering if Rosita would be able to make the jump when he heard shouts of alarm from the control booth. He ran back. Crystal was free and carrying Moon up the lift.
"Dad! Mr. Crystal has Mr. Moon!" Johnny shouted. "What do we do?"
Marcus shook his head, trying to think. He'd never make it up there in time. "Barry! Stan!" He shouted into his walkie. "The catwalk!" Maybe they were closer. He could only watch while the tyrannical tycoon threw Buster off the catwalk.
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"I failed. I should have been guarding the wolf. Or one of us should have been watching him and one of us should have been with Mr. Moon," Marcus explained. "He died because I neglected my job."
Elliot shook his head. "Stop. You had every reason to believe he was safe. It's not your fault. Mr. Crystal killed Mr. Moon, not you."
He nodded. "I know that. Intellectually, I know that… but it was still my fault. Because he couldn't have gotten to Mr. Moon if I had been guarding either of them better. That's… that's why… I had to handle his punishment myself." He wrung his hands together. "I couldn't let him go to jail. I hate jail as an institution and I don't think it works. Neither as a deterrent to crime or a rehabilitation program. Jail didn't make me change my life and go straight. Mr. Moon's kindness and my son led me to go straight."
Elliot nodded. "So… how did you handle it?"
"I couldn't let him go to jail, nor could I let him go. Porsha would have gone into foster care. He would have just been killed in jail…" Marcus sighed. "I convinced him that the only way to protect Porsha from the fallout of his crime was… to commit suicide. And… I had done so but… he tried to back out. So I… I… kind-of, sort-of… brushed against him so that he… lost his balance…"
"My goodness, but… it sounds like… like you meant well… You wanted justice without needless suffering," the pastor tried to process the confession.
He shook his head. "I was so angry at the time that I told myself that it was the only way to accomplish that goal. But… I caused needless suffering anyway. I hurt my daughter by taking her birth father from her. I took the easy way out. I didn't even try to find a third way." The gorilla looked at his food.
The chimpanzee struggled to find the right words. "It sounds like… that weekend was chaotic. You didn't have the luxury of being able to think it through. It's not your fault. You were put in an impossible situation and you handled it to the best of your ability. You did not fail. Mr. Crystal was determined to hurt Mr. Moon. Even if you had been guarding either of them, he could have still gotten out and gotten to him. You did everything in your power in the moment. Don't second guess yourself now. Hindsight is twenty-twenty." The preacher put a supportive hand on the broad shoulders.
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Chelsea was grateful that her daughter was asleep through Porsha and Nooshy's story. "So… that's… wow… I'm so sorry for what you girls have both been through."
Porsha nodded. "But that's why I want the board fired. All of them. Daddy didn't sleep well. He was always working and they were pushing their duties off on him because he was in charge. He wasn't able to think smartly. And he did something stupid and horrible."
Nooshy held her hand. "That's why Big Daddy took her in. Took us both in."
"You got your work cut out for you," Jerry admitted. "He should have fired them long ago but they took advantage of his pride and made it seem like he was less of a man if he couldn't do all of their work."
Chelsea nodded. "So, it's time for them to try their tactics on other CEOs because it won't be me," she promised.
Porsha smiled. "Great… I know you'll do a great job. Oh, looks like we're here." She said as the helicopter landed on top of Crystal Entertainment HQ. "I can't wait to do this."
Olivia was on the rooftop with Floyd when they started getting out of the helicopter. "Miss. Crystal, it's so great to see you again."
The young wolfette smiled back. "It's nice to see you too, Aunt Livi. Would you mind terribly calling an emergency meeting of the board? I have some great news for everyone."
The older wolf nodded. "Of course, Miss. Crystal, right away."
"Thank you. Jerry, would you mind ringing the kitchen for some tea and sandwiches, maybe some of those yummy little cakes? Please?" She asked.
The cat went to the phone. "Of course, Miss. Crystal, it would be my pleasure."
Nooshy was practically bouncing on the heels of her feet. "Come on now, I want to find out why they hid your dad's junk instead of throwing it away like they claimed."
Porsha laughed. "Uncle Stan, Nooshy and I need to look into something. Chelsea, I'll let you talk to Mr. Grisham. René, I'll find you something to do when we get back."
The little leopard-girl nodded. "Thank you, Miss. Crystal."
"You call me Aunt Porsha, okay. As far as I'm concerned, your mom is like Ryan's sister and I'm his sister-in-law, so I… we are your aunts," Porsha corrected her. "Hey, why don't you come with us?"
René looked at her mother. "Can I go with Aunt Porsha and Aunt Nooshy?"
Chelsea sat on the bright pink couch across from Floyd. "Go right ahead, sweetheart. But make sure you listen to them."
René promised she would and she followed the girls down the long hallway until they reached the closet that Nooshy had found the hose in. As promised, all of Crystal's office furniture was stuffed inside.
Porsha choked back a sob. "Daddy's stuff." She found one of his portraits. "Oh, why did they just stuff it in here?"
Nooshy shook her head. "No clue but… I just… have a feeling…" She started going through the desk drawers. She kept hearing Crystal asking her to find this thing for Porsha. "Ugh, there's nothing in here…" She cursed loudly as she dug through the drawers. Until her fingers hit the bottom of largest drawer. "What?" She tapped. It was hollow. "Porsha!" She fingered all around the drawer and underneath until she found a button. A secret door popped open and a letter fell out. With Porsha's name on it.
Porsha ran over. "What is it? Is that a letter?"
Nooshy nodded. "Those dreams we've been having. They're not just dreams and this is proof. Your dad told me about this. In a dream." She handed Porsha the letter.
The wolf opened the envelope and unfolded the letter. "Dear Porsha, If you are reading this, let me apologize first. For leaving you like this. I just don't think I'm strong enough to survive your mother's death. I'm watching you sleep in your little bed and I hope I am but… I hope you're not reading this and I'll get a chance to give it to you in person but… there's something I want you to have. I don't want it going to anyone else. It is the greatest treasure of our family. I hid it for safekeeping. If I'm not around to give it to you on your eighteenth birthday then… please, follow the clues. I love you, baby girl, so much." Porsha wiped her tears away, not noticing another small piece of paper fall out.
Nooshy picked it up. "Ooo, he left a riddle. I am where the sun dances on crystal waters, A lush paradise where greenery thrives, Coconut trees sway to the rhythm of the breeze, My shores hold secrets beneath the tides…"
AN: Leaving the chapter here. Nooshy and Porsha found the letter and Porsha is getting ready to fire some idiots. Please comment and review. Please. I miss reading reviews.