Three

 

 

"We've arrived", Sandy said. Chuck ran, spread his hands apart and landed chest first on his soft bed. "I still don't understand why we have to share a room", he bemoaned. "Because I have to have my eyes on you at all times", she said sternly. "You almost sound like my mother", Chuck muttered.

Chuck sat up. "So I can't even go into town without you tailing me?" She nodded. "Yare yare", he said. Her eyebrows went up slightly. "You know Japanese?" she asked. "Only a little. I'm not the best at languages".

Sandy grabbed a chair and sat down "Tell me about your father in his last days. I want to hear it all. I know you've said it already but we need to go over all the details. We need to be diligent", she said.

He was distant, scared almost. My father didn't go to work for almost a week. And he was a workaholic. Then when he finally did, he barely slept. Sometimes he worked at the office without coming home. One day he spent three days straight at the office. We have a bath so he took care of himself there".

"He didn't meet anyone at home. Just at the office. And that's probably where he met the guy who killed him", Chuck said.

"So?" Sandy asked. She felt he had more to offer.

There was a knock on the door and Amy came rushing in. She ran and hugged Chuck really hard. "It's great to see you brother. It's been almost five years since I last saw you. Really saw you."

She turned around. "Oh, I'm sorry. I forget to wait for you to answer first", she said looking at Sandy. "Amy, meet Sally. She's a"- Chuck slapped his face as an idea came to him. "What?" Sandy asked.

"You've had plastic surgery. That's why you look so young. I should have realised. Why? Was that a requirement when you entered the agency? Where you to eye-catching? Or where you compromised and force to change your face?"

 Amy smiled. "Please forgive him. He can be such a pain sometimes. You only need to spend five minutes with him before he starts trying to push your buttons. That's why he doesn't have many friends".

Chuck feigned annoyance. "I have a lot of friends", he said. Amy rolled her eyes. "Uh-huh. Those guys? Do you even know any of their real names?" Chuck thought for a minute. "No", he said flatly.

"He's a sweet person once you get to know him though. He just hates people trying to get too close. He's kind of paranoid. I guess he got that from my dad", she said, running her hands through her soft, sleek brown hair.

"How was your father Amy? In your opinion?"

"He did his best. I mean he wasn't exactly the 'good dad'. But looking at all he had to deal with I guess I kind of understand. I don't like it but I understand it. I guess those would conclude my impressions of many of my father's actions. I just wish he hadn't shut us out so much".

Sandy's expression softened. "Wow, Amy. You got the Ice princess to lighten up. I didn't think anyone could."

"Your brother wants to be involved in the full investigation", Sandy said.

"Hey! I thought that was between you and me!" Chuck said. His face was slowly turning red. This time he was slightly agitated. "Really? When were you going to tell me?" Amy said. "He's my father too. And you're my brother. So before you start a speech about trying to protect me think about what would happen if you ended up like him. I've already lost my parents. I don't want to lose you too."

Chuck grabbed Amy's hand. "And don't think of using this as some way of outdoing or surpassing Dad", Amy said.

Sandy looked at the two siblings. Chuck was right. Amy was the more sensible of the two. She was more normal and in control. And even though Chuck was older, Amy was the more mature one.

Was it a competition for Chuck? A way to outdo his father? Surpass his old man? Sandy was almost sure that was a part of it. Even from their little talk Sandy had realised that Chuck was the brightest of the two. Amy was definitely resourceful but Chuck was  smart. He just needed a goal. Direction.

Sandy had read on the profiles of the whole family. Amy was studying law. Not to become a lawyer. Just to broaden her horizons. What she really wanted was to go into real estate.

"You don't think Dad was in on it, do you?" Chuck asked suddenly.

"What?"

"It seems strange that a man who could fix international potential disasters couldn't find out who was going to kill him", Chuck said.

"What are you saying?"

Chuck grinned. "That's how you knew it was a spy right?" "Chuck, what are you doing?" Amy asked. "Dad probably knew who was going to kill him. He knew it three years ago and he didn't tell you. Or rather he couldn't tell you".

"Did you cry when Dad died?" Amy asked.

"What?" Chuck said astonished. "Where's this question coming from?" Amy looked fiercely at Chuck's face. For her small face to have such an expression would have been laughable if not for the seriousness with which she spoke. Amy looked at her brother. "Well, did you?" she asked again more loudly. Chuck didn't answer for several minutes. "Everybody grieves differently, Amy", he began.

She laughed harshly. "I knew it. I knew it all along. You never really loved him, did you? Admired him, yes. I...I'm not sure I understand you much anymore Chris", she said.

She started to leave. "What happened to 'he's a sweet person once you get to know him'?" She opened the door and turned. "Isn't the answer right in front of you? It should be obvious for someone with your cognitive skills", she said and closed the door behind her.

"Well that was a unique family reunion", Sandy said. "You guys fought often? When you saw more of each other, I mean ". Chuck didn't answer.

Sandy's phone rang. She picked up. It was the analysts. "We've narrowed the group down to the VASCO or the Arcane", Sheila said. "Is that all?" Sandy said sounding slightly disappointed. "We can't say anymore than this. Anything else would be pure conjecture."

"I see", Sandy said. "Ok. Get back to me when you find something I can use."

"Actually there is something else", Frank piped in. "The sooner Chuck starts taking on his responsibilities the better". "Of course. We've already discussed this. He will be taking up"-"I meant right away." "But we can't"-"The culprit's already on the move. Trying to cover up his moves. We can't afford to wait till Thursday. The longer we wait, the colder the trail gets. Don't you think we've waited long enough?"

Sandy clutched the phone tightly. She disapproved greatly. Chuck saw the look of concern on her face. "What's up? What's wrong?"

"Is that Chuck? Can we speak to him?" Sandy immediately turned off her phone. She started to reach for Chuck's but he snatched it away. Sure enough, a few seconds later, his rang. He picked up. "Yes, this is Chuck", he said. He started to nod. Then he said, "Ok, you too" and put down the phone. "Well, I guess I have a job to do", he said.

Reviews

[Nana]

So I guess they are going to go after the culprit. Interested in finding out if it's an agent of VASCO or Arcane.