Starring:
Six Month Ago:
Date: February 11, 2010
Summary:
Ignorance is Bliss.
"I Saw Disappointment"
Lane Industries - Mark's Office
The soft rhythmed squeak of Mark's desk chair, cuts through the air of the plush office as it shifts a little back and forth. A black sports jacket is drape over the high back, swaying slightly with the movement. The man occupying it watches out the window at the expanse of Washington DC, but not really seeing the world, he's thoughtful, mind off in some distant place and time.
“Why did you really send me?
The black rimmed glasses are not worn often, he hated how geeky they made him look and contacts just irritates his eyes. At least he's not blind without. The last girl he had been with had liked them, said they made him cute. Cute…..
”I don't know what you mean, son… Your my head VP..” Marcus Lane II somehow manages to look truly confused by his son's question. Mark can't help but think.
Liar.
His dad has never liked his choice of attire. His dark crisp jeans, coupled with a rather nice designer dress shirt, sans tie. To Mark, neckties were a noose. Easier to hang yourself with. Where he was casual his brother was crisp and perfect, the son his father wished Mark was. While his oldest was always the disappointment.
“Let's cut the crap dad.” Mark say softly, his voice laced with anger. One thing the eldest of the boy didn't hold was illusions of where he fit in his father's eyes. “I saw the look when I walked off that plane and mom hugged me. Both you and my brother. Not relief… not happiness at seeing me.” Hands ball into fists as he rests the knuckles against the wood of his fathers desk. His words in his own ears her void of emotion…. resigned.
”I saw disappointment.”
A beep on his desk brings Mark's attention back to his computer screen. An email had just arrived. His heart leaps in his throat as he turns his chair back to his desk. Scooting to sit more on the edge of the chair, leaning forward in anticipation as he clicks the email.
One thing Marcus was use too was keeping his cool in a bad situation. Even now as his eldest son stood there glaring at him across the expanse of a desk that was said to have been from a period of time when Nazi's ruled Germany. Some people judge him on that desk, say it was Hitler's. He simply tells them, it is just a desk.
”I was disappointed that we couldn't take down the bastard that did that to you.” His age roughened voice calm and without any real emotion. How he could put on such an innocent look always fascinated his son. “You went through hell obviously and I don't like to see my boys hurt.” SO why didn't he seem overly emotional about it.
There is a hesitation, index poised over the button of his mouse as he reads the few lines of email. Eyes flick from the words to the image icon. Did he really want to know?
The answer was simply 'Yes'
Clicking the icon, breath catching, his whole body goes still at the image that pops up. Maybe he didn't want to know after all.
“Sit, Mark.” His father's tone has that commanding authority that always made his boys sit up straighter. Worked with his board, too. “One thing it did was make me take another look at your pet project.” Mark could almost hear the mocking sarcasm in his father's voice, even if it was suppose to be pleasant.
”Tell me more about this… Mysterious Truth?”
Hand rubs across his mouth slowly, he can feel the midday stubble on his chin scraping lightly against his skin. On it the computer screen, was the image of a man Mark remembered clearly, haunted some of his worse nightmares.
Adham Sayf Udeen
The logo of Lane Industries showed very plainly on the file that was being handed to him by a man. The man's back was to the camera of the private investigator, but…. it almost looked like… Mark's brother?
Brows knitted slightly behind the glasses.
“More importantly, tell me more about these special people.”