Starring: Matt, Charlotte, and Micah
Date: October 15, 2009
Summary:
Matt is grocery shopping and Charlotte interrupts with Micah in tow to propose Molly's relocation.
"Shopping for Children"
JAS Mart
JAS Mart: because sometimes you're in the mood for some ethnic food, but don't have the patience or the language skills to dive into Japantown for the high-end stuff. Or, in this case, because it's one of the few places open this late that isn't overrun with riffraff. Matt is currently crouching down on aisle 3, holding up a bottle of beer and shaking it to make sure there isn't any sediment lodged at the bottom; there's a plastic basket next to him on the ground with packets of rice and noodles and some staple vegetables.
Matthew Parkman may never see the people just magically appear behind him. Accumulating dust and particles seem to form the shape of a young woman and a boy, and soon the two are standing there, holding hands right behind the Detective. Charlotte, looking bettter today, wearing a mini-dress with puffed sleeves and a peasant cut, leggings and Ugg-like boots. Her hair is down, and she wears large, dangly earrings. But not hoops. Cause those are…just not very her. She nods down to Micah, as if continuing a conversation.
"I know you want to see her right away, but there's a way to do these things. We can't just go around stealing children. I mean…" she blushes a bit. "Not anymore than I stole you. But you wanted to come, so…I hope that balances out. I'm…really probably going to jail either way, come to think of it." She seems a little disheartened by this realization. Glancing up, she nudges her chin toward Matt's back. "Is this him?"
"Wow! It is better if you keep your eyes open," the statement is to himself rather than Charlotte, and then he returns to their conversation. "I guess," Micah sighs. "I haven't seen Molly in forever!" he says as he peers about the area. A nod is given. "Yeah! Yeah, that's him!" He thinks, anyways. "Matt!"
Deciding he doesn't trust the stuff after all, Matt puts the bottle back and straightens up again— then whirls around. Who just mentioned him? And Molly? "Micah, hey!" He's a good bit older than Matt remembers him, but that's to be expected. "What's up?" Leaving the basket where it is, he heads over and extends a hand, at the same time giving his unfamiliar companion a quick once-over.
Charlotte smiles, that dimpled smile from her PR days blossoming as though it never left. "Mr. Parkman, right?" She asks, glad he didn't start asking questions about the kidnapping and all of that. She meets his hand with her own, giving it a little shake. "My name is Charlotte Corday. I'm sorry to corner you here…" In a public place. Not ideal, but the aisle seems empty save for the three of them. "I'm…not quite sure how to tell you this," She says, glancing at Micah almost as if seeking help from the boy. "We're concerned about your daughter. Molly is her name, if I'm correct?"
Micah nods emphatically at everything Charlotte says all the while grinning slightly at having found a solution. "Yes! We want to take care of Molly! She'll be safe, there's a place! And, and it's really safe!" He's pretty excited about all of this. Calming slightly, he just offers Matt a smile, "Yeah, Charlotte was a friend of my Mo-" he cuts himself off and changes what he intends to say "-a family friend, I mean."
Given this much context, it doesn't take Matt long to work out that Charlotte must have something in common with the two of them - which means she may well have something else in common with them, too, namely a spot on the government's list of 'dangerous' people to abduct. "Let me guess— you got a message from the same guy I did? I've been looking for someone I can trust her with for a little while, and— well, I don't like that any of this is happening in the first place, but since it is… What sort of place is it?" At Micah's last comment, he arches a brow - perhaps guessing at the implications, perhaps not - but declines to bring up the question out loud; Micah can answer it if and when he's ready.
"A call?" Charlotte asks, turning and glancing curiously to Micah. But she shakes her head, dangly earrings rubbing against each other and making soft whisper-chimes. "No, I never got a call. Micah was the one who informed me about Molly's situation. And yours. I've…had my own problems that I think are similar to hers of late." She chuckles a little, glancing down.
"Forgive me, Mr. Parkman, I'm sorry. I should probably tell you a bit more about myself. I…sort of have this thing where I relocate children around the world. Orphans, those in foster care or in bad situations, I find them new places to live. A lot of these children are…genetically predisposed, let's say…so that traditional situations aren't healthy for them, so I've opened a few very quiet locations for these types of kids. Micah's staying at one with me right now, as well as his friend, Cam."
Micah stares at his shoes like they're the most interesting thing in the building. He swallows hard as he continues to stare at them, "Uh. Yeah." He's being freakishly quiet all things considered. But then he nods and looks up following Charlotte's comment about the orphans, "Yeah! It's at this place that's totally off the books. I even looked for it, and didn't come up with anything!"
And that's saying something, given what Matt remembers of Micah's knack with machines - no surprise that it might extend to computers, too. Now let's just hope the government hasn't thought to launch aerial searches… "Well, I'd have to ask her - or you could - but I think she'd be okay with it. She was out of the country for a while, anyway, until it turned out that wasn't safe enough."
"Out of the country may be safer than you realize, Mr. Parkman." She smiles, though there is something inquisitive in her doe-brown eyes. He seems to agree to this way too easily. Even if he doesn't ask the questions, she's willing to provide the answers. "I can assure you it's safe enough. We have some very intelligent people there working with the children. There's a small hamlet…that's what it's called, right?" Charlotte pauses in her narrative to glance at Micah. The woman has her GED, she's no genius. "Hamlet, I think it's called, nearby. There's chores, of course, that every guest is expected to help with but…it's a quiet location."
"I'm doing calculus again," Micah chimes with a nod. "So we learn things. AND there are lots of kids like us. They can do things. Molly would totally belong." He nods at Charlotte, "It's this little town. And they have a comic book store! And very few security cameras so it's easy to stay off the radar." He forces a toothy grin. "Plus, it would be safe. Adults like you guys to keep us safe."
It's okay, Charlotte, you're not the only one here who has an issue with book learning. "Sounds like a good place," Matt replies, wandering over to retrieve the basket as he talks, "at least until the current situation clears up. I've been set up for a rescue mission myself, before too long." Ah, so maybe that's why he's not badgering Charlotte so much.
"A rescue mission?" Charlotte asks, walking in stride with the man even though he didn't invite either of them to do so. Desperate times and all of that. "You mean, for the kidnapped. There's…at least one other attempt in the planning that I know of." She says, looking behind her to make sure Micah stays close. Overparanoid much? Can't even take her eyes off a 13 year old in a grocery store. "I might be able to help."
Biting his lip, Micah stares at his shoes once again. He slouches over with his hands tucked safely into his jean pockets. His silence is unusual. And then, while still staring at the ground, he nods, "Yeah. Charlotte's helpful. She can … do stuff too."
"Yeah? What do you do, Charlotte?" Matt may regret asking if she decides to demonstrate, but at least the store is still pretty quiet— apart from the three of them, there's a blue-haired clerk with headphones on, and a white-haired old lady on aisle 1 slowly working her way through the week's selection of eggs.
A soft blush comes across her cheeks. She's still not quite comfortable with discussing her ability, but she can discuss it all the same as the need arises. "I…find people," she says, finding that to always be the easiest explanation. "Places and people. I just…think about a person or a store or a house and I…go there. That's how we found you." She's like Molly with a built in jet. Or something akin to. Still a bit unsure, Charlotte looks to Micah again. "That…sounds about accurate, right?"
It's really fortunate the store is so empty less someone recognize Micah as the group home kid who disappeared just days earlier. He nods, "She can go places to find people. That's how she found me. And she can take people places. Like she brought me with her here." He smiles as he adds, "And it's kind of fun."
Or, put another way, Molly where all her targets can see her. "…well, I guess that makes relocating people easier," Matt offers, sounding anything but certain about the fun part. "But yeah, I think we can definitely use that…" And one more part of The Plan falls into place, it seems. "How do I get in touch with you when the time comes?"
"Well I can give you my number, but it might be smarter to coordinate with some of the other people. Too many rescues and it might just…get in teh way of each other?" She reaches into her pocket, getting out a slip of paper and a pen, scribbling her number down and handing it over. She should just get cards, at this rate. "Also, when…do you think it would be a good time to pick up Molly?"
Continuing to stare at his feet, Micah sighs a bit that all of this is falling into place. A plan is in motion. The baddies won't win. Not this time anyways. He smiles at Matt and then Charlotte. "Can we get her soon?"
Matt nods to Charlotte. "I'll pass word up the line." The idea that the coordinator is already here hasn't occurred to him, after all Micah probably isn't the only one who can play tricks with electronics. "I was going to wait till the evening before - I just barely got her settled in school again. But we could probably set up a visit."
Charlotte looks over at Micah and nods with a little smile. He misses his friend! How cute. "As soon as you're ready, we're more than ready to move her. I can bring you to look over the location yourself, if you like. And I think Micah's really eager to see his friend again. As I mentioned, we have another kid from the area, Cam, staying with us as well. So she won't be alone."
"Yeah! Cam, Molly, and I. It will be. Awesome." Micah beams. This is going to be great, even if it isn't under the best circumstances. "Well, I'd like to see her again soon. It's been… a long time." He smiles.
"Yeah, uh, awesome." It's at about this point that one of Matt's parental instincts does kick in, namely that maybe Micah is a little more excited about this little reunion than he should be. And Matt is quite familiar with the care and feeding of firearms. At the mention of Cam, a complete unknown apart from age and some-sort-of-ability, he briefly shrugs. "And yeah, I'd like to have a look for myself some time, maybe this weekend."
Charlotte smirks at Micah's enthusiasm, though she sees it at the pinnacle of it's innocence - Micah misses his friend. So sweet! "Well the Frauline will be happy to have you, Mr. Parkman. Just…as soon as you're ready, please don't hesitate to give me a call. Or if you find yourself in…trouble with these kidnappers. If there's anything I can do…"
Micah smirks and just nods quietly. Everything will work out. It has to now. It has to.