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The Great and The Good (A Great Captain Roberts Tale!!)
Chapter 13 - A meeting someone should have expected[]
The ute-bodied groundcar…
…swerved into the transit lane and from there, to the parking area in front of the Consolidated Upper School.
"Well, we're still alive. Good job." Amanda praised John. "Shalt we?"
"What are you going to do?"
"Interviews." she said lightly, and fetched an axe-handle from the back of the truck.
"And THAT?"
"To wedge in the doors so my interviews aren't interrupted. John, fetch the wheel-chains from the side box."
"And THAT??"
"More than one set of doors in." she said.
"Name identified, Milos Farrous, city records show him being hired to teach grades seven through nine about fifteen years ago, offworld passports on file show travel from a homeworld in the former Free Worlds League. Academics show degrees in linguistics, mathematics, and something called Societal Dynamics from multiple universities. Timing's a little suspicious, the man would have to have practically LIVED on jumpships during the time he was allegedly at school getting those degrees."
The last name sounded familiar. Amanda mused, "Johnson, hurry up? Day-light?"
She led them into the main hall, "Hey! You can't come back here!"
Amanda turned to look at the man behind the reception desk. "Johnson, back doors. Chain them shut, then stand guard at the front. Go!"
She walked up to the desk, "I don't remember you." she said, "Do you remember me?"
He was portly, balding, late middle aged. He studied her for a moment, "Amanda…Roberts?"
"That's me. There have been…changes. I'm here to visit Mister Farrous, and cannot afford to wait for the appointment…Mister…"
"Leroy Franks, vice principal for the last two years, taught basic maths at grades one through six before that." Desmond said helpfully.
"Mister…Franks." She smiled, "I almost remember your classes, which is an accomplishment given my brain damage. Please, stay exactly where you are, and wait for the Police…in fact, you should be calling them, right now."
"W-why?"
"There might be an incident soon, if I don't get directions to Mister Farrous immediately." she stated, adding, "You can close my truancy reports while you wait, I have the best excuse ever."
"Eh-excuse?"
"Kidnapping and brain surgery." she said, "I trust that will be taken into account on my final grade? Where is Milos Farrous?"
"Third room back, second floor." he said.
"Good. Mister Johnson, you will remain here and report to the Police when they arrive, state everything you have seen as verbatim as you can, am I clear?"
"Aye, Captain."
She headed for the stairway, taking the steps two at a time.
Not quite a run.
Why is his name familiar, Desmond? Why do I almost see a face?
"Unknown, you are showing elevated activity in certain areas that were inactive prior to hearing that name."
"Everybody OUT!!
…except you, Mister Farrous." she bellowed the first, and spoke the second. Young students filed past her, looking worried, concerned, and frightened.
"Miss Roberts."
"Sorry, I've been truant. I have a really good excuse." she said, "I remember you." her hand twirled the axe handle. "I remember your face...Adept."
A red outline snapped around him, and zones began to highlight.
"We're going to have a conversation."