A Bitter Pill To Swallow

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital Canteen
Not a satisfactory response by any stretch but there wasn't much she could do about it. Peyton was holding fast.

"Alright then." She wasn't sure what else to say so she finished her sandwich. Now all she wanted to do was get out of there and talk all this stuff over with Dave.

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Dark Lips Books
Eva simply nods and leads the way outside. Before leaving, she waves at her coworkers, and lifts her phone towards Mike, mouthing text me as they go.

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Graybridge Hospital
With Rebecca returning to work, there isn't much Dave can do anymore right now, so he returns to the lobby. Not long after, Melissa also arrives back there, alone as Peyton opted to stay in the canteen for another coffee, or maybe just because she figured that Melissa would prefer to split for now. Anne isn't anywhere to be seen, so she is most likely still with Brock, or at least as close to him as the nurses allow her, giving Dave and Melissa some time alone to exchange their thoughts.

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023

Dave had been sitting in one of the uncomfortable metal and plastic chairs watching the tableau of human misery around him as he waited for Melissa to appear from the canteen hallway. Despite the ambient misery, he really appreciated being surrounded by people, and lights, and clearly audible sounds and the relative warmth of the day.
His confrontation with Anne, or what she'd dredged up out of him, nagged at him. He thought he was over it & everything was fine. Well, as fine as it got for somebody like Dave anyway... A dark thought sparked across his mind as he sat in the waiting room endlessly twisting a paper coupon brochure between his fingers. What if he were pushing Melissa down the wrong path? What if he was encouraging her to take up mercenary work because he wanted...no, needed...someone to relate to? Danvers was in prison and could only communicate safely in code. Johnny and Mose, the other two from his old group, never really liked doing merc stuff and they didn't part on great terms. Robert, Rebecca's Dad, is in his sixties and has the restaurant to occupy him. Rebecca is a real life ER Doc, just like she wanted, and busy with work and starting real life for herself. That pretty much left him alone far too much...for anyone's good.
He couched the thought away as he heard a familiar set of heels clicking on the tiles floor as he spotted Melissa on her way back from the canteen. "You finished rubbing elbows with the hoi poloi?" Dave asked. "How'd the coffee date go?"

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Outside Dark Lips Books

"We have Brock's car," Augusta says, wishing she had a hood to pull up when they're driving in it. What if someone sees me? she thinks, and shudders visibly.

"I don't know when it will be safe to take it back, though. She left quite the wreckage and the authorities are likely trying to find a cause."

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023 Graybridge Hospital
Melissa scoffs at Dave's remark. "Yeah, yeah. She's strange. I get this feeling she's coming onto me too. I'm totally straight but I hope she isn't giving me a shot at this because she wants to get into my pants. I don't think I could stomach it. I have my limits.

Melissa turns away, looking at the bustling people heading to their destinations with a purpose. Was she looking to catch a glimpse of the councilwoman again as if it would solve her dilemma?

"Other than that, I'd say it went well. We have a date to meet Tuesday when I follow her around and make a final decision whether I want to be her personal assistant or not. I mean it's a great opportunity but I feel those strings she's attaching. She mentioned something about my special skills but she would not tell me what she meant by that. Could she know about my vision? If so how? And would I still be able to work for you?"

Climbing into the car and closing her door, Eva glances over at Augusta as the slimmer woman gets into the driver's seat. She doesn't put her belt on -- it's just not a habit she's developed. "Are we... heading to his place right now?"

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023 Graybridge Hospital

Dave just smiled as Melissa described her coffee date with Smythe, "Oh, there's definitely strings attached. There always are..." a series of memories washed over Dave as he remembered some of the notable slimebags he'd encountered over the years. "Remember when I told you yesterday about the kind of dangerous people you could end up working with?" he let the sentence hang in the air for a moment. "Smythe is likely to be exactly that kind of person. I just didn't figure you'd end up running into someone like that so soon... Dave sighed . He hoped he might have been able to ease her into the 'deep end' more gradually so Melissa would have more time to develop her own assertive nature. As-is, she was still so eager to please anyone rich or powerful and Dave didn't want to see her manipulated or used like a doormat. "I wasn't setting you up to work with me, if you want, not for me. I want you to be able to work for yourself. Anyway, just assume that she does somehow know about what you can do but don't let her know that you know. Make her come out and say what it is she wants out of you. You can see through walls...now you gotta be able to see through Smythe's bullshit."

"Really?" Melsisa had not expected the councilwoman to be one of those bad people Dave had alluded to when she was sharpening her vision skills that day in the park.

"But I did try to get her to tell me. She wasn't going to without it becoming uncomfortable and she's holding all the cards anyway. I guess I'll have to wait. You don't think I can get into any trouble by shadowing her for the day on Tuesday? I mean what can she do to me?"

After a while Melissa decides on a course of action. "I want to do both. Work with you and for her. See what's going on at her end. Might as well dive all the way in."

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Outside Dark Lips Books

"We have Brock's car," Augusta repeats as if to herself. "No one will link it to us!"

She pulls out her phone, saying, "Maybe Melissa knows where he is." She texts her.

AA> Mel, do you know where Brian is right now?

GRAYBRIDGE Hospital, 5 NOV 2023

"Oh, hang on." Melissa glances at her phone and sees the text from Augusta. "It's from Augusta. She wants to know if I know where Brian is. I wonder why."

MK> No idea, Augusta. What's up?
"Shit, that reminds me. I never texted Brian back. I guess it's good I've made him wait. I don't know if I want to juggle so many things at once, you know? Working with you, working for Peyton, and now maybe trying to get some info from Brian. I think I'll pass on that and just ignore him. I mean the guy is disposing of bodies for Chrissakes. Do I want to make room for that in my life?"

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Outside Dark Lips Books

AA> Just curious. Thx

To Eva, she says, "Melissa doesn't know where he is, so I guess we are out of luck. Maybe we could go shopping? I've got some credit at a store I think you'll like." Truth is, she has credit everywhere with her credit cards, but gifts are often difficult to give to proud people.

GRAYBRIDGE Hospital, 5 NOV 2023

MK> Aw come on! Getting ready to kidnap him or what?
Melissa bites her bottom lip, then smirks at Dave. "Why would she do that? I asked her why she wanted to know where Brian is and she said, just curious".

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Outside Dark Lips Books

AA> Can't do that if we can't find him!

GRAYBRIDGE Hospital, 5 NOV 2023

MK> OMG Augusta! Why do you want to know where he is?
Melissa was annoyed now at this silly game and it showed in how hard she was tapping out her message, her forehead creased in a large frown.

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Outside Dark Lips Books

AA> No way, people can intercept texts. I'm not admitting to anything! I only have peaceful intentions, and would never commit any crimes.

GRAYBRIDGE Hospital, 5 NOV 2023

MK> Look, I have a vested interest in that asshole. Call me?
Shaking her head she repeats to Dave the last part of Augusta's text. "Would never commit any crimes. That's rich."

GRAYBRIDGE, 5 NOV 2023
Outside Dark Lips Books

AA> No way, can listen in on calls too. I'll come 2 u, send a pin.

GRAYBRIDGE Hospital, 5 NOV 2023

MK> Ok. Stand by.
Melissa drops the pin. "She's coming to us, Dave. I dropped her a pin."