In the morning I spoke with Dad and told him that Tammy Reardon had indeed had a computer and a small one for John to play with. John's had learning games and coloring programs and other fun things. He hoped he could get it back but they kept it in the car. He had been playing it when they arrived at the park. John had told me that there was a secret compartment in the floor of the van under the rear seats and that was where they kept the computers.
"I'll call Herb and he can get the lab guys on that. I wonder how he's going to take to the idea of me being his boss?"
"I think he'll be fine Dad, you don't really boss people around anyway. And you said he was a good detective so he has nothing to fear from you."
"So have you three decided what you're going to do today?" Mom asked.
"I was going to suggest we take John to Gas Works park and maybe by the Aquarium to see the otters," I supplied.
"How did you know about Gas Works park?" Mom inquired.
"Chase told me about it, he says it's a great place to play and watch fireworks and lots of things."
"I know where that is, it's at the top of Lake Union but easy enough to get to. Would you like to join us dear?" Dad asked.
I was going to go shop for some things for John to wear but since Jeff was so kind to send over some of the clothes that Carter outgrew it isn't as urgent as it once was, I'd be happy to join you. Shall we take a lunch or just a cooler with water and juice?
"I'd say just the cooler, we can get lunch out somewhere. Maybe we should bring some chips or something in case the boys get hungry," Dad suggested.
I'll get to work on the snacks if you'll go down and get the cooler, it's in the cellar, Mom agreed.
Dad left at once on his mission and I went upstairs to check on John and check in with a Messenger.
John was in Lego heaven so I slipped into my room and summoned a messenger.
"Hello Traveler."
"Greetings, I don't believe we've worked together before," I offered.
"That is true, but I have been informed about your mission by Messenger and I am at your service."
I see how this might be confusing to the reader, when I summon a messenger I use a nonspecific call. And if I request a specific Messenger I must add a bit more information to my call. Each Messenger and Traveler have identifiers used only by the Echelon but we only address each other by title. We still recognize individuals and usually we work with the same Messenger but there are occasions that require substitution.
"I have two items of concern, have the Observers relayed the identity of the murderer of the child's aunt? And also are the Communicator's adapting to the change in my father's plans for his career?"
"The Communicators are indeed attending to having the Boeing people recognize that your father is more valuable to society at large working for the community. They may contact him for consultation but otherwise he is free to pursue the job with the sheriff's department. As to your other inquiry I am to inform you that a Watcher will contact you directly. One of us will notify you when their visit is imminent."
"I see, thank you Messenger, I appreciate your efforts."
"I am honored to be of service Traveler, I hope your mission is successful."
With that he was gone, for some reason Messengers seem to manifest exclusively in male form. I've seen exceptions, but usually it's as a man of nondescript appearance that fades from human memory quickly.
On occasion Messengers get bored and when I was ten one of them manifested as the President of the U.S. which was observed by one of my classmates.
"What was the President doing here and why were you talking to him?!" Vernon asked excitedly.
"President?" it was just a man asking directions to the office. We're supposed to watch the President address the U.N. this morning and I haven't seen any limos or guys in suits running around campus have you?"
Undeterred Vernon ran to the office and saw the Messenger leaving with a stack of papers.
Vernon entered the office and demanded to know what the president was doing at our school. This of course drew laughter from the office staff and it was explained that the man needed the forms to transfer his daughter to our school. The next time I was alone with Vernon I put my hand on the back of his neck and dispelled his concerns saving a visit from the already busy Communicators.
"Jem? Are you in there?" my mother called.
"Yes Mom, come on in please."
"Hi honey, before I get John cleaned up and dressed I wanted to ask if he slept well last night."
"Not at first, but I heard him crying and had him come to my bed. He seemed to sleep better after that. Not unexpected when you consider what he's been through," I explained.
"Thank you sweetheart, you really are a wonderful big brother."
"Thanks for bringing him here, I always wanted a little brother and John is a sweet little guy. I'm sure he'll happy in time."
"I hope so Jem, he's already sold on you and your Dad."
"I think he wants to ask me what to call you. He tried earlier but lost his nerve but he will ask. I plan to tell him Mommy and Daddy is what he should call you. I think I can sell him on it."
Mom passed through to John's room and walked him back to the bathroom to wash his hands and comb his hair.
When John was in my bed the night earlier I gently eased his mind where his aunt was concerned suggesting that her spirit may have brought him to us and that he should be happy. It was okay to be sad for a while but he would need to let go of that and move forward. All this was done while he slept. I also suggested what he should call his new parents.
"Jem would you help John get dressed? He has new underwear in his drawer and he can choose whatever he wants to wear."
John picked out the same underwear style that Carter had except they were dark blue with yellow stars on the butt. He chose dark blue shorts and a white V-neck with a dark blue collar. He had good taste for a little guy and he looked sharp.
"I never had clothes this nice before. They smell so clean," John remarked.
I helped him on with his white trainers from the children's home and he was complete.
"Mom's going to love seeing you all dressed up, let's recomb your hair and we'll be ready to go," I suggested.
John was getting the hang of the stairs but I held his free hand while he grasped the rail with his other.
As soon as he spied Dad he took off running, Dad saw him coming and squatted to intercept him, embracing him and standing with John wrapped safely in his arms.
I think we're ready to go, I've got the ice chest in the car, let's grab our jackets just to be safe and we can get going.
The park was everything Chase had promised. John had a ball and played with big valve wheels and levers. He loved the slide and climbed on the various monkey bars. We even went to the top of the big covered slide and slid down together with him between my legs. He giggled and shrieked the whole way down.
Dad retrieved the small cooler, a tote with chips and cookies. We all sat at a table and had a snack. John was animated and chattering about all the fun he was having. He went quiet and I felt him lean against me. I picked him up and pulled him into my lap and cuddled him as he slept.
"Well let's get him to the car, we can try the aquarium another day," Dad suggested.
"He's been going full speed for six hours, he must be completely exhausted," Mom added.
I handed him to Mom, took the cooler from Dad and we made our way back to the car.
Dad's phone buzzed and he looked at the message.
"Herb says the techs found the computers in the van, we may be able to get into hers and figure out if anyone was giving her a bad time," Dad informed us.
John slept almost the whole way home and only woke on the Spokane street bridge.
He was all smiles and enjoyed the scenery.
As he was undressing for his evening bath he knocked the picture of his mother off his table and the glass in the frame shattered. I picked him up and took him to the tub while assuring him it was just glass and the photo was fine. I could get the frame repaired or replace it and his photo of his mother would be good as new.
While he played in the bath I went in and cleaned up the mess. I swept up the shards of glass and when I tapped the frame on the waste basket the photo and the cardboard back fell out along with a sheet of paper. I finished the cleanup and checked for any stray slivers of glass with a flashlight. I placed the photo and frame in my desk drawer and pocketed the sheet of paper and went to check on John. I dried him off, put him in his sleepers and we made our way downstairs.
Without preamble he walked to where Mom and Dad sat and asked, "Is it okay if I call you Mommy and Daddy?"
Mom lifted him up and put him on the sofa between them and they both cuddled him and told him that it would be wonderful.
I decided the paper could wait and I sat down at the piano and played a bit of Brahm's Lullaby and then Pachelbel's Canon. During that time the oven timer sounded and Dad put John on the bench next to me and went to help Mom in the kitchen.
"That's really pretty, I like music, it makes me feel good inside," John cooed.
I finished the piece and gave him a hug.
"What's dopted mean Jem?"
"Do you mean adopted, that means that you join a new family with a Mommy and Daddy that will love you and care for you forever."
"Will they 'dopt me? I don't want to leave here, can I stay?"
"Well John, I can't guarantee it but I know they want to. It's up to the state and a judge but I think once they see how happy you are here; you'll be here as long as you want."
"I hope so, I love it here and I love all of you. Nobody but Aunt Tammy was ever as nice to me as you and Mommy and Daddy except maybe Baba."
I held John in my arms and tried not to cry, I was unsuccessful. I recovered and began playing the chaconne in F minor also by Pachelbel.
Dad appeared and listened and watched John as he followed my every move.
When I finished he cleared his throat and announced that dinner was ready.
I ushered John to the powder room to wash our hands and made our way to the kitchen.
After dinner John sat with Mom and watched a Blue-ray of some cartoon.
"Dad, I found something you might find interesting. It appears to be a list of passwords and maybe account numbers." I told him about the picture frame and how I discovered it.
"That woman really new how to keep things secure. It's sad that she never got to reap the benefits of her windfall. I just don't understand why she stayed on in the life."
"Maybe she was afraid of someone, could someone have figured out that she took all that money?" I speculated.
"We don't have any evidence of that, Jem how much did you handle this?"
"Only enough to unfold it and only by the corners, I had a feeling it might be something important," I explained.
"Good, I'm going to scan this and send it to Herb and then bag it so we can print it. We might have to print you as well because you touched it," Dad declared.
I went upstairs to my studio to practice a few things and was in the midst of Mozart's K 467 when a messenger appeared.
"Hello Traveler, I have come to inform you that Watcher will be with you soon."
"Very well, I will wait here, thank you."
Moments after the messenger disappeared an orb of pale blue light appeared and though our conversation was nonverbal it went as follows.
"Hello Traveler, we have been watching your work with great interest. I must inform you that we cannot provide the identity of the person you inquired about. I was not informed why that is, only that the information was not available at this time. I have received instructions to inform you that the boy Nate that you assisted may be important to our mission and yours. Please remain in contact with him. Assisting him may have altered your time to act but more than that I cannot say. You have shown good judgement and you are encouraged to continue."
"Thank you Watcher, I will continue to await my time and be as useful as possible until then."
"Traveler, I don't speak to many of the assets directly, why are you all so fatalistic in your approach to a deed, the outcome of which is uncertain?"
"Ah yes, in my case I wish to prevent emotional attachment to this life from preventing me to act or even to hesitate. I know I may not need to leave this existence but attachment to it might cloud my judgement at a critical moment. You might do well to manifest and interact or at least observe at close range to learn why we become attached to others on this planet."
"I understand, perhaps I will consider it myself. I would have to learn how to interact with humans, would you suggest a child or an adult manifestation?"
"I would suggest manifesting as a teenager, they are expected to be a bit odd, even among their peers. Are you suggesting a tangible manifestation?"
"I am considering the possibility; it is difficult but It can be done. I would of course require authorization from the Nexus directly."
"I understand Watcher."
The Watcher took his leave and I contemplated our conversation. I was certain it would be of no consequence for the Observers to obtain the information about the killer. He must be serving a purpose.
I returned to my piano and practiced until a quiet knock sounded on the studio door.
Hi John, did you climb the stairs by yourself?"
"Yes Jem, I was careful and held on to the rail like you showed me. Would you help me get ready for bed?"
"Sure John, let's wash those hands and your face, then you can brush your teeth."
I gently did the cleanup John needed and helped him with his toothbrush and paste. I would eventually get him to use the electric toothbrush but he wasn't quite ready just yet.
"Do you want to stay with me or will you sleep in your own bed?" I asked.
"My bed please, can you stay with me while I go to sleep?"
"Of course John, I'll bet you sleep like a stone tonight with all the exercise you had today."
"Yeah, I'm pretty tired. Um, Carter said you sang to him so he could sleep. Would you sing for me too?"
"Absolutely John, let's get you tucked in and I'll think of a song."
I decided to sing Peggy Gordon which is an Irish ballad. As with Carter I held John's hand and projected soothing images and he was soon asleep. I maintained contact for a while to see if he was okay. He seemed at peace so I stood and went to my room.
"That was beautiful on so many levels Jem, both your singing and the care you showed John. I wish you would reconsider joining the choir at Rainier," Mom whispered.
"The problem with that is that I would have no time for any other activities. Chase is considering not rejoining choir when he returns to school. Both of us are looking at a voice change in the near future. He feels it's better to leave on his own terms than be told he's no longer useful."
"Yes I suppose you're right, and with Piano you will be busy quite a bit of the time," she agreed.
"It might be fun to organize a folk group to sing songs the choir would never touch. I love Ave verum corpus as much as anyone but I prefer folk music for singing myself," I suggested.
"I suppose that might be fun Jem, but you'll probably need to get permission from the school first."
"Without a doubt Mom, and speaking of school, are you going to try to enroll John at Rainier? Carter will be starting there this year. He'll be five in September and according to his Birth Certificate John will be five on October first."
"It will depend on availability. Most of the children have already signed up but there may be a cancellation or just a vacancy. I plan to check tomorrow."