FEORS APARTMENT

“What shenanigan are you and Obi planning today? Why am I back here Dr. Mehra?”

“I’m not a doctor Stu. We’re bringing Emmie Feor here to see if she remembers what happens. Maybe gather more evidence and leads.”

They waiting for a personnel to unlock the door before being greeted by a nurse leading Emmie. She looked up at Alia with mixed emotions. Her voice was weak, but determined. “I want to remember.”

The nurse and Alia lead Emmie around the apartment while Stu watched from a distance. The nurse kept a faint shield that radiated around Emmie to protect everyone from her. Touching it made Alia wonder whether it was necessary. Emmie’s greatest danger was falling unconscious not getting startled.

“Dura was always hiding and she liked to draw.”

Stu stepped forward and leaned against the doorway of Dura’ bedroom. “Miss Feor do you remember why Dura was always hiding?”

Emmie’s eyes rolled back into her head. “It was because he was always coming.” She was startled by Stu’s sudden presence in the doorway and her whole body flashed. The nurse’s eyes glowed white as her grip tighted on Emmie. The whole medical team converged and quickly escorted both her and the nurse out of the building.

Stu as the team cleared out checked Alia’s hand where she’d been touching Miss Feor.

“You’re not burned.”

Alia shrugged. “I tested it with the nurses at the hospital. The immunity the Council granted to me is against fire and impacts. I could get run over by a truck and walk away. It’s pretty cool. But I want to check out places Dura could have hidden.” Alia took out a pen light from the inner pocket of her jacket and started to snoop around.

She looked under desks and in the ac unit. She bumped her head on the kitchen’s microwave before she found something inside one of the kitchen cabinets. Alia took out her phone and took a photo before she enlarged it and handed it to Stu. “Who do we know who wears round glasses and has a ponytail like a question mark.”

INTERROGATION ROOM 4

“Confundo Marks you used to have a ponytail but you recently cut it off. Why?” Stu’s hands were cold as he searched thru media evidence on his laptop.

“I needed a change of pace. My mood was just that I wanted a crew cut. Time to look like everybody else. I’m tired of standing out so I decided a haircut was a good way to fit in.”

Stu played the video of a man with a question mark hairstyle and Dura. He also unfolded an old photo of Marks that he’d been given by Chief Obi. He laid the evidence side by side.

“Were you getting ready to pounce on Dura and Emmie Feor, her mother---you’re casefile--was starting to see the signs. Did you choose her because she was a recovering alcoholic or in your words, a damaged person?”

“I have dedicated my life to helping people, Officer Wave. The idea that I would prey on the people I want to help is ludicris.”

“The camera had been planted for weeks in Dura’s room. Do you know why Miss Feor choose the day of her accident to reach out and ask for help?” Stu leaned closer to Marks. “That was the day she caught you trying to make a move on her daughter. You abused your power and she tried to intimidate you with the evidence she had. That’s why you went to their flat that morning to retrieve it.”

“I have better things to do.”

“You could so easily separate mother from daughter. Put the kid in some institution or foster home and fudge the records.”

Marks looked at the table then smiled. “No one cares about dirt like the Feors. They’re never going to get out of poverty. They’re too stupid or sick or in love with themselves. Do you know what it’s like dealing with people like that day in and day out?”

Alia walked into the room carrying a binder which she handed to Stu before exiting.

Stu opened the binder and showed it to Marks. “Here’s a whole freaking binder of people’s daughters who in the last 24 hours have come forward saying that you . . . .” Stu slammed the binder on the desk. “These are children in your care.”

As Stu was questioning, on the other side of the glass was a bit of a crowd. The Seer sat statuesque with some herbal tea. Her thousand eyes caught every move of the social workers reactions. Alia sat next to her with Obi looming over her shoulder.

“He’s doing very well, given he was sick recently.” The Seer remarked. “It was good judgement to put the two of you together.”

Stu crossed his arms. “So are you going to talk?”

Marks wrinkled his nose. “Emmie Feor was an infuriating woman. That day Dura let me into the house while her mother was showering. The child darted in her room so I followed her.”

Stu smirked. “We have footage of the whole thing. Emmie Feor did remember where she put the DVD.” He brandished it and shoved it into the laptop’s disk drive. Stu snapped his fingers and Marks had his hands handcuffed to the table.

“This is illegal.” Marks spat out.

His spit at Stu was redirected so he choked on it.

The video started playing where Marks had left off.

Marks kneeled and drew Dura close to him. The light from the window behind him illuminated the small child’s freckles as his finger brushed against her lips. His head moved closer to her and then Emmie burst into the room.

She yanked her daughter away from Marks and behind her. Her body and hair were wrapped with lilac colored towels. Her words were sharp and profane as she warned Marks to stay away from her kid.

Marks put his hands in his pockets and smirked, “You’ve been drinking again.” He said in a mocking tone.

Emmie hesistated. Then drew the towel off her hair and sprayed him with water. “You and I both know that’s a god damned lie. I haven’t touched that stuff in months.”

“Do you know how easy it would be for me to take your daughter away.” He walked towards Emmie as she backed away. Dura clung to her mother as sobs racked her body. “I could revoke your federal aid. No more food stamps. No more state issued housing. I’d send lil Dura right into foster care.”

As the video ended Stu stood up with an acusatory finger. “You were going to rape a kid.”

Obi burst in. “That’s enough Officer Wave.”