After two hours of recuperation at Dale’s car lot, Russell and Sheridon walked down the steps of the trailer looking brand new in the thrift shop clothes that Dale had driven into town to buy. Sheridon glared down at the German Shepard; the dog had fallen asleep with the butt end of his burnt jeans in its mouth. Sure, the stinking pants were useless, but he needed his chewed up wallet, lying near the dog’s tummy. He squatted for it, then began tucking his scattered cards and coins back inside. When the dog shifted its paw, Sheridon chuckled when he found two more quarters — and the key to the steel door...
Pacing the rows of rusty cars, Treen and Ariel discussed the conversation she’d just had on the phone with Finns, who’d sputtered all his words when she told him of her parent’s disappearance — and who she suspected of kidnapping them. Garrison Blue frequented the Sea Crystallore and Finns avowed to wait on his table with a pleasant attitude — and big ears.
Treen noticed Russell and Sheridon walking away from the trailer and hurried to greet them. Everyone was anxious to hear about their next destination.
“We’re going back to Mallyview to talk to Doris Blue,” said Treen.
“But she’s in a mental hospital,” said Russell. Gail says her dad won’t let anybody see her.”
“So I’ve heard. We’ll work it out when we get there. Mrs. Blue may be the only person who can help us figure this out.”
Everyone thanked Dale then jumped into the Humvee. Treen leaned forward, tapped Sheridon’s shoulder, then slipped some money into his hand. Sheridon knew what the green was for and motioned Dale closer to the window; “Be ready, man, cause we might need you again,” he said, stuffing the $100 note into the chest pocket of his friend’s overalls. Through his cigar smoke, Dale smiled then stood upright to deliver his customary slap atop the Humvee as Ariel pulled away.
“It’s Treen Alee, I don’t believe it!” squealed the muscular receptionist, who’d sprung from his chair when she and the others entered the hospital foyer. “What can I do for you?” he asked, now standing behind the counter centered in the massive white foyer. With the others behind her, Treen walked up, put her elbows on the counter, then rested her chin atop her intersected fingers.
“I need to speak with Doris Blue. It’s in reference to one of my clients.”
He exhaled loudly and shook his head. Gosh, I’m sorry Ms. Alee. Doris Blue is not allowed visitors — it’s been that way since the day she was admitted.”
Treen noticed the roving doctors over her shoulder and knew she’d better quiet the conversation. She gestured for him to move closer, then whispered, “Why isn’t she allowed visitors?”
“I don’t know,” he said, so softly she could barely hear him. “But her husband gives a lot of money to this hospital and what he says usually goes.”
Treen slowly reached for his hand then held it gently with both of hers. “Listen, it’s imperative that I see her — a matter of life and death. My parents are missing and I need you’re help...”
“My goodness. I could lose my job — but if your family’s in danger — ”
“If you lose your job I’ll give you another one. You have my word.”
“Alright. I have to page the guy that’s watching her.”
“Won’t he question you?”
He grinned. “No, he’s a friend.” Treen thanked him before he stepped over to the intercom, then she motioned the others towards the couches in the waiting area.
A short time later, an older man in white garb stepped from the elevator and nodded towards Treen as he hustled past the waiting area to the information counter. After a quick chat with the receptionist, the assistant walked back over and said, “This way, Ms. Alee.”
“I’ll be back shortly,” she said to the others, then followed the man into the elevator.
It seemed like Mr. Blue was hiding his wife from the rest of the world. Not only did the elevator stop on the sixth and final floor, but her room was also the last one at the end of a long, hazy hallway, illuminated by the lone window just outside her door.
“Are there other patients on this floor?”
“Just her,” he said, pushing the door open. “You’ve got twenty minutes. If she gives you any problems, I’ll be right out here.”
Treen stepped into the room’s narrow hallway, glancing at the flowery paintings that adorned the crème walls. She moved further inside and could now see Mrs. Blue near her bed, glaring out a sunrayed window that overlooked the Mallyview River and miles of distant hills and mountains.
However, the sunlight, the paintings and the magnificent scenery were no match for the gloom that had settled inside Doris Blue’s dwelling. Treen stopped a few feet away from her and cleared her throat.
“Mrs. Blue?”
“Who are you?” she asked without turning around.
“My name is Treen Alee.”
“Bookvilla. Your father owns Bookvilla.”
“That’s right.”
“Been there. Nice store. How’d you get in here?”
“A friend.”
“My husband knows?”
“No.”
“Better hope he doesn’t find out.”
“Mrs. Blue, may I speak with you briefly?”
Slowly, she turned around. She walked towards Treen with her arms crossed in front of her blue hospital garb, then stopped directly in front of her. Shifting only her eyes, she studied Treen top to bottom — bottom to top.
“You’re a beautiful girl,” said Mrs. Blue with a slight smile. “But look at the state of me.” As she began fixing her frayed, peppered curls, Treen gently grabbed her wrist and slowly pulled it down from her hair.
“You don’t have to do that. I think you’re beautiful too.”
An endless smile stretched across Doris Blue’s face, revealing perfect teeth that sparkled brighter than her now cheerful brown eyes. “Let’s have that talk,” she said, taking Treen’s hand and leading her towards the window.
Mrs. Blue stopped in front of the pane then suddenly lowered herself on the floor. Treen glanced over at the table and chairs near the wall, then also sat on the floor. They faced each other and smiled. “This is my favorite place to sit,” she said, staring up at the hazy rays.
“I like it also. It reminds of my fathers library at home. My best friend and I used to sit on the floor and talk, all day long.” Treen glared up at rays.
“Used to?”
“She’s, gone now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Guess I might as well be gone too, living in this place.”
“Why are you here Ms. Blue?”
“You won’t believe me if I tell you — nobody ever does.”
“Try me.”
“Well, truth is, my husband should be locked up in here — not me. He’s the crazy one. He’s an evil man. Soon as Blue Neptune started losing lots of money, he started using technology to do bad things. He killed professor Mera you know.”
“Professor Mera?”
“The German robotics engineer. Mera built two androids so human like, that businesspeople and weirdoes all over the world offered him zillions for them. But he wouldn’t sell them — or the technology.”
“Why?”
“Because the fuel that allowed them to function also made people sick. Another problem was the two prototypes. They became aggressive towards everyone except Mera.”
“Couldn’t he re-program them or something?”
“Apparently he did that with one of them but not the other. The prototypes were in high demand because their energy source was the Merafuel running through them. They also connected online, which meant they had the whole Internet for a brain. That’s how the droids picked up a multitude of viruses and started to misbehave.”
“Anyway, right before Mera died in an explosion in France, my husband did what no one else could; he convinced Mera to sell him the androids and the Merafuel.”
“Have you seen the two prototypes?”
“Not that I know of. I did hear Garrison say that once the new droids were built, he’d name them after prototypes.
“Ecnal and Arast?”
She shook her head. “Not sure.”
Treen glanced at her watch. “So how did you end up in here?”
“Some foreign engineers arrived in Mallyview and started building a lab on our home property. When one of the labs was completed, I got nosey. I took a key from my husband’s box and drove the golf cart out to the building. I couldn’t believe it when I walked inside. There were androids everywhere. I touched one of them.
The skin felt real. Then it grabbed me and I screamed. It-it wouldn’t let go,” she said, voice cracking.
“It’s all right,” said Treen, taking her hand.
“Do you think I’m crazy?”
“No you are not crazy. Those androids do exist.”
“You’ve seen them?” she asked leaning forward. “More than once. Tell me what happen