Disillusioned

Saturday, August 10, 2002

12:15 PM

Augie was just leaving the school grounds when a dark-haired man
stepped out of the bushes, grabbing his arm. Augie tried to pull away
but despite his graying hair and aging appearance this man was much
stronger than he looked.

"Mr. Swann," the man said. "I’ve been waiting for you."

"Hello Mr.- Mr. Necci," Augie stammered. The man put his arm around
Augie's shoulders, squeezing tightly, almost painfully.

"I keep telling you, Augie, call me Franco. After all, we're friends,
aren't we?"

"Sure, we're friends," Augie said.

"Do you have what I need, my friend?" Franco said. "The Metro plans?
I have been very patient."

"I'm still trying, Franco," Augie said. "But it's a little difficult
right now-there was some sort of security leak so they've tightened it
to the point where you need a pass and I lost mine, so it's-" Augie's
voice broke off as Franco Necci suddenly jammed a gun into his
midsection, causing him to double over in pain.

"You're lying," he said. "I know you gave it to that American agent
Scarecrow. Did you think I wouldn't be watching you?"

"I wasn't trying to double-cross you," Augie croaked. "But he
threatened me-you know how it is."

"I know that you're a despicable coward," Franco said, dragging Augie
upright by his collar. "But maybe you can redeem yourself by telling
me all you know about the Scarecrow-where he lives, where he may have
taken those plans, and what you know about the child."

"Child?" Augie said.

"A girl up near the trees with a pair of binoculars," Franco said.
"Pretty little thing, light brown, maybe blond hair, watching you the
entire time. I figure she must be a friend of yours?"

"Are you kidding? I don't have any kid friends," Augie said.

"Well maybe she's a friend of the Scarecrow, then," Franco said.
"Perhaps even his child? You know more than you're telling me. I can
see it in your eyes. "

"You're wrong, I don't know anything," Augie said.

"Yes you do," Franco said. "And I'm going to do whatever it takes to
get that information out of you and retrieve my plans, Mr. Swann.
Count on it."

SMK SMK SMK SMK

Once she was back in her own backyard Jenna bent over, her hands on
her knees as she breathed in through her nose and out through her
mouth, trying to slow her racing heart. Sweat dripped from her
forehead and her legs ached but at least she'd made it. Had someone
really been following her? Jenna wasn't sure, but she hadn't been
willing to stick around and find out. She shut her eyes, trying to
will the image of Dad and that man Augie out of her mind but it didn't
work.

What could they have been doing out there? Jenna wondered. She tried
to think of a good reason, some excuse for what she'd just seen. Jenna
couldn't believe in a million years that her dad could possibly be
involved in anything bad or wrong. Could he? And if he was did Mom
know? Maybe she was part of it too. They did work together after all.

No! Jenna thought fiercely. It couldn't be true -there had to be a
good reason for this.

"Jenna Leigh Stetson-just what do you think you're doing?"

The voice startled her. Jenna looked up into her mother's angry face.

SMK SMK SMK SMK

"Just tell me where you were," Amanda said, looking at her daughter,
who was sitting on the sofa drinking a glass of ice water. "That's the
very least you can do."

There was a brief silence. "I went over to Lisa's house," Jenna said.
"I hadn't seen her all week and I just wanted to talk to her."

"To Lisa's house?" Amanda repeated. "You were only grounded for one
more day, Jenna. Couldn't you wait?"

"I guess not," Jenna said. "I'm sorry, Mom."

"I'm sorry too, sweetheart," Amanda said. "I'm sorry that I'm going
to have to ground you for another week, but you haven't given me much
choice."

"I know," Jenna said, staring down at her hands as she clenched and
unclenched them.

Amanda wasn't sure why exactly, but every instinct she possessed was
screaming at her, telling her that something was very wrong.

"Jenna look at me," Amanda knelt beside her daughter. She put a finger
under Jenna's chin, gently lifting until Jenna's gaze was even with
her own. "Is there something going on that you want to tell me about?"

"Mom, I-" For just one moment there was an almost pleading look in
Jenna's eyes-but it quickly disappeared. Jenna shook her head.

"No- there's really nothing to tell," she said.

"Do you know how worried I was when I couldn't find you?" Amanda said.
"When I went up to your room and you weren't there I thought-well you
don't want to know what I thought."

"I'm really sorry." Jenna said.

"If there's a problem we can handle it together, you know that,"
Amanda said. "You don't ever have to face anything alone."

"Like I said, there's nothing," Jenna said. "Really."

"Fine." Amanda stood. "I want you to go upstairs, take a shower, get
into some clean clothes and finish cleaning your room. Your father's
at the office now, but when he comes home we'll all have a long talk."

Jenna stood. Without another word she went up the stairs. Amanda
sighed as she heard the bathroom door slam.

"Just what is going on here?" she whispered. But there was no one
who could answer.