Chapter 13: Lunchtime and More Acquaintances
We pulled in behind the restaurant at the available parking spaces, realizing the
amount of cars meant lunch hour. Hannah saw a couple going to their car and they
signaled her to follow them. She waved
and slowly pulled around to wait for them to pull their vehicle out of the space.
They took their own sweet time which made Raph grunt.
"It's as if they're doing it deliberately! They know we want this spot and will purposely go slower than usual. Man, I hate people like that."
"At least they were nice enough to offer us their parking space so they're not too bad."
"Yeah, whatever!"
The back up lights turned on their car and they backed out slowly. Hannah tapped her fingers lightly on the steering wheel.
"A-ha! See! It does bother you too! I just knew it!"
Hannah glanced over at Raph. "There's no hiding it from you." She pulled into the spot, waving to the other driver, and finally put it in park.
We all stepped out and entered the restaurant. The air conditioner was on full and blasted us as we came in. Lizzy ran off to grab a booth.
"You know what I want, Mom." She called back
"Uh, huh." Hannah stared up at the menu. Then looked at me. "Do want to do a personal pan too with just your toppings?"
"Okay. I'm not all that hungry and the guys can get what they want in one large pizza. And unless you want your own, you can order a personal pan as well."
"I was thinking of doing that. Okay, you can sit down with Lizzy if you want."
"Do you want some money? I mean, you paid for the whole meal the last time. I should owe you something."
"Okay. A little money would help me."
I opened my purse and pulled out a $10.
"Thanks, Jewel."
Mike started to follow Lizzy. "You know what I like Hannah, right?"
"How can I forget? I still have the note!"
Mike laughed and took off toward where I headed. Don followed and took the seat across from Lizzy near the window. I stopped as Mike slid in next to Liz.
"What is it with you guys and windows?" I sat down next to Mike.
Don shrugged but Lizzy answered.
"They're fun to look out of."
Mike and I looked at Don for the same answer.
"Yeah. Couldn't have said it better myself!" He laughed then
sobered up. "Seriously, I never cared for isle seats and always enjoyed looking
out through windows. You also like window seats, Jewel.
Don't you?"
Couldn't argue with that. "Yeah, Don. But I'm desperate to have a window seat. If I can't get a seat by a window, I sit somewhere else."
Leo walked over and sat next to me, reading the order receipt. Raph followed, taking the seat by Don.
Leo read the price. "This is getting expensive. I paid for our half this time."
I looked over his shoulder. "Pizza's usually expensive. I wonder sometimes how you guys get pizza most of the time. How you have the money to buy it."
Raph looked up. "If we get lucky, we'll find lose change in the sewers, sometimes wallets with lots of money. A lot of times, we go days without eating because we run out of money."
Hannah came over with empty cups.
"Self service on drinks. Lizzy, I don't want you getting anymore caffenated drinks. You can have a Sprite."
Lizzy rolled her eyes as she took her glass. We all got up and in single file went to the soda machine, each pouring ourselves individual drinks. I got a Coke!
We all sat down again to chat as we waited for our order to arrive. The waitress brought over our orders eventually and smiled to us. She looked Asian.
"One large order with the works, three personal pans?"
Hannah pointed down. "Right here."
The lady balanced the trays and set them down on the table.
Leo smiled up at her.
"Arigato gozaimasu."
She smiled and nodded approvingly at him.
"Ah! Do itashimashite." She then turned and left. Lizzy leaned across the table.
"What did you say to her?"
"I said 'thank you' in Japanese."
"And what did she say?"
"She said, 'you are welcome'."
Lizzy was now staring with interest.
"Wow. You can speak Japanese, Leo?"
Leo looked up from his food, feeling a sort of spot light coming in on him.
"Um, a little."
Hannah gestured to Lizzy's plate. "Eat your food, sweetie."
Lizzy started to eat then looked up with a smile.
"Nan-ji desu ka?"
The Turtles stared at her as she uttered that phrase. Don lifted his wristband.
"Um, it's 10 after one o'clock."
Lizzy frowned. "What did I say?"
"You asked what time it was." He looked to the rest of the group. "A safe question."
"This is fun! You ask me a question and let's see if I know what you're saying."
Don looked to Leo whom could only shrug in response.
"Okay. How 'bout this: Doshite tabete inai no?"
"Huh?"
Mike, Leo and Raph started to snicker quietly. Don placed an elbow on the table and grinned.
"I said, 'why are you not eating?' "
"I'm eating! See? Watch." Lizzy took a bite and opened her mouth wide. Don looked away.
"I did not ask for see food."
Later on, Mike had Leo and I step out of the booth to get more soda. I sat back down once Mike got up. Leo followed next..
"Do want me to get you some more Don since you're stuck in there?"
"I already had two drinks."
Lizzy smiled. "Oh, then you only have 18 more to go."
Don cocked his head to the side, slightly amused. I started to laugh and put my hand to my mouth as Lizzy giggled at that remark.
Hannah looked at us across the table as we started to laugh harder.
"Very funny guys."
Raph glanced up at Hannah, then over to us. "Um, care to fill us in?"
Leo looked at me questionably.
I smiled at him and waved a hand. "I'll tell you later. It's a long story."
Mike grinned, recalling our little inside joke. "How 'bout you Raph?"
"Yeah, sure." Raph tossed him his cup which Mike caught perfectly.
"Whoa! Careful! Coulda just passed it to Hannah." He gave Raph a look and then left to the soda machine.
Raph grinned at Hannah. "Didn't want to trouble you."
"Please, Raph! Trouble me! I don't mind. I would have mind if that glass hit the floor and broke."
"I'll trouble ya, Hannah. Anytime you want." Raph lifted his eyebrows upward. Hannah rolled her eyes and looked away.
Leo decided to change the subject to something more important. "So, what you're telling us is Edward is now being guarded?"
I wiped my eyes with my napkin and turned to him. "Yes. There's a guard at the front door entrance to his room."
"What's going to stop them from coming up through the balcony?"
Mike came back. "Wait! Don't start without me!" He took the outside seat, saving Leo and I the trouble of getting up again. He handed Raph his glass and looked at me. "Okay, you were saying?"
I racked my brain. "Um, we were just talking about Ed's room being guarded and Raph was wondering if the door is guarded, what's going to stop them from coming up through the balcony."
Mike nodded. "So, what do you think?"
"From what I saw, the balcony had locks on the door including a slide chain and dead bolt. Someone put in a request to have top security. I felt like I walked into Area 51."
Leo shook his head. "No, Area 51 is much more worse than a typical hospital."
"Okay, Fort Knox then. Whatever! I felt like I entered some sort of high security compound."
Raph stared at me. "Was your husband a former military soldier? Maybe his family felt he needed protection against terrorist."
"Ed's only 25. How could he have had the time to be in the U.S. Forces?"
Raph shrugged. "I didn't know how old he was. All I know is they take men at 18. Maybe he went after high school, served for a couple of years, then left to start a relationship."
"Edward never mentioned that he was in the Military. He briefly said he was ashamed of his life and wanted to start over. And... there's something else." I paused, unsure to tell them.
The Turtles all got my attention. Even Lizzy was watching.
"When I was at that encampment with that Stuart person, he and another guy named
Dan said they both knew my husband personally. They knew him because they worked in
the same office
together." I looked down. "Ed already had this job before we got
married so he could have known all along."
"Could have known what?" Leo watched my face.
"That I was supposed to be....killed. He could have known my life was in danger and tried to warn me before it was too late. Ohh, that sounds silly doesn't it?"
The table was silent. Leo continued.
"Why do you think that's silly? If I were you, I'd try putting the pieces together myself. And not just the pieces to restore my life. The pieces to solving this puzzle."
Mike grinned. "Looks like we've got another mystery on our hands!"
Lizzy leaned over to Mike past me and Leo. "Right, Raggy!" They both laughed at their gags.
I pulled Lizzy back. "Ha, ha, Liz. You're so cute. Seriously, Leo. Do you think I should dig deeper on my husband's background? Before we got married?"
Leo nodded. "If it would help. I'd try to get as much information as
possible. You already know what these cult members want. But you don't know
who they are exactly. You should always know your
enemy so that you learn how to face them when the time comes. And I hope not
sooner."
I swallowed hard having the sudden urge to throw up. But it wouldn't be good to waste such a good meal. I had to get up. Get some fresh air. Then I got a plan.
"Listen, Edward told me his sister, Lucy, had stopped by and he gave me her phone number. I was going to call her."
"Okay, give her a call. Maybe you can talk to her about her brother."
"If it would help." Raph mimicked Leo. Leo threw a ball of napkin at him.
"Ahem. Yes, it might help. Thank you, Raph. I think I can handle this."
"And what job couldn't you handle, Leo?"
"Living with my brother."
Raph frowned as Mike got up followed by Leo. I shrugged at Raph as I got up next. Lizzy continued to slurp her drink, watching the whole scene.
Leo turned back around.
"Correction. I can handle it. Tolerate is the word I was looking for."
Back at the van, I sat on the floor in the sliding door with my feet dangling above the curb. I held Hannah's cel phone to my ear as I waited for the phone to pick up. Finally, a woman answered.
"Is Lucy there?"
"Speaking."
"Hi, Lucy. It's Jewel."
"Jewel? Edward's wife?"
"Yep."
"Oh, hey. How are you? Jesus! Where have you been? I was about to call a search party out on you."
"I'm fine, Lucy. I've been staying with some friends and I got a hold of my legal guardian, Hannah Jacobs. Listen, I really need to talk to you and I'd rather not discuss it over the phone."
"Okay. Is everything alright?"
"I wish it was. I really do. Just give me your address and I'll stop by."
There was a brief pause. "Alright Jewel, do you have a pen ready?"
"Ummmm......" I stretched across the floor to grab my purse. The
Turtles including Hannah and Lizzy watched me crawling around with interest. I was
their floor show! The purse was tucked on the
floor in the front passenger seat. Raph opened the side door and took it to me.
"Looking for this?" He swung it like a carrot over my head.
"Yeah, thanks Raph." I went to take it but he held it higher.
"For a price?"
I sat up and tried to snatch it but he pulled it behind his back.
"Would you-" I lunged at him and we both hit the sidewalk, him getting the worst of it. I was sprawled onto his chest, trying not to smile. That would only encourage him. He grinned at me.
"Whoa! If you wanted to get me on my back, why didn't you just say so?"
I still reached for my purse and he lifted his arm behind him.
"Ohhh! Raph! You can be sooooo difficult sometimes!"
Liz and Mike chuckled softly as Hannah and Don crossed their arms, not impressed. Finally, Leo came and grabbed the back of my jacket, pulling me upward and snatching my purse with his other hand.
"Raph, we don't have time for games. Here, Jewel."
Lucy's voice was calling out through the phone.
"Jewel? Hello? Are you still there?"
"Hi, I'm back."
"What happened?"
I sat down and rummaged through my purse. "Nothing." I sang out as calmly as possible. "Just had to get my PURSE!" I glared at Raph. I pulled out a purple pen and note pad. "Okay, go ahead."
Lucy read off her address and I quickly jotted it down.
"Okay, Lucy. Thanks. When's a good time to see you?"
"How's eight o'clock? After dinner."
"I'll be there. Bye."
I hung up and looked to them.
"She said eight o'clock. Is that too late?"
Hannah looked to Lizzy. "I can drop you off and take Elizabeth home earlier. I don't want her out too late."
I looked to the Turtles.
"We don't have a curfew." Mike grinned to me. Leo stepped closer.
"Where does she live?"
"Near Broadway. Off of West 44th street. She was always one for musicals."
"Mm, hmm. We have time to take your stuff back to Hannah's place. Did she say it was alright for you to stay with her?"
"Yes, I did Leo." Hannah came over and put an arm around me. "But I think we'll be okay without your protection. I have Michael."
"No sleepover huh?" Mike frowned to Lizzy.
Lizzy looked to Hannah. "Can we still go swimming, Mom?"
Hannah stared skyward. "I don't know, sweetie. It's so over cast. Looks likes it going to rain."
"Yeah, but the weather's hot."
"We'll see. Jewel, let's go back to the house and drop off your stuff. Then I'll make dinner and head back toward Lucy's. Okay?"
"Sounds like a plan."
"Then let's head home."
We all piled into the van and Hannah swung out of the parking lot. We headed back to where the Turtle's lived first.
Leo was hinting secrets to me in the car. "There's something I forgot that I have for you. While you were at Hannah's, I found it where I had put it down."
The Turtles brought us all down to their underground lair. Lizzy was wide-eyed and enthused as she looked around. Hannah kept herself controlled and glanced around with a permanent grin.
"This is lovely. The beautiful stained-glass windows above really bring out vivid colors to this room."
Splinter approached us and bowed lightly.
"Thank you. We are most honored to have guests within our home."
Lizzy and Hannah turned to meet Splinter's gaze. Hannah smiled.
"Are you their sensei?"
"Yes. My name is Splinter. And you must be Hannah."
Hannah extended her hand. He shook it firmly.
"That's correct. I'm Jewel's legal guardian." Hannah pushed Lizzy forward. "And this is my daughter, Elizabeth."
Lizzy, still playing her games, bowed and greeted him. She extended her hand.
"Dőzo yoroshiku."
Splinter's ears perked up at her reply. The Turtles were surprised as well. Splinter took her hand and shook it.
"I see you speak Japanese. Tell me, Otoshi wa ikutsu desu ka?
"Um..." Lizzy turned to Leo for help. He quietly mouthed the answer. Lizzy frowned. "Huh?"
Leo finally answered. "She's nine, master."
"Oh, I see." Splinter smiled warmly at Lizzy.
Everyone sat down and Hannah started to talk about my past. Quite a show for
them. Lizzy was no help as she filled in the gaps with detailed stories. She
automatically fell in love with Splinter, finding
him to be a very distinguished rat that she had ever come across.
"Possibly the only distinguished rat you'll come across, Liz." I smiled at her.
Leo stood up. "Now, Jewel. I have something for you that I meant to give you earlier. Hold on, I'll be right back."
He was gone less than 5 minutes. Once he returned he held it up and out to me. I gasped and stood up.
"Oh, my...you found it."
In his hand was my knapsack from the encampment. It still looked intact. I
slowly took it and stared at it as if it were a wonderful treasure. I sat down and
started to look through it. I opened the secret
compartment. There it was. The chain was a little twisted and knotted but my
sapphire necklace was inside. I pulled it out and held it up for everyone to see.
The jewel sparkled through the tiny lines of
the chain that was wrapped around it.
"Ooh, that's pretty." Lizzy stood up to get a closer look.
"Oh, Jewel. Is that the necklace Edward gave you?" Hannah cupped her hand under the dangling stone.
"Yes." I said in a whisper. "I, I thought I lost the only thing that I have left of him." I looked to Leo. "Where did you find it?"
"Um, it was in that small room with you. It was just laying there. I thought it was yours so I carried it with me."
"Oh, Leo!" I jumped up and swung my arms around his neck and gave a tight squeeze. "Thank you so much!" My voice was muffled within his shoulder.
He stood wide-eyed with his hands to his sides. He slowly encircled me and patted my back.
"Whoa! It's okay, Jewel. Really. No big deal."
I pulled away and looked into his face. He could only stare and grin sheepishly. I backed away and looked down at the necklace curled in my palm.
"Now, the fun part will be getting all those knots out, huh?" Lizzy came over and tapped the stone lightly.
"Here, maybe I can get them out with my tools." Don extended his hand toward the necklace.
I handed it to him. "Oh, sure. Thanks. I'd probably spend hours trying to get them out."
Don left the room toward his lab and I sat back down on the couch, sifting through the knapsack. I looked up to see Leo still standing there. I felt I owed him something. Like an apology.
"I'm sorry about...um what I did. It's just that you have no idea how pleased I am that you found my necklace. It could have been any old bum off the street and I still would of had the same reaction."
Leo sat down next to me and frowned.
"You don't have to apologize. I can understand your feelings perfectly." He looked away. "Of course, when it comes down to hugging anyone including bums, then it's time to worry about you."
"Well, that was a slight exaggeration. The bum probably wouldn't return my property anyway."
"And I ain't no old bum to begin with."
I started to find old clothes within the sack and a wrinkled black dress. My black evening dress! I pulled it out and held it up.
"Hey, nice outfit, Jewel." Mike rubbed a hand down on the velvet material.
"This was the dress I wore the night the bomb went off at our apartment. We were going out to dinner to celebrate our anniversary. Oh, God! All these memories! And it was only a few days ago."
Don stepped out of his lab with a look of concern edged around his face.
"Um, Jewel? Can I see you for a minute? There's something I want to show you."
I put the knapsack down and got up off the couch, approaching him with a look that matched his.
"What's wrong Don? You sound curious about something."
"Curious? No."
I followed him to a bright heat lamp with a magnifying glass underneath it. He placed the stone under the glass and pointed something to me.
"Worried? Yes."
"What is it?
"First off, did your husband buy you a stone or a locket?"
"A stone. Why?"
Don flipped a tiny lid on the side of the stone and the jewel popped opened. I gasped and stared at him.
"What have you done?! It's broken!"
"It's not broken. See? It has a small hinge. He bought you a locket but made it look like a normal stone. Jewel, look at the inscription and tell me what you see."
I squinted lower and found some chemical formulas and a large 6 digit number etched across the bottom.
"Oh, my God." I quietly whispered. "That must be the combination those guys were looking for!"
"Combination to what?"
"Good question. Nobody actually told me. I think it goes to something
that belongs to their so-called master. He needs this number to conduct his
experiments. And me of course to be the lab rat
test subject. I wish I knew what this number does."
"It looks like a combination to a safe or something."
"My father's notes." I said aloud but mostly to myself. "He must have his notes placed within an unbreakable safe which can only be opened with this number."
"So what's it doing in this necklace?"
"I think Edward did know the whole situation. He had to put the number somewhere safe so he had it placed within this necklace which was given to me for a present."
"We have to tell the others about this."
"Yes. Definitely. Right now."