Musings

[Leaving the plant.]

[Comm to Oracle.]

I have him. He'll be [...] fine.

[Comm to Sentinel.]

He's with me. Can you destroy the recording?

[He is tentative with this request, because the reporter might want to publish anyway.]

[Phone to P. Worth.]

Luke is fine. [He's better at this exaggeration by this call.]

Call the police and report the kidnapping on my behalf. Say I'm not able to call or... something. [Impatiently.]

[Later, a text to M. Main.]

L. safe. Treating. Staying away from apt. Avoid press if you can.

[Secure email to T Brandon at sun-up.]
575,000,000, liquid, and we're both entirely free of portable wealth now. I might be able to get additional funds advanced from Sparke, Thomas, quicker than going through additional liquidation channels. Let me know.

[Phone call to A Sparke]
Ring

[After this and this.]

[Phone message to M. Main at the Times front desk. It's not a direct, a secretary brings a post-it in which she's inscribed the following message. She looks confused.]

Mr. Brandon says he is working late on the sleeping goat (??) case, and not to worry about staying at the mechanic's for as long as it takes to wait for news on the heirloom they're working on.

[Phone call to Oracle. Regardless of whether she picks up or it's a voicemail, he says the same thing:]

I need a trace on [Cayman Account #]. Top priority. Drop everything else. Please.

[He hangs up a second after.]

[Phone call to P. Worth. This one, he waits for a reply.]

I need a time estimate of one billion liquid. Now, Alfie.

[PUBLIC TO FORUMS.]

I need more time.

A package is dropped off by someone at the front desk of Worth Financials, wrapped in brown craft paper and labeled "For P. Worth" and "FRAGILE" in black marker. The paper looks slightly battered, as if it's been carried around quite a bit. It's quite large, about 4 feet wide and 3 feet high, but only about 2 inches thick.

When opened, it contains a painting, larger than the last. It's mostly muted colors, and again closeups of objects that make them seem almost abstract, especially at the larger size of the canvas. The left-hand side of the painting is taken up by a large, dark eye, shiny and dark and surrounded by painstakingly rendered fur, the hint of an ear in the opposite corner shows it to be a bunny. In the reflection of the eye is a girl, her skirt and hair lifting outward as she spins. The other side of the canvas is a silver bell, nearly realistic in the reflections of light that cover it. There is a bit of yellowgold on it, beginning to form letters but cut off by the bottom edge of the canvas. In the few hints of background between the two object, intense colors peek through, mostly pink.

It's unframed, and there's no note with it, no invoice from an official gallery.

If you are available, can we meet about that thing the issue?

[Locked to J Cooper]

I trust you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving? I saw you at the formal dinner, but did not wish to interrupt.

[mid-afternoon, obviously after this is seen by all]

[locked to q. gaines]

Sorry about just leaving the table like that. Did you get home okay? Please tell me you don't know what the papers are saying, it's so stupid

[locked to p. worth]

So, overall, how do you think it went?

[public]

Thanks again to everyone who attended last night. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves.

[After receiving no reply]

[locked to w. light]

Do you know if Quinn's [...] mad at me or something? I wasn't gone that long The papers have to be wrong

[Late in the morning after the paper is delivered.]

Sorry about the mess.

[Email sent from about a day after the painting is delivered to Worth Financials and payment has been processed through the gallery]

To: worth @ worthfinancials.com
From: dreamwander @ gmail . com

P Worth,

I hope that by now the painting has been delivered to you and that you're satisfied with it. If so, the gallery told me that you'd asked about future commissions. I would be lying if I said that it wouldn't be helpful for me if you were still interested.

If not, please ignore this email.

Thank you,
T.S.

[Locked to P Markowicz]

Ms. Markowicz, your agent informed me you could be contacted in this matter. I am in a bit of a bind, and require entertainment for tomorrow evening, as we have had a last minute cancellation. Money, of course, is no object. Are you already engaged for the evening?

[Secure email to T Brandon]

If you've not made plans for a partner for Thursday evening, I have a suggestion.

( e-mail to p. worth )



( open comm. )

[Sent to Penelope Worth]

I decided I like not having options. Thank you.

[Sent to Darwin Amis]

You're my date for Thanksgiving party now.

Also, stop putting your laundry in my hamper.

[A footman, dispatched to Mikaela Jones and in possession of one communicator. He is instructed to only give the small box to Mikaela, and he will wait as long as needed for her to arrive before he considers his job complete. Inside the box, there is a carefully folded note. Mikaela, do use the utmost care in keeping this out of unintended hands. Turn it on, and Oracle will walk you through the remainder of the process. ~ Alfie.]

[delivered via the email address she'd provided on the forum. The gallery itself is located not far from the Bathos apartments, in a fairly reputable area.]

( Email )

[During memories.]

[Secure e-mail, T Brandon]
These communicators I'm not meant to know about, I require one.

[Snail mail, G Dailey]
Invitation. Written on the back, in elegant script: You belong at the family table. I do hope you'll come. ~ Alfie

[Locked, L Henry]
How progresses the speech, Luke?

[Public]
I am looking to purchase a piece of art. [Description of the artwork from the memory.]

Hello Hi Hey Hello,

I meant to get this to you sooner, but I've been having a bit of a crazy few weeks. I seriously don't know what's up with me. Anyway, I'm really sorry about the way I left your office. I was just a little stunned and needed some time to process what you told me. I'd also like to apologize for any interactions you might have had with my roommate Daryl. She can be a little abrasive when it comes to things. She means well most of the time.

I've decided that I can't accept this without knowing for sure that we are blood related. I couldn't in good conscience accept a legacy by mistake. I'm not saying that I do not trust your judgment. I just feel it would be wrong for me to blindly accept it. I hope you understand.

-Jane

P.S. We should get to know each other as well. It'd be weird otherwise.

[Locked to A Sparke, after tracking down his forum identifier]

Mr. Sparke, welcome to Seattle. Penelope Worth, of Worth Financials. I believe I can be of service?

[Locked to L Henry]

Luke, attached is the invitation for the holiday meal. I will send out hard copies, but I recommend you post the invitation to the public areas and reach out to individuals you feel deserve special invitations, such as important officials [Aubade resident list attached] and members of your inner circle of acquaintances, who we shall seat at the family table. If you could provide the family list by the end of the week, it would be most appreciated.

[Attachment: Invitation]

Addendum: I recommend you practice your speech on friends between now and then. Public speaking can be frightful at first.

[Sent while she is in the midst of working through the paperwork for Luke being named heir to the Brandon fortune. Visible to both Luke and Thomas.]

[Locked to L Henry, T Brandon]

Luke, how do you feel about a hosting a formal Thanksgiving dinner? I will, of course, handle all the details, but I believe it benefits us to make this announcement on our terms.