Chapter #9 - Rough Draft Eyes Wide Shut: An Enigma™
Hiding In Plain Sight
Chapter 9 - Rough Draft
Eye Candy…
The ride home was uneventful, but Curtis was alert. He could not see anything following him. He wondered how extensively Daemon was able to multi-medium monitor him. Checking around his house, Curtis did not see anything unusual.
Curtis poured himself a cold beer, grabbed the Wall Street Journal, and glanced at the first page. One item caught his attention was a meeting notice of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) where they were warning the world banking community not to make their own rules. Curtis wondered if this was a reflection of Daemon’s friend’s needs.
Was this part of Daemon’s group? Did Daemon tell him the truth that he was the only one to be involved in his research to produce cloned humans in his maniac approach to save the world? Was Curtis paranoid?
As Curtis parked, he noticed a black limousine. The medallion notified Curtis that Daemon was not now monitoring him. Was that Daemon and his friend? Curtis checked in and was told, “It would be five minutes before his table was ready.” Curtis grabbed a Mojave Newspaper and sat in the lobby. He read the headlines: “Burt Rutan's Mojave-based Space Ship Two” The article was about Scaled Composites team celebrated an international triumph Dec. 7 with Virgin Galactic's glitzy rollout of the first commercial space vehicle, Space Ship Two.
Curtis hears his name. He looks up to see a beaming Daemon. His “friend” was youngish 40’s head turning, petite and curvy blonde-haired person that was a billboard for expensive jewelry. She was definitely “eye candy.” What was Daemon thinking?
Daemon introduces Mary Sue as a co-worker that works at his Mojave Air and Space Port office. Pleasantries were exchanged as the maître d’ says, “Table for four guests?” They were seated at one of the best tables that looked over snow-capped mountains.
Curtis was curious. He asked Daemon smiling, “Where did you find her?” Daemon was proud of his trophy girl. Daemon causally remarked, “She applied for the Research Assistant position that I advertised.” Curtis thought, “fair enough.” Curtis speaking to Mary Sue, “Daemon treating you right?” She blushed and looking straight at Daemon responded, “He is a super boss. I enjoy working with him. He is a very smart gentleman.”
Curtis thinking this is too gushy, changes the topic. He explains to Mary Sue, he has known Daemon for many years and has just started assisting him as a research consultant. Mary Sue asked Curtis if he “liked what he was doing” and Curtis responded, he “Loved his work. It is what he was trained to do.”
Daemon glanced at Curtis when Curtis asked Mary Sue, “What was her background in terms of work experience and education?” Mary Sue looking at Daemon answered, “I had just enough ‘background and experience’ to qualify for what I do.” Wow. She said nothing, but answered the question. She was good. Daemon was grinning ear-to-ear.
Curtis could not help but notice how pretty her eyes were. They were a radiating green. She smiled a lot. It was a pleasant dinner where the conversation never drifted into areas that Daemon or Curtis would not feel comfortable talking about. They were experienced in these matters. They were professional. Their lives had depended on it many times.
Daemon explained to Curtis that Mary Sue worked at the Mojave Air and Space Port. Daemon taking his cue, looking at Mary Sue, “Curtis will be occasionally checking in at your office. Curtis knows what he needs to do to accomplish his assigned tasks.”
Daemon told Mary Sue that he would call her to let her know when Curtis would be coming. That was like Daemon, always in control. Curtis told Mary Sue he looked forward to seeing her again. Daemon smiled.
The dinner ended with a toast by Daemon. “Here’s a toast from William Shakespeare, ‘The wine-cup is the little silver well, where truth, if truth there be, doth dwell’.” All glasses were “clinked” and the wine enjoyed.
Daemon’s truth and his truth are very different. Curtis thought perhaps the secret to destroying Daemon was to learn what his “wine in the silver well” was to determine the truth.
Curtis was curious about what kind of relationship Daemon had with Mary Sue. She was bright, articulate, and obviously trained to adhere to the “less is more” philosophy.
The evening was cool with a full moon. Daemon’s driver met them at the exit from the restaurant. Goodbyes were exchanged with Mary Sue raising her hand to Curtis. He warmly clasped her hand and said he would see her soon. Daemon had a living trophy.