Ember's Eve

Private Conversations

The Den 

A couple hours earlier.

Kenneth had just run out of the apartment to chase down Jeffery Priss. Diane recovered from the impact of Jefferey's elbow on her ribcage. The bulletproof vest which she wore took absorbed most of the impact. She pulled out a set of cable ties and passed them to Majid and Jacob. While the two disarmed Jeffery's goons, Diane turned to Dimitri. The boy stared back at her with a straight expression. Diane took off her glasses before speaking "Hi Dimitri, nice to finally meet you. I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

"No," the teenager disagreed "just one question. Do any of your omniscient sources know who murdered my family?"

"So, it's straight to point huh?" Diane nodded "Well I know more than just who did it. I know how to get you to meet him in the right place at the right time. All you have to do in return is stick with the plan."

"How do I know you're not lying?"

"Don't bullshit me, Dimitri," she said, "Jacob told me about your ability and that's what made us speed up the plan to lead you here."

"Okay, what's the plan?"

"First things first, you can't reveal any of this to detective Nymond. He'll be very much against it and we could lose everything." Diane explained "Take note of the fact that I said we because that includes you"

"Note taken"

"Good then," Diane pulled him to the corner of the room. The next few words that she uttered came in a low tone but still maintained their shocking effect "My name is Diane Oander, I'm certain you've already heard of me. There's no time for you to process that information right now. What you need to know is that I'm officially part of the Daunthill reformation scheme. The detective obviously trusts your ability to detect lies so we'll use that to our advantage. The duplex you've been sleeping in has been compromised, all the Sierra Leonian prisoners who were shipped here had trackers, so the house was compromised when Jaward was brought in."

"Lady, you're spilling a lot of shocking and creepy information" Dimitri stopped her "It's a lot take in so can we get to the point here?"

"We'll be going to Majid's place for safety when we leave here. When we get there Kenneth would want an explanation, so I would need you to verify all my words as true."

"So when do I get to meet the man I'm looking for?"

Diane pulled a tiny black envelope, with a pen attached to it, from her pocket and handed it to Dimitri. The boy rubbed his fingers across the envelope before tearing it open. The envelope contained a white card. On one side of the card was a phone number that began with the Daunthill area code. Dimitri flipped the card, the other side was all white space except for the words "write below". He looked up at Diane in confusion, but she was quick to elaborate.

"Kenneth wants to report the incoming shipment to Henry Doyle. He'll want you to join him at the DPD HQ. Try to separate yourself from him, when you get there. If you're successful, call this phone number. I'll personally give you all the information you need."

"If, I'm successful?"

"I, trust you to use your wits"

Dimitri shook his head and looked down at the card and envelope. He turned the thing over and detached the pen from the back. "Why so fancy?" he held the pen up.

"It's a present, from a special person." Diane answered "You'll meet that person soon enough. Now let's move, I'll be filling you in on some extra info on the way."

"There's extra info?" Dimitri walked out of the corner.

"Yeah, you still don't know who's behind the killer Santa operation and why that little kid is here."

They joined the others in the waiting to exit the apartment. Jacob and Majid had unmasked and restrained the goons who'd come with Jefferey. "Let's move guys" Diane spoke out. Dimitri and Diane tailed the others as they headed for the elevator. Diane resumed her explanation to Dimitri. The boy watched the pretty lady as she explained. A week ago, he would have never envisioned his current situation. Teaming up with the notorious lady no good to find and exert revenge on the being who'd murdered his family. Someone ought to wake him up from this preposterous dream. "Do have a gun?" asked Diane.

"Took it from the detective's vehicle" Dimitri pulled up his shirt to reveal the Glock 19 tucked into his waist.

"Good," Diane commended "You're gonna need it"

They stepped into the elevator after the others and descended to the ground floor of the building.