© 2012 Phylicia Joannis
The Complainer pushed through the glass doors of the Commissioner’s building in a fresh suit and tie. Penny trailed shortly behind him as he gave the receptionist a gruff greeting.
“I need to speak with Commissioner Wright,” he stated impatiently.
“The Commissioner is on his way to a press conference,” the receptionist raised her eyebrows. “Do you have an appointment? I can reschedule it if you’d like. What’s your name?”
“My name is the guy who’s going to sue the pants off this city if he doesn’t see the Commissioner now!”
“Sir, I’m sorry, but if you don’t have an appointment with the Commissioner-“
“What’s your name, Miss?” the Complainer interrupted her, startling her with his intensity.
“J-Jan,” the receptionist stuttered.
“Thanks. I’ll be sure to mention you in the paper after my story goes public. You’ll be lucky to get a job at Starbucks by the time the media is done with you.” The Complainer turned to leave.
“Just a moment,” Jan stopped him. “Let me see if I can get you someone.”
“I thought you’d change your tune,” the Complainer smirked. Penny frowned at him.
“Was that really necessary?” she spoke quietly to the Complainer. “She’s just doing her job.”
“You’re such a sweet girl,” the Complainer smiled condescendingly. “If you’re going to work with me, you’re going to have to learn that if you want to get things done, you have to be shrewd, not sweet.”
Penny rolled her eyes and watched as a tall young man with slicked back hair walked towards the receptionist’s desk.
“Has anything come in for the Commissioner?” he asked. “He’ll need any messengered reports directed to his office immediately.
“Yes,” Jan spoke quickly as she handed him a document. She motioned towards the Complainer. “This gentleman is here to see the Commissioner. I think it’s important.”
The man rolled his eyes. “We don’t pay you to think. We pay you to answer phones. Now do your job.”
Jan covered the hurt in her eyes by turning towards the ringing phone. The tall man turned his attention to Penny and the Complainer with raised eyebrows.
“Can I help you?”
“Who are you?” the Complainer asked.
“Perry Jones,” he replied, as if it were common knowledge. “I’m the Commissioner’s assistant. If you have questions or complaints, you should direct them to the Commissioner’s secretary who can then – “
“I want to speak to the Commissioner,” the Complainer dismissed Perry with a wave of the hand and Penny smiled despite herself. Something about Perry reminded her of a weasel, or a snake.
Perry blinked, then smiled smugly. “If you have concerns you feel are too sensitive to discuss with me, I’m afraid you are out of luck. I’m the one who handles day to day matters. The Commissioner is on his way to a press conference, so if you want to see him, turn to channel seven in about an hour.”
“I must not have made myself clear,” the Complainer laughed. “I need to see the Commissioner right now.”
Perry narrowed his eyes, his patience thinning. “I don’t know who you are, but you won’t be seeing the commissioner today.”
“Oh?” the Complainer smirked. “Then who should I talk to about Car 17?”
Perry’s eyes flickered and he licked his lips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh?” the Complainer chuckled. “Then I don’t suppose you know what this is, either?”
The Complainer pulled a small metal object from a bag hanging from his shoulders and showed it to Perry. Penny stared at it from behind the Complainer. It looked like a robot, and reminded her of Wall-E.
Perry paled. “Where’d you get that?” he whispered.
“Take me to the Commissioner, and I’ll tell you all about it,” the Complainer grinned.
“Follow me,” Perry stammered as he motioned for them to walk beside him. They stepped into the elevator and go up to the twelfth floor.
“I didn’t catch your name,” Perry glanced at the Complainer.
“I didn’t give it,” he replied as they stepped out of the elevator.
Perry stopped in front of the Commissioner’s office and spoke briefly to the secretary.
“Just give me a moment, please?” Perry showed them where they could sit and entered the Commissioner’s office.
Mayor Blume was sitting in the Commissioner’s office, jotting down a few last minute notes before the press conference. Perry walked in and handed him a report.
“Mayor Blume,” Perry greeted him with a nodded. “The Commissioner told me that any reports coming in should come to you immediately, and – “
The Mayor snatched the report and thumbed through it.
“What is it Perry?” he sighed impatiently. “I could have gotten this on the way there, why are you bothering me?”
“We have a situation, sir.” Perry tugged at his tie. “The transit incident earlier, with Car 17…”
“Yes, what about it?” the Mayor continued to look at the report.
“I think one of the passengers is here, or at least his lawyer is,” Perry gulped.
The Mayor looked up, impatient. “Perry, when you called me this morning about the incident, I told you what to do, right?”
“Yes, Mr. Mayor,” Perry looked down.
“You had all the passengers sign nondisclosure agreements, right?” Mayor Blume continued. “Those people were not harmed, they were just uncomfortable for a few hours, that’s nothing they haven’t experienced before with our transit system. You let them know if they’re looking to sue, they’ve already agreed to a settlement, and if they go public, we’ll not only take the settlement away, but slap a countersuit on them so fast their grandchildren won’t be able to so much as apply for a student loan -”
“One problem, Mr. Mayor,” Perry cleared his throat. “This passenger didn’t sign a nondisclosure agreement.”
“What?” Mayor Blume placed the report on the desk and stood up. “Perry, I got you this job as a favor. Don’t tell me you’re not competent enough to count?”
“No, he wasn’t with the other passengers,” Perry defended himself.
“I’m not following,” Mayor Blume stared blankly.
“We sent two drones in to find the missing car. One on each side of the old tunnel. One of them was recovered at the location where Car 17 was found. The other was never recovered. This man… has that other drone.”
“How is that even possible?” the Mayor looked at Perry, incredulous. “Did passengers haphazardly fall out of the train as it passed through the tunnel?”
“I don’t know,” Perry shook his head. “All I know is that he has the other drone, and he wants to see the Commissioner.”
“No, don’t let him see the Commissioner,” Mayor Blume shook his head. “That old relic will just mess things up.”
“This can’t get out,” Perry shook his head.
Mayor Blume looked up in thought. “Wait. Maybe it can.”
Perry’s eyes grew wide. “You’re the one who told me to keep this quiet!”
Mayor Blume waved his hand. “Calm down, Perry. Listen, if we spin this right, we can control the flow of information and work it in our favor.”
“So you want us to expose a cover up?” Perry looked on in confusion.
“Yes! We have a victim in the lobby, and you and I will be the heroes.”
Perry looked uncertain. “But who will be the villain?”
Mayor Blume smiled.
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