Amun stepped into Jenny’s office and gave her a short bow. “Miss Aduana. A pleasure to see you again.”

Jenny inclined her head. “Nyame. To what do we owe the honor?”

Amun stepped inside, closing the door. He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Well, it regards Markus here.”

“Again?!” Jenny crossed her arms and glared daggers at Markus. “Just who are you, Markus Barton?”

Amun laughed heartily. “Calm yourself, Ajoa. He has simply expressed a desire to do something that, while not necessarily prohibited, isn't common.”

Jenny nodded. “Brick.”

Amun returned her nod. “Precisely so.” He turned to Markus and began pacing. “So! After meeting Sam, you naturally want to pay a visit to Brick, yes?”

“Yes. I would like to personally let him know what I think of his behavior.” His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles popping.

Amun nodded and crossed his arms. “I can understand your rage, son. Truly, I can. However. I don’t know if it is prudent to allow you to meet him. Not yet, anyway. You’re full of rage. Brick is being punished for every transgression he’s ever committed. Sam’s treatment included. You needn’t worry on that score. Reality takes a dim view on actions such as his. For now, you will dismiss the notion of finding him and enhancing his punishment. Write his name down somewhere in your office. Hell, make a damn list. But for now? Put the notion out of your mind. When the time is right, if it ever is, I will personally see to it that you visit every name on your list. I will know when and if the time is ever right, and I will come to you. Not the other way ‘round. Am I understood, son?” He halted in front of Markus and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Markus sighed. “Yes sir. I understand. I’ll make a note at my desk.”

“Good man. In the meantime, why don’t you show Ajoa here -I’m sorry, Jenny- your office?” Amun suggested.

Jenny nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. You had said something about an interface?”

Amun grinned. “Yes, son. Death told me about that. Pretty cool.”

Markus rubbed the back of his neck. “Ah…yeah. Yeah, sure.” He focused on his office and opened the door, revealing his unassuming desk.

Amun and Jenny stepped inside with Markus following. Shutting the door, he walked over to his desk and tapped the air, causing an opaque screen to expand into view. Jenny’s eyes widened as Amun chuckled.

“Clever! This is pretty good, son. Keep up the good work. I have other matters to attend to. Have a good day.” Amun walked out of the office, leaving Jenny to watch as Markus brought up a notepad, typing in Brick’s name, as well as Sam’s.

“And you just figured this would be what you’d want to use?”

“Yep.” Markus closed the file and brought up his father’s entry once more. He pulled the image of his dad out, setting it onto his desktop. He sighed softly.

Jenny reached out and touched the opaque, slowly rotating, three-dimensional image, stopping its motion. “Your dad?” she asked softly.

Markus nodded. “Yeah. Died when I was eighteen. Been thinking about going to see him.”

“He’ll come to see you soon enough. They always do.”

“Huh? How can he come see me at his gr- oh. I see. Here, you mean.” Jenny nodded and smirked.

She laid a hand on his shoulder. “My family all came to see me when they found out. My mother and aunts were just so proud of me for working for Asase Ya. Your dad will likely come by at some point.”

Markus nodded. “I think I want to go see my mom. I’ll see you next week, Jenny.”

Jenny nodded and squeezed his shoulder as she walked off. “See you then, Markus. And welcome aboard. I’m looking forward to working with you.” She paused before his door, then opened it, revealing a modest room somewhere else.

“You too, Jenny.” The door closed and Markus was left alone. Swiping his hand across the air to clear the desktop, he opened the door to his bedroom, and left the office.

Once home, he reached into the fridge and made a BLT, determined to put something into his belly. After he’d eaten, he climbed into the car and went to visit his mom.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The drive was fairly uneventful and took less time than usual. When he arrived, he met his uncle as he was leaving.

“Markus!” He wrapped the younger man up in a hug. “I’ve not seen you in a while. How are you, bud?”

“Hey Leonard. Missed you too. I’m good, all things considered. Got a new job and just finished my first day. Figured I should come see mom. How’s it going?”

“A new job, huh? What’s the job?”

“I’m working for a placement agency. We make sure people get to where they belong. Nothing more complicated than that.”

“Huh. That sounds neat. Anyway, Aaron and I are doing well. Just got home from Chicago, decided to check in on my baby sister. She’s… she’s not doing well. I mean, she’s not in pain or anything, but she just isn’t alive in there, y’know?”

Markus sighed. “I know, Leonard. It hurts to see, but I know that her ordeal in this world will be over soon enough. We just have to let the process do as it must.”

Leonard nodded, all too aware of their impotence in this situation. “Yeah. Well, I need to get home. Aaron will want to know where his dinner is, soon enough. Love you, bud.”

Markus hugged his uncle. “Love you too, Leonard. Tell Uncle Aaron I love him, too.”

“Will do, son.” Leonard climbed into his car, and drove off slowly.

Markus entered the facility and signed in. A moment later, Rai popped her head in and motioned Markus back.

“C’mon back, sweetheart. Your mama is waitin’.” She held the door open for Markus. Together, they walked back to where his mother lay, apparently asleep. “So how was your first day?”

Markus yawned and sat down heavily. “Tiring. I just spent ten hours watching four of my coworkers directing people to new jobs, and I’m tired.”

“So what all are you doing, sweet pea? Maybe I can help?”

“While I’d love to tell you what all I do, I’m under a contract that forbids discussing the details of my job. I don’t wanna muck this up, so with all the love I have inside, I need to ask that you never bring that up again.”

“Wow. Sounds like your job is pretty important, then. Don’t worry. I’ll not pry. I’ll make sure my hubby and the Mini-Me don’t either. As long as you’re happy with what you do, and it ain’t illegal, we don’t care.” Rai nodded her head decisively, and that was, as they say, that.

Markus sat there chatting with his friend for the next couple of hours, when Rai’s phone chimed. “Oop. Looks like my shift will be up in a few minutes. I have to make my final rounds. Can you see yourself out?”

“Sure! Don’t stress over it. I’ve been here enough that I’m sure I know my way.” He walked over to his mother’s bedside and placed his hand over hers. “I’m going home, Mom. Sleep well.”

As before, there was no response from his mother, so he turned his feet towards home, and left. He stopped at the grocery store and picked up a few easy meals, as he figured that his days would be rather hectic for the next month, and one less worry would be welcome.

****

He woke up early and got himself cleaned, dressed and ready for work, packing a couple of the easy meals into a small backpack. He ate a simple bowl of cereal, rinsed out the bowl and checked his watch. Six thirty. No time like the present. He opened his closet door and stepped out into the hallway of his new job, seeing Cecily’s door in front of him.

He pulled out his phone and played a few rounds of an idle game before he heard the door in front of him open. He put his phone away, smiling at Cecily.

“Good morning, Markus. I hope you’re ready for a new day. Same as yesterday. Just sit and relax. Watch what I do and try to remember it all. If you have questions or would like to try and talk to a soul, speak up.”

Markus nodded and they went inside, where he took his seat beside her desk. A moment later, the lights began their change, and the door opened.

In all, they saw an entire family of rabbits who had wound up being lunch for a hungry fox, three bears, a slew of cats and dogs and twelve humans. About ten minutes before he was to leave, the lights turned purple and the door opened to admit a man who looked old enough to be Markus’ father.

“Andy! This is Markus. Markus, this is Andy. I’ll see you in the morning, Markus. Have fun!”

“Thanks, Cecily. Hey, are we still on for drinks this Saturday?” Andy asked

“Sure thing. I’ll see you later, guys.” She waved as the two men left.

Markus found himself in the hallway with Andy, who smiled at him. “Care to show me your office?”

“There’s nothing in it yet, Andy. Just the desk. I’m going to wait awhile before I decorate and make it mine.”

“Makes sense. I was just curious. This way, Markus.” Andy began walking down the hallway, humming softly to himself. “So, I dunno if you know this or not, but the Office will bend itself to your destination if you want. See? Here’s my door.” He opened the door and stepped in, moving to the side so Markus could follow.

Once inside the office, he took it in. It was definitely a theme. Vintage posters and pinups from the early days of the first world war were tacked up on the walls, with hanging ivy dripping from macrame-held flowerpots beside them. The desk looked old and worn, with an old-style metal fan sitting atop it, slowly turning in the air. A leather office chair squatted behind it, and the air smelled like fresh tobacco.

“Kinda like an old gumshoe’s office, Andy. I like it.”

“Ha! You even know the lingo! Not too common these days. I was a PI before the dead man called on me. I just kind of went with it, thinking my pals were yanking my chain. Seems they weren’t, after all.” He sighed wistfully. “Yeah, this is what I remember. Feels like home to me. I brought in a second chair for you while you’re here training. Feel free to take it with you when you leave. I got a million of ‘em.”

Markus looked sharply at the older man. “You sure, Andy? That can’t be cheap.”

Andy laughed. “What do we care if it’s expensive, Markus? We’re paid enough to not have to worry, and with smart investing, our money will go even farther. I can teach you that too, if you’d like.”

“Sure! I’ve got little to lose.” Markus walked to the second chair and took a seat. It was deliciously soft and comfortable.

“Excellent. So, let’s talk turkey, Markus.” Andy dropped into his chair and turned to face him. “What all do you know?”

Markus explained to him what he had seen the day before, and how he’d handled it all. Throughout the explanation, Andy simply nodded and listened. When Markus finished, the lights had just dimmed.

“Well, you’re on the right track, kid. Just pay attention to us, and you’ll do just fine.”

The lights shifted again, and the door opened to reveal a distressingly familiar person.

“Mom?”