Chapter 2 - Spotted (Posted 12 January 2012)

Donna was on her way to work, glad it was finally Friday. This wasn't an efficient use of time, sitting in a car wishing the light would just turn green already, but there wasn't really another choice. She didn't normally take this road, but her normal route had been blocked off by an accident and this was the best detour. It wasn't the safest area, but she wasn't afraid. If anyone tried to mess with her, well, she was prepared.

What she wasn't prepared for was the blond biker who zoomed by her. She thought maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her, but there was only one person she knew who wore a helmet as his only gear on a bike in this city. Of course, that person hadn't been in the city since he left last year, but that didn't stop her from taking another yet unnecessary detour so she could follow him.

She had plenty of time before she had to be at work, not that she could give up this hunt in any case. She followed him easily, ducking her head slightly when he glanced her way. Not that she didn't want him to see her, per se, she just wasn't sure if he was ready to. And she didn't want him to think she was trying to catch him, really she just wanted to prove to herself that it was him.

There was no doubt in her mind though when she watched him pull up to a less than perfect apartment building. A step up from the one he'd had before, but not really a great improvement.

As she drove away, she found she couldn't stop herself from thinking about him. She didn't wonder why he was back, but she did catch herself questioning his detached demeanor. It had been amusing to watch him talk about getting lost in his comfortable joy as he glided around the city on his bicycle, but this was different. It was obvious this was a different kind of joy ride; his only escape rather than a vacation.

It was difficult for her not to think about him all day. She was thankful Harvey was mostly out of the office, because otherwise he would know something was wrong. And no matter how persuasive that man could be, she would not tell him what she saw. Not yet, anyway.

X

Rachel got up one morning, going through her usual Saturday routine. Eat breakfast, take a shower, dress comfortably. Her next task was to do her grocery shopping. Her supplies weren't really running low, but she liked to be sure she had everything she needed.

She went to the grocery store expecting to simply find everything on her list, plus a few impulse buys she'd budgeted for, without anything causing her to deviate from her pattern.

That expectation was gone as soon as she stepped inside and caught sight of a scruffy-haired man. His build was slim, almost to the point of being feminine, and he was bent over scanning the shelf of ramen noodles.

At first she thought she recognized him. An image of a friend who'd disappeared popped into her head and she compared it to the man in front of her. They weren't just similar, even from behind he looked exactly like him. But it couldn't be. He'd left over a year ago, and nobody had heard anything from him since. She knew it was stupid to hope it was him.

Still, she couldn't simply leave without investigating. If there was a chance it was him, she wasn't going to risk letting him slip away again. That, and if it really was him, she knew Harvey would be interested to know.

Careful not to let him see her, she tip-toed around him and tried to get a better look at his face. She stepped to his side, peeking over her shoulder as he inspected an item. She forced herself to suppress a gasp as she confirmed her suspicions. But her surprise was less at actually seeing him and more at seeing how much he'd changed.

His once boyish face had grown harder, wearing a serious look as if he was constantly struggling to focus on what was going on in front of him instead of the mess of other thoughts racing through his brilliant mind. The pink lips that used to be unashamedly pouty had become thinner and were pressed into a hard line. Eyes that had previously lit up a room as they drifted around and took everything in were now dim and unmoving. His stance was still slouched and unpracticed, but it was stiff and cold instead of loose and friendly.

She took a few small steps away from him as she turned her face forward, unable to look at him for even a second more. This person was no longer the bright and immature boy she called a friend, and suddenly she regretted ever thinking he needed to grow up.

X

Jessica liked to spend her Sunday afternoons at the park. Most people saw her as the kind of person who liked to stay inside classy shoppes outside of work, but the fact was she enjoyed sitting outdoors. And the park was a great place to go.

Families were scattered about, playing games or having picnics. She recognized some of them, not as acquaintances, but simply as regulars. But of course there were always some tourists trying to look like they belonged there.

One person, however, she knew right away. He was sitting in the grass, bent over a thick book, earbud wires dangling from his ears. She shook her head in disbelief. How long had he been back? Did anyone know? Did he want anyone to know?

He was sitting right there, just a few feet away from where she sat on her favorite bench. Out in public. He couldn't be that concerned with who saw him. Maybe he was just hoping no one would recognize or even remember him. Or maybe he was just putting himself out there, waiting for anyone who would to approach him.

She took a breath. Of course she knew the perfect person for the job. The one who'd been silently but oh so obviously awaiting his return. She couldn't hide this from Harvey.

X

Monday morning, Harvey walked into his office as he would any other day. Donna greeted him sweetly. His usual stack of files was set neatly on his desk. And he was all alone.

Just the way he liked it, if anyone asked him. But if he was being honest with himself, it still felt strange to be on his own. Sure, he worked alone before he was forced to hire an associate, but it was different now. Even with the sea of other associates to pawn his work onto, it wasn't quite the same.

None of them had the same enthusiasm his had. They didn't have the memory or the ability or the determination he was used to. And they weren't his.

Not a morning went by that he didn't contemplate that. Not that he'd ever admit that to anyone. It was hard enough to admit it to himself, but it was true. His goal every night was that he would wake up the next day and go a full twenty four hours without thinking about him. A goal he hasn't reached once in the year since he's been gone.

He looked up from the papers on his desk to see Donna quietly conversing with Rachel and Jessica. They were nodding discreetly, their lips barely moving as they occasionally shot a glance his way.

When they all seemed to make eye contact with him at once, he scowled and looked back down at whatever was in his hands. Some file on some case he has no interest in, but would do his best to figure out and probably win anyway because it was his job and he loved his job. Or he used to, anyway.

The next time he looked up, the three women were in his office, staring down at him with apprehensive looks. They were all the best in their business, able to hold a poker face almost as well as he could, so he was a bit worried at their expressions. He could tell they had something important to say to him. But he didn't know just how important.