Win Some, Lose Some

FRONTELL LAB

"How's the plan coming along?" Conrad asked Rocao. He was taking his daily walk rounds in the lab, surveying his employee's work. Still in fear of Spencer resurfacing and blowing their plans up, he'd worked everyone day and night, to secure his escape - his and Rocao's.

"Everyone is working hard. We will get there."

"There is no time Rocao. There's no news of Spencer or her death and she's still a pain in our foot_"

"We have time brother. We have today, tomorrow and as long as Spencer is still missing. We'll be ready before she finds the courage to talk. Everything will be fine Con, I promise." Conrad nodded and squeezed his brother's shoulder as he left to join the others.

"Okay people," Rocao called out, "We have to speed up our experiments. I want every hand on deck and I want this work to be ready as soon as possible. Leave no stone unturned. Let's get to work," he clapped his hands and walked out.

Getting to his brother's office, he caught him staring at a picture of a woman he was not familiar with.

"She was the love of my life," he said backing Rocao, "she was fierce and strong and she was the best woman I had ever met. I was happy when she was with me - she helped me forget our pains and suffering from that bastard of a father."

"What happened to her?"

"She married someone else in college," he chuckled, "apparently, she didn't feel the same way I did for her - she lied that she loved me; every day she'd look into my eyes and say Conrad I love you. She was supposed to be mine. She went off to college and married a medical guy. I was angry and hurt and - "

"Why didn't you tell me about her? Where is she now? Is she someone we should take care of?"

"It wasn't important anymore. It's no use. She died in an accident twelve years ago. When I heard the news, I thought I'd be happy - she deserved what she got but I was angrier; she died horribly. I miss her sometimes and those memories, you know," he looked at the open glass window that was three storeys high, overlooking the other buildings that were storeys higher than his.

Rocao turned round the table to face him.

"Listen to me brother. You can't lose focus okay? This isn't the time to remember the love that died in the past. We have a plan in motion and we can't add distractions to our list. Let the dead bury the dead. You have me. I am alive; so stay with me okay!"

He nodded, looked at the picture again and placed the picture back in his drawer.

PLAVINE BAY

WILLOW

Willow sat down on her front porch, drinking coffee and watching gulls peck at the sand, walking their long legs into the water and trying to get fish from the boats. The fishermen drove them away and they flew right back afterwards. Willow giggled from watching the frustrations of the fishermen. She turned to see the little children playing around the water and trying to pursue the gulls as well. The sun hid behind the grey clouds and the ocean breeze caused her to shiver and pull the quilt up her thighs, her long coat covering her body with the knitted snood to shield her neck. She smiled at the memory of her husband John and how they would walk bare feet on the beach, hand in hand. He loved the ocean and how the waves tossed about. He'd sit all day at the shores of the beach, his legs anticipating the water, after which he would pick shells to decorate their living room. She closed her eyes, took in air, and exhaled with a flush of pink on her cheeks. John died two years after they lost their child to a fall, six years after they got married. Willow refused to remarry - said John was the only one for her. Soon after, she left Plavine Bay to get a job and she learned catering. She met Damara a year after and she quit to help care for her children. Spencer was five and Demetrius had just been born. After Zephyr and Damara's death, she went back to her hometown.

Spencer walked out of the house and met Willow sitting outside and staring at the horizon. She squatted beside the wooden rocking chair and kissed her cheek.

"You're bright and early this morning," Willow scanned her demeanour.

"You don't look bad either - with your flush pink cheeks. What are you thinking about?"

Willow smiled. "It's nothing - memories of my husband John, that's all. This house is full of every happy moment we've ever shared."

"What happened to him?"

"When my baby girl Fannis died, John withdrew. Nothing made him happy anymore, not even the songs he loved to dance to. Our baby and I brought him joy; it didn't matter when she was gone. He'd sit out here and stare at the sea. Sometimes, he would blame himself for her death. I tried to be strong for both of us, but sadly, it was not enough. He died two years later of a failed heart. I choose to remember the happy John he was not a shadow of what he'd become."

"I'm so sorry Willow," she hugged her and when she let go, she asked if she needed more coffee.

"Make it black this time. All this sugar is making me hyperactive in my head," she giggled. Spencer got the mug and walked inside.

MYSTI POLICE CENTER

Demetrius sat in the interrogation room, scanning the area and feeling uneasy. They'd brought him in after Spencer's disappearance, asked a couple of questions and let him go. He prayed that his sister's whereabouts would remain a secret she wished. He looked at the camera pinned to the ceiling, convinced that they were watching him and that his behaviour would pull out the truth from him without any questions. He adjusted his check shirt, fondled his wrist band and relaxed his shoulders. Feeling pleased with his composure, he crossed his legs and folded his hands across his chest.

"He is trying so hard," Brandy said to Oliver, "I'd give him that."

"He knows something. Are you ready to do this?" he asked her.

"Sure."

Oliver walked into the room with a file, dropped it on the table, and sat across from Demetrius.

"What's the update on my sister's disappearance? Is there any good news?"

"We haven't found her yet, but we believe we can with your help. Her phone record states that she called Willow on Sunday night and Monday of her disappearance. Do you happen to know who she is?"

"I do. She was her babysitter when we were kids but we haven't spoken to her in years. We don't even know where she is."

"Has she contacted you?"

Demetrius sighed. "If my sister contacted me, I would be with her right now. Things haven't been the same since her disappearance. I need you to find her wherever she is. Willow was indeed our nanny but she left two years ago, after our parent's death; she has not been seen or heard from her since."

Oliver sighed. "Your sister could be in danger and we can help protect her but we need to get her back here."

"You are bringing her back here? What if she is more in danger here? Do you even know if she is alive?"

"We don't have any information yet. We brought you here because we thought she told you anything."

"Can I go now?" He asked.

Oliver, feeling frustrated nodded and Demetrius got up and worked out. He followed suit and walked to Nicole and Xerxes table. "I don't believe what he said for a second. He is hiding something."

"What can we do?"

"We can't arrest him but Lang can track his every move." Xerxes nodded and got up.

"Can you tap Demetrius's phone? We need to know if he's in contact with his sister."

Lang nodded and tapped into his phone, adding a beep on the system to notify them when they communicated. "Do you need me to tap into his house security camera?"

"Thank you."

Hands in his pocket and looking over his shoulders constantly to be sure he wasn't followed by the police, Demetrius sent a message to Spencer.

"The police know where you are. Take Willow and hide. I will talk soon. I love you."

He tucked the phone back into his pocket and headed to the Wine and Dine cafe across the street from the police centre. The computer on Lang's table beeped and he notified Oliver.

"This was sent two minutes ago by Demetrius."

"Do you know where she received it?"

Lang clicked the computer, trying to find a location and got one. "It is Spencer, no doubt and she's in Plavine Bay, Willow. It has bad reception so he could only send a message. My guess is at the waterside."

Oliver tapped Lang's shoulder and went to report to Aditya.

"Nice work. Take Nicole with you and two other policemen. I want her back, safe and unhurt."

"Yes, boss."

PLAVINE BAY

WILLOW

"And now, introducing the queen Radha to the ever-life wire of Grey Music."

The radio personality announced to crown the morning cast. The music slowly boomed from the speaker by the television as Willow relaxed her legs at the edge of her rocking chair. She closed her eyes, her body appealing to the 80's songs by Radha-John's favourite music artiste. They always danced to her music, made love with it and he played it on the radio when she was giving birth to Fannis. The song "Alive Within" was about the life of her home and John's. Now, she listened to it as a sign of comfort.

"What's with the death song?" Spencer walked into the living room, and a glimpse of Willow rocking her head and legs to the music. Willow opened her eyes and smiled.

"Young folks these days want to shake their bum and dress inappropriately to appeal to men. I say the 80's songs brought people together. I was a dancer when I met John. One night, I was performing and John came to the front of the crowd, amidst the sticks of red roses and dropped a white rose with a letter attached to it- "dance with me" was written in it. Under the colourful lighting, he was the most handsome man I'd ever met in our small town. We danced all night and there, he asked me to marry him.

"Just like that? He didn't ask you on a date?" Spencer asked, shocked by how the world was simple.

"Just like that. Of course, I said I would but my family had to approve," she laughed. "You should have seen the look on his face when he met my family. My elder brother Jason was standing in as my father and he did not take it easy on John. Then my other four brothers before me, my aunt, my grandma, my nephews and my sisters-in-law. It was a big day for me but for him, it was a nightmare. I thought he'd change his mind."

"Did he?"

"He did at first. I didn't see him for a year. There was no letter or telephone call. It broke my heart. Soon after, I went back to dancing and we met again in the same room he first asked me to marry him. We danced like it was the first time. This time, he asked in front of my family. I said yes and that's that. All I'm saying is I didn't dress to attract any man; in fact, we dressed to cover all and still, John approached me. You're beautiful even when you dress to cover all. Enough about me. Have you heard from Demetrius?"

"Yes_" she paused, "he said the police were coming for me. What do I do nanny? I'm scared."

"You have to go with them. If anyone can protect you, it's them. They were bound to find you anyways with their technology - they're the police. Tell them what you know and I'm sure everything will be fine," Willow assured her with a pat on her cheek.

A knock on the door brought Spencer to her feet. Willow urged her to hide while she attended to the stranger at the door.

"Can I help you?" she asked when she opened the door. The stranger wore a black face cap, and a leather jacket to go with his blue jeans and his face had a long scar across the forehead on his right eye. Willow figured it wasn't the police but she showed confidence so he didn't notice she was terrified of him.

"Yes," he responded. He pulled a picture out and showed it to her. "Have you seen this woman?"

Willow swallowed her saliva and nodded a no. "Never seen her before. Who are you?"

"I am with the police. We think she is in danger and we need to keep her safe."

"I understand. Folks these days do a lot of mischiefs. If you know what I am saying, some claim to be what they're not. Can I see your badge? It's just that when someone claims to be with the police around here, we have to be careful. Two years ago, a stranger came to Willow claiming to be the police and kidnapped a young boy. He was never seen again."

"Yes, sure. My badge," the strange man smiled and raised his leather jacket. He pulled out a revolver and shot Willow in the chest. Spencer held her mouth tight, shocked as tears rolled down her cheeks. She quietly walked through the kitchen to her room and hid under the bed. She prayed that the police will come for her before he found her. She heard her name and held her lips tight so no sob could escape. She could hear him calling her name and urging her to come out, that he won't hurt her. The floorboard of the room squeaked as he walked in. He opened the bathroom wider and moved the curtain. He opened the room cabinet and moved the clothes aside. His legs stopped moving right in front of her face. He could see his knees bend slowly and then he heard the sounds of police sirens. She closed her eyes and let the tears drop. She wished they'd come sooner, nanny Willow would have lived. The stranger tucked the gun behind the back of his belt and left the room, through the back door. The police cars parked in front of their house. She ran to the living room, Willow's blood flowing into the small rug underneath the mahogany wood table. Spencer raised Willow's body to her thighs, unable to speak as she rocked herself back and forth as Oliver and Brandy walked into the room. Oliver dropped his gun and called Spencer's name. She heard the echo but she was too shocked to speak. The other policemen, along with Brandy searched the house. Everything was happening so fast in her eyes but she cared less and less about the policemen.

"We need an ambulance at Plavine Bay, Willow. It's an emergency," Brandy called in. She helped Spencer up and took her outside while Oliver used the quilt on the rocking chair to cover the body.