Hide and Seek #5
He opened the bedroom door, slowly walked down the carpeted hallway, and down the stairs with the food tray that Jessie had brought up.
He looked around and saw the living room, along with a formal dining room and office.
The floor was made of an expensive-looking tile, which he followed through the entry into an elegantly appointed kitchen.
Seated at the black marble kitchen table were Simo and Jessie, who were watching him with interest.
“Hello? Uh, kitchen counter?” Xander asked as he held up the tray.
Jessie smiled and nodded, “Right over there, baby. I'll take care of the dishes, thank you.”
Simo looked him up and down as Xander placed the tray next to the sink. He came back over to the two. “What's next, thumbscrews and pliers?” Xander asked, feeling really out of place.
Simo pushed out a chair at the head of the table with his foot and bade Xander to sit down. Xander came over and took the proffered chair. Sitting there, he stared straight ahead, waiting for someone to say something. Several long moments went by in silence until Simo, thankfully, began to speak.
“You clean up good, and smell much better, too. Think you can handle a meeting?”
Xander turned to the big ponytailed man. “Yes.”
Simo leaned forward at him. “What if there is talk of Halo?”
Xander met Simo's steely gaze. “As long as I don't see her or have to talk in depth? I will be ok.”
“You sure? I thought you were dying last night.”
Xander shrugged. “Me too. And more than just that time.”
Simo smirked. “Do you know that a man who doesn't care if he lives is just as dangerous to a team as a coward who runs?”
“No, I didn't,” Xander replied. It was Xander's turn to lean toward the big man. “I plan on fulfilling my promise to Joel. He can’t buy me either… no fear of the consequences, as long as I am successful.”
“What promise is that? I am asking you again,” Simo said and placed his hands together on the table.
“That's between him and me. I'm sorry. You are trying to see if I plan on killing him, nea?”
“It crossed my mind. Are you?” Simo asked gruffly.
“If it comes to that, then yes. He's a threat to... to…”
“Your family and Halo?” Jessie interjected.
Xander nodded slowly in agreement.
Jessie leaned close to Xander and met his eyes. “If you kill the little bitch, the investigation will point to you and Halo. We also may be implicated, as well as our boss. Will you be willing to listen to their alternative plan?”
“Sure.”
Simo turned to Jessie. “Give him his bag.” She reached down and brought up Xander's black carry-on bag.
Xander turned it to face him, unzipped it, and peered inside.
Jessie pointed at the black bag. “Everything is there. We did copy your notes on Joel. They were well documented. We learned some things... thank you.” Jessie turned to Simo as he began talking.
“We heard you had a tablet and memory sticks with you? Where are they?”
“Why?”
“It's important. Very important,” Simo said quietly.
“The ones with the movies?”
“Yes, those ones.”
“Ok, what's up? C'mon. The only person who knew about them was… her.”
Simo sighed. “Halo doesn't want you to know. She would like the memory stick that has your favorite movie on it.”
“Are we going to keep going around in circles? Just tell me why and I'll cooperate,” Xander offered, leaning back in his chair.
Simo ran his hand down his ponytail, then smoothed out his hair while watching Xander. “If you must know? Halo wanted to tell you herself. She thought you would be angry with her when you found out. You understand she wanted to face you and explain. Yes?”
Xander took a moment before answering. The only idea he had was that she lost her pictures of them, and she saved a backup to his thumb drives. He had told her to go ahead; why would he get angry at that? Must be something else… must be Joel that wants it. “Better you tell me. Yes, I understand.”
“Halo filmed what happened on the plane: you handling Joel, you saving them, you saving Doug from the shark, and what Joel did to make him fall into the water. Her only copy was taken by an NTSB agent who is dirty. That video is gone now. You have the only available copy that proves your innocence. There you have it.”
“Wait a minute! Why didn't she tell me? What was her reasoning?
You see! She doesn't think shit through with me! She—she tells me to go back to my family, like—like nothing mattered!” Xander took a breath.
“Just like I told her it would... happen. Sorry.” He looked down at the table, shaking his head.
“If you want to know more, you will have to ask her. Now, where is it?”
Xander looked up and sighed. “I don't have it. Star Wars is my favorite movie. I gave it to the ship’s crew on the way over from Oahu. That ship is on its way to Singapore, from what the captain told me back in Portland.”
Simo sighed. “Name of the ship?”
“Shin Gold River. Docked in Portland six days ago. They were taking on cargo as I left. And that ship would have left four days ago.” Xander held out his hands.
“Wish I would have known. The rest of my gear is in the Greyhound bus locker in LA. If we could manage it, I would like to get it back?” He doubted that was going to happen.
Simo nodded to Xander and then turned to Jessie. “Get Chen on it.” She nodded and left the table.
Xander sighed and began looking in his bag. He pulled out his wallet, his cell phone, and solar charger. He began looking frantically for something. “It's not here!” Xander said aloud as he continued searching the pockets.
“What are you looking for?”
Xander had an angry look on his face, then his fingers felt the plastic of the ziplock bag at the bottom. “Something that needs to be returned to her. I found it.” He pulled it out and slid it over to Simo.
Simo looked down at it. It was a blood-stained, folded piece of paper inside a sealable plastic bag. He could see writing on it. “This Halo's letter to you?”
Xander eyed the big man for a moment as he dropped his hands into his lap and slipped something into his pocket. “Yes. If you would return it to her, I would appreciate it. I kept my promise until I didn't need to anymore. You can tell her that; she will understand.”
Simo pocketed the letter in his jacket and shook his head at Xander staring at him. “You ready to leave?”
“Sure. By the way? Who do I thank for these clothes?”
“You will get to say your thanks. Don't worry,” Simo gruffly replied, as he got up and gestured to a door.
Xander got into the black Challenger’s passenger side as Simo started up the car.
The garage door opened and Simo backed out and headed past Halo's house.
Simo watched as Xander recognized it and quickly looked away.
“I don't want to meddle in your business… I have to say something or I will continue to be pissed. Understand?”
“It's about her... fine.” Xander kept his eyes forward on the road.
“You need to find that bravery you have in you and use it to listen to what Halo has to say. I heard you apologize and take responsibility for Doug’s death. You should give Halo the same consideration. You know she would with you.”
“I can't! Not… not yet.” He looked at Simo, who was watching him. “You are right, I should. I just can't right now.”
Simo gave him a nod and a grunt, then continued, “I met your daughter, Athena. She has done you proud.”
“What? How?” Xander said, shocked.
“In March and recently. You do know that Tina Ascher, my goddaughter, and Athena are best friends?”
“What?” Xander exclaimed and rubbed his eyes. He remembered the sunglasses and put them on.
“Yes, Ari went and picked them up in his jet along with Tina's mother, Annabeth Swan,” Simo said with a wry smile.
Xander’s mouth came open. “Annabeth Swan is Tina's mother? Holy shit, I did not know that. Hell, if Yiayia finds out she will dance the Hassapiko,” Xander muttered.
“She does know. Ari, Annabeth, and Tina went to your funeral and met with Yiayia...”
“My funeral? What the hell?” he gasped. “Athena didn’t say anything…”
“I hear it was nice. Athena never gave up hope that you were alive.”
Xander's head felt like it was going to spin off again. He turned the air conditioner vent toward his face and felt the cool air wash over him. “I don't understand what the hell is going on.”
“I met Yiayia too. I don't think I would want to tangle with her. She was very nice to me.”
“Psema melas?” Xander asked.
“No lie. When were you planning on seeing your daughter? She is worried sick about you. Instead of messaging her from a temporary number, you should call her and speak with her, not just text.”
“What? I did see her… briefly, and asked her not to tell anyone. How... shit, never mind. They've done fine without me...” Xander said the last part under his breath and looked out the side window.
“No.”
“Oh? I am supposed to go see Evie and make things right?
I don't think so. She's happy with Eric, freaking good for them. At least someone in the world can do it! Shit, I tried for years, changed who I was, did every goddamn thing I could think of to make her happy. When I ventured into acting? Hell, you’d think the world was coming to an end. Talk about jealousy and revenge... not to mention a vendetta. You know Greek women and their freaking vendettas...”
Simo nodded. “You should go back and finish what was started. Ask her for forgiveness and forgive her back. Let Evie be happy with your blessing...”
Xander felt himself getting agitated. Rather than get angry, he took a breath and tried to center himself. He remained quiet and watched the sunny scenery race by. By the time they pulled off the freeway and started down West Olympic Blvd, Xander knew the Gigas had a point.
Xander broke the silence. “Just where are we going?”
“Century Plaza Towers. We are getting close.” Soon Simo was parking in a reserved space under the high-rise.
Simo pointed to the nearby elevator. “Let’s go.”