Stevie Wonder's There: A Fictional Narrative

Leela heard Meena slam the trunk of her Jeep closed. After she hopped in, Leela pulled out of the police station’s parking lot.

"What's in the bags?" Leela asked.

"Don't worry about it," Meena replied.

She didn't want to worry. Her sister had been distant since they returned from Annwyn. The tears had dried, leaving a curt, prickly demeanor. Leela struggled with that to say. Nothing seemed appropriate. I'm sorry for your loss certainly wasn't.

"Are you Ok," Leela tried to open a conversation. "I'm here for you."

"Thanks."

"We'll get through this."

"Whatever."

Silence stretched between them. Construction jammed the lane onto the highway. Cars honked and tried to cut in front of each other. The jazzy funk of Stevie Wonder’s

Leela had heard enough of Meena’s attitude. It was time to be blunt with her sister. Tonight there could be no distractions. "Khalil's plan needs to be executed perfectly. No Rambo taking the law into my own hands bullshit. Fiona is dead. Doing something dumb won’t bring her back."

"I'll do my job."

"I mean it"

"Yeah, got it," Meena replied. "Captured the bitch, discreetly, with white gloves. No one is to know. I covered with Gagnon and everyone on the force. As I said, I did my job."

Leela turned into the residential neighborhood. They had six hours to prepare for Quinn's arrival.

"Elan has my backup keys and the car," Ryker said in what he hoped was a cheerful tone. "He has my phone too, so call it if you anything."

Yarah nodded and kissed him. Her lips were smooth and tasted of green apple lip balm.

Electronic Earth devices like cell phones, computers and watches did not work in Annwyn. The Primordial world was a fun place to visit for technophobes or a lonely black hole for Internet junkies. While he fell into the former category, Ryker would miss the ability to takes pictures with his smart phone. Wallis grew bigger every week. How would he keep track and share with family without

Lies on top of more lies to colleagues and loved ones to hide the plan to capture Quinn, he thought.

Ryker watched as Yarah and Khalil said goodbye to Wallis. He worried about Khalil's health. Never had he seen Khalil so thin. Clothing hung off him as if they were bought two sizes too large.

Yarah told Wallis to be good for daddy. Khalil said not to break anything. Blonde curls bobbed to confirm obedience or most likely in imitation of the adults in front of him. The boy giggled, delighted at the attention.

Natalie stood to the side, gabbing on the phone with her brother.

Two large, burgundy suitcases lay next to the four cases Ryker brought. His head knew this wasn't goodbye. The hugs were a promise to see each other later. The kisses were a command to come home soon.

She's going to die? Quinn will kill her, just like Niels, while I'm stuck on another