Martha crossed her arms in front of her chest and said, “you aren’t supposed to fight. Your standing orders are to sit in your holding pen and behave. It took us weeks to fix the last mess you made.”
Michael simply blinked back at her. After a moment of silence Martha broke the silence, “so what is it you need this time?” she asked in frustration.
Michael then weaved the tale of what he and Harrison had been doing that evening. It started with the acquirement of the CAPS folder on Jonah Arbuckle and ended with the boys leaving Lorainna’s house. During the story he showed Martha the key who didn’t even look at it, let alone reach out to touch it. So he dropped it into her lap.
“So what I need from you Martha is to have this key sent to Isaac for his special examination. I need to know if this key is magical, and if it is what it does,” Michael finished.
“I imagine it unlocks a lock.”
“Oh you’re a clever one Martha. I imagine that is why you have been assigned as TAO liaison,” Michael replied shortly.
“Listen you little…”
But Michael interrupted. “I don’t have time for this,” he said. And for her part she stopped what she was going to say with a tight frown. “What I also need you to do is to setup a little insurance for Harrison and I.”
Michael put the folder on the table, opened it to the first page and continued. “You will be receiving a copy of this folder in a couple days. Should…”
“You didn’t send it by POOSH did you?!” Martha almost shouted.
“Mrs. Stenwert, give me a little credit would you? Kristen will be dropping it off.”
Martha bit her tongue again and Michael continued. “Should Harrison and I not return from SouthHaven in a little over a week’s time you need to investigate our disappearance. If we have been abducted or found dead you need to use this folder and that key to bring pressure on at least Jonah Arbuckle if not the entire Clergy.”
“TAO and the Council will not expose ourselves over the deaths of you two. I think you over-estimate your role in the city my boy. And I am sure this new orphan recruit of yours won’t be missed,” Martha replied.
“This folder on Jonah is one of the greatest finds we have had to date!” Michael almost yelled. He became aware of his volume and with a gulp, calmed himself. “It exposes the clergy’s hand in everything vile in ShantyTown. You can’t simply sit there and tell me that this isn’t important.”
“The Council has known about the clergy’s involvement in crime for some time boy,” Martha said with a slight smile, it had a hint of satisfaction. Harrison noted that it was if this woman was enjoying being difficult.
“Well isn’t that quaint! So the Warden Council is no better than the Council of Five. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing but instead of making things right and bringing the evil before justice we all just let it simply go on.” Michael was angry, Harrison could see that the boy was almost shaking with it.
“There is more going on than you will ever know Banks. That is why you are told to simply maintain status quo of TAO and behave. We just need you to find others to fight the cause, not take up the mantle yourself and expose the entire operation.” Martha was a bit quieter now, but her words were still spit out with a bit of venom. Harrison didn’t understand everything and everyone they spoke about, but he could tell the woman had the upper-hand.
“Fine,” Michael replied curtly. “Whatever. But you will still do this for me.” He then motioned to Harrison, “If I am going to get another member of TAO into the Clergy House you will setup the insurance policy and investigate that ring. You cannot deny that having someone else to watch over Emma is a bad idea, especially Harrison here, who is very fond of her.”
