Dear Diary...

By:  M. J. Cogburn and C. E. Krawiec

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On the top floor of the complex, Pat Writin looked up when the signal sounded indicating that a resident was waiting to be readmitted into the building from the gardens.  Pressing a specific button on the modest control panel, he watched the doors swing open and the last person to go out return inside.

"Good evening, sir," was all he said in response to the glance the man turned on him as he headed for the bank of elevators across the large room. Pat and his fellow guard watched silently as the average looking, middle-age man entered the elevator a minute later. Neither uttered a sound until after the lights on the panel situated between the rows of elevators indicated that the car had reached its destination on one of the lower levels.

"I wonder what that's all about?" Richard Hastings finally said as he settled into one of the two chairs placed at the guards' desk.

Pat glanced over at his partner. "What do you mean?"

Richard looked up at his friend even as he reached for his Thermos bottle of coffee, removed the stopper and poured himself a cup. "That one's up to something," he said then took a sip of coffee.  "I'd bet a week's pay on it."

Pat turned back to look at the bank of elevators for a moment, slowly shaking his head as he considered his thoughts then went to occupy the other chair. "Not me, buddy," he replied, reaching for his own Thermos bottle. "It's been a while since I last saw that one, but one thing's for damned sure."

"What's that?"

Pat took a sip of his own coffee before answering, his gaze once more on the elevators. "The less I know about what he's doing, the healthier I'll be.  And that's the way I intend to keep it."

Richard snorted, grinning. "You've been watching too many scary movies at night, pal."

Pat paused, his cup just at his lips. "Maybe. Maybe not, but I am not about to go sniffing around and asking potentially stupid questions about him either."  He took another swallow of his coffee and settled back in his chair. "As long as he ain't tailing me, I don't give a damn what he does. Just so long as he leaves me strictly outta the picture.”

PART ONE

Used to the stares and the odd looks that others gave him, Gillis Woods stepped into the elevator and couldn’t help but grin at what he gleaned from the gardens between Officer Inmon Fitzpatrick, Senior Observer and Senior Leaper.  The information learned from the lover’s triangle as well as from the fascinating way that Vaughn Rickar castigated himself as he ran through the gardens interested Gillis more than he cared to admit.  He couldn’t wait to get back to his quarters to add the information to his already growing data file on Vaughn Rickar and Johanna Royden.

The elevator stopped on the second floor to let in a family in and Gillis stepped back cordially with a smile.  The smallest child in the bunch, no more than three years old, toddled back to where Gillis stood and hugged his legs.

“Come here, Isabelle,” the older woman called to her daughter.

The little one only tightened her hold on Gillis’ legs causing the older man to smile.  Leaning down slightly, Gillis clapped his hands and held them open to the young lady attached to his knee as he called her name. 

Isabelle looked up at him and eagerly let go for him to lift her up into his arms.  He placed her on his hip as he tapped her on her nose.  “What floor are you going to little Isabelle?” he asked her tenderly.

Isabelle’s voice softly uttered, “Six.”  Seeing the man’s smile, she smiled back at him as she rubbed her eye sleepily.  “Are you tired too?”

Gillis nodded his head.  “I sure am, sweet pea,” he said softly.  “Here, you go to your momma.  My floor is next and I really need to go to bed.”  To prove his point, Gillis faked a yawn for the little girl only to see her sincerely yawn as he placed her in her mother’s arms.

As the elevator doors opened, Gillis stepped onto his level then turned back to the little girl.  “Good night, Isabelle.”

“Night night,” she murmured as she laid her head against her mother’s shoulder.

Waving as the elevator doors shut, he swallowed and turned away the thoughts of the little girl.  He knew he needed to get back to his quarters to take care of his little bit of housekeeping on the head leaper and observer.

Within moments, he entered his quarters and instead of stripping out of his clothes to get into something more comfortable, he headed directly to his office.  Sitting down at his desk, he reached out and turned on the monitor. 

Pulling up the appropriate program for his data file on the senior leaper and observer, he scrolled through all the data he entered then added the date to the file before he continued on with what he learned tonight from them.

It was a very revealing evening.  I have seen men fight with themselves internally in various different ways, but never have I seen one literally talking aloud and arguing with himself over the choices that he made in his life concerning the woman that he loves.  He loves her.  He loves her with more than a passion.  If Vaughn Rickar would put that passion into his work, there wouldn’t be any errors in whatever he does.

Seeing Johanna Royden in the arms of another had to be the catalyst that was needed to make the man turn back to his work. 

It had better.

Gillis stopped at that point in his data log to look at the words that appeared on his screen.  He didn’t have to question who had typed the words into his log.  He knew.  Never taking his fingers from the keyboard, he continued.

It will.  Until Johanna returns to full duty, you have no need to worry about Vaughn Rickar, Lothos.  While he is under my dutiful observation and diligence, he will do what you wish of him.

Even after Johanna Royden returns, I will with your permission, continue to watch over both of them.  They are but pups in the wild and with both of them wet behind the ears, experience will be of assistance and a virtue in the long run.  As always Lothos, I have and will continue to work for your goals, not for my own. 

Johanna Royden and Vaughn Rickar seem to have their own agendas in the other, and I will make sure that those venues aren't taken.

        See that they don't.

It was all the response that was forthcoming to his entry, but for Gillis Woods, he saw all that he needed to see or 'hear'.  He waited a moment then was about to continue when Lothos added further thoughts.

Do whatever needs doing to keep them on a thin thread of uncertainty about the other where their private lives are concerned.  But see to it that their working relationship is nurtured.  Already I see in Mr. Rickar a strong pattern after Dr. Malvison's skills, but he has the potential to surpass even her record.  But she had years of experience behind her, whereas Mr. Rickar needs time--focused time-- to hone his skills.

Lothos' entry stopped and, again, Gillis waited then waited another moment. The writing began again but only three words appeared on the screen.

Keep them hungry.