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Chapter Three

-October 15, 2006-
6:53 pm


Lt. Vincent D’Agosta walked briskly up from the underground parking lot on 35th and Brooklyn. Emerging onto the street, the scent of the city was momentarily overshadowed by the sweet smell of lush tobacco. A small shop on the corner only ten feet away displayed the load neon sign advertising a special on some new trendy flavors. Smoking novelties and paraphernalia crowed the window. The itch to go in and inhaling the sweet smoke into his lungs agitated him greatly.

Definitely walking past the shop, Vincent reached into his pocket feeling for the gum he has taken to carrying around everywhere. The streets changed to large semi industrial brownstones, left over from the mid 1920s. A few has been modernized and fixed up with new money and young couples. A large strip of browns stone showed signs of renovation but held only one indistinguishable door on the street.

Stepping up to the door, Vincent punched in a long series of number. The hidden lock released with a soft click. With a push on the handle less door he came into a small inner entrance with another door and a new set of keypads. Another string of numbers went into it and the door opened to reveal an empty elevator cart.

The elevator rose to the third floor. When the doors opened, it revealed an open floor with no windows. Turning to the left, Vincent walked to an adjoining hallway. The door at the end of the hallway opened. A young man with ash blonde hair and thin build stepped out.

Looking up at Vincent, he smiled nervously.

“I’m just on my way out, Lt. D’Agosta... I... I had to finish the training session. Special Agent Pendergast’s call was most unexpected.” Tugging at his jacket, he shifted nervously.

“So the training is going well, I take it?” Vincent eyed the young man with scrutiny. The kid couldn’t have been more then 25 years old, but he was also the best of his class at Quantico. Top marks in every field, and yet he was still innocent in so many ways. There was none of the brown nosing ambition, nor was there any hot headed arrogance, so common in the well done young trainees. All in all not a bad kid, certainly worthy of Pendergast’s trust. “Jeffery, you know the situation is delicate...”

“Yes, Lt. D’Agosta, I will be on the utmost vigilance.” Jeffrey paused a second blushing. “Miss Swanson... uhmm is almost ready.”

“Thank you... Jeffrey, make sure you use the pier entrance.” Vincent cautioned.

Jeffery nodded and hurried down the corridor into another unseen exit.

D’Agosta turned back to the door and knocked rapidly. In two seconds it was answered by a young woman. Corrie Swanson was still in the process of getting her things together. “Almost ready, Vince. Fuck, why does Pendergast always pick the worst time to...” With a smooth motion Corrie reached into her pocket for a clip, and pulled her shoulder length hair into a twisted.

“What exactly were you doing that it took you so long to be ready?” Vincent stared at Corrie’s petit form as she moved about the room. Studying her, Vincent noted the changes from the rebellious girl Aloysius had described to him almost two years ago. She had bright purple hair then and dressed in the underground club style the melodramatic young favored.

“Nothing!” She looked at him definitely. Slinging a bag over her shoulder, Corrie picked up her cell phone from the table next to the door. “Ready, lets hurry, we have a schedule to keep.” Without waiting for Vincent to answer, she stepped out the door into the corridor.

The basement room was filled with top grade prosthetics. A large 360 degree mirror with a rotating center took up the entire corner to the left hand side. Makeup and various wigs cluttered on the oversized vanity.

“I’m going to call Pendergast now.” Vincent told Corrie as she sat down in front of the vanity, quickly smoothing a gel into her hair.

“Fine, tell him I’ll be at the mansion within the hour.”

“Okay.” Vincent dialed the number into his phone and watched as Corrie put on her disguise.



-25 minutes later-


Vincent stuffed another piece of gum into his mouth and stepped into the street. Almost half a block up a middle aged woman stepped out of her building. Looking around her, the woman slipped her keys into the pocket of the jacket inside her coat. She stepped out into the street and began to walk towards the nearest subway station.

She had closely curled bottle blonde hair pined to place with nock off Versace scarf tucked neatly about a wrinkled face. Her overly bright lipstick overflowed into the fine lines around her lips. The powdery makeup covered the loose skin, and blush better suited for the young dusted her protruding cheekbones.

She walk was slightly tilted indicating a bad hip, although her pace was quit rapid. Vincent held his distance casually keep the woman in sight. They entered the turn style of the station without incident. The train bound for their destination pulled into the station. They got on quickly with the crowd and stood within five feet of each other. Vincent casually looked over the cart as the door closed then lowered his eyes to the floor. He kept his gaze trained on the feet of the woman.

Vincent stared at the ugly black shoes and the thick support hose amazed at the successfulness of the disguise. The rebellious young woman hidden inside the bulky body suite and latex prosthetics was no where to be found. Corrie Swanson became the dowdy Cook who worked at 891 Riverside Drive.

Corrie felt her temperature rising inside the padded suite. She wanted to scratch her nose but it was covered by latex. Looking around the cart she caught her reflection in the cart window. It still shocked her sometimes how much she could change. She knew she was still herself but sometimes she wasn’t so sure anyone else saw her any more.

Meeting Pendergast was the start of her new life. It seemed to be mundane good fortune but then the darkness from Pendergast’s own past caught up with him. To protect her he had sent her at first on vacation to Australia but then the escalation of events with Diogenes had landed Pendergast behind bars. Corrie received notice to stay in Australia indefinitely. Two weeks later Wren and Mime arrived to inform her that Diogenes has set his eyes on a new target list.

Corrie was surprised to find that she was thought to be on the top of the list. They gave her a letter from Pendergast with two choices. One was to disappear for the foreseeable future and become someone else. And the other was to learn to disappear any time she wants to.

She chose to learn, a decision that would be most difficult to follow through, but one that she would stand by. Sometimes she would think what would have happened if she choose the other path. When the makeup and behavior adaptations obscured her from the view of the world, she wondered. But she would be letting the first person who really saw her down. She could not leave Pendergast alone in his greatest hour of need.

The station pulled into view and the doors opened. Getting above ground Corrie haled a cab and got in punching the number of the cab number in her cell phone. Vincent got into a dark charcoal Buick and pulled out of the parking lot. Corrie’s cab was waiting just outside like always and they started towards the mansion.



-October 15, 2006-
7:10 pm
Ridgemount Hospital, Senior Staff Lounge


Aloysius sat with his long legs crossed, reading through a thick list of forms. The child has a slight case of Respiratory distress syndrome and Intraventricular hemorrhage. Nothing that is not common to a premature infant but still troublesome. A name was required for a transfer to the special children’s hospital.

The lists of family names ran through Aloysius head each one more or less unfortunate. He wondered if that tradition should be passed along to the next generation. Sadly, he knew this child would be the only one of the next generation. He would never have any cousins and hopefully no siblings.

The silent anger burned on the inside. He had taken precaution even in his marriage to NEVER father a child. The Pendergast bloodline should not have been passed on. The intelligence coupled with the unpredictable madness has already come to bloom as a highly poisonous flower in Diogenes. But Aloysius was sill alive to counteract some of the damages. This child will be alive a lot longer then either Diogenes or himself.

Putting down the forms, he picked up the stack of books that the nurses have brought from Constance’s room. A small thin black book filled with poetic versus and journal entries revealed itself to be Constance’s Diary. Aloysius flipped through the pages, pausing at an entry that caught his eye.


February 25th, 2006

Diogenes disappeared again and I am again alone in the villa. Venice is a wonder. My view from the balcony is such a splendor words do not do it justice. The sun is on the verge of setting and the cannels are awash in light both from the setting and by man. The paintings of so many masters have tried to capture it, but I still say they fall short. Only first hand sight could possibly do the glittering canals justice in the sunlight.

We arrived yesterday after a short trip by sea. Diogenes said that it would be a mistake for me to fly on an airplane. I’m not sure I want to be lifted so high above the ground without support, but it would be so unbelievable to be as high in the heavens as the birds. But he insisted.

They are so much alike really, Diogenes and Aloysius, although I have learned never to mention Aloysius in front of Diogenes. Even though he took me away from the home and safety I had always enjoyed, he has been true to his first words to me.

“...to see that your life is not wasted.” He told me with a sincerity that I could not doubt.

Although my fear of him did not disappear, I trusted those words. I have never thought my life was ever a waste but it certainly wasn’t worldly. Inside father’s house I have borne witness things and treasures that most would search a life time for. The books I’ve read could fill libraries but I had only known the inside of Riverside mansion.

Diogenes told me before he left that he had a surprise for me when he gets back. I wonder what that will be. It would be interesting to see what he has planned. Diogenes always has something planned. He never did anything in the normal way.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m weak, giving into the beauty he has shown me. But what is the harm in enjoying all the wonders that has so long eluded me. He was the first one to celebrate my birthday. Although I do not know my birthday I must have had one, and until last week I had never celebrated.

Diogenes said that I needed a birthday that was celebrated every year no matter what if I did or not, so he picked February 14th—Valentine’s Day. We went to the opera that night at the London Royal Opera House. The evening was pleasant and the music enchanting, but when the show was over I was treated to the most wonderful surprise.

The Floral Hall sparkled with tiny lights coming from everywhere. Glittering jewels hung from the garlands and trees. Music poured in from speaker boxes hidden away. In so many years I had wondered what a celebration was be like but the sight of the Floral Hall decorated in such splendor for me was overwhelming.

And tonight in this wonderful city Diogenes said that he has another surprise. I have to confess I’m extremely excited. With him I feel like I have wings. Freedom from everything...

I think he’s back...


The passage chilled Aloysius and relieved him at the same time. It was good to know that Constance received no ill treatment by Diogenes’ hand. But at the same time it was obvious from the passage the child was not forced up on her. Constance willingly conceived it with Diogenes. And she is in love with him.

Aloysius sighed out loud into the empty room. This was going to be an even more disastrous situation then he first anticipated. But at least he now knows what to name the child. His nephew was to be known as Franklin Alister Fausto Pendergast.

The phone buzzed just as he filled in his nephew’s name on the transfer forms. Putting his pen down, Aloysius reached into his pocket, pulling out the phone from its resting place. Before answering, he checked the ID that popped up in the little window.

E.Glinn

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