Our Own Secrets

2: Family

“Damn!” I muttered to myself, backing around the corner as a nurse went into Marlowe’s bedroom. “Rex, you need to give me a better head’s up if someone is coming.” I ducked into a waiting room, tapping my ear to make sure the transmitter still worked. “Rex?”

“Sorry. I was… distracted.”

“It’s fine.” I paced the empty room briefly. “Give me directions out.”

“… Leave this room and go right down the hall. Take another right at the second hallway you intersect. Keep going until you reach stairs going up to the main level. These should operate using your scan as an employee ID. Go to the main level. Take a taxi downtown and Nadja should be at the Center Station to pick you up.”

“Thank you, Rex.” I could practically hear him smirking on the other end of the line. I ducked out of the hall. “How is home?”

“Home is good. It’s quiet without you.”

“Ha, ha, quiet. Is that your way of saying nobody’s fighting and throwing things?” Nurses passed by me, looking doubtfully at me. I could tell if I didn’t get out quick, people would start to wonder why I was here. And when people start to wonder…

“Interesting news, Axel.”

“Huh?” I shot out of my thoughts as I spun around the corner. “What news?”

“Gabe is coming back in two weeks. He sent a letter. I hadn’t even known the mail delivered paper letters, but I guess they do. I had to sign for it like a package, but…”

“Does Nadja know yet?”

“She’s been with you all weekend. I decided not to distract her.”

“Good.” I threw open the door and bounded up the stairs. “It will be good to be home. To see the family again.”

“What’s this? You miss us, Axel? I thought we just drove you crazy.” I heard snickering.

“What’s that sound, Rex? You don’t have me…”

“…on speaker. Hi, Axel!”

I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Hi, Georg.”

“We miss you on this end, Ax. It sure is lonely without you around. Katya keeps asking me, ‘Axel?’ in that cute way she does, you know? She looks so sad. She goes, ‘Axel?’ and then ‘Momma?’ She points at that cute picture of you and Nadja in her room. I think she thinks you’re her dad. But we told her Gabe was coming and she looked happy and said, ‘Gabey!’ so I don’t know. She-”

“Georg.”

“Yeah, boss?”

“Shut up. This is still a mission. I don’t care about any of this until I get back. I don’t need you to annoy the crap out of me while I’m still working.”

“I told you I could annoy him, Rex.”

I sighed and shook my head. “Back to business, Rex. I’m on the main level. Which way out?”

I heard typing, a click, and then, the ambiance noise vanished and the only sound on the line was Rex’s breathing. “Go through the door on your left and follow the signs that say ‘Atrium.’ Simple enough. Take a taxi to Center Station.”

“Okay, thanks. I have a feeling I should end transmission. There are going to be people around.”

“One question before you go, boss. Will the girl come?”

“It’s not our fault if she doesn’t. I gave her the info. She can come or she can make her own way. See you at home, Rex.” I shut off the transmitter. “Door on the left, Atrium. Got it. Right.”