| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
While all their daily routines are going smoothly for the foursome, it’s just a cover up for what’s going on with some other parties – especially the ones that just moved in. Gallen is definitely on the move. He seems to be Wilson’s tail at the moment and isn’t letting that guy go easily. Wilson is very careful but some of his actions are causing Gallen to be more definite that he has ulterior motives aside from just moving in to stay.
Gallen finally gets his reward when Friday rolls around. He had rented a different apartment from the building across from them. The perfect spot since it was right smack across from Wilson’s apartment. He had been eyeing him carefully but still no lead until that night. He had been working hard the whole week but still no progress. He’s practically falling asleep on his telescope stand when he spots some lights flicking across the way. He sits straight up and focuses the lenses straight at the spot. He watches as the scene before him unfolds. He couldn’t believe what he’s seeing. He knows that Simon and that guy Wilson are in the same resident but what he’s witnessing shocks him even more.
“How could that be?” Gallen mumbled to himself.
He focuses the lenses in a bit more to make sure he sees right. It’s impossible, but true. He’s just surprised that someone still uses this technique.
“So this guy uses the fake face to disguise himself as Simon,” Gallen mumbled aloud again. “And sometimes he appears as Wilson.”
Gallen then goes into his thinking mood again. If Simon is his alias, then could Wilson be his alias too? How come he’s moving next to Annie? Could he be involved in the murder? Questions after questions make its way into Gallen’s head. He rubs his face and tries to concentrate. He sees that Wilson is talking to someone on the phone. He’s smiling at that moment. The smile turns into a laugh. Could it be he’s contacting someone and his stay here had shed some light and now he’s reporting it to his boss? Gallen couldn’t help but think this guy is just up to no good.
Gallen looks at his watch and decides to head back over to Constant Comfort since he doesn’t want anyone to draw suspicions towards him. Maybe he could give Wilson a surprise when he gets back.
*****
Gallen knocks loudly on Wilson’s door about fifteen minutes later. He hears some talking in the apartment – possibly the guy is still on the phone. He picks up bits and pieces like “I’ll call you later and give you the location.” Then some more rustling before Wilson appears at the door.
Wilson smiles. “What a surprise, Tim. What brought you up here at this time of the night?”
“Down, not up,” Gallen corrected Wilson. “I’m upstairs.”
Wilson simles again. “Whatever you say. Down then. Still, what brings you here?”
“I just bought some food for the guys. We’re having some hotpot tonight, you want to join us?”
Gallen had called and checked with Kevin before he actually states that. And yes, he had bought it himself to play out the whole scene.
“Sure,” Wilson said. “Let me grab my jacket.”
“We’re going upstairs, not outside,” Gallen said.
Wilson smiles. “I’m easily cold.”
“Okay then. Call Simon to go with us too.”
“He went to sleep early since he had a tough day at the restaurant.”
“All right then. You know where we are.”
“Yea. See you in five minutes top.”
*****
“Who would be eating hotpot at this time of the night?” Wilson asked. “Seriously, you guys are beyond normal. It’s almost midnight for god’s sake.”
“Why did you agree to come then?” Ray asked.
“I guess I’m beyond normal too. The fact that I’m moving in this place is nuts already.”
“Oh? You regretted in moving here? Why did you move in in the first place then? Not that you don’t read the news.”
“I’m not afraid of murder.”
“Whoa. You’re starting to sound scary. Like…you committed some before that’s why you’re not afraid or something.”
“Ray!” Mandy yelled out in alarm.
“I’m kidding, sis. Here, have some shrimp.”
“She’s allergic to shrimps,” Kevin jumped in.
Ray turns to Kevin. “So now you’re the expert?”
“She told me.”
“All right, man. Whatever.”
Wilson smiles at the three of them. Gallen is even more confused than before. This guy is the calmest person he’d ever met. He carries on such confidence and his smiles are pretty much real, but there’s still something that doesn’t fit. Gallen knows he must find out soon. But the more he tries to figure this guy out, the more he feels confused. He’s deep in thought that he doesn’t realize they’re talking to him now.
“Tim!” Ray shouted.
“Huh?” Gallen asked, turning to Ray.
“Wilson just asked where you bought these at this time of the night. He said the veggies are so fresh he swore you robbed them from somewhere.”
“I know a friend that lives around here,” Gallen answered.
“Connections are good,” Wilson commented, using his chopstick to get a piece of shrimp out of the pot before continuing. “Connections are always good, especially in your job.”
“Speaking about that, what is your job, Tim?” Ray asked, turning to Gallen. “How come he knows and we don’t?”
“Uh…I’m a newspaper reporter,” Gallen said quickly, not realizing he could be caught off guard. “All I do is sneak around and find something to write about.”
“Neat. Blackmailed anyone yet? I bet tons, huh?”
“No, actually. I’m more interested in the real story behind it all than some made up rumors.”
“Oh?” Wilson said, finally showing some interest. “When you find out the truth, I’ll be there to congratulate you on your latest 'case.'”
Wilson made such an emphasis on the word “case” that Gallen couldn’t help but look at him.
The girls had been talking to each other but suddenly look at Gallen.
“Wow!” Ray exclaimed, surprised. “You guys seem close. You actually know about his work?”
“I’m just guessing,” Wilson said. “I mean don’t newspaper reporters call their assignments case too? On some level?”
“Yea, they do,” Ray answered in Gallen’s place. “Jess – my girlfriend – is a reporter also. Maybe she heard of you, Tim.”
“I’m not that famous,” Gallen said quickly. “In fact, I have more enemies than you can count. So I don’t think anyone would know or care to acknowledge me.”
“I bet you do,” Wilson said. “But around the world somewhere, there’s someone looking up to you for what you do. And how you help changed their life.”
“He’s right, man,” Ray agreed. “Don’t trash yourself like that.”
Gallen looks at Wilson again before returning to pretending to eat readily at the food in his bowl. Either I’m getting quite paranoid or every single sentence this guy throws at me has double meanings, Gallen thought. Had he found out about me? He can’t be. I was so careful going back here. He pushes the thoughts aside and focuses on what the others are saying again. Charmaine’s talking again.
“Maybe we can go there tomorrow,” Charmaine said.
“Want to take Alice too?” Mandy asked.
“Ask Wallace first though.”
“What’s Wallace like?” Gallen asked. “I meant I seen him these past days, but so far, I can’t figure him out.”
“He’s a good guy,” Kevin said. “Just that we used to think he’s a killer in disguise or something. But when we got to know him, he’s very normal. Even more normal than half of the people in this building.”
“He doesn’t give off that presence though.”
“He’s just stressed out that two of his best friends are kidnapped, that’s all.”
“Not having a certain vibe doesn’t mean someone’s a criminal,” Wilson said, turning to look at Gallen.
Ray’s too busy messing with the pot to pay attention to the guys. “You’re so right, man. I learned my lesson the first time around with Wallace.”
Wilson turns to Ray. “What’s the second time around? Me?”
Ray chuckles. “No. Someone else.”
Wilson points at Gallen with his chopsticks. “Him?”
“You’re scary. You know that, right?”
Wilson smiles and brings his chopsticks back to his bowl. The girls leave the table one by one throughout the conversation since they’re not a fan of hotpot. The guys continue to eat and talk nonsense – according to Ray. The girls had moved to the living room to watch TV. Wilson gets up suddenly and goes to the living room. Gallen eyes him closely. It appears that Wilson’s just taking off his jacket and is hanging it on one of the chairs. When he comes back, he moves his chair closer to Ray since Mandy had left already.
“Your sister is cute,” Wilson said, looking at Ray.
“Of course she is,” Ray said.
“So you must watch her more closely.”
“What are you implying?” He stares at Wilson, waiting for an answer.
“With all that’s going on lately, some crook might be targeting her.”
For some strange reason, he looks at Gallen as he says the word “crook” that causes Ray to shift his eyes to Gallen also.
Wilson shoves in his mouth some veggies and swallows before saying, “I was just kidding. Of course, 'Tim' wouldn’t be doing any of that, right?” He lets out a smiles afterward.
Again, he puts the emphasis on Tim that makes Gallen feels uneasy.
They finish the little hotpot party around 1 am. Everyone cleans up before leaving to their apartment.
Wilson – the first to depart – grabs his jacket in a hurry and heads out the door, saying goodbye as he rushes out. Wilson checks his cell phone and realizes that someone called him three times already. He had put it on silent mode so he didn’t know. He doesn’t recognize the number so he thinks it might be his boss calling him. As he puts on his jacket, he realizes that the necklace is missing when he reaches into the right pocket. He turns around and rushes back to Charmaine and Mandy’s apartment. As he raises his hand up to knock, the door snaps open. He sees Mandy’s face appears behind the door.
Wilson smiles. “Hi.” Before he could go on further, Mandy hold up a necklace – his. He smiles and takes it from her. “Thanks.”
“No problem,” Mandy said with a smile. “It must be really important.”
“Yes. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”
Wilson turns to leave. He puts the necklace around his neck and makes sure it’s secure before he walks off towards the elevators.
*****
Mandy closes the door as Wilson turns to leave. Ray appears in front of her.
“What did he want?” Ray asked.
“He dropped his necklace so I thought I return it to him,” Mandy answered.
Gallen pays extra attention to the next part since it has to do with Wilson.
“Wow,” Ray muttered. “Must be important since he returned right away to find it.”
“It is,” Mandy confirmed her brother’s assumption.
“How can you be so sure?” Gallen asked.
“He knows that it’s missing like about a minute after he left,” Ray said before Mandy could answer.
“And it has his picture and a girl in it,” Mandy continued. “I think it’s his girlfriend.”
Gallen makes a mental note about a girlfriend so he could check that out later.
Kevin walks up to them. “It’s late now. We should be going.”
“Right!” Ray said. “Goodnight, sis. Come on, Tim.”
The guys leave. Alice is actually camping at the apartment tonight so she follows them out but shuts the door behind them instead of going out herself.
“The guys are so nosy,” Alice remarked as soon as she locks the door. “You see how they talked before?”
“It seems like there’s some hostility between Tim and Wilson,” Mandy said.
“How could you tell?”
“Everything Wilson said points back to Tim although he sounds like he’s kidding most of the time,” Charmaine pointed out. “And Tim was eyeing Wilson the whole time they were eating.”
“How come I didn’t realize it?” Alice asked, looking from Charmaine to Mandy.
“You’re probably too tired to care,” Mandy said.
Alice yawns. “You’re right. I’m going to get ready for bed.”
Charmaine and Mandy look at her as she makes her way to the bathroom. Both girls smile at each other.
“She’s still a kid after all,” Charmaine said.
“It’s not a bad thing during this time,” Mandy said.
Both girls follow Alice and do their nightly routines before heading to bed also.
© Tuesday, May 29th, 2007
Re-posted: Saturday, October 10th, 2009