Police Central, Oasis Springs, 1978
"Doctor Key, I'm Detective John Willis," the detective said. "It's an honor to meet you, sir."
"Thank you, detective," Key smiled, "and thank you for your call. We don't always enjoy such enthusiastic cooperation from local law enforcement."
"Sir, I've served Queen and Country all my life," Willis said. "I was a solider in the Tomarang jungles and now I'm a cop here. The way I see it, we're all working for the same goal - to make a safer world."
"Exactly right," Key nodded. "Now if you don't mind, Detective Willis, I'd like to see the subject."
"Right this way, doctor," Willis replied.
"I have to admit, doc, I was surprised to see this file tagged with a request to call the Agency," Willis said, having led the Doctor into the observation room.
"Tell me what you see, detective," Doctor Key asked softly.
"Well, sir, she's a hooker," Willis replied. "Her ID says her name is Isabella Bachelor, age 19, resident of the Bedrock Strait trailer park... but it's a fake. For one thing, if she's older than 16, I'm the Prince Regent."
"You arrested her for solicitation?" Key asked.
"No, sir, but she's got two priors for it," Willis said. "We picked her up this time for knifing her pimp."
"Interesting," Key breathed, more to himself than to the detective.
"I guess," Willis shrugged. "He's hurting but he'll live. Which is good for her. I'd hate to put her away for murder, especially over that piece of trash."
"If you don't mind me asking, sir," Willis continued when Key said nothing, "why is the Agency interested in her? I mean, is she some kind of hooker-spy? What do you call it... a bee trap?"
"Honey trap," Key corrected, clearly amused. "No... no, nothing like that. I'm afraid our interest in Ms. Bachelor is classified. I'd like to speak with her, if I may."
"Of course," Willis nodded. "I'll stay here, make sure no one listens in."
"Thank you, detective," Key smiled, wondering briefly if Willis's curiosity would overcome his patriotism. No matter, such things were easily dealt with.
"Ms. Isabella Bachelor," Key said, settling into the interrogation room chair opposite the young woman.
"Bella," the girl corrected.
"Indeed," Key smiled slightly. "I am Doctor Key."
"A doctor," Bella smiled. "Say doc, how about you get me outta here? You could give me a full examination, if you know what I mean. If I happened to walk away after, well, who's to blame..."
"Interesting," Key breathed again to himself. "No, Ms. Bachelor, while your talents in that area may not be without future merit, I'm afraid you will find me unreceptive to offers of sexual bribery."
"Right," Bella said, surprised, recovering quickly enough to sneer, "I guess you'd prefer a boy."
"In fact, no," Key replied, unruffled. "It is simply a matter that holds primarily academic interest to me."
"So, what, you're some kind of head-shrinker," Bella said.
"No. Though I am not unacquainted with the discipline, psychology is not my primary field," Key replied. "I am a physicist."
"What do you want from me?" Bella asked, clearly suspicious.
"You were arrested for assault with a deadly weapon," Key said. "A knife attack on a Mr. Mack, who I understand to be your... pimp."
"That's what they tell me," Bella replied.
"Why did you stab him?" Key asked.
"I didn't say I did," Bella said.
"Ms. Bachelor, it is not my intention to illicit a confession from you," Key said patiently. "In fact, if I find your responses satisfactory, it is my intention to have these charges, and indeed your entire criminal record, expunged. Now, I will ask you again, why did you stab him?"
"He was going after Penny," Bella cautiously.
When Key said nothing, she went on. "Penny's new. Fresh off the bus, like. Mack likes 'em like that. Finds you, lost and alone, and offers you food, a bed, a safe place he says. Safe. That's some bullshit. He puts you to work, on the streets... but first he gives you a little 'test drive,' to check out the merchandise. Penny had never been with a guy. She told me so herself. She was screaming and kicking but Mack was just getting on top of her. I got him off her."
"So, you attacked Mr. Mack to protect your friend from a sexual assault," Key said evenly. "Is that correct Ms. Bachelor?"
"Yeah," Bella said hotly.
"And it's Bella," she added, "Just Bella. OK?"
"Who is 'Bella?'" Key asked. "Not Isabella Bachelor. No, 'just Bella,' who are you? Where are you from? What is your real surname?"
"What do you care?" Bella huffed.
"I care, because you... don't... know," Key smiled coldly.
"How... how did you know that?" Bella gasped.
"Shall I tell you what you remember? You have a vague recollection of a family. A mother, a father, siblings... a brother perhaps... a loving family, a beautiful home. You almost remember their names," Key said softly.
"You can't know that," Bella whispered.
"What you remember most clearly is The Light," Key continued. "The Light that took you away from all of that. The Light that erased everything before it... and everything immediately after it. You woke up here, in Oasis Springs, perhaps six or nine months ago. You were lost, alone and confused, just another teen runaway for someone like Mr. Mack to prey upon."
"Who are you?" Bella breathed.
"I told you, I am called Doctor Key, and I am a physicist," Key answered with a cold smile.
"Right, and I'm Isabella Bachelor," Bella smiled back just as coldly. "Who are you really?"
"A researcher," Key answered. "One who can help you and who needs your help."
"Why?" Bella looked at him, levelly.
"What if I told you that what happened to you made you special?" Key said. "Made you uniquely suited to an important task. There are dangers in this world that make your Mr. Mack look like a schoolyard bully. The Agency I work for seeks to make the world safer. Most people go to bed at night blissfully unaware of the monsters in the dark. You and I know better. Work for me, and I will teach you to protect people from the monsters. To make the world safer."
"On one condition," Bella said.
"Do you really think you are in a position to set conditions?" Key asked, genuinely amused.
"Yeah," Bella smiled. "I have something you want - me. So, you give me something I want, and you get what you want. Make sure Penny and Mack's other girls are safe. No jail time for any of them. Someplace where they'll be really safe. Do that and I'm your girl."
"How very interesting," Key smiled. "I believe I can arrange that, Bella."
"And you teach me how to fight monsters," Bella added.
"I believe we have a deal," Key nodded.
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Ophilia Villa, Willow Creek, 2000
"You taught me a lot, Doctor," Bella mused to herself. "You taught me that the best lies are always true. You didn't say one untrue word that night, did you, but you still lied your ass off.
"You said I was going to learn how to fight monsters, but you didn't tell me what I'd have to give up to do it. You were no better than Mack. Worse. He just made me a whore. You made me a killer.
"You taught me to fight the monsters in the dark, Doctor Key, but I learned for myself that you were one of them."
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