Simon Lake II

2432 Baker Street was less than a small, single story, abandoned house, with a sagging wooden porch and an overgrown yard. A pair of menacing high-rise buildings towered over the little house on either side. Simon stood on the sidewalk in front of the house. It had taken him all three hours to find it, and for the long 10 minutes he had spent standing there debating whether or not to explore the house, the promised car had not arrived. Has was tired and quickly growing annoyed and suspicious of the whole deal. This place looked too much like a classic gang hideout from the movies to allow him to feel totally comfortable with standing there. But remembering Emerson's very business-like appearance, and the expensive black sedan he had left in, Simon figured that if he was suppose to attend a secret meeting, Emerson would have been able to supply slightly less ghetto accommodations.

As Simon was considering this he heard a car pull up and park on the curb behind him. He turned and beheld a gorgeous white BMW M3 with dark tinted windows and matte black rims. After a brief moment of childish awe, Simon reverentially put his hand on the passenger door handle, as if he was touching the original Mona Lisa, opened the door, and stepped into the warm, black leather seat. Simon was slightly surprised to find that the brunette in the driver seat seemed to be no older than himself, though it was hard to tell precisely because her eyes were shaded by a pair of brown aviators. She wore her layered hair down, and had on a v-neck white tee and a pair of jeans. For a moment, when Simon looked at her, he thought she was... nah, this day was crazy enough already. He kept looking at her, however, waiting for her to make eye contact. She didn't. She put the car in drive, and they left 2432 Baker Street. For several long minutes, she neither said anything, nor looked at him. Finally Simon said,

"I guess I shouldn't expect you to trust the strange guy you just let into your nice car, but you haven't said a single word since I - "

The girl snapped her head around and stared at him, as if startled to find someone in her passenger seat.

And then suddenly Simon knew who she was.

"Simon??!!" she exclaimed, then suddenly had to slam on the breaks to keep from running a red light. "Simon Lake?" she said, looking at him again. But Simon was no longer looking at her. He was glaring at the intersection in front of him, as a surge of painful emotion ripped it's way into his chest: bitter feelings of anger, hurt, and betrayal. Now it wasn't half as mysterious. No wonder Emerson, his old logic professor , looked familiar.

Simon got out of the car. He didn't know what Emerson had up his sleeve, or how Eleanor Forbes tied into it, but he didn't care. The simle fact that she did tie into meant that he wanted nothing to do it. He stepped out onto the street, shut the door, and walked away.

Eleanor sat in her car, staring at nothing. She didn't know how to feel, seeing Simon again. She should probably call Emerson and tell him what had happened... Two years... He was obviously still bitter against her. But who wouldn't be after what she'd done...?

A car horn snapped her back to awareness. The light was green. As she drove, she got out her phone and called Emerson. After about three rings, he answered:

"Emerson."

"Why Simon?! You know how it is between us!"

"Calm down, Eleanor. What happened?"

"What do you think?"

"You let him walk away?"

"There wasn't any choice! As soon as he recognized me he just got out of the car, and walked off."

"Get him back."

"Are you kidding?!"

"Get him back, or don't bother coming back to this job."

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