Operation: Moonfall | Jimmy Crystal Revenge & Redemption

The Stakeout

Buster could feel himself hyperventilating. Suddenly his bedroom was looking a lot like that closet in Crystal's office. How did he get trapped in here again?

No, no... he was fine, and free. It was Crystal that was trapped, locked away behind bars. It was strange having seen and heard from his would-be killer on TV in the aftermath and never having this reaction. But something about his voice, here and now, invoked a visceral reaction within the koala.

A derisive laugh hissed through the phone. "Didn't faint on me, did ya?"

Buster controlled his breathing and, with shaky hands, raised the phone to his ear.

"W-why are you calling me?" he asked.

"Can't I check in on my least favorite koala?" He could practically hear the smile in Crystal's voice.

"Don't you have better things to do with your time?"

"That's the funny thing about jail," Jimmy said. "You get a lot of free time. I've read a few books, caught up on some trashy TV, and still have time to plot your downfall."

"Why are you doing this to me? What's the point?"

"Everyone's got their own story, Moon. You're the villain of mine."

Buster paused. "I... I'm not a villain."

"That's not what I saw in the Kilborn interview. Now the whole world sees you the way I do."

"Only because you bought Kilborn!"

"What? You think I...?"

Jimmy burst into hysterical laughter that Buster swore lasted a minute straight, possibly accompanied with knee-slapping. He caught his breath and laughed again before finally saying, "That's rich! I almost wish I did. As if I knew you would do something stupid like try to refute the truth right after I told it. Kilborn saw right through you, that's all that was."

The only thing helping Buster through the wave of humiliation was the small comfort knowing that he chose not to accuse Kilborn of being Crystal's stooge.

"Jimmy, I don't want to rush you," an unfamiliar voice said from Jimmy's side, "but this is breaking a ton of rules."

"Gimme another minute, okay?" Jimmy said, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Yeah, I learned something over the months, Moon. People feel sorry for losers. They identify with them 'cause there's a lot of losers out there. But nobody likes a liar. Nobody wants to get hoodwinked. I was taking the wrong approach when exposing you, but I get it now."

Hang up. You can hang up at any time, Buster thought. But knowing Crystal, even that would be taken as a slight, and there would likely be consequences.

"Crystal, where does this end?" Buster asked. He had to know where this was going. "When will you be satisfied?"

"I want you to feel what I feel. I want you to bleed the way I'm bleeding. I want you to sink to where I am."

"You almost killed me! Twice! Isn't that enough? I have nightmares... I have ever since that day. I haven't really known a good night's sleep in months. You're always tormenting me."

"You think you're the only one that has nightmares?" Jimmy snarled. "In my nightmares, I have the power to make people's dreams come true, I elevate their lives from mediocrity and obscurity. Then this little imp infiltrates my life, he tricks me with promises he knows he won't keep. The imp exploits and humiliates me in front of the whole city, over and over again. He snatches away everything I've ever worked for and cared about: My company, my reputation. My daughter. Do you know what happens to the imp? The world stands up and applauds him. It celebrates him. He's rewarded and thrives at my expense, while I'm shoved into a box to be forgotten. Oh, wait, that's my living nightmare."