My Co-Worker is an Elf Girl?! (#thewattys2024)

Chapter 29: It's Go Time

SAMARA'S APARTMENT - DAY
Samara lays on her couch in a semi-comatose state. This week has clearly been quite draining for her. She stares at her phone screen with her dad's phone contact card pulled up. Her eye is trained on the "call" button.

She tabs away from her contacts and opens her dad's email instead. She types her response.

"What for?"

Almost immediately, she gets a response back.

"I received a notification that there was an attempt at forced entry. I saw the footage, and someone was arrested from inside your apartment. You have to tell me what's going on."

Samara stares at her dad's response for a while. All sorts of panicked thoughts swirl in her head. Should she tell him about Remy? Would he even believe everything? Should she lie instead? If so, what should she tell him? Is it even worth lying if he now has a semi-literal 24/7 window into her life with 72 hours of HD video data backup on cloud support?

Samara lets out a frustrated sigh. She sends an email response:

"I'm taking care of it, don't worry."

Almost on cue, another email response shows up. Samara doesn't bother opening it. Sam rolls out of her couch and inches her way to her kitchen.

She reaches for the fridge's door handle and pulls out a giant jug of cold brew. Naturally, she drinks straight from the container and puts it back inside. Sam closes the door.

The cold brew wakes Sam enough to notice something new on her fridge. It's a business card with something hastily scribbled on it. It is stuck on the freezer door with one of her dorky, D20-shaped magnets.

"Good news: UR Stat. § 19-8-294
Bad news: UR Stat. § 19-8-301"

Samara raises an eyebrow and takes it off the fridge. She flips the card over.

"Lt. Leonard Connor, UPD"

The sight of the investigator's name detonates the cold brew inside Sam. She sprints towards her computer.

SAMARA'S BEDROOM - AFTERNOON

Samara hastily types on her keyboard, entering the string of numbers from the back of the business card into a search engine. 

"City of Ûr Statute  § 19-8-294: Any undocumented foreign national has 30 (thirty) days from their arrival date (hereafter referred to as 'the grace period') to obtain an employer-sponsored work visa. Failure to get such a visa will result in deportation to their country or state of origin."

Sam ruptures with anger, knowing the Border Agents have overstepped their legal boundaries.

SAMARA: "Where the hell do they think they're going to send her to?!"

Sam enters the "bad news" statute into her browser. Pressing the enter key fills her with dread.

"City of Ûr Statute § 19-8-301: Providing housing or financial support to visa-less undocumented foreign nationals beyond their 30 (thirty) day grace period is a felony. Any natural-born or naturalized citizen of Ûr caught rendering such aid can face imprisonment for up to 5 (five) years."

Samara's heart sinks to her stomach. She starts to hyperventilate a bit.

SAMARA: "...!"

 She then takes a deep breath and smacks herself awake. Free trial of panic's over.

Samara opens up her phone contacts and dials a number. The phone rings twice before someone picks up.

KANZAKI (on the phone): "Hello? Sam?"

Samara scrapes whatever shred of energy she has left for a response. She must pretend nothing is happening.

SAMARA: "Hey 'zaki! Just wondering. Do you know any good immigration lawyers?"

KANZAKI (on the phone): "Huh? What for?"

SAMARA: "I, uh, have a friend who is having a bit of trouble. I just wanted to send her some recs. That's all."

KANZAKI (on the phone): "Are you sure? Is everything okay?"

SAMARA: "Yeah! Nothing's wrong. So, do you know anyone?"

KANZAKI (on the phone): "I have a few classmates who ended up working at some of the largest firms in the city, but your best bet may be through The Legal Aid Society. They pack a lot of firepower for a non-profit."

SAMARA: "Awesome! Thanks! Talk to you later!"

KANZAKI (on the phone): "Wait! So, did they find out who broke into your apartment? Is the security system running okay?"

SAMARA: "It's a work in progress. Listen, I gotta run. Thank you for the rec!"

KANZAKI (on the phone): "No, wait! Are you sure you don't need my help...?"

Samara hangs up and goes to town on the search bar. It's going to be a long night.

KANZAKI'S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON

Kanzaki stands on the balcony of his penthouse apartment. He looks away from his phone and slowly tucks it into his pocket.

Kanzaki ambles towards the very edge, lined with glass walls, where he usually enjoys the Ûrian skyline.

Today, the dusk brings him unease.

To be continued...