Lost in Time ~ Five Hargreeves

Chapter 34

"You've got a good nose," said the Handler.

"You know, planting her in a psych ward, taking advantage of our simpleton brother, that was smart," replied Five.

"Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

"Wait. She's your..."

"Daughter," The Handler finished.

Riley looked at The Handler in surprise.

If Lila was her daughter, then so was Rhea.

Well, Lila and her mother were similar in a lot of ways... but Rhea and The Handler?

Riley had a hard time believing that.

"Yes. And I'd like to keep both, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't crush her windpipe."

Five didn't think so, though, and continued to press his foot against Lila's throat.

"Five," Riley addressed him.

The teenage boy sighed and took a step back.

"I'm so going to enjoy killing you two someday," Lila threatened them.

"Of course," Riley scoffed.

"Lila, darling, would you give us a minute, please?" the Handler asked the young woman.

"Yes, the grown-ups need to talk," Five commented.

Lila rolled her eyes.

She turned away from the others and took a few steps to the side, kicking a metal bucket across the room.

"What is it you want?", Five wanted to know.

"Do you like jazz, Five?"

"I'd rather lick a cheese grater," Five replied.

"Jazz is like a beautiful woman. Complex, emotional, hard to please. She doesn't just give it to you... she makes you work for it."

"I'm really hoping that you're going somewhere with this," Riley interrupted the woman, slightly annoyed.

"Under my leadership, the Commission would sound more like... jazz."

"And what about the board of directors?" asked Five.

"Well, that's where you two come in."

"Nope."

"No, it isn't."

"In exchange for the assassination of the board, I'm willing to get you and your family out of this timeline and back to 2019 where you belong," explained The Handler.

"And what about World War III that's due to kick off in just a few days?"

"Once you two and your siblings are gone, that goes away."

"And the apocalypse when we get back to 2019?", asked Riley.

"That too."

"I distinctly remember you telling me that that apocalypse had to happen, that it was supposed to happen", Five reminded The Handler.

"Back then I was toeing the company line, but once I'm in charge. We can riff–"

"– Jazz."

"Exactly."

Five and Riley looked at each other for a second.

"What about the board of directors, hmm? I mean, nobody knows who they are."

"Correct. But once every fiscal quarter, they get together for a board meeting."

"Where?"

"The question is when. They meet somewhere in the timeline
but never in the same place twice.  The exact location and date of these board meetings is the most closely-guarded secret in the Commission."