The Gemini

34 - Boom

December 31, 1988

"I've known you, Jody Bell. I've known your voice. Your face...."

It was all coming together now. Gemini's words made sense. Each of the little things he did, their reasoning fell into place. Now letting it all resurface, Jody mumbled to herself.

"That's why you took so long to let me see your face."

She remembered him now. Why the hell hadn't she realized? How in the world could she not recall that she had seen those eyes. For a brief moment that night, they connected. The same night Nikki explained. As the girl retold the details the puzzle pieces clicked together.

In this moment Jody felt like the dumbest person on earth.

"You probably waited until you were sure that I'd forgot."

The light was being shined on the secrets that Roger said he didn't have. The things that he said were all in her head. A head that was currently aching. What was she supposed to make of all of this?

"How long have you known me?"

From June to October. What happened in between? She wondered. Had he been planning the kidnapping all along?

Her appetite vanished and the music was now annoying her. Over by the shelf, she slapped off the stereo; the hit caused the pegasus trinket to fall to the ground. Looking down at pink tinted glass, the left wing broken in half. Frowning she knelt to gather, standing she placed it back in its spot. That's when it caught her eye.

Next to the Rubik's Cube was a little black square that she didn't recall ever putting there.

"The fuck?"

Leaning closer she poked at it, examining. Sure enough it was what she told herself it wasn't. What she silently begged it not to be. A camera.

She was well on her way to freaking out when the door opened and Nikki came in.

"Jo, we need to – you okay?"

Nodding, the action automated. "Yeah." she answered blankly. "What were you saying?"

"On my way upstairs I saw Duane and Roger and I heard them talking about something that you weren't supposed to see. Whatever it is, Roger told him to get rid of it. I'm not trying to be messy but it sounded like –"

"I found it." Jody interrupted. "A bracelet. It was supposed to be a surprise." It was the weakest lie of the century but it was the only one that she could think up in a state of shock.

Why she was still covering for him, she didn't know. By now it was a force of habit. Or maybe she was pretending for herself. Nikki's judgments were something that she didn't care to hear right now.

"A bracelet?"

A responding nod.

She wanted to be alone.

"I'm gonna take a break from all of this." Jody motioned around the room. "I gotta DJ tonight and I should chill for a little bit." Another lie. "You can take the pizza or half it up, I don't care."

"Why are you acting weird?"

Losing hold of her cool, her voice wavering in the slightest. "I'm fine."

"Is this about the club? Look I –"

"Nikki please." In a clipped tone she cut her off. If she heard another question she just might crack completely. "Just go. I'm alright."

"Whatever." With that, Nikki took the pizza and left.

In her room Jody threw herself onto the bed, face buried in the pillows. Immediately her senses were assaulted by Roger's cologne. Back on the floor standing, she kicked the bed frame. So quickly she'd forgotten the scene that had taken place not even a full hour ago. She was supposed to be glistening in the afterglow of love made. Not on the verge of angry tears and wanting to set Sheridan on fire.