Echo in Her Mind

Twenty.

The building that Bethany and Ruben stood outside of was rather large, but had a modern day look to it. The sign that graced the front of it read: Children's Charity, and Bethany instantly knew this vessel was going to be worse than the last one.

"He owns a charity, how messed up was The Watcher to have to place such a horrible death on such a good person?" She spoke to Ruben, able to take her eyes away from the sign.

"Keep in mind, the vessels were picked out almost 20 years ago; they were nothing like that person they are today," Ruben responded.

"How are we even supposed to get to him? Surely there are other people inside as well." Bethany advised, to which Ruben began thinking of a plan. It didn't appear that there were any security cameras outside, so technically they could just waltz in, but she decided she would wait to hear what Ruben had to say.

They must have been on the same page, because Ruben suddenly began to walk up the steps of the building. "Follow my lead," he said to Bethany, and she did just that.

They entered the building and Bethany took in the homey feeling that the front office gave off. It's yellow painted walls really made the room pop. There were pictures all over the walls of a man with several different children.

Author Dobbs and all the children had had helped, Bethany thought.

Her stomach began to churn at the thought of how much of a terrible person she was. Such a good man, helping so many children; Bethany felt selfish for having to take this man away from the world.

"Hello there, how may I help you?" The receptionist appeared in the window of the back office, her chipper voice sending vibrations down Bethany's spine.

"Yes, hi, we are here to see Mr. Dobbs, please." Ruben spoke in the most professional tone of voice that she had never heard come out of his mouth before.

"Do you have an appointment?" He was caught off guard by that question, Bethany could tell. Of course, they would need an appointment.

"Unfortunately, we do not, but we are looking to talk with Mr. Dobbs about making a contribution to his cause," Bethany threw in when Ruben didn't say anything.

The receptionist, whose name tag read Rebecca, smiled and stood up from her chair. "Let me see if he's available," she spoke and disappeared into the room in the back.

"Good one," Ruben stated, but Bethany didn't feel as if it were. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. The next moment, the receptionist returned, alone, and Bethany knew that wasn't good news for them.

"I'm sorry, but Mr. Dobbs if all booked up for the rest of the day. He asked kindly if you both are available to come back tomorrow around 10 when he has an opening?"

Bethany's temper began to sky rocket. She knew they didn't have the time to waste, especially not a whole day. She felt Ruben's hand fall on her shoulder, as if sensing that she was about to explode. Bethany instantly calmed herself from Ruben's touch, which she found odd, but that wasn't her main focus at that time.

"If that's what we must do, then we shall." Ruben smiled at the receptionist, and they made their way to exit the building.

"What do we do now?" Bethany asked once they were a safe distance away from the entrance.

"All we can do is wait; once he leaves the office, that's when you'll make your move," he said.

Bethany assumed that Ruben would be playing his act of disappearance again like last time with Jordan. Which she was okay with, she didn't want any distractions. "I think maybe it's best if we come back," Ruben advised, and Bethany took notice to the figure in the window, staring at them. She recognized it was Rebecca, the receptionist, and they took off down the road.