anne

22 | Runs end, Running doesn't

Anne's Timeline

• ____________ •

Anne sat on the armchair beside the fireplace while Klaus stood behind her with his arms folded, both of them watching Martin on the chair opposite. The flames crackled in the background as Martin began to explain everything.

"You're familiar with Dan, the guy you met back in California?"

Anne nodded, so he continued, "Well he used to work with me for a man called Jake, who works for the boss. Jake's the only one who's seen the boss, he keeps to himself."

"I'm assuming he's also the person who runs this 'TorvoTech' company?"

Martin nodded, "Yes, he runs the whole company, but no one sees him except a few of the people he trusts. Which is—as far as I know—about three people, and Jake's one of them."

Anne leaned forward, "There was a woman that snooped around my apartment a while ago, she was looking for me. I compelled her to tell me who sent her, and all she could say was 'her boss.' I'm assuming they are the same people—the guy who runs the company and her boss?"

"Yes, she works for Jake with me."

"Why is your boss trying to get to me? Does it have to do with Celia Chambers?"

"I'm not completely sure—"

"How is Celia involved with your boss? What happened to her? Did Dan kill her? Was she in the wrong place at the wrong time? Is your boss trying to stop me from finding out what happened to her?" 

Martin sighed, resting his elbows on his knees and clasping his hands. "Celia was connected to Dan—they had a romance some time ago—and Dan told her about his powers; about becoming a Vampire. She wanted to become one too, I guess family life wasn't her cup of tea."

Anne absorbed this, feeling terrible for Charles. 

"We have a system in place, where I work; we cannot turn another person unless we are explicitly ordered to. Everyone has a place and a job, we can't have extras. But Dan went behind Jake's back—my back—and turned her. Jake was going to kill them to tidy up the mess, so Dan ran away but she stayed, managing to weasel her way into becoming an object of interest to Jake. He decided to keep her around like a lost puppy."

"So, Celia's alive?"

Martin tentatively replied, "Yes."

Anne sat back and exhaled, chewing on a finger in thought, wondering what the hell she was supposed to tell Charles while still keeping the supernatural world a secret. Martin kept talking, so she listened in.

"Celia showed an interest in the business, and Jake liked her, so he signed her in as Dan's replacement. She's been pushing her way into the front of the line while Dan's been on the run for fear of his life, and I've been helping him the entire time."

"Is there a way I can meet Celia?"

He seemed hesitant at first, but complied, "I could... arrange a meeting, but it'll take a while. And you'll need to do something for me in return."

Anne nodded, "Sure, whatever. But, why will it take so long?"

Martin sighed, rubbing his face, "When you started investigating Celia's case, Jake had to try to keep it under wraps or he'd have to kill Celia—the boss doesn't like investigators, let alone one that's investigating an employee because we're all technically dead and off the grid."

"Right, so?"

"So, when the boss found out it was you that had been investigating, he'd told Jake to find you. Hence why I'm here. Don't bother asking me why the boss wants you, I truly do not know a thing. I just know what Jake tells me."