WITHOUT

Well Gone.

"Good you could come. So glad you both came here!.." Rex grinned at everyone, he seemed to be in a good, fine mood. All in the room looked at him, could this seriously be Rex?

Rex could be a "happy" man, just not around people. He often preferred the company of just Olive, his boys.....Wide open fields. Said it was calming to watch the wind blow the grass. Ethan, annoyed him a little...Felt the boy was always looking down on him (Rex had only just finished high school. His "smarts" were in practical hands-on work/skills)

Ethan always seemed to know a little too much in Rex's assessment.

A seat was offered, Olive had the kettle boiling on the gas-top stove. Coffee cups were laid out, Olive had baked a cake. Hilary was the first to comment, she liked the changes in the local township. She smiled at Olive...."The garden beds are looking full. So many roses! Nothing ever grows for me!.."

Olive smiled openly back, gave the nob on the stove a quick flick...."Thank you, Hilary. Roses are no work at all!.." She quickly made drinks for all, sliced the cake. Jack was the first to sit, and commented they had had plans to head to the mansion - But, when Olive called to say that coming to see her and Rex was better. Travel directions were made to head south, not east.

Quick looks were shared between Rex and Hilary, they let Olive tell her ex-husband - Nothing would be found at the mansion. The investigator had some "interesting" news, to say the least....But, sadly it was all as they had all first thought. Silly girls and wild tales!

Ethan Anderson was dead. He was buried. He had died doing important work for his country. Anything else, would be just plain unheard of. Crazy. And highly illegal! Olive had gone white in the face as she spoke, she kept dabbing at her eyes. Hilary was dying to get Rex outside in a quiet spot, and get the real story.

Cause if there was anything else to be known, she wanted to hear that news....Not the sob story Olive was babbling about. Rex saw her narrowed eyes, pinched mouth. She too, had pretended to cry a little as Olive spoke....But, Rex knew Hilary better than that. She wanted to sell Ethan to the government properly this time. Not just have him "working" - But gone, not returning.

Black Suit Property. Sold body and mind.

All four of them sat, talked....Once again it was said how sad the whole business had been, they had lost him once - Then to have the whole business bought right back up again!     Very shameful.    But, it was agreed - Ethan was gone.    And, in a sense....He was.  The "living" Ethan could never return, his body had dwelled too long in a "Neither alive or dead" state.

The Ethan that was now, was still him. But different. Slowly changing.

Hilary got her few quick words with Rex.   She was assured, the troublesome step-son wasn't going to be a problem any more. Once the treatments were completed, some physical alterations might be made (But, they would leave that up to the buyers)....Ethan would be far far away.   Ethan wouldn't be Ethan any more.

"...So.   You took him to that place out in the country?    And, Olive was fine about it all?    Rex, she loves that boy.   Are you one hundred per cent sure, she's not going to call Jack up at the last minute?.."      Hilary took a sharp puff on her cigarette.

"Yes. To all your worries!    And, no. My good christian wife won't be backing out of anything, or making stupid phone calls.    What she saw, repulsed her.      Ethan's not coming back this time.  You should have seen him at that place!     He was a walking corpse.    He was well and truly gone.   You and I have done him a great kindness.....Whatever that place had done to keep him animated, we have given him a purpose.    He will be of more use to where he's going.."     Rex felt very sure of himself.    "Hilary, he's gonna be useful. I believe medical science will thank us one day.."