Before The Beginning

Chapter 7: Paltryville

Begin!

~Beatrice's POV

"Hypnotism isn't real though."

"But what if it is? There have been cases where it works," Karen said.

We were in my office, after the party had finished so we were all still dressed up. We had to stop somewhere private to talk of our plan. And as we talked about our situation it was difficult to get around the skepticism. On the one hand, hypnosis was laughable as being the answer. It was science fiction nonsense! On the other hand, it was the only explanation, and it was a logical one if we could prove it.

"Where's her office again," Karen asked.

"Paltryville, it's pretty far from headquarters," I replied.

"From here it's at least an 11 day drive," Quinten said, "Why do you ask?"

"I think we should go to Paltryville and snoop around. She might be planning something bigger. And we could get a closer look if there's any proof of her powers."

I nodded, "I agree with Karrie, we need to go directly to the source."

Bertie and Quinten agreed to our plan; Quinten offered to drive us. We agreed to meet up tomorrow morning by his car with everything we'd need for the trip. When we left the office, we even passed an amusing sight of Ike and Josephine kissing in a secluded hallway; not that they noticed us. Once we separated from the boys, Karrie and I went off to our separate apartments. I packed the things I would need, and made sure to call someone to feed my pet bats while I was away.

This plan was dangerous. If Georgina found out there's no telling what she would do. But as of right now, it was our only chance to catch her in the act.

~...

Quinten was right about the long drive, but once we had reached Paltryville it was quite a nice sight to behold. A small town with plenty of lively color surrounded by a lush forest. It looked peaceful, which only added to the foreboding danger that I felt while being here. To keep our visit from looking too suspicious, the four of us even took a nice picture on main street with the town lumbermill behind us; Karrie and I with our arms around our respective boys to look like we were visiting as couples. (Something we didn't particularly mind of course.)

Upon settling into a small motel, Quinten and Karen suggested going around town for any clues and the two left Bertie and I to find what we needed on our own. I looked out the window of our small room at the townspeople going about their day and spotted Georgina's office. It was a V.F.D. building shaped like an eye; so no one seemed curious when it was owned by an optometrist. It was clever hiding, to be honest.

"So where should we go," Bertie asked behind me.

I was about to answer but then I noticed Georgina stepping out of her office, her walking cane in hand. She looked rather well dressed for being on her visiting hours... and she was heading towards the lumbermill.

"Follow her," I replied, pointing out what I was looking at.

I quickly stepped out of the room and Bertie followed me without question. We tailed her from a reasonable distance to the mill's office building. I pulled Bertie into a hiding spot with me and we watched as she was greeted at the door by a man smoking a cigar. She was invited inside and we hurried over to listen in. We found a spot next to an open window where inside we could see Georgina and the man sitting at his desk. In the back I saw another, more kind looking, man making some coffee for them. Bertie and I glanced at each other and proceeded to take in everything we heard.

"What was it you wanted to discuss, doc?"

"I have a proposal for you," Georgina replied.

The man grunted, "I'm taken, and you're not my type."