The Permutation

Apex (Part 1) Jordan

I wanted to leave you alone out of respect for your old man, may he Rest In Peace. But we can't really question a coma patient now can we? So now you're the lucky duck that's going to tell me where she hid the money, or I'm going to blow Numbers here into the next dimension. And I don't know isn't going to fly with me. You're a smart kid, better figure it out."

"Rest In Peace?"

"Your mom didn't tell you? Shame, I didn't want to be the one to break the bad news, oh well. Your daddy used to do some accounting work for me, but he didn't do a very good job. Over the years, about one million dollars went missing. Weird huh? Well, I can't have someone that sloppy working for me, so I had to -" Tony said drawing a finger across his throat, "You understand? Good work is so hard to find these days."

"You killed him?" Jordan asked. The air got excited, The Surge wanted to run free. It made the hairs on Jordan's arms stand straight up with anticipation.

"Kill is such an ugly word. I prefer downsize, makes me feel like a bonafide businessman," he winked at her, "But that's not what you meant is it? No I didn't have the heart to do it, Elijah was one of my best friends. How could I possibly kill a best friend? I had Marcus do it."

Jordan closed her eyes and took a series of deep breaths. She wanted nothing more to let a wave of electricity to course through Uncle Tony's body at that moment, but she couldn't guarantee the safety of Christopher and Diana. Jordan had more control than she used to, but she didn't trust herself enough with that amount of control.

"Don't make Marcus downsize you too Squirt, it'd break my heart, but I don't see as how I have any choice. My employers need to know that people pay for crossing Tony Garofolo."

"I really don't know," Jordan said clenching her teeth, "But if I did, I wouldn't tell you."

"What's with all this nastiness? You seem to forget that you're in the wrong here. Your parents stole from ME, is it not my right to protect my property from my transgressors? But out of the goodness of my heart, I've tried to be civil to you. I really do like you, so how's about I give you one more chance to do things the right way?" He said, his tone sounding like he was conducting business with a CEO, and not threatening to kill the friends of a twelve year old.

Jordan imagined The Surge arcing through the air and hitting the man's gun. Watching him convulse and beg for forgiveness would've put a smile on her face, but that option wasn't available. Ever. The scent of sickly, sweet charred aliens dissuaded Jordan from the thought. Killing aliens and humans was different, and Jordan a feeling she would pass a threshold that she would never be able to uncross if she used her ability for evil instead of good. She wouldn't be able to live with Derek's crestfallen look of disappointment when he realized Jordan wasn't one of the good guys.

"I'll help you look until we find all the money, I don't know how much she spent, but you can have everything we find," Jordan said looking down at her feet, she couldn't stand to meet his ice, blue eyes.

"Now we're talking, I told the boys you were a smart kid. They wanted to eliminate you from the equation entirely, it's simpler that way, but I told them 'no way boys, you oughta see this kid. Brighter than the lot of you ten Watt bulbs I employ.' Thanks for not making a liar out of me."

"I have one condition," Jordan replied.

"What's that?" He laughed, "let you stay up late and eat all the ice cream you want?"

"Promise me you'll let them go, and leave my mom alone too. I'll do everything you want, but leave them out of it."

If I can get him to let them go, I can use The Surge to escape. I'll figure the rest out later. I just need to get them to safety, Christopher can protect Diana.