Wayne Gray

Thanks for the great comments. Orson did not see Elias refusing to go to the school. That didn't enter his head as a possibility. 🙂

If it wasn't there, they'd have found it wherever Harris hid it. We live in a digital world, and Harris kept certain things offline very intentionally. The skills required to do what the cleaner did are disappearing. I mean, why dig for analog dirt when you can hack it digitally so much more easily? Well, Harris is why. He doesn't leave much of a digital trail, so whoever sent the cleaner had to resort to something far more old-fashioned. Frankly, those items were far safer where they were than anything Harris may have scanned and saved to a hard drive somewhere. Could he have done a better job? Put the items in a safe-deposit box, perhaps? Did you know you can pay a bit of money (there may be free versions out there, but I've not found one in my research), and do a name search to see if there are boxes registered to that person you searched? In a really connected world, Harris did the best thing he could have to keep those items secret and safe. It's just that the people after the information are willing to use means most have abandoned to acquire it.

Mmm. Perhaps so. But if Agent Harris is worth anything, he'll figure things out on his own, saving Corbin the decision.

Thank you, Dave! Yeah, I'm working on that whole getting better thing. It's sort of a drag! Er, being sick that is.

Think about it. Elias is a malleable, world-talent artist that can be shaped to whatever purpose desired by the shaper. The upper echelons of the art world are closely tied to big money, high society, banking, and more. The Costa play a long game. If they could recruit someone like Elias, and slowly acclimate him to their world, then they would have grown their own legitimate link to that world of high society art. Diana has failed to deliver on this, so far. But, she was eager to settle up with a free ride to the Art Institute. However ... love saved Elias from that particular path into the clutches of the Costa.

Thank you. I’m almost there - just a bit to go. Thanks for reading too!

Thank you, molly. you're right. It's hard to read about a kid getting mistreated. It just sucks to see or hear about it. Elias was in a dark spot, but at least now he has people who actually care to look after him. Sometimes, we're not born into our families. Sometimes, we have to go find them.

Thanks! You may be right. There will need to be a reason for the Costa to really leave him be. Hopefully we'll get to find out what that may be, eh?

Elias has had to be very observant when it comes to others, just to stay alive. He notices things in those he loves, and in situations around him. It's part of who he is now. Thank you for reading and commenting!

Yeah. I get you, Fae. He was trying to get out before he got any deeper. I too understand his logic, flawed though it might be.

I'm happy that the story could possibly inspire you to do so. 🙂

July 10 (Tuesday, 7:45 p.m. - Central Time) They had just landed in Chicago, and the plane had taxied to their gate. The seatbelt sign went off and Orson stood. He ensured Elias was okay and helped the boy with his new, rolling luggage bag. Elias had never flown, so it was an experience for the young man in many ways. Though Orson felt that it may have given the boy a skewed perception of flying. Their tickets were first class. Orson had never flown that way before, and it was a step up

I know it wasn't intentional, but "Thank Wayne" really has sort of a nice ring to it. 😄

Well, he doesn't have to play the pronoun game anymore with anybody, eh? Nice chapter, Thorn.

Absolutely.

No, Corbin knew Stefano well. Or, rather, he thought that he did.

Oh, the men are just as chatty. 😉

I'm glad you're digging it so far. I do hope you enjoy the rest of it. Thanks for reading and commenting!

You'll love this addition to the lives of Don and Louis. They deal with everything that comes at them. They're imperfect, human, but they have a lot to offer one another and anyone else who enters their sphere. Read this one. It's lovely, and shows people who struggle but still manage to do the right thing.

This was a really lovely addition to the lives of characters we have come to know and love. Yes, things do change, but you show us that Don, Louis and Max are all going to be okay. Thanks for the story, tim.

He made the leap! 😀 Go Louis! Well, and Don too.

You warned me. Emotional chapter, tim. Sweet and sad both. Nice job.

Great chapter, tim. Grief comes in waves, and the guilt of living does too. Nicely done.

I’m sick. No update today. Sorry. Going back to bed.

I’m only going to respond to these latest comments by saying this: I’m thrilled the story is sparking the discussion. It needs to happen more, but it’s happening now, and I love it. Thank you, everybody who cares enough to chime in. It’s great to hear you.