The next couple of nights seemed to be the longest nights in her existence for Echo. Twisting and turning in her bed, trying to push her thoughts behind a mental door in her mind. Echo had gone out with a few of her friends on Sunday to a bar. However, she just couldn't relax. Every time she closed her eyes she could see her mom being shot by Robert, each time she blinked her Aayan was being strangled by Julianne. Now in bed these thoughts continued swirling and storming in her mind. Nothing cleared them. When she began to drift off, Echo kept waking up from normal, every day noises. The sound of the heating turning on caused Echo to jump in her bed. The sound of the people upstairs moving in the flat had Echo run to the kitchen and get a frying pan. Even though she didn't need it, she kept it by her bed.
Previously Echo had never had the desire for a gun licence, now she was regretting that decision. Eventually, Echo fell into an uneasy sleep. It seemed as if her alarm rang just seconds later. The next day had begun.
Monday. The day she had been dreading. Not for the normal reasons- everyone hates Mondays. No, Echo had been dreading this day due to a meeting she would be having during lunch. After popping into the nearest Starbucks and ordering a caramel frappe for breakfast, as she didn't feel like her stomach could digest anything, Echo went on the underground to get to work that day. On Mondays, Echo had to travel an hour away from home by the train to get to a few of her patients. On that day, Echo felt as if everyone was staring at her. In her peripheral sight Echo thought she saw Julianne. Turning around swiftly, it turned out to be a regular woman who had the same blonde hair Julianne had. Colour immediately flooded back into her face.
Once she got there, Echo swiftly exited the train. Her nervous system wasn't working with her today. Every sound made her jump. Echo felt especially paranoid. Once she arrived at the prison, Echo had managed to compose herself and tone down her paranoia. She wasn't a therapist for no reason, after all. Granted she was a criminal therapist and the main part of her job was to discover why criminals committed crimes.
Her first case that morning was a white collar criminal. He had embezzled millions of dollars of his clients. This was her first session with him. An hour passed and there wasn't really much she could uncover really. More or less the typical greedy type of criminal who was just after making millions. Once he would get out of prison he would still have millions to spend. He just had to sit tight and bide his time. These were types of criminals Echo despised- the type that knew their lawyers would get them out of prison. Even though his bail wasn't accepted, (as there was a risk he might attempt as escape) the smirk on his visage said it all. He knew he was going to walk out as a free man. How? Echo had not a single clue. He was oozing with confidence. Sighing, Echo closed her notebook after writing down what they had talked about. Not much success today. It was clear that his lawyers instructed him to steer the conversation away from any semi-dangerous territory. Leaving the table, Echo bided him a good day and left. That's the first one off her list. Three more hour sessions before lunch.
The next two went well, they were long time patients of hers. Quite fascinating cases. One of them had a long history of offences, Echo had to do quite a lot of research to help guide the court in determining his sentences. Whether or not he would commit a crime again. The second one was more complicated. She was a rapist- Echo had helped capture her through profiling her recent activity and many hours of research. The last one, was more online research, not a prisoner. Echo was attempting to profile an internet offender, main target was the teenage audience. Whoever they were, they were having teenagers send in revealing pictures of themselves in various compromising positions. It was rather disturbing. After an hour of twists and turns, Echo turned off her laptop and placed it in her bag. Inside her bag there was a few different files, her laptop, IDs, passport, cash, cards, phone, and bubble gum. To be honest, she wasn't sure why she had bubble gum in her bag, she never really enjoyed it. Sighing, Echo left the prison. She couldn't even say goodbye, as she was supposed to be returning after lunch.
Sitting in the picnic areas near a random park, Echo once more gazed at the children there. All merry and enjoying their day. Not having a care in the world. She was once like them. The feeling of nostalgia was an uncomfortable but well acquainted emotion with Echo. Turning around, she finished her packed lunch. Then she waited. Scanning the area for anyone who might be dawdling around, once more looking over the email for any more information. Echo was beginning to be flustered, what if all of this was just a joke. Stressing out, Echo barely noticed a man approaching her. He then sat down at the table.
"Good afternoon, Miss Carter, I presume?" The man started off. Echo immediately looked up from her phone. Flustered that she had been caught off guard, she nodded awkwardly. The rest of the meeting was just as awkward for Echo. The man hadn't introduced himself, and she felt too embarrassed to ask for his name. He was wearing an unmarked suit, with highly polished black shoes. He appeared to be Caucasian, but then again, Echo had never been the best at that sort of thing. He had ash brown hair. He also had pretty common features, if Echo wasn't looking for him, she wouldn't have noticed him. James- as Echo had now dubbed him in her head- told her that they were nearly done creating her new identity, just a few details left to iron out. This evening would be her last one in Los Angeles, "So you should make the most of it," James remarked to her, "Perhaps spend it with friends, but whatever you do," he paused just then.
'Probably for effect,' thought Echo.
"Don't tell them you're leaving, they will each be told a cover story to explain why you disappeared," James had finished his sentence. Echo was in shock.
As he was about to leave, Echo grabbed his wrist, "Wait a second James, you're telling me that I can't properly say goodbye to my friends?!". James looked confused, Echo then realised she had called him James to his face. 'Shoot," she thought, 'now he's going to think I'm weird,'.
James, she should probably stop calling him James, replied, "That is correct, but that is for everyone's safety, if they don't know that you're going they won't give anything away. Also, James, seriously?" James paused there, "My name is Bob,". Echo was in shock. She then shrugged.
"I prefer James," with that last statement, both of the mutually departed on their way.
Echo then realised she had not asked for identification. But then again- who else would come to her and talk to her at that specific time? Shaking that though out of her mind, Echo realised she had a lot to do. Luckily most of her friends were available, unfortunately her mother couldn't make it, as she had a late night shift that evening.
When asked what the occasion was, Echo just replied that it was about time they all hung out together. They started that evening with watching a movie in a cinema and finished it in a bar, singing together and drinking a variety of cocktails. If anyone looked at them, they would see a happy group of ethnicity mixed people, all having fun together. Unfortunately Aayan, as a Muslim, wasn't able to join them drinking, but he still stayed with them and sang with them whilst drinking his Fanta. Echo was one of the few of their group who didn't get drunk, and sat there with her best friend Aayan, who was like a brother to her, and disclosed the whole thing to him. He had noticed something was wrong, "Antonina," he began, by using her middle name, "what's wrong?" sensing she was about to tell him that everything was alright, "And don't tell me nothing, I can see it in your eyes, beyond that smile on your face." She knew she shouldn't have, but they were the best of friends, and she couldn't leave without telling him.
Aayan looked disturbed for a minute, he then looked Echo in the eyes, "Well, Antonina," he started off, using her middle name- he was one of the few who called her that, "I wish you the best of luck wherever you go, just remember to keep in contact with Inaya and I, we will miss you lots- it will be hard. Remember, we will always support you. May Allah be with you."
They both sat there in the bar, looking at the stars, whilst their friends were celebrating. Both knowing their lives were going to change.